Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Greg Garza. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Greg , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Beyond Goals Mentoring was started in September, 2021. It was an idea that Michael Parkhurst (Former Captain of the MLS Atlanta United 2018 Championship Team) and I had in regards to seeing so many players at a high level or even our youth in today’s sports world have such a tough time understanding how to cope with certain types of pressure. Whether it was confidence, dealing with nervousness, understanding how leadership qualities play an important role, we saw so many players within our careers not have the ability to implement these assets within their game as a player/person. We wanted to create an outlet for players, from whatever sport, have someone that could be in their corner such as a Big Brother Companion. Having a mentor that guides you through certain phases within your personal journey is so important these days and also understanding the vital and key components that can help you build your personal success or better your personal success, whether in sport or not, is equally just as important. We wish we could have played a role within our playing careers in so many teammates or other people’s lives in regards to implementing these components within their mindset and helping them achieve better and greater things personally, but now we have had the opportunity to give back what the game gave to us in today’s world and using the power of NOW to help build the mindset of young athletes aspiring for self growth and success within their sport.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Greg Garza. I am a retired professional soccer player who got to play at the highest level all over the world for almost 13 years. I was also able to represent my National Team from every age group from the age of 13 until I retired. I was always involved in the community by speaking to underserved communities, helping children understand the value of confidence, leadership, and resilience with my personal stories and lessons I learned throughout my career. When I retired from playing, I decided to join forces with one of my best friends and fellow ex teammate, Michael Parkhurst, and mesh together our wisdom, knowledge, and value of what we learned from the game on and off the field. We created Beyond Goals Mentoring, a program that serves today’s young athletes helping them benefit from the vital and key components that aren’t seen within the God given talent they may already have at their feet. The mental aspect and side of the game is the most essential asset and value we can have as players/people in today’s world and we have created an outlet for players and even parents to have someone in their corner.
The most gratifying moments that I have in our program is when parents reach out after speaking to their son or daughter and having them so grateful and thankful for helping their child be more confident in regards to whatever phase they are particularly in within their sport. We love helping young athletes understand their value, their qualities, and their assets that they hold within and how they are able to implement that within an every day environment, whether it be sport, school, or whatever they choose to dream of conquering in the future.
We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.
Having a business partner and co-founder who was a former teammate brings so much value to what we truly stand for. Michael Parkhurst was my favorite captain that I had within my career and a person I valued and respected immensely throughout our journey in Atlanta United. We were able to share so many experiences on the field, but more importantly learn from each other’s experiences we had in the outside world of soccer that made us the two individuals that we are today. Being a professional soccer player is one thing, being a person who carries such values and morals to make you that person you are each and every day is another in my opinion. We have been able to now share these stories, values, and experiences with the young athletes that we work with today and help the next generation of our leaders of tomorrow understand the necessities of being not only a great person, but also a great teammate in their future lives.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Building a great reputation within the community that you are involved in is everything in my opinion. I think serving not only as a role model within the community I have lived in, but also as a professional soccer player. There are many people you will always meet and get to know. I believe the first impression that you give and the last one that you leave within every community that you are involved in is vital to one’s success within the business they are trying to be successful in. I truly believe that good things happen to good people and we must always hold ourselves accountable of the decisions we make serving as the best role model to our youth and those around us who view us as leaders within our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: beyondgoalsmentoring.com
- Instagram: beyondgoalsmentoring / gmgarza
- Facebook: bgmentoring
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-garza-74212a205/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondgoalsmentoring
Image Credits
Dave Williamson