By John Ingoldsby
Engagement Insider
CHARLOTTE, NC – Transition is a part of life for everyone, and is even more pronounced for athletes who often exit their sport at a young age, but now there is a book to help all those navigating this uncharted territory.
“Beyond the Locker Room: Developing Your Game Plan for Life’s Transitions,” is hot off the presses and available now after having been launched during Super Bowl Week by its author Leonard Wheeler, who appropriately played in the NFL for eight seasons.
“This is a book that should be read by everyone who ever played sports and is going through transition, as well as their families, since it creates a real transformation for transition,” said the former cornerback who played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, and Carolina Panthers.
“The reception for the book has been amazing, which I believe reflects it featuring people who went through different levels of transition, since everyone goes through this at various points in their life,” said Wheeler, who received contributions from NFL Executives Troy Vincent and Tracy Perlman, as well as former players Hardy Nickerson and Eugene Robinson, which of course includes Vincent too.
And to cover all age groups, he even included a chapter written by his daughter entitled, “Teenagers Listen Up,” which he said describes how difficult the transition can be from high school to college.
Clearly the dedication to this always timely topic was passed down from dad to daughter, since the father has devoted his career to helping others.
It began his rookie year in 1992 when he started speaking at schools as part of his affiliation with Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He was already armed with a diploma in Business & Psychology from Troy University in Alabama, and would add to that a Communications & Marketing advanced degree, as well as certifications in executive coaching, reading assessment, and managing millennials, just to name a few.
But when he retired from Carolina in 2001, he himself was suddenly dealing with transition and searching for his spot in life.
“My transition was not very smooth at first, and I felt like was hovering over an airport, but not knowing quite where to land,” he recalled.
But it didn’t take long for him to find the right landing spot, since he followed his faith in himself and created his own company -- Wheeler Enterprises, Inc. (www.leonardwheeler.com) -- that is now in its 15th year.
“I always had a passion for being more than a football player, and specifically had a hunger for speaking and helping people uncover their true potential,” he stated. “That led to me finding a way to separate myself and what I could offer from everyone else.”
He has clearly succeeded, as he provides a wide range of services ranging from Executive Coaching Workshops for mayors and city councilmen to Accountability Boot Camps for clients such as Capital One and MasterCard.
“I help people turn on the light bulb in their head as we strive to give them their ‘light bulb moment,’ he exclaimed. “I accomplish this by making every person I work with feel like they are the most important person in the world.”
But his expertise is not limited to the corporate or political worlds, since he also continues to share his talents with the NFL.
“I have worked for a while with the League, starting years ago when I taught with Troy (Vincent) at the NFL office, and later was an instructor at the NFL’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP), and also was an Ambassador where I went to different teams to discuss subjects such as domestic and child abuse,” he said.
But that’s not all as Wheeler said he is now a Regional Director for the NFL, interacting with the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Texans.
“In this role, I am very fortunate to have as my coordinators Will Shields, Rocket Ismail, and Jay Novacek,” noted the Charlotte, NC resident, adding that he is currently going through the certification process to become an NFL Player Engagement Transition Coach.
So from his football family to his own family, Wheeler revels in his various roles.
“Perhaps my most fulfilling function is the importance of being a father and a good leader for my daughter,” he said. “She just committed to a college, and is prepared and ready.”
Just one of many who has benefitted from Wheeler’s good works.