If you’ve been following me over the years, you’ll likely know that I’m passionate about Floorball. This is not a sport that I grew up playing, though I wish I had. I came to the sport later in life, but I see what it is and what it can become, and I’ve been working to build it ever since. Starting a business was not something I ever thought I would do. Though, I’m always on the lookout for new things, and when I found Floorball I was hooked. Once this happened I started forming an idea for a business in Floorball. It wasn’t until a chance encounter and a push from an outside source that I jumped in and started a business.
Prior to starting this venture I had gotten to know the market of Floorball in the U.S. and got to know some of the players. Overall, it’s a small community so everyone knows everyone else. This allowed me to figure out what path would be best for me and my talents. I also wanted to look and how I could separate myself from the pack. Through the guidance from someone who would become my business mentor and later friend (who came up with the name) I set out to start Floorball Guru, LLC. I’ll be honest I didn’t care for the name Guru, but I can’t even remember what other names I tried to come up with. Reluctantly I agreed to the name and pushed forward. The main reason I struggled with the name was internal doubt that I had value to bring to the game. It was a lack of self-confidence in myself that I could do it. As I started to build the business I found my confidence. I was also confronted with a few unique situations where I had to stand up for myself and my brand. All of this was part of the process that helped me grow as a person and business.
What sets Floorball Guru apart from other businesses in Floorball is that I’m focused primarily on developing content. I have a deep passion for the sport and I felt the best way for me was to share that knowledge to help others. I felt that the more education and resource materials I could produce the more willing people would be to listen and act. The first step in the development of the business was creating enough content to keep the ball rolling. Before I launched the business, I wrote a year’s worth of content that could be sent out weekly through social media and a newsletter.
This process was tedious but set a foundation that has evolved over time. Doing so has freed me and my business to expand and pursue other avenues to build on top of the educational platform. Over time I started my podcast as a means to expand what I was doing. I’ve also done videos, though that’s one area I’m still working to improve. It also allowed me time and space to write and publish a book on Floorball. The Floorball Guru Primer was everything I wanted to develop. A resource that anyone could read to learn, teach, and grow Floorball on their own. I would say it’s doing just that.
The latest evolution in the brand has been to start selling my own branded equipment. This process has been a challenging but interesting one. I’m still learning every day, but I know it was the best step going forward. So far the response has been very positive, and I’m excited to see where it all goes.
As Floorball Guru continues to evolve you will continue to see more and more content designed to grow the sport in sustainable ways. If you want to get involved in Floorball please reach out as I’d love to speak with you and help support you and your program. It’s not enough to see programs start. I want to ensure they succeed and grow. I see a vision for this sport and for my brand, and I’m excited to continue to work on the growth of the sport of Floorball.
