Hoops Magic: Combining Philanthropy with Business
Posted on August 26, 2010, by JD Kathuria, under Featured Interview.
Curtis Symonds, founder of Hoops Magic and former BET Executive, talks to us about how simple connections can go a long way. Symonds also describes the journey of owning your own business.
Tell us about your background.
I started out in the cable industry in the early 80s in Ohio, but I felt like I needed to get more exposure. Therefore I moved to work for ESPN in Chicago. While in Chicago I was fortunate to get to know Bob Johnson within the cable industry; he reached out to me when launching his new network. We started BET in 1988 and grew the channel to where it is today. Bob showed me how to grow a vision and is someone who I have a lot of respect for personally and within the industry.
How did your connection with Bob Johnson, founder of BET, change your career?
When I shifted over to BET a lot of people asked, ‘why would I go over to a network that is just struggling when I worked a great ‘big daddy’ network?’ My thought process was, as I am trying to make BET a success, I will be able to make a name for myself in the industry and it will open greater opportunities for my career. Working at the initial launch of BET was a blessing in disguise.
“You got to believe in something very strongly for it to actually go anywhere. Bob also told me in 1988 exactly where he saw BET in 10 years, at that time I took his ambitions lightly. We climbed the ladder exactly how he described it.”
What advice would you give someone who is in a similar career changing position?
You got to believe in something very strongly for it to actually go anywhere. Bob also told me in 1988 exactly where he saw BET in 10 years; at that time I took his ambitions lightly. We climbed the ladder exactly how he described it. That was a great learning experience for me. Bob also taught me how to build a network by building partnerships and growing our circle of people; we used BET as a springboard for other businesses to market.
How did you transition to what you are doing today? What are you most proud of about Hoops Magic?
When I jumped out into the entrepreneur world and left BET in 2001, I was pretty scared. I have never been on my own; I was use to having a regular check. I knew my vision and where I wanted my gym to go, its just took time. I build Hoops Gymnasium exactly the way I wanted it, the way I had dreamed about for 10 years. I wanted Hoops to be a place in the community where kids can be exposed to sports, including basketball. I wanted to give back and bring a positive to my community, make myself a name in my community. My mother use to say to me “if you want to do something right, give back”. I was out there working my buns off for 30 years to provide a resource to this community, it is my legacy.
Something I am particularly proud of at my gym is we do a lot of Special Olympics. I hear all the time kids having fun when I walk by the gym, which touches my heart very strongly. Until you have a family member in that situation, you don’t appreciate it as much.
