CG Sports (Taylor’s Version)

Good morning. Like Taylor, we're here to make history.

Taylor Swift is on a mission to control her legacy and, frankly, we’re here for it. This is not unlike the battle many pro athletes go through when launching their brands or getting a book published.

She holds more accolades than one can recount in a single breath and, at 31, Taylor is nowhere close to being finished with her career and is album-by-album remastering her legacy. 

Her re-recording of albums “Fearless” and “Red” takes beloved songs and breathes new life into them. It’s a move that has yet to be done in the world of entertainment and sets an example for artists (and athletes) to take ownership of their story.

It is this kind of “take charge of your life and legacy” mentality that drives what we do here at CG Sports and, more specifically, is why we founded CG Sports Publishing (where every author retains 100% creative control of their work). It’s what has allowed us to go from publishing two athlete memoirs in 2020 to 10 in 2021 (with more in the pipeline for 2022).

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get into it.

Other big news this week: 

• Mandy Marquardt featured in "Overcoming the Odds" video by Cedar Crest College's School of Nursing!

• Catch up with Dara Torres on the Champion's Mojo podcast!

• Tianna Madison is a 2021 Honorary inductee to the Sigma Gamma Rho sisterhood!

P.S. Nervous about missing upcoming news from CG Sports? Follow us on Instagram (@cgsportsco), Facebook (CG Sports Management), and, of course, our weekly newsletter.

WHAT'S HOT
A roundup of the CG Sports Teams' favorite weekly content from the most 🔥 athletes in the biz.

McKenzie Coan ('18) is returning to her alma mater to deliver the 30th Sisters Cleophas Costello Lecture. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. and will also be live-streamed. Named in honor of late Sister Mary Cleophas Costello, the annual lecture features prominent women who embody the ideals of Sr. Cleopholas upheld.

Winter sports are upon us and with those winter sports, announcements regarding national team statuses! Mick Dierdorff and Hagen Kearney have been named to the 2021-22 U.S. Snowboardcross team.

Roșie Brennan haș been named to the 2021-22 U.S. Cross Country Ski team. Recently, Rosie competed in the Government Peak 5K FIS course in Alaska, commanding the win in the women's 10K classic race with a time of 32:18.4.

Team USA posted a historic double with both the men's and the women's teams claiming the 2021 3x3 AmeriCup gold medal!

CEJIH EXPLAINS
How to know if you need an agent (checklist)

Here’s a quiz.

True or False: To get sponsors interested in you, you need an agent.

True or False: To create demand for yourself in the market, you need an agent.

True or False: To get booked for paid appearances, you need an agent.

The answer to all of these is “false”. The perception in the sports market is that if you are a professional athlete, then you need to have an agent to help you grow your brands and get deals.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth. So what do most athletes need if not an agent? Most athletes need to be focused on investing in and building their brand.

View our "Pro-Athlete Brand and Business" checklist online for a realistic benchmark to help you determine where to direct your energy.

DEMAND YOUR BRAND
Books on Branding
As the holidays approach, and your literature loving friends, family, or kids are looking to grow their brand... (as we all are, right? 😅), I thought I'd suggest a book that has helped shape the branding process for myself and some of my most trusted mentors: Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

If you want a preview, check out the TED Talk here!

SPONSOR
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After a successful display on "Shark Tank," The Magic5 are offering 30% off single items (code: SHARK30) and 20% off bundled items (code: SHARK20).

For more information and to shop goggles, visit their website.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

🎉 DOUBLE. GOLD. Need we say more? 🎉
Congrats, Team USA!

ARTICLES YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ
A collection of the CG Sports Teams' favorite random news of the week. 📚

• Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins, age 105, has created a new age bracket for the 100m dash and set a new world record.

• Authorities have identified the man responsible for an infamous Ohio bank heist after 52 years.

• The Green Bay Packers are offering ownership shares for the first time in 10 years.

PODCASTS
Champion's Mojo: Episode 132, "Dara Torres: Age is Just a Number"

How can athletes strike a balance between normal discomfort and understanding the constraints of aging?

Olympic swimmer Dara Torres joins the podcast to talk with Kelly and Maria about how she stays active but respects the boundaries of her body as she ages. She also talks about parenting and what she’s up to now.

Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com.

FINANCIAL FITNESS
CG Sports is partnering with Nav.it to bring weekly tips to navigate your finances, increase money mindfulness, and better your financial health.

How to Keep Utility Bills Down by Maddelynn Horn

The average family in the US spends $2,000 each year on utilities.

Cutting utilities out of your budget isn’t exactly an option, but there are plenty of simple and effective ways to save money on your bills. Bonus: these hacks will also help you reduce your environmental impact.

Here is one way to save money on your electric bill:

Reduce your water usage.

Reducing water usage can be simple if you're mindful about how you use it. I'm sure we've all been taught to turn off the sink while brushing our teeth by now, but there are plenty more ways to reduce usage.

When it comes to dishes, only run your dishwasher and washing machine when they're full. If you hand wash dishes, wait to fill up the sink and wash them all at once instead of constantly running water.

For all the gardeners and plant parents out there: you can keep your plants alive without running up your water bill. Rain barrels allow you to collect rainwater for your plants and yard. Actual rain barrels can be pricey, but luckily you can make your own rain collection system with almost any barrel or large container. Just make sure to look into the laws in your state about rainwater harvesting.

Tune in next week to learn the fifth of six ways on how to keep the utility bills down!