From Athlete To Entrepreneur: Robert Bennett Of The Inns On The 5 Work Ethic Lessons We Can Learn From Athletes
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Outsource anything that doesn’t get you closer to your goals
As a part of our series about the work ethic lessons we can learn from professional athletes, I had the pleasure of interviewing Robert Bennett.
Originally from Augusta, GA, Bennett relocated to the Charleston, SC area in 2014 where he began his flourishing real estate career. Buying, renovating, and holding historic downtown Charleston properties has proved to be Bennett’s sweet spot when dealing with his ever-growing portfolio. A founder of the luxury Airbnb collection, The Inns, Bennett has found true success and furthermore, freedom from his endeavors in the REI space. Before his success in the real estate industry, Bennett pursued professional golf after a thriving golf career at his alma mater, University of Georgia. Bennett’s story acts as a lesson on how to create the life you always dreamed of as he went from not being able to afford a haircut while funding his golf career to becoming independently wealthy before the age of 35.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! It is a great honor. Our readers would love to learn more about your personal background. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in the home of golf — Augusta, Georgia. My father put a golf club in my hands at age 4. I loved competing and playing all sports but being 5 foot 9 (on a good day) made golf the obvious choice. I also loved the independent nature of the game; there is only one person to rely on and that is yourself.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career as a high-level professional athlete?
Fellow Augustan, Charles Howell, inspired me as a young boy. We were members at the same club, Augusta Country Club. Another great player and family friend, Cortland Lowe, took me under his wing and showed me what high level competition was.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
My father never left my side and has always supported and encouraged me. I often remember him saying the famous Einstein quote “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity”. Both my mother and father traveled all over the country with me to support my dreams. They are the definition of amazing parents and have supported me through thick and thin in all aspects of life.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your sports career? What lesson or takeaway did you learn from that?
The biggest mistake I made was comparing my game to others. My golf team at UGA was #1 in the country and packed with star studded names like Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Hudson Swafford, Harris English, Patrick Reed, Keith Mitchell, etc. They beat me most of the time and I was too young to understand that I just needed to keep improving on my timeline. You should never let external things affect your own confidence as you build a career in sports or business.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. As an athlete, you often face high-stakes situations that involve a lot of pressure. Most of us tend to wither in the face of such pressure and stress. Can you share with our readers 3 or 4 strategies that you use to optimize your mind for peak performance before high-pressure, high-stress situations?
This has been an evolution over the years, but the most important thing is #1 you can only control what you can control and #2 you must prioritize what is truly important — maximize the high priority items the best you can. Every day I write down my 3 overarching goals and couple that with 3 daily goals that directly support achieving them. I make sure those 3 are done first and with thought and purpose. Once I was able to identify and focus on the high priority items, my stress levels went down. The other thing that has helped me over the years is getting a challenging workout done every morning. The rest of the day seems easy after that. Starting your day low on stress and high on endorphins is key.
Can you tell us the story of your transition from a professional athlete to a successful business person?
My story is simple: one day I didn’t have $12 for a haircut. I’ll never forget that moment. I made a promise to myself then and there that I would never be broke again. That was the day I quit pursuing a golf career and shifted my focus to business.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now?
My passion the last couple of years has been in small, multi-family buildings in downtown Charleston. Buying, renovating, and holding. I hope to enter different markets, more specifically Colorado, over the coming years (That Lowcountry heat is no joke!). One day I plan to build a $100+ million-dollar real estate fund.
Do you think your experience as a professional athlete gave you skills that make you a better entrepreneur? Can you give a story or example about what you mean?
100%. Golf is so hard and professional golf is even harder. It taught me how obsessed and dedicated you must be to really make it in this world.
Entrepreneurs and professional athletes share a common “hustle culture”. Can you share your “5 Work Ethic Lessons That Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Athletes”?
1) Never take ‘No’ for an answer
2) Structure your day in advance
3) Outsource anything that doesn’t get you closer to your goals
4) Write down your specific goals every day
5) Don’t be scared to hire a coach
What would you advise a young person who aspires to follow in your footsteps and emulate your career? What advice would you give?
I would advise young people to pick a vehicle that will give them the lifestyle they want. Give it everything you have and eventually it becomes fun. I think young people stress too much about getting a “sexy” job. If you can master things you don’t like or want to do — that’s a superpower.
You are by all accounts a very successful person. How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I have a passion for helping young people. My early 20’s were such a trying period so it is really fulfilling to hire or mentor people going through the same stage of life. Giving them small tips that could save them time in the long run brings me much joy.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I think the most important thing is for every human being to become 100% responsible for their own lives. This is the only mindset that makes sense and serves one as they pursue success. If it is to be, it’s up to me!
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
The Henry Ford quote “You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do” really resonates with me. People spend so much time talking — be a doer instead.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
I would like to have a meal with Arnold Schwarzenegger. His love for America is inspiring and he has such a courageous rag to riches story.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
