A few years ago, I was asked to participate in the startup of our South Florida chapter of WIBN. Wrestling had been such a powerful influence in my life, and over the years, I somehow managed to disconnect from my roots after I retired from wrestling in 1996. Seventeen years of competing at an elite level and representing the United States in international competitions had left me behind the eightball as it related to a career path. My wife was six months pregnant, and while I held a Bachelors in Finance from Boston University and a Masters in Administration from SUNY Albany, I had yet to work at a "real" job. Sure, I had coached, bounced, bartended, and day labored to support my wrestling habit, but I had no career at that time. I had a job to find and a growing family to feed. I felt like I had to move away from my past and move forward towards something new. I knew I would be fine after all; wrestling was the hardest job in the world that you never get paid for, and everything else would be easy by comparison.

I managed to find a job at EDS in Sweden as a Project Manager and was put in their Development program. Ross Perot, the CEO of EDS, realized early on that athletes and former military had the "stuff" necessary to succeed in business. I enjoyed EDS, but I found Big Business to be stifling.

After a while, I ventured into the world of startups, and there I have been ever since. Creating or helping to create businesses and leading teams. I did not realize it at the time, but I was constantly trying to recreate the feeling and focus I had as a wrestler. As a wrestler, you get immediate and violent feedback. Each match and practice can have an impact and importance. As a Wrestler, I was part of something greater than myself. I belonged to a team and a community. I always knew that my back was covered, regardless of the situation. Startups have a similar feel, but it is not the same. Feedback can take months or years, and winning or losing is not in your control.

Starting a new business or gig is like starting a new wrestling season. There are only possibilities and course corrections as you move forward towards a goal. Being a wrestler is about learning, working smarter, working harder, and sometimes just not giving up. More often than not, the only thing that separates you from success in business and in life is never giving up and having a bit of luck! There were many times I thought about just giving up on business, but I am a Wrestler, and quit is not in my vocabulary. Regarding luck, as Carl Adams used to say: "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity." In other words, wrestlers make their own luck.

Presently, I am CTO of ClassWallet (https://classwallet.com). This innovative company is revolutionizing the administration, distribution, and spend of discretionary funds for teachers, students, and parents using our patented digital wallet technology.

Everything I am and will become is because of wrestling. Looking back, I was wrong to look away from wrestling when I retired from the sport. I am still benefiting from my time as a wrestler, as are my teams. I am still coaching, leading, suffering, learning, and winning and sometimes losing too, but in a different arena. I am a Wrestler in Business. Sure, I am giving back to my "companies," but I had neglected to look back and help my fellow wrestlers, without whom I would have been someone else. Wrestling is centering; wrestling provides purpose; wrestling is who I am, and wrestling is who we are.

Walking into that first WIBN meeting felt like a homecoming. There was a mechanic, a plumber, an insurance salesman, a captain of industry (no kidding), a high-end consultant and a coach, a sheriff, a dentist, and a real estate broker. I had nothing in common from a work perspective with anyone in the room, but we shared wrestling a true fraternity.

At the WIBN, we aim to promote and support wrestling and wrestlers both past and present. There is no initiation nor hazing; we all paid our dues long ago. We are a group of men and women who share a unique set of common experiences and know what it means to persevere, sacrifice, and succeed. I am glad to be back "home."

Wrestling Resume

• Assistant coach University at Albany 1987-1994

• Section II champion 1981

• 3x NYS Greco and FreeStyle Champion

• Joliet International Champion 1982

• Empire state games champion 1982

• 2x Espoir National champion 1982

• 2x Olympic Sports Festival Champion 1981, 1982

• 3X New England Conference Champion 1982, 84, 85

• Eastern National Greco Roman Champion

• 2x Elite World Silver Medalist 1981, 1982

• 5x National Senior Greco Roman Silver Medalist

• Granma Open Champion CUBA

• Peer Gynt Champion Norway

• Fyra Stads Champion Sweden

• Concord Cup Champion 1985

• Swedish Nation Greco Roman champion 1996

• 2 x Olympic Alternate 1988, 1992

Personal

• Married 27 years Carin Koplovitz

• Daughter Hannah 25

• Daughter Amanda 21

Education

• BS IN Finance Boston University

• MS in Educational Admin