Josh Martin is an entrepreneur who was an outside linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets. He also played at our shared university: Columbia.

In Josh’s words from his About page:

The Power of Community

Here’s the basics: I’m the oldest of 6 kids. Originally from the suburbs of Houston, Texas, but moved to the outskirts of Denver, Colorado when I was 10. Culture shock might not have been something I completely understood back then. I just knew I was surrounded by fewer faces that looked like mine and had a growing desire to belong. They say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, and without the family I’d gotten so used to having close by, I wondered if I could find that same feeling of belonging anywhere else. And, I tried. From martial arts to band, I spent most of my middle school years building any community I could, but nothing was lasting. Then football came along.

The Power of Team

My first shot at playing competitively came in high school when my family moved across town. I was starting all over again in a new school, but this time I had a plan. Despite the fact that I’d spent more time carrying a trombone than a football, I wanted in. It turns out when you’re known for giving your best, people want you on their team. Football was originally a way for me to make friends before classes started, but it quickly turned into something bigger. I not only found community and belonging, but I also discovered the power of teamwork–what was possible when working together towards a common goal. With lessons like these from the game, I felt like I couldn’t lose. That was powerful.