Happy Friday!
Welcome to the weekly roundup where we connect the dots between sports, storytelling, and building something that’s actually yours.
This week?
We’re talking about flag football making Olympic history.
How to pitch your film without losing your soul.
And a resource that’ll change how you think about sports storytelling.
Let’s dive in.
The Big Win: Flag Football Goes Olympic (And Why That Matters for Founders)
Flag football is headed to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Let that sink in.
A sport that started as a recreational alternative…
Is now competing on the world’s biggest stage.
And leading the charge?
Women.
Not just playing the game.
Building the infrastructure.
Diana Flores.
Vanita Krouch.
Jozette Cotton.
These women didn’t wait for the NFL to hand them a league.
They didn’t wait for “permission” to go pro.
They built it themselves.
The Women’s Football Alliance.
Independent leagues across the country.
Training programs.
Sponsorships.
Media coverage.
Brick by brick.
Play by play.
Now the world is watching.
The Lesson: Players Build Games, Owners Build Leagues
Here’s what flag football’s Olympic journey teaches us as artist-entrepreneurs:
You don’t need the biggest platform to start.
You need the right infrastructure.
These women could’ve spent years lobbying the NFL.
Waiting for the “right moment.”
Hoping someone would notice their talent.
Instead?
They created their own ecosystem.
And when the Olympic Committee came calling…
They had a league to showcase.
That’s the founder move.
Don’t just be great at your craft.
Build the platform that lets you showcase it.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, a writer, a musician, or a multi-hyphenate creator…
The question isn’t just “Am I talented enough?”
It’s “What am I building that I actually control?”
The Practical Play: Pitching Your Film Like an Audience Member
Let’s talk about pitching.
Because if you’re an indie filmmaker or storyteller…
You’ve probably been told to “pitch like a Hollywood exec.”
Study the comps.
Know your budget.
Have your logline tight.
All good advice.
But here’s what I’ve learned actually works:
Pitch like an audience member.
Not like a suit in a boardroom.
What Does That Mean?
When you pitch from the audience perspective…
You’re not performing.
You’re inviting someone into an experience.
Think about it.
When you tell a friend about a movie you loved…
You don’t lead with the budget breakdown.
You don’t start with “It’s Inception meets The Notebook.”
You say:
“Okay so there’s this scene where…”
“You know that feeling when…”
“It made me think about…”
You’re painting a picture.
Creating an emotional entry point.
Making them feel why this story matters.
That’s the pitch.
The Three Questions Audiences Actually Care About
When I’m pitching now, I focus on three things:
1. What’s the vibe?
Not the genre.
The feeling.
Is this a “watch alone at 2 AM with tissues” story?
Or a “call your girls and debrief for hours” experience?
2. Who are we rooting for?
Not “the protagonist.”
The person.
What makes them compelling?
What do we see ourselves in?
3. What’s the moment we’ll be talking about after?
Every great story has that scene.
That line.
That moment where everyone in the theater gasps or laughs or cries at the same time.
What’s yours?
Answer those three questions…
And you’ve got a pitch that lands.
Because you’re not selling a project.
You’re creating anticipation for an experience.
The Founder’s Resource: COACH QUINN
Speaking of experiences…
If you’re interested in how sports, storytelling, and building your own thing intersect…
I’ve got something for you.
COACH QUINN: Challenge Flag.
It’s a book.
An audiobook.
And a TV pilot.
All in one.
Available on Gumroad, Amazon, and Audible.
Here’s what it’s about:
Quinn Canals is the protagonist of COACH QUINN.
A former NFL Offensive Coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals…
Who becomes a head coach for a women’s pro flag football team in Baltimore.
She’s brilliant.
She’s strategic.
And she’s constantly underestimated.
Sound familiar?
The story follows her first season leading a struggling team…
While navigating the politics of being a woman in a male-dominated space.
It’s about leadership.
Infrastructure.
And what it takes to build something when the system isn’t designed for you.
Why I’m Mentioning This in a Roundup About Entrepreneurship
Because COACH QUINN isn’t just a story about football.
It’s a story about ownership.
Quinn doesn’t just want to coach.
She wants to change how the game is played.
How talent is developed.
How winners are built.
She’s not waiting for someone to hand her a playbook.
She’s writing her own.
That’s the energy we need as artist-entrepreneurs.
Not just participating in the game.
Rewriting the rules.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re building something the “wrong” way because you’re doing it differently…
Or if you’re tired of being the most talented person in the room with the least power…
This one’s for you.
Check it out.
Let me know what you think.
Wrapping Up: Your Friday Takeaway
Three things to carry into your weekend:
1. Build infrastructure, not just content.
Be like the women of flag football.
Don’t wait for a platform.
Create one.
2. Pitch like you’re inviting someone into an experience.
Not performing for gatekeepers.
Leading with the vibe, the character, and the unforgettable moment.
3. Study stories about ownership.
Whether it’s COACH QUINN or the flag football pioneers…
Pay attention to people who aren’t just playing the game.
They’re changing it.
That’s the playbook.
Now go build something you actually own.
See you next week.
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