Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid of being different. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to trust your faith. Just don’t be afraid. If I ever gave into fear, I would’ve never accomplished anything.
As a part of our series about sports stars who are making a social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing former NFL star Mohamed Sanu.
A third-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Mohamed Sanu spent 10 years in the league, split between the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers. Today, the former wide receiver is serving as an agent of change and making a difference. In addition to building a multi-purpose community center in his native Sierra Leone to provide vocational and educational opportunities and other resources to the local community, Sanu recently unveiled his very own line of premium hemp shots to promote the positive benefits of CBD on the body and mind.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you share with us the “backstory” that led you to your career path in professional sports?
I was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, but spent four years of my childhood in my parents’ native Sierra Leone. I returned to the United States when I was six-years-old and lived in Dayton, New Jersey, where I eventually starred at South Brunswick High School as a triple option quarterback before enrolling at Rutgers University in 2009. At Rutgers, I was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in both football and track & field.
I was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, where I spent the first four years of my professional career. I left the Bengals in free agency after the 2015 season and went on to play the next few years for the Atlanta Falcons, helping them reach Super Bowl LI. I also played for the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Miami Dolphins.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career? What were the lessons or takeaways that you took out of that story?
For any professional athlete, watching the draft and waiting for your name to be called is a nerve-wracking experience, and once the phone call from your new team comes in, there’s a sense of relief and joy as you check off a lifelong dream.
I got two of those calls on the day I was drafted. The first was a prank call from some Cincinnati Bengals fans during the first round, informing me that the team would be selecting me. I eventually fell to the third round and received the real call, this time from former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.
Be patient. God has a plan.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
If you have big dreams, it’s important that you believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter if you’re an all-star or a newcomer to the team, self-confidence has the power to drive you further than your physical abilities alone. Champions know this. Even if they suffer setbacks, slumps, or injuries, they maintain a positive belief in themselves and their abilities.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
My mom! She has influenced me by teaching the importance of hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice. Growing up, I never heard her complain about the hardships of life. What was most important to her was for me and my sister to be happy. She taught me that if you have a dream, you must protect it and do whatever it takes to accomplish that dream. She had a different perspective on how to approach life. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about what it is like being a professional sports player?
The hardest part isn’t getting there. It’s how you stay there. There are times when you don’t want to continue, to keep going, because it hurts, you’re sore, but when you’re down that’s when you can really go beyond your limits and reach new heights.
Ok super. Let’s now move to the main part of our discussion. How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you are working on right now?
I’m particularly excited about three things I’m currently working on.
The first is that I’m giving back to my native Sierra Leone. It’s one of the biggest responsibilities of my life. Together with my mom and Develop Africa, a non-profit charity organization working to establish meaningful and sustainable development in Africa, I’m building a multi-purpose community center to provide vocational and educational opportunities and other resources to the local community in the capital city of Freetown.
The second is that I recently unveiled a new product line of premium hemp shots through a collaboration with Atlanta-based hemp product manufacturer Durban Dames, Ltd. Called MediBean Trilogy, the trio of shots are intended to aid in improving sleep quality, enhance relaxation, and alleviate pain — three issues that I’ve struggled with myself dating back to my 10 seasons in the NFL.
Thirdly, I’ve joined the ownership group of Legacy Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art sports and fitness training facility in suburban Atlanta that provides quality training for all age groups, especially kids seeking an experience like that of collegiate and pro athletes.
Can you share with us the story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
Once completed, the community center in Sierra Leone will strengthen self-reliance so that individuals and families can create positive change in their own lives. Today, the average high school graduate in Sierra Leone has never had access to a computer or any sort of computer training. Having such technology and training will enrich their lives and help prepare them for our information-based and technology-driven society. In addition, our team is exploring opportunities and seeking additional partnerships to use the community center to serve the underserved in additional ways — such as providing free assistance and goods on a periodic basis.
As for the hemp shots… I’m a long-time advocate for cannabis and hemp, and often use the plants to cope with pain. They help my body in a holistic way. I was inspired to launch this new product line to not only help reduce the stigma surrounding the plant, but also further promote the positive benefits of CBD on the body and mind.
Finally, Legacy Sports Complex is more than your average gym. In addition to having an ownership group stacked with former professional athletes, Legacy prides itself on being a safe space for each of its athletes and offering a five-star sports and fitness experience to all. Our team of owners includes former NFL stars Sean Weatherspoon, Christian Blake, Elijah Wilkinson, and Vernon Davis; former MLB pitchers Jonny Venters and Kris Medlen; and former MMA fighter Dustin Chovanic. This partnership is monumental for our fast-growing brand and will no doubt elevate Legacy Sports Complex to incredible new heights.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
- Never forget where you came from. We all start somewhere. No matter what our past has been, we must be thankful for the good things, and mindful of the struggles we’ve had. As our path turns into greener pastures, not forgetting our past struggles helps us empathize with those who are now going through that phase.
- Be consistent. One of the most obvious factors that separate the successful and the unsuccessful is the power of consistency. Successful people can produce extraordinary results because they choose to follow their plans and take the necessary action almost every day.
- Always have a plan. Make sure you have goals and something you can aim for. If you don’t have a plan for what you want, then you will probably find yourself buying into someone else’s plan and later find out that was not the direction you wanted to go.
- Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid of being different. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to trust your faith. Just don’t be afraid. If I ever gave into fear, I would’ve never accomplished anything.
- Be fluid. Goals change. Things get in the way. Conflicts emerge. Being able to adapt to these changes will allow us to adapt and steer ourselves in directions that will make us more likely to achieve our goals.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start 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 feel like I’ve already started it. Everything I do is done with a purpose to make sure the next generation is equipped physically, mentally, intellectually, and emotionally — whether that’s to provide vocational and educational opportunities for the Freetown community in Sierra Leone, promote the positive benefits of CBD on the body and mind, or mentor the next generation of young athletes.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
“There will be stumbles, but they don’t define your journey.”
Setbacks are just setups for comebacks. Never let challenges define you. Learn from them, grow from them, and come back stronger than ever.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Politics, 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 if we tag them 🙂
There are so many people that come to mind who continue to inspire me, but if I had to pick just 1–2, I’d have to go with former President Barack Obama and Michael Jordan. I’ve always prided myself on being an ambitious person and would like nothing more than to sit down with them and hear first-hand the stories of their hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
How can our readers follow you online?
Instagram: @mohamedsanu
Twitter: @Mo_12_Sanu
Facebook: Mohamed Sanu
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring.
Sports Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Mohamed Sanu Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.