Entry 297-2
The Business of Being a Strike King Pro with Denny Brauer
Editor’s Note: Strike King is extremely proud of the men and the women who make-up the Strike King professional team. They have proven to be some of the best bass-fishing professionals in the world. To be a great fisherman and a part of the Strike King team, these pros not only have to be the best in the world of professional fishing, they also have to be extremely-good businessmen. To learn how the Strike King pros have become some of the best in the business of fishing, we’ve asked Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Missouri, to tell us what’s involved in the business of being a professional fisherman.
Part 2: Time Management
Question: Denny, as a businessman, how do you manage your time between tournament practicing and competing, working with your sponsors and spending time with family?
Brauer: Time management is one of the most-critical keys to any successful business. Be extremely careful not to overextend yourself by having too-many sponsors. Many times newcomers to our industry get greedy and spend too-much time with a number of sponsors. This is a bad mistake. There only are a certain number of days in a year. If you subtract the practice days, the tournament days and the travel days between tournaments, there isn’t much time left to work with sponsors. 
Having fewer sponsors allows me to perform at my best in tournaments as well as commit quality time to each sponsor.
I have allotted time for each sponsor, and if I have additional days in my schedule, I use the time as an added benefit for them. I try to keep the number of sponsors I work with to about 10. With 10 sponsors, I can be competitive as a fisherman, as well as provide my sponsors with superior productivity. Remember, I didn’t start with 10 sponsors. I started on a much-smaller scale. In the beginning of your fishing career, be smart, plan wisely and don’t overcommit yourself.
Next: Choosing Your Partners
Contents:
- Part 1: Balancing Fishing and Business
- Part 2: Time Management
- Part 3: Choosing Your Partners
- Part 4: Finding a Good Agent
- Part 5: Plan for the Future
