Name: Bo Porter
Age: 45
Profession: Atlanta Braves Special Assistant to the General Manager / Entrepreneur
Social Media: Twitter: @BoPorter16Bo | Instagram: @therealboporter | Facebook: OfficialBoPorter & EmpoweredSummit & RealExcellenceInc & sbpselffoundation
One Word That Describes You: Innovative
What is your “Extraordinary Impact?”
I’ve had 23 years of professional baseball experience as a player, coach, manager, and now front-office executive. I’ve assisted in finding universities and colleges for young men, young women, and student-athletes to attend. In addition, our foundation delivers a program and curriculum to middle school aged children, teaching them the principles of whole-person development. I always stress to our children that they aren’t a product of their environment and that they can achieve success!
What does being one of the BEMM 100 Men of Distinction mean to you?
First and foremost, it’s an extremely humbling honor. The meaning or significance of this distinguished honor will help bring more awareness to how God is working through me and widening my territory for His Kingdom.
What are some examples of how you turned struggle into success?
I believe my most powerful success story is surviving the circumstances and environment of the inner city of Newark, New Jersey.
Failures, struggles, and circumstances are not a place of residence, they are a place of reference. I’ve always viewed my struggles as an opportunity to grow. I was born and raised in Newark (a.k.a. Brick City), and the circumstances surrounding me defeated many people. I survived because God’s plan for my life was more powerful than the circumstances.
What is an important quality you look for in your relationships with others?
What I’ve discovered about the people I share the most space and commonality with is that they have a servant’s heart and they’re trustworthy.
What are some immediate projects you are working on?
As CEO of Bo Porter Enterprise, I’ve lead a group of spiritually driven servants for God’s Kingdom to present the EMPOWERED SUMMIT, based on my best-selling book REal Life EMPOWERED. We will start in two host cities in 2017: Newark on December 2 and in Houston on December 15.
I was recently blessed to be one of 20 members to be appointed to the Generation Builders Network Leadership Council.
I’m also in the development stage of a podcast that is scheduled to launch in January 2018. “360 Degrees to Grow with Bo” is a transformational platform designed to engage, educate, encourage, and empower our followers and listeners to grow into being the “best you!”
What is the best advice you ever received?
Keep Christ first in your life and you will always have a life.
What is some advice you have for other men who want to make a difference?
Discover your purpose in life because it is only then you have an opportunity to reach your full potential.
How do you prep for an important business meeting and/or event?
Before an important business meeting or event, I always get a good night’s sleep. My presentations often includes PowerPoint presentations, booklets and/or outlines of the information to be reviewed or discussed. Another part of my preparation in any business meeting is to research all attendees, so I’m well-versed on their background and experiences.
As a busy Modern Man, how do you unwind on vacation? Share a story about your best vacation.
Cal-a-vie is one of our favorite vacation spots. It’s an all-inclusive luxurious European-inspired destination retreat and spa, tucked away in the mountains about 40 miles outside of San Diego. Cal-a-Vie provides first-class healthy lifestyle concepts of fitness, health, and nutrition for a health and wellness retreat that yields real results. It’s the ultimate place to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul.
If you could travel and stay anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I would love to travel back into the past to gain wisdom from some of the greatest leaders that our world has known. I would also love to travel into the future to assure that mankind does the right thing!
Anything else you’d like to say?
Thank you again for this distinguished honor and congratulations to the other men as well. To God be all the glory!
It’s our normal to be extraordinary. Follow @BEModernMan and join the conversation using #BEModernMan.
Come celebrate the BE Modern Man 100 Men of Distinction at the first-ever Black Men XCEL Summit, Aug. 30 – Sept. 3, at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.