<p><div class="image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="Andrew Burton/Getty Images" title_caption="Tiki Barber" class="zoomin" href="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/50f708706bb3f7bf0f000008-960/tiki-barber-1.jpg"><span class="click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/50f708706bb3f7bf0f000008-800-600/tiki-barber-1.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="tiki barber" width="480" /></a><p class="source">Andrew Burton/Getty Images</p><p class="caption"><keyword id="1773084" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tiki-Barber">Tiki Barber</keyword></p></div></div>After star New York Giants running back Tiki Barber retired from the game in 2006, he was supposed to be the next big television personality.</p>
<p>When that didn't pan out, he founded the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tiki-barber-thuzio-hire-athletes-2013-1">rent-an-athlete</a> marketplace <a href="http://www.thuzio.com/">Thuzio</a> in 2012. <a href="http://deadspin.com/5960132/tiki-barbers-life-just-gets-sadder-every-day">His detractors</a> found the venture - in which a couple grand got you a golf game with Derrick Coleman and five hundred bucks got you lunch with Barber - to be a tacky and desperate move.</p>
<p>By late 2013, fans can still pay for personalized video messages or a game of flag football, but <keyword id="1956901" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Thuzio">Thuzio</keyword> has become a go-to destination for corporations and ad agencies looking to impress clients or inspire their workforce.</p>
<p><a href="http://adage.com/article/news/tiki-barber-s-thuzio-targets-business-sports-stars/245461/">AdAge</a> took a look at the company with Barber, who told them that Thuzio began changing into a business-to-business organization after the success of his and former New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk's participation in Reebok's Spartan Races. Their participation got featured on ESPN's SportsCenter, bringing attention to the race that was much less well-known than its <keyword id="1956902" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tough-Mudder">Tough Mudder</keyword> competitor.</p>
<p>You can watch Tiki fight through the obstacle course beginning at 5:16:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="349" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1bovXwh9lFQ"></iframe></p>
<p>Rebook only spent $7,000 but got valuable media coverage. </p>
<p>Barber realized that Thuzio could provide corporations and ad agencies with an interesting way to entertain clients.</p>
<p>Here's former pitcher Roger Clemens' profile with a list of activities and their prices. He's one of the most in-demand and expensive athletes in the roster:</p>
<p><div class="image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Thuzio.com" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5298d2e069beddcf1fd21772-960/clemens thuzio.jpg"><span class="click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5298d2e069beddcf1fd21772-710-167/clemens thuzio.jpg" border="0" alt="clemens thuzio" /></a><p class="source">Thuzio.com</p></div></div></div></p>
<p>And here's Super Bowl-winning coach Brian Billick, another popular choice:</p>
<p><div class="image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Thuzio.com" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5298d5c4eab8eab352d21772-960/billick thuzio.jpg"><span class="click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5298d5c4eab8eab352d21772-698-167/billick thuzio.jpg" border="0" alt="billick thuzio" /></a><p class="source">Thuzio.com</p></div></div></div></p>
<p>"...There's never been a way to easily access the talent. At least without knowing somebody or knowing their agent. We've taken all of that market - and put into an ecommerce marketplace which is unique," Barber told AdAge.</p>
<p>The Thuzio marketplace has grown to include over 1,000 former athletes, coaches, and entertainers. Sixty-five percent of Thuzio's clients are corporations, rather than individuals. These have included PepsiCo, Barclays, and Yahoo.</p>
<p>You can still get a personalized video message for $99 though, like this one from former Boston Celtic Gerald Henderson telling the message recipient named John why his steal, not Larry's Bird's, was the greatest in history:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="465" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/R-f1fgm4I0o"></iframe></p>
<p>Read <a href="http://adage.com/article/news/tiki-barber-s-thuzio-targets-business-sports-stars/245461/">the full interview</a> with Barber on AdAge.</p>

Inside Tiki Barber's Rent-An-Athlete Business

<p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images" title_caption="Tiki Barber co-founded Thuzio in 2012." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/555f66206bb3f7f25c72d408-960/456544972-2.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/555f66206bb3f7f25c72d408-1200-924/456544972-2.jpg" border="0" alt="456544972" /></a><p class="source"><span>Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Tiki Barber co-founded Thuzio in 2012.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span><span>Most people know Tiki Barber as the former New York Giants running back - the star who retired in 2006 as the team's all-time rushing and receptions leader. </span></span></p><p>What most people <em>don't </em>know about Barber is that he has proceeded to dominate an entirely different arena since exiting the NFL: startups. </p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In 2012, he cofounded a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tiki-barbers-thuzio-athlete-exchange-2013-11">rent-an-athlete company</a> called <a href="http://www.thuzio.com/">Thuzio</a>, a booking website where normal people can hire current and former athletes for a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tiki-barber-thuzio-hire-athletes-2013-1">wide variety of purposes</a>.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">What began as a six-person company in the basement of a town house in New York City is now a thriving business, having expanded to three more major cities: Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">We spoke to Barber about life as an entrepreneur - which, he admits, is harder than life as a professional athlete - and how to create a sound team in order to survive and thrive in the startup world. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"<strong>My hiring philosophy has always been to hire somebody who's smarter than me</strong>," Barber explains. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It can be easy for startup founders to fall into the trap of developing a dangerous sense of pride and ownership over their company, which can stunt growth and innovation, Barber says. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Rather than having a steadfast vision and only looking down one path, the key to success is to collaborate - and to do it with those who are smarter than you. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Tom Berg/Getty" title_caption="Barber rushed for over 10,000 yards during his career and 55 career touchdowns. " class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/555f70c169beddde7672d40b-960/gettyimages-120980659-1.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/555f70c169beddde7672d40b-1200-924/gettyimages-120980659-1.jpg" border="0" alt="GettyImages 120980659" /></a><p class="source"><span>Tom Berg/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Barber rushed for over 10,000 yards during his career and 55 career touchdowns. </p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"I hire people who have a specific expertise that I don't have," he explains. "And then I let them do their job. If I empower them to do their job, the company as a whole grows together."</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This structure creates a sense of trust within the company that is vital for success. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>"When I look at everyone, from our CEO down, I expect each of them to be accountable for the person that's sitting next to them," says Barber. "You all have to depend on each other. If you can get that kind of philosophy ingrained into your employees, you have a great chance for success because you're consistently getting what you expect from the person beside you."</span></span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/items-keep-off-resume-careers-2015-4">5 things you should never put on your résumé</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="duNjBmdDpbHFsqP9jEZSGXMaxI7gJ3wD" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'duNjBmdDpbHFsqP9jEZSGXMaxI7gJ3wD',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

How former NFL star Tiki Barber hires at his startup

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Tom Berg/Getty" title_caption="Tiki Barber rushed for over 10,000 yards and scored 55 touchdowns in his 10 seasons with the New York Giants." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55784531ecad04506b14b789-960/gettyimages-120980659-3.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55784531ecad04506b14b789-1200-924/gettyimages-120980659-3.jpg" border="0" alt="GettyImages 120980659" /></a><p class="source"><span>Tom Berg/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Tiki Barber rushed for over 10,000 yards and scored 55 touchdowns in his 10 seasons with the New York Giants.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Hanging up his cleats in 2006 did not mean fully parting from competition for New York Giants star running back Tiki Barber.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>He entered an equally competitive arena: that of business. </span></span></p><p>In 2012, Barber cofounded <a href="http://www.thuzio.com/">Thuzio</a>, which <span>provides businesses and professionals with an all access pass to celebrity talent through database, booking, and event services. </span></p><p><span>What began as a six-person company in the basement of a town house in New York City is now a thriving business. And much of Barber's entrepreneurial success can be attributed to the skills he picked up after 10 years in the NFL, he tells Business Insider. </span></p><p><span>Here are four key lessons he learned from professional football that he applies to business today: </span></p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">1. Collaborate.</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Collaboration, and not having pride or ownership when you're trying to accomplish a common goal, is critical for success in football and business," Barber says.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Just as each of his football teammates owned their specific role to create an efficient team, Barber looks to create a well-rounded and diversified business team, which is why <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-former-nfl-star-tiki-barber-hires-at-his-startup-2015-5">he hires and collaborates with people who have a specific strength that he does not</a>.  </span></p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">2. Fail hard and learn from it.</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">It's impossible to win every football game. A career in sports will inevitably be littered with losses and failures.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"The same thing happens in entrepreneurship," says Barber. " You have great ideas and grand designs to do exactly this, and then you realize that it's not quite right." When you reach a roadblock, you have to learn to pivot, change, and find the right path, he explains: "</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">You have to keep pounding the rock until you get success."</span></p><h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">3. Jump on every opportunity.</span></h3><p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"When you see an inefficiency - when you see something you can take advantage of - grab that opportunity and create something," says Barber.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Andrew Burton/Getty Images" title_caption="Tiki Barber cofounded Thuzio in 2012 with Mark Gerson." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/557854ee69bedd8f05880a3b-960/tiki-barber-3.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/557854ee69bedd8f05880a3b-800-600/tiki-barber-3.jpg" border="0" alt="tiki barber" /></a><p class="source"><span>Andrew Burton/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Tiki Barber cofounded Thuzio in 2012 with Mark Gerson.</p></div><p></p></div></div>In business and sports, all it takes is a fraction of a second for the tables to turn. The ability to capitalize on even the smallest of opportunities could determine whether or not you're successful, Barber says. </span></p><h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">4. Establish a routine.</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"In sports, there are so many variables <span>- weather or an injury, for example -</span> that can derail your focus," explains Barber. "Creating a routine helps you limit the amount of things that can go awry. The same things can happen in business. Try to keep things as regular as possible so that the problems that arise don't completely knock the ship off course."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">While Barber's routines have significantly changed since his playing days, he still has daily staples that give him structure and the feeling that he's always standing on solid ground.  </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Here's what a typical day f</span>or Barber looks l<span class="s1">ike:</span></p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">1. He reads the New York Times every morning on his commute. "A<span>s a radio host, current events and sports are always important."</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">2. He hydrates with at least </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">two full cups of water, and never skips breakfast. </span></p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">3. The first thing he does upon arriving to his office is to check email and tag anything that he needs to respond to.<br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">4. Following his CBS Sports Radio show, which airs on weekdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm, he calls his wife to check on her</span> and their daughter Broo<span class="s1">klyn. </span></p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">5. He responds to the tagged emails.</span></p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">6. He finishes a workout, either a run or lift. "<span>I've been hooked on running lately. I'm in the middle of the NYC Borough Series, and have the NYC Marathon coming up in November."</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">7. After the workday, he rocks his daughter to sleep by singin</span>g "bad renditions of 'Fly Me To The Moon,' 'There's No Business Like Show Business,' and 'Rock-a-bye Baby.'"</p><p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">8. He lays out his outfit for the next day to get a jump on the following morning. </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/items-keep-off-resume-careers-2015-4">5 things you should never put on your résumé</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="duNjBmdDpbHFsqP9jEZSGXMaxI7gJ3wD" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'duNjBmdDpbHFsqP9jEZSGXMaxI7gJ3wD',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Tiki Barber shares 4 lessons from football that have helped him grow his business 

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/50f708706bb3f7bf0f000008-800-600/tiki-barber-1.jpg?maxX=400" border="0" alt="tiki barber" width="400" /></div><p class="source">Andrew Burton/Getty Images</p></div>After a brief career in TV, ex-NFL player Tiki Barber is going into the business world.</p>
<p>He co-founded <a href="https://www.thuzio.com/">a company called Thuzio</a> — a booking website where normal people can hire current and former <keyword id="24261" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Athletes">athletes</keyword> for a wide variety of purposes.</p>
<p>The site's roster includes ex-players like Vin Baker, Larry Holmes, and Fred McGriff, as well as current players like Martellus Bennett of the Giants and Danny Green of the Spurs.</p>
<p>It's being marketed as a gift for die-hard fans.</p>
<p>The price varies by the player and the activity. It costs $500 to have lunch with Tiki Barber, $2,500 to play golf with Derrick Coleman, $7,500 to have Pierre Garcon come to your Bar Mitzvah, and $20,000 to have R.A. Dickey make an appearance at your company's promotional event.</p>
<p>To get an idea of how it works, we took a look at how hard it would be to hire former <keyword id="6361805" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NBA">NBA</keyword> star Vin Baker to come play pick-up basketball with us.</p>
<p>Here's what we found.</p>

Here's How To Play Pick-Up Basketball With An Ex-NBA Star For $1,000 (Thanks To Tiki Barber)

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/50f708706bb3f7bf0f000008-800-600/tiki-barber-1.jpg?maxX=400" border="0" alt="tiki barber" width="400" /></div><p class="source">Andrew Burton/Getty Images</p></div><keyword id="1773084" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tiki-Barber">Tiki Barber</keyword> is <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17vpxf/iam_tiki_barber_new_york_giants_career_rushing/">doing an Ask Me Anything</a> — a live Q&amp;A — on Reddit right now.</p>
<p>Like most celebrities who do these Q&amp;A's, he is generally answering non-controversial questions. But he did step up and answer a fairly confrontational question about why <a href="http://www.thuzio.com/tiki-barber.html">he goes to lunch with people for $500</a>.</p>
<p>Barber co-founded a company called Thuzio that lets regular people rent out current and former athletes for events, birthday parties, and even lunches.</p>
<p>For instance, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tiki-barber-thuzio-hire-athletes-2013-1">you can pay $1,000 and former NBA star Vin Baker will come to your house and play basketball with you</a>.</p>
<p>Barber <a href="http://www.thuzio.com/tiki-barber.html">is one of the athletes available for rent</a>. His going rate for lunch is $500 for two hours.</p>
<p>One Redditor asked Barber:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">" ... Why are you having two hour lunches for people for 500$? I mean..you can't be that broke..."</p>
<p>Barber responded:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"(...) I'm testing out pricing and date points for a business I created. At that price point, we are booking about 20 bookings a month. And don't forget, I have a nationally syndicated radio show now. It's not about being broke, it's about being an entrepreneur."</p>
<p>Basically, Barber is putting his money where his mouth is. He started this company where ex-athletes can get paid for their time, and he's using himself as a guinea pig.</p>
<p>It makes sense.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17vpxf/iam_tiki_barber_new_york_giants_career_rushing/">Check out the rest of the AMA here &gt;</a></strong></p>

You Searched For "Thuzio" and got 5 results

Inside Tiki Barber's Rent-An-Athlete Business

Richard Feloni

How former NFL star Tiki Barber hires at his startup

Kathleen Elkins

Tiki Barber shares 4 lessons from football that have helped him grow his business

Kathleen Elkins

Here's How To Play Pick-Up Basketball With An Ex-NBA Star For $1,000 (Thanks To Tiki Barber)

Tony Manfred

Tiki Barber Says Getting Paid $500 To Go To Lunch With People Has Nothing To Do With Being Broke

Tony Manfred