16: Becoming The Best Version of Yourself with Laurence Bowers

Today we have on professional basketball player and community leader Laurence Bowers. Laurence and I have similar backgrounds of growing up with a single mother and financial adversity and in this episode we talk about how you can rise above the challenges you were given. Laurence is now the director of marketing and content creation at Every True Tiger foundation, University of Missouri's official Name, Image, and Likeness Collective ( NIL.) He is also the founder of LBO sports offering kids the chance to attend basketball trainings and camps through scholarships. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Rising above adversity 
• Leaning into building relationships and our network
• The importance of financial literacy and how most businesses and NIL athletes fail in this

To connect with Laurence:
Instagram
LBO Sports Camp
Email: lbowers@everytruetiger.org

Instagram
Facebook
Tiktok
Website

Transcript

 Laurence Bowers: [00:00:00] I'm still trying to be better connected to me to be who I am. a lot of people see the imagery of me as, Oh man, this, this guy played basketball. He's great with kids. He, you know, everybody has internal struggles [00:01:00] 

Paden Squires: Hello, everybody. This is Paden Squires. I'm the host of the Behind Their Success podcast. Today, we got a special guest for you, Mr. Lawrence Bowers. Lawrence was a member of the winningest basketball class in Mizzou basketball history. He won a Big 12 tournament title, also had an Elite 8 run in the NCAA tournament.

Paden Squires: He went on to play professional basketball in the NBA Summer League and also overseas in Israel. I know I had a lot of fun watching him back in the day when I [00:02:00] was in college. Those teams were a lot of fun to watch. Currently, he's the Director of Marketing and Content Creation at Every True Tiger Foundation.

Paden Squires: This foundation is University of Missouri's official name, image, and likeness collective. He works with current Mizzou athletes to help them partner with organizations for marketing opportunities. He's also the founder of Elbow Sports, which locally hosts basketball camps and individual basketball training.

Paden Squires: His camps are a pretty big deal for the community as they offer access to these camps through scholarships, offering access to kids that financially can't afford them. I know last year they helped over 85 kids, and he's looking to do quite a bit more this year. Lawrence is a proud husband of Faven and father of a daughter and a son.

Paden Squires: He holds a master's degree in school, educational and counseling, and bachelor's degree in sociology from the university of Missouri. Welcome Lawrence on the podcast. 

 Laurence Bowers: Paden couldn't be more, I'm happy to be here, man. Looking very much forward to our conversation. 

Paden Squires: [00:03:00] Heck yeah, man. So Lawrence, you know, I read off the bio there.

Paden Squires: give me a little bit of your background. how'd you get to where you are today? 

 Laurence Bowers: Well, you know, a lot, you hear this a lot, but man, I truly came from humble beginnings. I grew up, without my biological father for most of my life he missed most of my formative years.

 Laurence Bowers: he was away in prison, a great guy. We ended up striking a pretty good relationship once he was released, but didn't grow up easily at all. I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, I lived there until I was like three or four. Don't know the exact reason. They moved out to the country side of Procter Arkansas, which is outside of West Memphis with my mom and stepdad at the time.

 Laurence Bowers: I remember my first basketball hoop being a piece of wood that we nailed up to a light pole that was sitting in front of the yard and played on dirt. That's just how I learned how to play the game of basketball. And obviously it took me a long, a long way in life. Also learn. How to play baseball out in the country.

  Laurence Bowers: to rabbit hunt, deer hunt, [00:04:00] squirrel hunt, go fishing. It wasn't much to do, living out there for nine, eight, nine years. I lived out there. but it definitely instilled in me a desire to want more, instilled in me a work ethic that I still have. possessed to this day. After living in Proctor, Arkansas, my mom and step dad divorced.

 Laurence Bowers: We moved back to Memphis and that's when things really became hard. My mom was, single mom and I always tell people by the grace of God and the generosity of many, most who might not even know. I was able to never miss opportunities by going to camps and going on baseball trips and tournaments, which is why, when you talk about LBO sports and camp Bowers, you mentioned all the good that we do as far as scholarship and kids, I don't even look at it as me doing a good deed.

 Laurence Bowers:I look at it as me reciprocating the generosity that I've. Received during my lifetime. So that's just a little bit about my upbringing. I graduated from St. George's independent school. [00:05:00] wouldn't be where I am without that school. That school changed my life, introduced me to some really great people.

 Laurence Bowers:, I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about the University of Missouri and how it has completely impacted my life to the point where we decided to settle down here in Columbia being that I'm not even from here and I'm the only person from my family. 

Paden Squires: yeah. obviously you've had a lot of success in athletics. How was that, coming up through high school and then ultimately getting recruited into the University of Missouri? Tell me a little bit about that. 

 Laurence Bowers: I actually grew up more focused on the baseball side, believe it or not, have multiple opportunities with baseball, but basketball was just a sport I loved the most.

  Laurence Bowers:,it was one of those things where it made sense because I was six, seven, super athletic, could jump, had a nice jump shot. so it just made sense for me to pursue and actually love, I think, basketball a little bit more, but, my recruiting process was the tale of two halves per se.

  Laurence Bowers: started off as a very highly ranked recruit. And [00:06:00] basketball, went through a summer of having knee pains. I think it was growing pains,from all of the rankings went towards the background of many coaches, just an afterthought. So I wasn't highly recruited with basketball the way that, um, you know, I started off my high school career, but, nonetheless, I did have some big offers, just not many.

 Laurence Bowers: I ended up coming to the university of Missouri after being denied by the university of Arkansas. That was my school. I was committed to them. And then they had a coaching change and the new coach basically told me he didn't want me, but the whole time Mike Anderson was very persistent and obviously we had family ties.

 Laurence Bowers: uncle played for him and Nolan Richardson at Arkansas. so I just trusted him. I trusted him and that brought me here to the University of Missouri. And,I think it's safe to say I had a really good career here. but more than that, this place is my home. And, I think that was one of the greatest decisions I ever made.

Paden Squires: Yeah. Yeah. you certainly, those teams there, especially with Mike Anderson [00:07:00] and you guys were certainly a lot, you know, well, like I said, you won the most games of any class in the zoo history. So,you guys certainly had a lot of success. So 

Paden Squires: what transitioned after that? 

 Laurence Bowers: the freshman year that we had here was, I wouldn't say it was expected by any means, to bring in five freshmen. My freshman year, I was one of those five, and we went to the elite eight.

 Laurence Bowers:  that year some might've said we overachieve, but I didn't play as much my freshman year. We had a loaded front court with Keith Ramsey, Justin Safford, and not to mention Leo Lyons, who.

 Laurence Bowers:He's probably one of the most talented guys to ever come through Mizzou, and Damari Carroll, and we know how that career played out. So, uh, I didn't play much my freshman year, but we worked hard. I worked my tail off, I never gave into the whole being frail and,you know, being the fifth guy.

  Laurence Bowers: I kept working and then I came back sophomore year, second leading score, second leading rebounder on the team. and my career just continuously progressed. So it was a lot of hard work put in. We didn't play for an easy coach at all. [00:08:00] Mike Anderson, I love him to death, talked to him probably once or twice every month since I played for him still to this day, he was very tough on us.

 Laurence Bowers:In retrospect, there were times where I questioned if I even wanted to play for him. But now that I'm a father and a husband and I coach kids, everything just makes sense. but to go back to what you were saying, we did win a lot of games. We did establish what the culture of Missouri basketball could be.

 Laurence Bowers:, I think, just fast forwarding to today, I think that we're on the verge of seeing that come back to life under the leadership of Dennis Gates and his staff. I Am very excited about Mizzou basketball. Obviously, this past year was a bit rough. not expected at all, but, I think brighter things are on the horizon.

Paden Squires: So you finished up your college career. Tell me where you went from there. I know you went overseas for some time period. tell us about that experience. 

  Laurence Bowers: So when I graduated, I ended up having to stay an extra year in Mizzou. I had a very devastating knee injury and I say [00:09:00] devastating, not that, I did play afterwards, but.

 Laurence Bowers: knee injury definitely derailed my NBA career. I feel. safe enough to say that and vulnerable enough right now. it did, it was devastating, but I came back a fifth year, had a really good year, but also had another knee injury. So I just had to overcome so much adversity. but that last two years of Mizzou, but nonetheless, I did go pro afterwards.

 Laurence Bowers:I had a quick stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. It didn't last as long as I would have liked. But, from there I went overseas and played in Israel. I'm in the top division, 14 main hopper wealth alone. We had two really good seasons, and made the playoffs both times. I had a really good season both years. and then from there, I transitioned into the upper leagues of Italy and played there for three years.

 Laurence Bowers: I had my daughter, she was born there, Fiori, who was behind me.and after that fifth year, we actually won a championship. The knee that I hurt in college, the ACL knee. I just couldn't withstand the pain that I [00:10:00] would feel after practices and games. And, being a father at that point, it was like, life is bigger than basketball.

 Laurence Bowers:I want to be able to be a fun dad, right? As you have your own kids, and I like running after them. I like playing basketball with them and throwing them up in the air. If I didn't quit at that particular time, no telling what kind of shape my knee would be in right now. So I did that and played basketball for five years pro, and then decided to settle here in Columbia, because of my, just being genuine with people and trying to be a good friend outside of being just known as a basketball player.

 Laurence Bowers: I was at Mizzou, I was able to transition and come back here and find my footing. With the help of Dr. James Stannard over at MOI. He really helped propel me. He put me in front of the people at Johnson. So I then became a trauma sales rep. I did that for two and a half years. And then the wonderful world of name, image, and likeness.

 Laurence Bowers:  was introduced to college athletics. [00:11:00] And I was pulled from that job and was asked to come and lead. Tiger. And that's what I'm doing right now. And I love it. I'm impacting my school in a very positive way. 

Paden Squires: Heck yeah. So yeah, that's a NIL name, image likeness. That's a whole new world, right?

Paden Squires: Or at least a world that's only existed for a couple of years. give us in a nutshell, what you do, people hear about NIL, but they may not know exactly how it works since it's so new. 

  Laurence Bowers: , it's, it's crazy. we're supposed to be experts in this and I feel very knowledgeable about what we do about name, image, and likeness, but dude, it changes so much.

 Laurence Bowers:  so many rules, regulations, bylaws, legislation changes. It happens on a whim. To be honest with you, I can't say that I'm 100 percent sure about all things and I don't think anyone is. I think we're evolving and adapting as the time goes, but I will say I stand confident in knowing that.

 Laurence Bowers: I am playing a very important part in Every True Tiger. my role is director of marketing and content creation on paper, [00:12:00] but, being a part of a startup and being on the forefront of things, you wear so many different hats that I don't even think a title does, you know, justice, I'm dealing with finances, I'm dealing with player relations, I'm dealing with coaches and negotiations I'm dealing with.

 Laurence Bowers: There's just so many others. Things within my job that are not within that title, but, I have a great team. We do have a CEO by the name of Nick Garner. He's been great to learn under, he possesses a very strong business acumen, especially in the world of sports and multimedia rights, which all kind of tie into name, image, and likeness.

  Laurence Bowers:  then I have an assistant, she's our marketing coordinator. Her name is Jenna Brown. She brings a teacher's background into the things that we do. And she's also a. athlete, track and field athlete. So she knows the business. In the NIL world, man, I'm honestly, I'm doing whatever it takes to just help my school be top tier when it comes to efficiency and how their NIL system operates.

Paden Squires: a question I like to ask a [00:13:00] lot of my guests is what would you say is your top skill or like the skill that leads to your success? 

 Laurence Bowers: I think my top skill shadow of a doubt would be just my relationship building skills. told me not too long ago, because when you're young, you're male.

 Laurence Bowers:  have to admit the male ego is something else, right? can't be overstated. And I fall victim to that at times. But, I'm 33 years old. And I always try to seek mentorship in people who, Have done some of the things that I aspire to do financially, you know, as a husband, as a Christian, and I was talking to one of my mentors and I don't remember how we got on this, but I told him, I'm like, Hey man, I've been thinking about going back to school to get an MBA or to pursue my doctorate because I just feel like it would advance my career in so many ways.

 Laurence Bowers:  he thought about it and he looked at me and he said, Lawrence, for some people, I think that's a necessity, right? He [00:14:00] said, relationship building skills. Are superb. That's one thing I've always thought about you. You're just a genuine guy. you care about people. You're empathetic, you're sympathetic,you care.

 Laurence Bowers: He said for you, I, I want you to look at your net worth as being your network. And when he said that, it kind of resonated with me. I'm like, I know a lot of people in higher places who pour into me on that on an everyday basis. Yeah, even if it's not talking about finances or real estate or talking to people who don't know you, you become my financial advisor.

 Laurence Bowers: just having genuine conversations with people who aspire to do bigger things, has really helped me. So to hear that my relationship skills were something that really stood out, that made me feel good about myself because yes, I am educated. Yes, I work extremely hard. Yes, I am a devout Christian.

 Laurence Bowers: ask for the things I manifest. but I think just my [00:15:00] way with people has propelled me to where I am and I'm just going to continue to be me. 

Paden Squires: Yeah. and I agree, you know, I've gotten to know you over the last, I don't know, a couple of years, year and a half, something like that.

Paden Squires: And, Yeah, absolutely. you're a relational guy. And the last podcast I had that just came out this week was, all about network and your net worth, the ability to network and make all those connections. And, it's amazing. And it's and I've said on other episodes before, where.

Paden Squires: Like you could take all of our financial wealth and assets and just take that all the way. But if you leave my relationships, if I still had all my relationships, I could build that sucker back really fast. 

 Laurence Bowers:  think that's a great approach to it. And, uh, you know, when I create relationships with people, it's not, for a handout.

  Laurence Bowers: not for them to do anything for me. It's more so just to. just spread positivity, man. Like in a world that we live in now, I'm not huge in politics. I'm not huge into all of them, this matters and that matters. I'm [00:16:00] just in love, man. I think just being a great person, doing the right thing.

 Laurence Bowers:and I think that when you spread positivity. Eventually, it can break through the strongest of walls. So I'm just huge on relationships, man. Number one, I really like to laugh as we have a fun time with me and you are together, but I just like having a good time, man. I just think it's way easier to be nice to people than it is to be a grouchy dude all the time when you're meeting people.

 Laurence Bowers: So. 

Paden Squires: So, what would you credit as the best decision you've ever made? 

 Laurence Bowers:  my wife. 

Paden Squires: That's a great answer. 

 Laurence Bowers: Marrying my wife. Obviously, you hear the whole cliché of behind every man there's a great woman. I could talk for days and weeks and months and years about my wife. She met me when all I had to offer her was potential.

 Laurence Bowers: we built a beautiful family. She keeps me on track. You've met my wife. She's five foot four, but she, uh, when she talks to this six, seven guy, I listen. So she fights, she's good. So I would definitely say, marry my wife. but in the business [00:17:00] sense, I would say just starting LBO sports by myself.

 Laurence Bowers: I had no direction. and it has grown into something that is really beautiful. There's been trials and tribulations as in any startup, but to say that we hosted 553 campers in one summer last year in camp, I That was incredible. So I think just my willingness on the business side to just take a risk.

 Laurence Bowers:  believe in myself. I know that I'm good to people. I know that I work hard. I know that I educate myself on the things that I'm passionate about. So,those would probably be the two things. I'm most proud of. 

Paden Squires: Okay. Now flip side of that. What's one big mistake you've made? It could be business, family, whatever.

  Laurence Bowers:  just patted myself on the shoulder about taking a risk, and just opening it to certain things and how it paid off for me with LBL sports. But, I was also really done with money. in the earlier years of my professional career and, just spending money in ways, man, where I wasn't really super worried about the [00:18:00] future and now being about to be 34, I just hired you as a financial advisor because I want to really see, improvement in my financial can honestly say that, I've been blessed to have a career and have my own company to where I make decent amount of money. But, in previous years, I just wasn't good at saving. I wasn't good. And you asked me a question a while back about assets. I want to grow my assets. so I would definitely say spending habits weren't great.

 Laurence Bowers: But me and my wife, we make a really good team and we've come to a point last year. So we're like, if we do something with our money. We can live a life. So I would just say that, man, I'm excited about the future. I'm excited about working with you. at WR wealth, WR tax planners to, uh, to help the Bowers get to another level.

Paden Squires: Yeah, man. And it's,what you described, there's, of course I work in, that whole world. a very common story. And especially, being young, being a professional athlete, like you don't know what you [00:19:00] don't know. And that's to be expected.

Paden Squires: you can make so much money 

 Laurence Bowers:  the blink of an eye. Right. You know, I never held that much money a day in my life. And then all of a sudden you're handing me hundreds of thousands in checks. That's crazy, for a guy, especially, Mizzou did a decent job of financial education with us at the time.

 Laurence Bowers: It's not as strong as it is now because of NIL, we are huge on financial literacy. but man, yeah, it was a lot of Just trying to figure it out, man. And,it didn't help that we lived in Italy where Gucci, you know, so,I definitely matured my wife and I have grown. we're more connected financially.

 Laurence Bowers: , I think, like I said, that was the biggest mistake, but I'm still young, man, I feel good knowing that I am still young. I'm only 33 years old and now I have people in my corner who are really going to help me. Look out to get to where I can possibly go, man. So I'm very excited about that. 

Paden Squires: Yeah.

Paden Squires: And you know, it's,you see it like a lottery winner, [00:20:00] professional athletes,you know, it's like, here's a million dollars. don't kill yourself with it. these people, once again, they don't know what they don't know. They may come from backgrounds, like humble beginnings, like you, me, we're not used to having this kind of money.

Paden Squires: So it can be very, it's a big problem, right? you can get yourself in a lot of trouble with it. And, it's just really important to have people in your corner to help you protect you because especially, even some of these, kids in the NIL, they're getting, they're making some money, which is fantastic.

Paden Squires: But also that's when a lot of the people come out of the woodwork to try to latch onto you and look for money and,You just got to get as educated as possible. Yeah, 

 Laurence Bowers: , no doubt. And, being in Mizzou, financial literacy is huge for us. Because you're right.

 Laurence Bowers: You got guys making six figures. You got these girls making six figures. They come from very, even more humble beginners than you and I. And,it's a lot, it's a lot to maintain. It's a lot to manage. like you said, you do have people coming out of Woodworth, making you feel obligated to do things for them.

 Laurence Bowers: You know, you remember when I did this for you when you [00:21:00] were little? I can't tell you how many times I've heard those types of stories. And then just, you know, these athletes want to go out, buy these fancy cars, go out and do all this type of stuff. it's very sad to see how NIL has brought a negative.

 Laurence Bowers: Such a negative thing to light, but it's also even more. Positive to see how impactful, the NIL compensation can be for athletes whose families don't have much. So it's, it's great, man. Finances can be a good thing, can be a bad thing, but I'd rather have than not have, I'll tell you that.

Paden Squires: when I get to talk to different people in those situations, my biggest thing I always talk to 'em about, it's like, Hey, you know, you're a great athlete. And even if you're the greatest of all time. This is going to end someday and then someday soon, right?

Paden Squires: it's not going to last 20 years, even if you were the greatest of all time. So think about the future, set yourself up, take advantage of this money, take advantage of it. and that's just always on the [00:22:00] forefront. 

 Laurence Bowers:  wish I would've known that advice. my first starter, man, because truth be told a very old athlete is still a very young man or woman.

Paden Squires: you got a lot of life ahead of you. 

  Laurence Bowers: , you know, when you asked me about that mistake earlier, I wish I would've just been better with my money thinking about the future. I knew I wanted kids, I knew I wanted a particular type of lifestyle, post-retirement. but I didn't do a great job working on that when I was printing money as an athlete.

Paden Squires: Yeah, 

 Laurence Bowers: yeah, now I'm in a good spot, but, I've, there's been a lot of bumps in my head and, I'm very thankful for you brother. 

Paden Squires: So man, tell me,go back to 18 year old, 20 year old Lawrence and you could talk in his ear. What piece of advice would you give him from your perspective today? 

 Laurence Bowers: I would say number one to be content. I felt like I was never really content, with how things had played out, after the injury and just being in college, I felt overlooked at times, but,just being content, not being [00:23:00] complacent, but just being content with the things that I did have,and understanding that there's a greater call for my life, because, childhood trauma is a real thing as well.

 Laurence Bowers: So a lot of things that I went through as a kid allowed me not to see the greatness in me. so I would always doubt myself and stuff of that nature. I will always, I wouldn't say, yeah, I'll say, I kind of envy, I had envy in my heart about certain people. So there were times where I just wasn't content with what I had.

 Laurence Bowers: I always thought that I deserve more. I wanted more, this, and this. I would just go back and tell Lawrence to be happy in his path, continue to work hard and good things will be on the horizon. I think when my daughter was born, right before my daughter was born, I'm sorry, that's when I started to mature mentally and have that mantra that I'm talking about and life has been really good ever since.

Paden Squires: And it's a journey, man. I can relate to a lot of what you say there, childhood trauma, single mom, all those things. and yeah, I can relate. Big time to that of never being [00:24:00] content and always chasing after something, trying to fill some hole, and doubting yourself, lack of self confidence.

Paden Squires: that's me in a nutshell, especially as a kid. it's just recognizing that and maturing from it. yeah, it's a journey. 

 Laurence Bowers: Yeah. Everything is a journey, man. and I said this on a podcast I did before this one, but I'm trying and still to this day, and I'm, I'll be 34 in a few weeks.

 Laurence Bowers: I'm still trying to be better connected to me to be who I am. a lot of people see the imagery of me as, Oh man, this, this guy played basketball. He's great with kids. He, you know, everybody has internal struggles, and some have more than others. And I'm thankful that I live a pretty positive life, you can always grow.

 Laurence Bowers: You can always evolve. And,outside of business, just you being more in touch with you. I've started working out every morning, whether it's hot, whether it's at the gym at API, shout out to API fitness, my guy, Jarrell Jackson and Lotus hot yoga, my girl, Brandi [00:25:00] Turner. 

 Laurence Bowers: Just working on me because truth be told Peyton, and this, the better I am for myself, the more I can give to that beautiful woman that you see and that family that you see behind me.

 Laurence Bowers: they deserve a good Lawrence. It's all about growing, man. 

Paden Squires: That's the mindset. Yeah. That's what we talk about here constantly on this podcast is growth, being as self aware as possible, right?

Paden Squires: the best thing you can do for the world is become the best version of yourself. You can be, and I've had other guests, talk about it. It's like 90 percent of the work to solve all your problems is internal and only like 10 percent of it's extra. you really are the problem and the solution to everything.

 Laurence Bowers: And you have to get yourself out of that rut. If you ever fall into one, you have to be your biggest cheerleader. You gotta be your biggest disciplinarian. You got to hold yourself accountable in a way that nobody else should even come close to being able to hold you accountable.

 Laurence Bowers: So I totally agree with you, man. I think, just people working on themselves and understanding, not blaming this person or that person. Looking in the mirror saying, Hey, I got to be better. [00:26:00] And if you do that, it'd be good. It'd be good. That's great, man. 

Paden Squires: what's best way people can connect with you or just, follow you, what's best connect 

 Laurence Bowers: with, uh, from an NIL perspective, very easy email is always the best. My email for every two tigers is lbowers@everytruetiger.org

 Laurence Bowers: For any business that has any questions about, potentially partnering with any of our student athletes, having them become ambassadors, shooting any type of media content, social media, advertisement, the easiest way to get a hold of me would be through email. And then for anybody who is interested in LBL sports, we do have the 10th annual camp Bowers coming up, 10th 

Paden Squires: annual, man, 

 Laurence Bowers: a decade of camps.

 Laurence Bowers: we are going to eclipse over 600 kids. Registration is unbelievable right now. I've garnered some serious support from the community, which lets me know that I am doing something positive. So,the easiest way to get in touch with me is probably through the website and that's [00:27:00] 

 Laurence Bowers: www.lbosportswithness.com. you can learn more about who I am, what I do on my basketball journey. the things I offer to the community, the kids, in addition to the camps that I hold every summer here in Columbia. So pretty visible, if you run into me, anybody running to me out in the streets or out of the Mizzou game, whatever, just say hi.

 Laurence Bowers: I love talking. 

Paden Squires: That's awesome. Yeah. And big shout out to LBO sports with the camps. I've seen Lawrence out there with the kids and he's amazing. I've seen him there seven 30, Saturday mornings, coaching basketball with just young kids and just pouring into them. And it's, it's really cool to watch and I appreciate it.

Paden Squires: Thank you. Well, guys, that's all we have for you today. Thank you.

 Laurence Bowers: Thank you.