Fantasy Kick

Fantasy Football at the Office - "Playing to Win": NY Post

2010-03-24T03:18:42Z

I was interviewed around the Super Bowl by the New York Post. The article focuses on the benefits and controversy of fantasy football at the office. I think they did a good job. What's really scary - they printed my sleeper pick for the 2010 season!

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/jobs/playing_to_win_YB79rcRDunwWbZuPQaVN

Enjoy!

-Michael

Fantasy Football Should be Viewed as an Investment by a Company, Not a Detriment: Four fired for playing fantasy NFL at work

2009-12-17T11:36:00Z

So four employees from Fidelity were fired for playing fantasy football? Is this a joke?

This is wrong on so many fronts. Fantasy football brings co-workers together. Its not gambling.

Its a social event. Yes - leagues leagues typically play for a pot of money- similar to bowling. But are they firing any employees for being in the company bowling league competing for a pool of money funded by the participants of the league?

The game (and I emphasize the word "game") brings employees together and helps lift morale - similar to events Fidelity probably creates for similar desired effect.

If they are against the social benefits employee-organized activities bring, they might as well get rid of the company's basketball league, softball league, and prohibit wedding and baby showers too.

Fantasy Football is not gambling. Its a competition where skill, effort and collaboration is involved. Someone in their HR department is a little confused.

I'm sending a copy of my book, "Fantasy Kick, Leverage the Networking Opportunities of Fantasy Football to Give Your Career the Kick it Needs" to their HR department. Hopefully the company will reconsider its position on fantasy football.

-Michael
www.fantasykick.com

Testing the new Functionality

2009-09-07T17:06:16Z

Test test test

Fantasy Kick available on Amazon.com and BN.com

2006-10-29T20:43:00Z

Just in time for the shopping season. We will hopefully be able to satisfy consumer demand by making "Fantasy Kick" available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com on Monday, 10-30.

This is for the printed book, with our new publisher..

I will keep you updated as more stores sell "Fantasy Kick".

-Michael

Trades & Networking: My experiences this season so far

2006-10-02T03:29:00Z

Now is the time where teams are identifying their strengths and weaknesses. The trade talk really begins heating up about now. Chances are, your league has seen a trade or two. If not, get ready - some trades will happen soon.

I was approached this past week with three trade opportunities in my three leagues. Each trade offer came in differently. For the most part, they were fair trade offers, but what I find most interestingly is how I was approached.

Trade offer 1: Came in through the trade management feature of my league's site. The other team and I had not had any conversations regarding a trade. I opened up my e-mail and there was the offer.

Trade offer 2: I got an e-mail from a team in one of my leagues stating that they saw I had a lot of RB's, but weak at QB. He mentioned he wanted to work out a deal with me, but requested I threw out some ideas.

Trade offer 3: A co-worker in my work league personally approached me about a trade. He came by my desk a few times this past week to discuss possible opportunities for us to work out a deal.

Trade offer 2 was the only deal right now that worked out this week. To me, that's not the story though. The real deal here is networking. Trade offer 1 was cold and impersonable. Trade offer 2 was warmer and created an e-mail dialogue, but Trade offer 3 was the best for networking.

The team for Trade offer 3 and I got to negotiate and work through the challenge of trying to both better our teams through a trade. A trade didn't materialize, but a new level of respect and familiarity with each other was created. I'm sure I'll be working with the team from Trade offer 3 for work-related projects in the near-future. Just having that interaction could help our current and future networking efforts.

Stay tuned. I'll keep you posted on my future trades. I'm going to need them - especially in my work league. It's a 16 team league and I'm 0-4!!! (I put too much stock in the Miami Dolphins this season)

-Michael

Indianapolis Star features "Fantasy Kick"

2006-09-06T11:27:00Z

Dana Knight, a career columnist for the Indianapolis Star, highlights the benefits of Fantasy Kick. It's a fun read!

Offensive team name conversation overheard at one of my drafts

2006-09-06T04:19:00Z

Team A: Your team name is that? Why?

Team B: I thought it was funny.

Team A: It's offensive. Do me a favor. Don't submit any trade proposals to me at work using that team name..

Is that the sound of networking opportunities drying up??? This was at a draft. These two teams already have compromised communication issues getting out of the gate.

-Michael

Fantasy Kick: On NPR's "Morning Edition"

2006-09-06T04:14:00Z

National Public Radio spent some time with myself and members of my fantasy football league, the Frontier League today. The segment is set to air on Wednesday morning.

The segment will run on the "Morning Edition" show, a national show.

Here's NPR's Morning Edition web page to learn more.

Special thanks to Kevin and Jamey from my league for taking the time to talk to the press (I still hope to beat you this season though - I got a championship to defend!)

-Michael

USA Today - Covering Fantasy Kick

2006-09-06T04:12:00Z

Fantasy Kick is catching on. We were just covered by USA Today. Click here to check out the article.

Are you ready for Thursday night's game?

-Michael

My Recent Work Draft Experience: Networking opportunities missed galore!

2006-09-01T12:59:00Z

I work for a fairly large company. It's big enough to yield a fantasy football league with 16 teams! The league consists of participants from varying departments. I am now a member in this league. Was in it a couple of years ago, took a few years off to focus on my other fantasy teams, but now I am back in this league. At the time of writing this, no one in this league knows about my book, Fantasy Kick.

We had our draft the other night. There were about 20 guys there - who all work for the same company. A good majority of them played the previous season and somewhat knew each other. There were some new participants. I got a sense that the guys who knew each other though, only really knew about their fantasy football history - not their work history.

I got to the draft fairly early. I went around the room and introduced myself to each of the other participants. The commish told me that I didn't need to worry about meeting everyone because we would go around the table we were sitting at and announce who we were. I still introduced myself. I got everyone's names and area they worked in.

I'm glad I made the effort to introduce myself, because as we got closer to picking players the commish forgot about introductions and started the draft.

I don't know if these guys were tired, if the lighting in the room was too dark or what , but it was frustrating for me to see my fellow fantasy football participants in this league pass up valuable networking opportunities. Here they are, in a fun social setting with current managers, and future directors and vp's. Instead of striking up a conversation, they were lamenting about the 202nd pick in the draft!

As the draft entered the final round, the teams who made their final pick would get up an leave without a comment. No taunting, no "nice draft"s no one even thanked the commish for all his hard work. Only a few of us hung out after to help clean up the room.

I'm sure 99% of the leagues out there are just like my work league. The participants enjoy the social component of fantasy football, but they are missing networking opportunities every step they take.

Wake up people! Fantasy football at the office is delivering you valuable networking opportunities. If you still have your draft coming up, don't let it be like my recent draft. Capitalize on the networking opportunities and give your career the kick it needs!

-Michael

Growing support for fantasy football at the office

2006-08-28T22:03:00Z

Your draft has either happened or is about to happen. Fantasy football hype is just beginning.

It's not just Fantasy Kick, the press is now asking more and more if fantasy football can actually be good for the office. Check out this article crom Santa Rosa's The Press Democrat.

What's your company's stance on fantasy football? This is a good article to show the potential benefits of fantasy football at the office...

-Michael

FoxSports.com continues the Fantasy Kick Debate

2006-08-23T15:42:00Z

Peter Schrager of Foxsports.com has written an excellent article about the benefits of fantasy football at the office. He even interviewed Challenger, Gray and Christmas for the article - this is the firm that claims fantasy football will zap over a billion dollars from companies this year. Check it out!

Your League's Draft is One of the Best Opportunities to Network using Fantasy Football

2006-08-22T03:05:00Z

If you are considering using fantasy football to help build up your professional network - start with your fantasy football league's draft. Chances are, it's the only time your league will physically be together. A good draft (for both networking and fantasy football) sets the stage for a successful season - for both networking and fantasy football.

The mood at these events is usually upbeat - no one has lost a game yet. Everyone has just as good of chance to make the playoffs as the next team. Once fantasy teams begin losing, the fantasy team owner has a greater chance of losing interest and becoming disengaged from the league. You need to capitalize on the networking opportunities while the league's mood is primarily upbeat.

If there is one thing you need to remember for your fantasy draft and networking: GET TO YOUR DRAFT EARLY! Be the first one there. It will give you great opportunities to meet with many of your league's participants - some who you've might have seen in the office, but not had the opportunity to meet yet.

Networking is important. Your league probably has influential (or future) hiring managers. Remember, when it comes to getting a job, it's not always what you know - it's who you know.

Work that draft and start building new relationships that can help open the doors for a better job this year.

-Michael
www.fantasykick.com

Special Thanks to Barndog Photo

2006-08-18T01:51:00Z

I got my picture taken the other day for my site by Barndog Photo. (They are the studio who took the new picture for my front page.)

I was very impressed with the professionalism and attitude of the studio owner, Bob. He did a great job taking the pictures. My daughters came to the shoot with me and not only did he entertain them, he also got some great shots of them with me.

If you are in the Chicago area and are looking for a good photographer, I highly recommend Barndog Photo.

-Michael

On Houston Radio: 94.5 The Buzz

2006-08-03T10:42:00Z

I'm going to be on Houston's 94.5, the Buzz this morning. The Rod Ryan show. Really looking towards talking with this great sports city.

Fantasy Kick: Read the MSNBC Article and see the CNBC Video

2006-08-01T01:59:00Z

Coverage continues. You can now see my crazy mug on the screen. Click here to check it out.

Fantasy Kick Featured on CNBC

2006-07-29T00:51:00Z

Fantasy Kick was highlighted on the "On the Money" show Friday, July 28. I was interviewed for the segment as well as the editor from Deadspin.com. Darren Rovell did a great job with the segment. It runs tonight at 10:44 pm CST.

Fantasy Kick on Deadspin.com

2006-07-24T23:03:00Z

Fantasy Kick is highlighted on Deadspin.com. Check it out. They are concerned that Fantasy Kick is going to change Fantasy Football.... I hope they are right.

We're still working on the cover for the TPS reports..

-Michael

First Press Release: Impressive Response

2006-07-23T21:18:00Z

I sent out the first press release using PRWeb.com on Thursday morning. As of Sunday evening, over 162,000 people have clicked on the press release. PRWeb.com told me the number of clicks we are getting is really good. I haven't seen any news media pick up the story yet, but we anticipate the story to run this coming week with training camps beginning, (one of the most wonderful weeks of the year in my opinion.)

So keep looking in the news. It could be an exciting week for "Fantasy Kick"...

-Michael

Fantasy Kick is now available for purchase!

2006-07-20T07:27:00Z

I have finally finished the e-book! The press releases have been sent.. Here we go!!!

Interest has maintained an extremely steady pace. It's starting to heat up with training camp starting next week.

Are you ready for the upcoming fantasy football season? Are thinking of using fantasy football as a networking vehicle? If not, you should really start to think about it...

-Michael