A former Army Ranger and “Apprentice” winner, Kelly Perdew is an innovator in the fantasy sports community. RotoHog’s Sports Market Ticker provides real-time information (just like a stock price) on every athlete in every league around the world.
PROFESSIONAL
AN INSIGHT: I’ve found that the person with the capability for the most varied responses usually comes out on top in any given situation. Stay flexible.
AN INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN MY CAREER: Steve Wynne (from Portland, not Vegas), who as the former CEO of Adidas North America raised Adidas back to prominence against Nike in the ’90s. As a mentor, there were two important lessons he reinforced for me at eteamz: Always maintain the highest integrity, and surround yourself with great people.
A BUSINESS DEAL: Google buying YouTube.
A SPORTS PROMO: The Brandon Roy “iRoy” iPod Nano campaign that helped secure Brandon’s spot on the 2009 NBA All-Star team.
A TV AD CAMPAIGN: “Jack” in the Jack in the Box spots.
A PRINT AD CAMPAIGN: Absolut print ads are great.
A STRATEGY: Grassroots marketing strategies are powerful. Win the hearts and minds of your customers and they will pull your products and services through all channels.
A HIRE: Hire A-plus people. Don’t settle, don’t be cheap and provide them with incentives that are aligned with the goals of your organization.
A BRAND: Harley-Davidson. Do you see people tattooing any other brands onto their bodies?
A TREND: A shortening and diversification of the consumer’s attention span. Technology enables real-time connectivity in almost any environment now, so you have to engage your customers at an earlier and earlier age and across multiple platforms. Failure to do so will result in empty seats in 5-10 years.
AN INNOVATION: We have the technology to determine exactly where the football is on the field. Why don’t we use it?
A DECISION-MAKER: Roger Staubach. I interviewed him for my book, “Take Command,” and he truly walks his talk.
AN IDEA OR INVENTION I WISH I HAD THOUGHT OF: PayPal.
A FANTASY JOB: Mine! Literally and figuratively, I run a fantasy sports company.
What I Like About …
SPORTS: I’m competitive by nature, and competition in sports brings out the best (and sometimes the worst) in individuals and teams.
FANTASY SPORTS: Everyone can be the GM.
SPORTS BUSINESS: It truly marries people’s passion with productivity, and that is the best combination for success.
PRO SPORTS: The Denver Broncos.
COLLEGE SPORTS: It feels pure. Players playing for the love of the sport more than for the love of money. And I would very much like for Army TO BEAT Navy this year!
What I Would Like To …
CHANGE: Government decision-making processes.
CHANGE ABOUT SPORTS: End-zone antics.
CHANGE ABOUT FANTASY SPORTS: Just watch — we are changing it!
SEE: The Broncos win the Super Bowl next year.
SEE MORE OF: Influential athletes getting involved with their communities and giving back.
SEE LESS OF: Criminal activity by professional athletes.
SEE MORE OF IN FANTASY SPORTS: International growth. Soccer, rugby and cricket are going to be huge.
PERSONAL
What I Like …
THAT WOULD SURPRISE THOSE WHO KNOW ME: I really miss fly-fishing the creeks and beaver dams above Fort Collins, Colo., with my four brothers.
ABOVE ALL ELSE: My wife, Dawn, and my stepson, Hunter.
ABOUT MYSELF: I try to do the right thing, not the easy thing, every time.
HEROES: Leonardo da Vinci, my grandpa, Pat Tillman and all of the men and women serving in our armed forces.
PLAYERS: John Elway, Roger Staubach, Marshall Faulk, Emmitt Smith, Cal Ripken and current players Larry Fitzgerald and Jay Cutler.
MEMENTO: A photo of me with Gens. Norman Schwarzkopf and Tommy Franks.
MUSIC: Both kinds — country and western. Throw in a little rock and hip hop, too.
GAGDETS: Jawbone Bluetooth headset, iPod, DVR.
HOBBIES: Fly-fishing, working out, reading really bad fiction crime novels and a saltwater aquarium.
MOVIES: “Gladiator,” “No Way Out,” “Seven,” “Wedding Crashers” and “Jerry Maguire.”
TV: “CSI Miami” (I have no explanation, just addicted.) No, I do not watch reality shows.
CONCERTS: Randy Travis with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, U2, Billy Joel, Super Diamond.
POEM: Rudyard Kipling’s “If”
DESSERT: I don’t eat dessert.
CAR: Lamborghini Gallardo.
