After The Final Whistle - JR Butler - Episode 165

What happens when the sport that has defined you your entire life comes to an end?My guest today, JR Butler, grew up in a competitive hockey family in Massachusetts. His father was a Hall of Fame hockey coach, and both of his younger brothers played college hockey. JR worked his way to Holy Cross, where he was part of the team that pulled off a historic NCAA tournament upset over top-seeded Minnesota. JR says almost nobody expected Holy Cross to win except the players in their locker room.But the hardest challenge came after his final game. At 23, JR lost the structure, teammates, and sense of purpose that had guided his life. He speaks openly about the grief of that transition and how his struggles led to alcohol and drug use.JR eventually built a successful career in tech sales. Along the way, he saw how the resilience, coachability, discipline, and team-first mindset athletes develop can translate into the workplace. He also saw how difficult it can be for employers to recognize those strengths on a résumé.That led him to found Shift Group, a company helping former athletes and veterans transition into careers. In our conversation, JR says the company has helped place more than 3,000 athletes with employers. He shares the guidance he wishes someone had given him when hockey ended: get clear on the life you want, understand your strengths, and build a new playbook to get there.We talk about that unforgettable win over Minnesota, the identity loss that can follow sports, his journey into business, and why he wants athletes and veterans to know their best years can still be ahead of them.Welcome to the RU Strong Podcast, JR Butler.