The Game Plan

Edition #71

HAPPY MOTION MONDAY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks for taking the time to read the first edition of 2026. I’m excited for you to read the interview we have for you today. I know you’ll enjoy it!

Let’s get to it! Here’s what’s also on the menu today:  

• Affirmation of the Week 💭

• What’s the Game Plan? 📈 

• Interview with Keon Gooding 📹

• Ball Club Job Board 💻

Thanks for reading! In case you missed it, catch up on the last newsletter, THE Q1 GAME PLAN OF 2026.

As always,
Blessings, peace, love, and good vibes

AFFIRMATION OF THE WEEK

I release all limiting beliefs.

WHAT’S THE GAME PLAN?
The Power of the Tongue

I remember back when I was playing basketball in middle school, I had a coach who would always make us run when we said, “I can’t.”
Every time he heard us say that phrase, we had to run laps.

Back then, it made no sense to me.
But now as I’ve gotten older, I realize what he was doing.
It was about not letting ourselves be our own worst hater.

The power of the tongue is real.

Since I started writing affirmations, I’ve been thinking more about this.
We don’t realize how powerful the things we speak can be.
Our own words have the power to tear us down or build us up.

The power of the tongue is real, and a lot of times our own words
can break us more than anything anyone else says.

Every time we speak negatively about ourselves,
we are training our brain to believe it.

This year, leave no room for hesitation in your words.
Leave no room for negativity toward yourself.
Leave no room for limiting beliefs.

Speak life, and life only, into yourself
and everything you will experience this year.
Speak life into your projects.
Speak life into your health.
Speak life into your opportunities.
Speak life into your relationships.
Speak life into your job.
Speak life into your present.
Speak life into your future.

So, what’s the game plan for this week?
Stop telling yourself you can’t.

Remember, 1% better every day, and small wins are WINS!

MEET KEON GOODING

We’re excited to share today’s interview with director Keon Gooding.
His story will inspire you to keep going and trust your journey.

Let’s start from the beginning.
How did your journey in cinematography and directing start?

During the pandemic, I went viral on TikTok and grew to over 220K followers. I bought a camera just to level up the quality of my content, and that decision changed my life. I started filming my friends’ football workouts, which led to opportunities with athletes like Jarvis Landry and Stefon Diggs.

Eventually, I was hired by Brandon Marshall at I Am Athlete and House of Athlete. He saw my work ethic, believed in me, and pushed me to create storytelling pieces, brand campaigns, podcast promos, and professional photography with fast turnarounds.
Those reps sharpened my skills and turned me into the filmmaker I am today.

You do a lot of work within sports culture.
How have sports shaped you and the way you tell stories?

Sports shaped everything about me. I didn’t start playing football until junior year of high school, but playing quarterback taught me leadership, discipline, and how to show up every day with the right attitude.
I carry that same mentality into my creative work.

What gives me an edge is perspective. I have been in an athlete’s shoes, so I understand their mindset in big moments. That helps me ask the right questions and capture honest, vulnerable sides of athletes the world rarely sees.

Outside of sports, who or what inspires you creatively?

Music is my biggest inspiration. I attended Dillard Center for the Arts, one of the best performing arts schools in the country, where I played jazz trumpet. That experience changed how I hear music. I don’t just listen to songs. I hear layers, chord progressions, rhythms, bass lines, bridges, and ad-libs.

Now, when I hear music, I visualize stories.
I see scenes, emotions, color palettes, and pacing.
Music allows me to translate sound into images.

Working with athletes like Stefon Diggs, you’ve captured some personal moments. How do you approach the storytelling process?

This offseason with Stefon was different. It wasn’t just highlight moments and fun workouts. There were real emotional and physical challenges.
I watched him rebuild himself, and I was honored to tell that story honestly.

My approach was simple. I wanted to show the lows and show how he rises from them. I wanted athletes to relate to it, but I also wanted everyday people to see themselves in his journey.
It was about resilience, perspective, and faith through adversity.

You were a nursing student before switching paths.
What advice would you give someone afraid to take that leap?

Chase your dream while God is showing you the signs. Trust your gut. You don’t want to be 80 years old wishing you took the shot. Regret is louder than fear.

What’s one challenge that shaped your journey, and why are you proud of it?

When my dad passed away in 2023, I was crushed. I wanted to prove I could succeed in business the way he did, and for a moment I lost my why. I almost put the camera down and went back to school.

But God had other plans. That same year, my income tripled, my opportunities expanded, and a new lane opened for me that I never expected. Keeping my father in mind as if he is still here with me helped me push forward.
That moment taught me the power of purpose.

You live by “Keep Going.” Is there a song that motivates you the same way?

Yes, “Draft Day” by Drake. When I committed to filmmaking full-time, I lost friends, had tough moments with family, and went through a lot of isolation. But opportunities kept coming, and that song reminded me I was on the right path. It felt like it was speaking directly to me.

Click this link to check out more of Keon’s work
Click this link to follow Keon on IG

BALL CLUB JOB BOARD

JR. Project Manager @ Fanatics —> view job posting here

Manager, Sports Analytics @ BetMGM—> view job posting here

Sport Concept Design @ Nike —> view job posting here

Project Employee, Game Reviews @ NBA—> view job posting here

Communications Coordinator @ Rockstar Games —> view job posting here

Video Control Room Intern @ Miami Heat—> view job posting here