Meet Richard “booda” Bailey | Founder, CEO, Agent, Community Leader, Mentor.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard “booda” Bailey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard “Booda”, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Doing right by people matters the most to me.

For the simple fact that it’s a choice that goes into the decisions we make, in business, in daily life, in general. So over 10+ years of being in business, both personally and professionally I’ve never been associated with a bad deal. Always have a Client First mindset, any L’s on the horizon I’ve been the type of leader that takes them on for my clients, partners, family and friends.

I call it, “Doing right by your people”.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
So I’ve fully transitioned to being a Full Time Sports Representative; for high school, college, and professional athletes across the United States.

I personally don’t like the term: Agent, it tricks people into thinking I was just chosen. That’s not how it actually goes, my company: Control of the market LLC is proof of this.

You see, I got my start by being a personal assistant to a few close friends that were in college either with me or around the time I was in school at the great Bethune Cookman University, HBCU Royalty.

I had set out to major in hospitality, completed that and wanted to learn economics and how the world works, I wanted to know why are taxes being taken out my guys check at such a high rate, hell I wanted to know how I could help. By the time I finished school, those same friends were either already Pro or planning on going pro, this is like years 2011-2013 era of time. (Yea, it’s really been a min) — By this time, I found it best to be a helpful part of the team to my guys as the goal became: Giving back to our community we grew up in. So I jumped right in, Lavonte, Allen, Brandon Harris and the list goes on.. they each allowed me a chance to help coordinate their football camps, charity events and community initiatives that they believed would have a, “paying it forward” outcome, so I rolled up my sleeves nearly 13 years ago from today and got to work where ever needed.

By 2015, COTM LLC was born, and at this point I’m in the thick of things from arranging community events like school supply giveaways to setting up Off Season housing needs for my guys who trusted me to handle such things. At the time, it wasn’t about getting paid it was more about being there for my guys and I know the money would come. Eventually it did and I was able to set my daughter and I up for a life I didn’t have growing up in the rule parts of liberty city in the early 2000s. For that opportunity alone I am forever grateful to the guys who trusted me and made sure “Booda got paid”, as the legend grew.

Fast forward 10 Seasons, now I’m an Agent providing full service needs to some of the best and brightest young new talents ready to become pro or on the path of doing so such as Isaac Brown RB for Louisville, Marcus Allen Wing for Mizzouri, Dewan Hernandez NBA draftee and professional basketball player, Cortez Mills a WR out of Homestead and the list goes on. I’ve grew from just coordinating events to negotiating player deals, being a trusted source from the same community some of my clients are from.

Interesting enough, we grew up thinking we needed others to bring our visions to life but I’m an advocate for clients using their own people to position, prepare and pay in order to keep funding in a circle of trusted family members and friends that way as a client grows, so too does their family, friends and confidants they already knew and trusted.

Are their Bad apples out there, sure!
Are people close to you able to cross you, sure! Will everything be perfect, no!

But if you stand on the beliefs of doing right by people, those 1 offs usually take care of themselves. This is how I’ve made it this far, never been associated with negativity for clients and we’re paying it forward by doing this interview for our youth to see that, you can too become a great asset to those around you to build something special that will last long after our flesh leaves this earth. Just continue to put God first and control what you can control.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So I currently have a list of restaurants to choose from, a Miami itinerary must include food, fun and music. The beach is an understatement, especially for those who grew up and or lived in Miami for more than five years the beach will always be there and most likely be crowded.

I would definitely stop by a good museum or two preferably in the downtown Biscayne and or Wynwood area some of the most fun you can have in Miami is learning about the culture that exists and has been growing a vast rate over the past 10 years.

There’s a pretty cool ice cream museum that I would suggest if somebody were to plan a date day that’s where I would start from there. We would definitely hit Wynwood area, possibly for some good eats and spend time in city center area in the Brickell borough of downtown. Here in downtown Brickell area you could catch a movie catch a date and still be 15 minutes away from catching your flight back to where you’re from or where you need to go next. Other than shopping, obviously in this area, I believe it is the most social aware area in Miami because of its versatility and diversity. You can see a college student, a doctor and a army vet all in one chipotle sitting eating, drinking and socializing amongst each other without any conflict, I’ve been around the world and many cities many places do not allow for that experience to be viewed, some areas some location or states only have a certain way of doing things in a certain way of going about things however, in this area of Miami all throughout south Florida, actually diversity runs deep. Inclusion is paramount to the continued development of our great state of Miami.

If I had to name a few gems to hit while visiting the list is as follows:
Komodo
Gekko
Sugar
City Center
Victory
Makoto
Carbone
Swan
Tootsies
Shots
Playa
Moxies
Lucky Strikes
Ice Cream Museum
Pamm Art Museum
Museum of illusions
List goes on.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout my partners at Control of the market.

My guys, Lavonte David, Lamar Miller, Travis Benjamin, Demarcus Van Dyke, Marcus Forston, Reggie Sandilands, Allen Bailey, Brandon Harris just to name a few.

They believed and still believe in me and my leadership methods for more than a decade, “No Fumbles” as they would remind me. Because, see these guys gave me my start, the first people to; “trust Booda’s advisement”, the first people to tell their accountants, “Hey let’s get Booda paid out of this deal” and for various contributions to their life both professionally and personally. I am forever grateful so these are the people I would like to take a moment and shoutout. – The Bros

Website: Cotm305.com (under maintenance)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cotm305?igsh=cjlmZG14Ympnejc=

Image Credits
Myself, Lavonte Legends Foundation, Laroche Legal foundation, Allen Bailey Foundation, Marcus Allen, COTM origins.