A conversation with someone who has already lived through what an athlete is facing.
Invaluable wisdom can only be gained by sitting across from someone who has already walked the path.
Whetstone members are among the best in the world at what they do, and they are still learning what comes with it. When a member is working through something specific, such as leading a team, coming back from a serious injury, handling money that arrived early, or preparing for life after the game, the most useful person to talk with is often someone who has lived through it.
We choose the person for the relevance of their experience and not the prominence of their name. A conversation with someone outside the team, the organization, and the family can say things that are hard for others to say.
This is not an ongoing role, and we don't ask anyone to be available on a regular basis. We reach out only when a member is facing something your experience speaks to. One of us will contact you directly, describe the situation in general terms, explain why we thought of you, and ask whether you would be open to a conversation. You are always free to say no.
For example, a young player just named captain may be working out how to lead a locker room full of veterans, and we might ask a retired player who made the same transition to talk it through. Or, if you are based in Atlanta and an NBA member is traveling there to play the Hawks, we might ask whether you would be open to a private dinner the night before the game, or a meeting at the hotel if the player prefers more privacy.
We handle the scheduling, the transportation, and all costs, so showing up is all you need to do. What you say stays private, and the member decides what to do with it.
Thank you for the time you are willing to give. We will do everything we can to make it simple and worth it.