Today we’d like to introduce you to Iren Rainey.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in NC then moved to the UK at age eight. At age nine, my Father died which left just my mother and I. I excelled as an athlete, going on to start playing on professional basketball tour teams at age 13. Unfortunately, I was still carrying a void in which I’d never addressed stemming from the death of my dad. It was obscured by my success on the basketball court and I immersed myself in that identity even though it wasn’t real. As a freshman at a Dodds school, I received all Europe honors and needed up being the youngest player to do that since Shaquille Oneal. I went on to achieve more awards including “Most Outstanding Player” honors alongside Lebron James at the Prestigious 5 Star Basketball Camp. From there, I left my mother in Europe to attend basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. I only spent a year there then transferred to a public high school in PA. I explored three different colleges and in my last year of college unfortunately I made some wrong choices which placed me in a spiral of adversity! During this period, I had a chance to step back, introspect and really become empowered in a way that I’d never experienced before! I’ve now built a brand in which I currently do player development for about 25 guys playing in the NBA. I also run a youth basketball organization in which the mission is to transform lives through sports while empowering minds, impacting belief systems, enhancing life skills so that individuals can evolve into their full potential!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all, starting with the adversity that I mentioned that I faced earlier in my last year of college. Running a business is never easy and it’s kind of one of those things where you have to learn as you go. The key is staying consistent and committed but also making sure you have a bigger purpose and clarity for why you’re doing it!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business is in the sports industry where we do on court player development for many of the guys playing in the NBA as well. We do the same thing at the youth level but our youth organization also hosts tournaments, camps, clinics, etc. My role is one of many hats. My specialty is connecting with my clients psychologically(internally) so that they achieve external results. My ability to influence breakthroughs while holistically helping my clients not just achieve but exceed expectations. Just think of it as the “Tony Robbins” of basketball.
I’ve helped over 120 kids over the last ten years get scholarships and also aided in the performance of my NBA guys including creating an NBA All Star. This is something that I’m most proud of!
My NBA guys gave me the name “The Cheat Code” and for me, it means that I’m giving people not just the cheat code on the court but also the cheat code for the “life game.”
My goal is to be the number 1 speaker in the world and right now, I utilize the conduit of basketball to reach the masses.
I’d like my readers to know that I have a divine love for people and an insatiable desire to enhance lives by helping people evolve!
I offer speaking engagements, group basketball training, individual basketball training, clinics, seminars, etc.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I read voraciously and have a huge book collection. I’m inspired by Tony Robbins, Eric Thomas, Wayne Dyer, Les Brow…
Contact Info:
- Website: irenraineybasketball.com
- Instagram: @irenrainey
