Maxwell Pearce

Although we were playing sports, we weren't coached to be very playful.

I learned that there was a seriousness in respecting the quality of the game.

But ironically, it was my playfulness that got me to this point in my career.

Play is the most important ingredient in every person and every industry's evolution.

Play has given me the flexibility, but also the vision to see these materials as something more than just what we use on the court or on the field.

I am a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, a legendary exhibition basketball team that is credited for integrating the NBA, popularizing new moves like the alley-oop and creating so many others.

These are the new moves that have advanced the game, but they've also given joy to the people that come and watch us perform.

And that right there is precisely how we have lasted for 100 years while also earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.

Getting to this point in my career certainly was not a straight line.

I've always struggled with high-level sports coaching.

There's a certain culture that has excessive cursing, yelling and also a hyper-seriousness that can really stunt your growth.

Although we were playing sports, ironically, we were coached not to be very playful.

I was a creative kid who loved art, but I was really, really shy.

So the constant confrontation with my coaches was always robbing me of my creativity.

I learned that there was a seriousness in respecting the quality of the game.

Whether it was basketball, football, baseball or cross country, all of my coaches emphasized honoring and respecting the essence of their sport.

And that meant taking every drill and every exercise seriously and not doing anything that will challenge the traditional way of doing things.

This is exactly what led my high school coach to telling me to stop trying to dunk the basketball.

But ironically, it was my playfulness that got me to this point in my career.

So here's where I've landed today, and this is what I'm so excited to share with you all.