WOMEN ATHLETES AND ENTREPRENEURS

AN EXPLORATORY, COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN WOMEN BARREL RACERS AND WOMEN WHO OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.

by Melissa L. Greer, Ph.D.


Formats

Softcover
£16.49
£12.20
Softcover
£12.20

Book Details

Language : English
Publication Date : 01/01/0001

Format : Softcover
Dimensions : 8.25x11
Page Count : 144
ISBN : 9781438912745

About the Book

Sports athletes are connected to business entrepreneurship due to the relationships of business strategies, psychological, and motivational characteristics according to authoritative research. Barrel racing has become a limitless opportunity for success becoming the second favorite event in the rodeo. However, the barrel-racing cowgirl faces criticisms, perhaps, due to a psychic prison that society continues to live from the lack of knowledge of this type of culture. It is debated this industry is not an efficient entrepreneurship endeavor. However, the woman barrel racer is a sports athlete who participates in her own activity to obtain capital, self-actualization, and achievement. It is further acknowledged she is responsible for her own financial resources to pay for business expenses in order to continue the venture. Cowboys have been studied and confirmed to be entrepreneurs so why would women barrel racers be different? The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast Women Barrel Racers (also referred as World Athlete Entrepreneurs) with Women Business Entrepreneurs and determine if there is an association between women who race and women who have their own businesses. The main areas of concern were business strategies, psychological traits, and motivational characteristics. This study also investigated the Birth Theory and the Only or Eldest Daughter Syndrome. Finally, barriers experienced by World Athlete Entrepreneurs and Women Business Entrepreneurs were analyzed.


About the Author

Melissa L. Greer, Ph.D. holds a Doctorate degree in Organization & Management specializing in Information Technology from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN and a Master's degree in Business Administration. She has taught college level courses in business and computers.

She started barrel racing at the age of nine and it is her passion for horses and the barrel racing industry that led her to utilize her education in the promotion and business awareness of barrel racing competition and productions. 

She currently owns and produces Florida Equine Athlete, a magazine for the barrel racers in the state of Florida, which provides story articles of different barrel racing events; informational and educational articles; calendar of events; and statistical information such as results, standings, and money winnings of many of the organizations held within the state.  Dr. Greer is now producing the magazine into video broadcasts. 

She also produces her own polebending and barrel racing organization and videos competitior's runs which are placed on DVD.  It is a tremendous help for barrel racers in their training and/or to have for their video library.

Dr. Greer is currently working on additional books and is in the process of organizing seminars for women athletes to educate them on how to treat their sport as a business and utilize sponsorships. 

Melissa was raised and continues to live in Florida. She had to take a three year break from competition so she could complete her Ph.D. studies and concentrate on business.  In the meantime, she had to retire her horse that she competed on for sixteen years due to a leg injury and is currently starting another in barrel racing competition.