#129 Behind the Grind Interview: Sports Wellness Founder and COO

Welcoming you back to our 4th Behind the Grind interview, featuring Erik Poldroo, co-funder and COO of The Zone, a mental wellness platform for athletic programs.

Since 2020, they’ve supported over 200 teams across high school, college (D1-D3), and pro sports. Erik leads business development, customer success, and partnerships to help universities and sports teams implement scalable mental health support for their athletes and staff.

This interview is so thorough and thought-provoking that we’re just gonna let it stand on its own. Take it away, Erik!

• Behind The Grind: From Collegiate Athlete to COO at The Zone💰️ 📈 🚀 
   

• Food For Thought About Learning 💰️ 📈 🚀

BEHIND THE GRIND 💯 

Erik Poldroo Places A Sports Bet…On Himself!

INTRO 🤝

What’s your “WHY" for what you do? 

My “why” comes from personal experience. As a former college athlete, I know what it’s like to deal with anxiety and pressure behind the scenes. I kept a lot of it to myself and often wished for help. That’s why I care so much about the work The Zone is doing. I don’t want athletes to go through what I did without support. I want schools to have real tools to help. This is personal for me. Every day, I’m driven by the chance to make sure athletes feel seen, supported, and stronger, on and off the field.

LET’S FATTEN THAT WALLET 💰️ 

How do you define a "rich” life? 

A rich life isn’t just about money. It’s about meaning. It’s living on your terms, with clarity about what matters and the courage to prioritize it. Here’s how I’d personally define it.

• Freedom of Time - Being able to choose how you spend your day. Not being shackled to a calendar you hate or obligations you didn’t really choose.

• Deep Relationships - Having a few people in your life who you trust completely, who challenge you, who know the real you and choose to still stick around.

• Purposeful Work - Doing something that matters to you. That doesn’t mean your job has to “change the world,” but you should feel useful and have purpose.

• Emotional Wealth - Peace of mind. Confidence in who you are. Being able to handle setbacks without falling apart. That kind of inner stability is rare and powerful.

• Experiences Over Things - The joy of traveling somewhere new, learning something hard, creating something from scratch beat any luxury item in my opinion.

• Growth - Always getting a little better. Not coasting. Not numbing out. A rich life keeps evolving.

A rich life means waking up energized, doing work I respect, creating things that didn’t exist before, having deep conversations, taking care of the people I love, and having the discipline to walk away from anything that doesn’t align.

Share one thing about money that would benefit our readers:

When you save, invest, and spend intentionally, you buy options: the option to walk away from a toxic job, to take a break when you need it, or to spend more time with the people you care about. That’s real wealth. Not just having more, but needing less and choosing how you live completely on your terms.

What is one money move you regret? What's the lesson that came with it?

Not selling certain investments at their peak. I got caught up thinking they could climb even higher…some crashed, some faded, and I was left watching profits disappear.

The lesson I learned is don’t ever be greedy. Have a target, stick to your plan, and know when to cash out. Waiting for more can cost you everything you’ve already earned.

What's a money concept you know and love that others should know more about? Can you give us a quick breakdown?

Compounding. It’s simple but powerful—your money makes money, and then that money makes more money. Over time, small gains snowball into something huge. It’s why starting early beats starting big.

Quick breakdown:

• You invest $1,000.

• It earns 10% in a year = $1,100.

• Next year, you earn 10% on $1,100 = $1,210.

Repeat that for 10, 20, 30 years… and the numbers get wild.

What's the best advice you've been given about money, and how do you apply it? 

“Live below your means, not just within them.” That advice hit different once I started making real money. It’s easy to let your lifestyle rise with your income, but living below your means gives you breathing room. Freedom.

I apply it by being intentional. I automate savings like it’s a bill. I question big purchases with, “Will I still be glad I bought this in six months?” And I remind myself that peace of mind is worth way more than flashy stuff.

LET’S ELEVATE THAT BRAND 📈 

What's your secret weapon when it comes to networking IRL or online?

Go introduce yourself first.

So many people want to connect, but they’re nervous, unsure, or just waiting for someone else to make the first move. Be that someone. A warm “Hey, I’m [Your Name]—what brought you here today?” goes a long way.

But here’s the real magic trick: Netweave rather than Network.

Most people approach networking with the silent question, “What can this person do for me?” Netweaving flips that on its head: “Who can I connect this person to that might help them?”

It’s about opening doors for others even if there’s nothing in it for you right now. You build trust. You give first. And in doing so, you create genuine, long-term relationships that actually matter because at the end of the day, people remember who showed up for them, not who handed them a business card.

What’s a communication skill that changed the game for you and why?

Learning to listen more than I talk.

I used to feel like I had to contribute constantly to the conversation, but the more I slowed down and really listened without planning my next response, the more I realized how much I was missing.

When you actually listen, people feel it. They relax. They open up. And you get to understand where they’re really coming from.

Listening with intention, with presence, is one of the most respectful things you can do. It's changed how I connect with people, both personally and professionally.

What's the best advice you've been given about personal branding, and how have you applied it?

Be the same person online that you are in the room. People should experience you the same way no matter the platform, meeting, or follow-up conversation. Authenticity earns trust, and trust builds a brand that sticks.

Why are relationships important when it comes to money, business, life etc. and what's your number one piece of advice for fostering long-term relationships?  

Relationships are the compound interest of life. They build slowly but pay off in every area: money, business, and personal growth. Trust opens doors that credentials can’t, fuels partnerships that outperform strategies, and provides support when things fall apart. My number one advice for fostering long-term relationships is give more than you take, without keeping score. That means making the intro, sharing the resource, showing up when there’s nothing in it for you. Over time, people remember who had their back and that’s how real trust is built.

What's one tip you love when it comes to negotiation?

Silence is a weapon.

After you make your offer or counteroffer, say nothing. Let it hang in the air. Most people feel uncomfortable with silence and will rush to fill it, often giving away more than they planned.

LET’S BOOST THAT PRODUCTIVITY🚀 

How do you stay productive when times get challenging?

Knowing your why is everything. Without a clear why, every task can feel meaningless and heavy—but with it, even the hard stuff has purpose. Your why doesn’t have to be profound; it just has to be real to you. Maybe it’s building freedom, providing for your family, proving something to yourself, or creating work that matters. When you’re clear on it, you stop reacting to the chaos and start acting with intention.

What do you use AI for - both at work and in life? How has it benefited you?

AI’s been amazing, to be honest. I use it to offload low-priority, repetitive tasks—both at work and in daily life - so I can focus on things that actually require my time and judgment. For example: at work, I use it to summarize long documents or emails, draft quick responses, and even help with organizing meeting notes. That saves me a few hours a week.

What is one lifestyle habit that boosts your productivity to get sh!t done?

Exercise!

What's your favorite way to spend time when no one's watching? How does it help with your productivity?

I like to hang out with my girlfriend Martha, and my dachshund Charlie, and just relax. It clears my head, and when I’m back at it, I’m sharper, calmer, and way more productive.

What does work-life balance mean to you? Why is it important?

Work-life balance, to me, means not letting work become who I am. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that your job is your identity. I’ve fallen into that mindset, and it never ends well.

That’s why balance is so important. It’s about making space for the rest of life - family, friendships, health, rest, just being present. Those things matter more than any job ever will.

I’m still figuring it out, like most people, but I’ve learned that when I make time for what keeps me grounded, I’m better at everything.

When was the last time you burned out — and how did you bounce back?

To be completely honest, I’m actually navigating significant burnout right now. I don’t have a clean, reflective answer yet because I’m still in the thick of it. What I am doing is trying to show up as best I can, set boundaries where I need to, and be more honest with myself and others.

RAPID FIRE FUN 🔥 

• Book, podcast, or YouTube rabbit hole that changed your life? Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (book)

• One thing you used to waste money on that you don’t anymore: Long nights out

• A splurge you’ll never regret: Traveling to a new country!

• Bucket list place to travel: Hong Kong

• Best piece of advice you've heard that still hits hard today? Not everyone you think is your friend is actually your friend. When you hit hard times, that’s when the mask comes off.

• What's a popular piece of advice you intentionally ignore and disagree with and why? The glorification of struggle in the startup world—the idea that founders should constantly be grinding, sacrificing their health and sanity for the sake of the company. I’ve seen it firsthand and even caught myself falling into it. But the truth is, when I’m not okay, the business isn’t okay. Burnout isn’t a leadership trait, and building something meaningful shouldn’t come at the cost of your well-being.

• Something you wish you knew how to do/plan to learn in the future Being more handy around the house. It’s one of those life skills I know will save time, money, and pride in the long run.

• If you could text your younger self one quick message, what would it say? Keep going. You'll be ok.

• Any last gem you want to drop that would benefit our readers? For anyone interested in learning about how we provide mental health support for athletes, visit us at itsthezone.com!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT 💭 

Before You Go

Hope you enjoyed Erik’s interview. Let us know your thoughts in the poll below.

Next week, we’ll be back with a BONUS EDITION, since it’ll be the 5th edition of the month. We’re going to take the top gems from July and bundle them for you to carry into August and beyond.

Stay tuned!

Community Poll 📊 

As always, see you next Tuesday 🤝 

Find Dan on LinkedIn

You are now On The Fly & In The Know.