Second lives, second chances for vice president of marketing for

Bob Nystrom is known as the hockey player who scored the game- winning goal that gave the Islanders the Stanley Cup in 1980. But following an eye injury a few years later, at age 33, Nystrom's illustrious hockey career was on ice.

At the time, that hardly seemed lucky. But looking back, Nystrom sees this as not an ending, but a new beginning.

"I was tired of playing. I had lost my enthusiasm," Nystrom said recently. "It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me."

As vice president of marketing for Melville-based insurance and employee-benefits firm Kinloch Consulting Group, he has spent about 20 years writing his chapter two, as an insurance consultant and salesperson.

Nystrom, who keeps the puck that won the Stanley Cup at home, is asked to sign autographs.

"I really don't live in that era any more," Nystrom said. "I love what I do now. It's exciting. I look at that as an era in my life that I loved."

While some enjoy celebrity late in life, fame for most is fleeting and not always as financially rewarding as it might seem. Many celebrities later seek to cash in on their fame in their second life, working in sales and other careers. Some simply move on.

Former Islander Gerry Hart owned and only recently sold The Rinks, an ice-skating rink and summer camp, in Hauppauge. Hockey great Jean Potvin works for Oppenheimer and hockey hall-of-famer Clark Gillies is a financial advisor for Raymond James.

Rob Leonard, who co-founded and sang in Sha Na Na, left the band to pursue a scholarship at Columbia University, studying linguistics.

Leonard teaches forensic linguistics, the use of language in court cases, at Hofstra University, where he's now known as Professor Leonard.

A sports or entertainment career not only leaves people with stories, but skills. Leonard learned how to perform, which comes in handy as a teacher. Nystrom is an ideal team player.

"I think everything you learn in sports helps you in business," Nystrom said. "I look at the athletes and many of the guys are driven. They're team-oriented."

He said goal setting, not just goal scoring, is critical in sports and business. He has even found an equivalent to game days. "I think it's presentations for me," Nystrom said. "I consider them like an event."

Nystrom sees parallels between cheating in sports and being dishonest in industry. "With steroids, if that's what it takes to win, is it right?" He asked. "Are you going to cheat to win? It's no different than in business."

You might be surprised your broker or teacher was a star; one reason is fame doesn't always equal fortune.

Leonard said Sha Na Na's record label took record profits. Nystrom knew all along he'd have to have a second career following paychecks that, at near $300,000, were fat, but not enough to retire.

"They make so much more than we made in those days. We made a good living, but not to the point where I could pack it in and say that's it," Nystrom said.

It isn't easy going from the sports world to the business world. "The first cold call was no bargain. I guess it's fear of failure. That probably was the thing I dealt with the most," Nystrom said. "You go right back to the ground floor in most cases. There's no way to start at the top."

Nystrom said fame gets you meetings, but doesn't close a deal. "The name recognition is great. You can usually get in the door," Nystrom said. "Then you've got to be able to support your role and your job."

Copyright 2008 Dolan Media Newswires
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