Lance Armstrong: What's Next for the King of the Road?
First his passion was triathalons. Then came cycling. He achieved the ultimate by winning the Tour de France seven times. So what's next for Lance Armstrong?
These days, you're just as likely to catch the sports legend sporting a suit rather than cycling attire. That's because the main focus for Armstrong - besides spending time with his three children - is to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
His own fight began a decade ago when - at the age of 25 - a doctor uttered the three scariest words in the English language: "You have cancer." But by 1998, he had returned to professional cycling, cancer free.
"I said to myself, 'look, I want - obviously - I want to live,' " said Armstrong. "I think I have a good chance, but if I'm not going to live, I have to die knowing that I did everything I could do."
Armstrong won his personal battle with the disease. However, to take on a fight against cancer, you need an army - and not just any army. Armstrong is looking for recruits among the millions of fellow cancer survivors, as well as those who may be affected in the future. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one third of all women in the nation will develop cancer during their lifetimes.
Mobilizing an Army
When a military unit prepares for war, it needs troops and supplies. Through the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), over 55 million yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands now adorn the wrists of people all over the world. It's one of the many ways Armstrong has inspired countless people to take action - to mobilize - to help in the fight against cancer.
Fast-forward to 2006, which finds Armstrong at a press conference in Kansas City, Mo., to announce a strategic collaboration with American Century Investments, an investment management company with deep Midwestern roots. It's here in the heartland that Armstrong finds a fellow cancer survivor to join his army.
Founded in 1958 by James E. Stowers Jr., American Century grew from a small single-discipline mutual fund shop with a few dozen investors, to become one of the country's top money managers with current assets under management approaching $100 billion. The spry octogenarian who has guided the firm for nearly a half century credits the success of the company to his "golden rule" influenced approach to business: "If you help make others successful, they in turn will make you successful."
Equally as impressive as his financial accomplishments is the fact that Stowers and his wife Virginia both beat cancer. And like Armstrong, the Stowers' brush with a potentially fatal disease has been a catalyst for great things.
Noticing the parallel themes in the lives of Jim Stowers and Lance Armstrong, Mark Killen, a senior vice president at American Century, decided to approach Armstrong's management and the LAF in 2005. "Like our founder Jim Stowers Jr., Lance shares Jim's values of optimism, focus, determination and hard work. And most importantly both men have dedicated their success and fortune to improving lives," said Killen. "Lance, through the work of his foundation, and Jim through the creation of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a world class biomedical research facility here in Kansas City."
"Put Your Lance Face On"
Since February 2006, Armstrong has teamed up with American Century to motivate investors to take a more active role in planning a secure financial future. Through a multi-faceted campaign featuring the former cyclist and the rallying cry "Put Your Lance Face On," the investment firm is encouraging investors to take action and approach their financial decisions with the same focus, drive and determination that helped Armstrong triumph over the challenges in his life.
"It's a wonderful match given my interest in improving the lives of people through better health and fitness, in conjunction with American Century's commitment to financial well being," Armstrong said. "An organization like the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the work that I do now off the bike and the work that they do as a company and the work they do outside of Wall Street, we'll say, are directly in line. We believe in being aggressive, being smart, asking hard questions and we believe in quality of life, and that means giving to people and making a difference. It seems a natural tie for me to motivate and inspire people to want to make every financial decision count."
Taking the collaboration one step further, the investment firm - in cooperation with the LAF - introduced the LIVESTRONGTM Portfolios from American Century Investments, a series of mutual funds that provide investors with a convenient way to take control of their finances for details). As one might expect, the funds don't invest in tobacco companies. In addition, American Century is providing financial support to the LAF, assisting the organization in its fight against cancer.
While Armstrong doesn't profess to be an expert on investing, he does know a thing or two about winning, and as he charges full speed ahead in the fight against cancer, defeat is not an option. For those whose lives have been touched by the illness, he freely imparts the wisdom gained from his own personal struggle.
"Ask hard questions. Insist on second, third, fourth opinions," said Armstrong. "It's your life. Take no prisoners. Live strong."
© 2008, Young Money Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Comments
Lance Armstrong is the man!!! You rock... Live Strong, Armstrong
