Who’s In Your Circle? Steve Smith on Mentorship

Mick Unplugged

Realm

Education, Self-improvement, Business, Entrepreneurship

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 31 December 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Steve Smith is a legendary former NFL wide receiver, celebrated for his tenacity, intelligence, and relentless drive both on and off the field. From humble beginnings as a “poor black kid who was unsubsidized,” Steve carved out an extraordinary football career with a no-“plan B” mindset, earning admiration as a future Hall of Famer and an inspirational community leader. Post-retirement, Steve has channeled that same passion into business, media, and philanthropy—especially his work in mental health with Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUCK). Known for his authenticity, leadership, and fiercely competitive spirit, Steve continues to impact lives by leading with purpose, candor, and heart.

Takeaways:

Relentless Focus on Plan A: Steve Smith’s story is rooted in his “no plan B” determination—putting everything into football to change the trajectory for his family, and later carrying that same intensity and commitment into business and philanthropy.
Mentorship and Learning: Steve highlights how mentorship allowed him to take the “elevator,” learning from the successes and failures of others to accelerate growth and avoid common setbacks.
Emotional Intelligence and Growth: Steve openly discusses improving his emotional intelligence, especially in learning to pause before reacting, reflect on his feelings, and balance his directness with empathy—crucial lessons for both life and leadership.

Sound Bytes:

“If I couldn’t catch a football, I wouldn’t have got my foot in the door. But understanding my intelligence and my willingness to learn keeps me in the door.” –Steve Smith
“Just because they are receiving assistance doesn’t mean you lessen their respect of who they are as a human being.” –Steve Smith
“How I can critique but not criticize... and give guys the benefit of the doubt. However, if the film tells enough of the story, I can’t give you what you didn’t earn.” –Steve Smith

Connect & Discover Steve:

Instagram: @stevesmithsr89

YouTube: @89show

YouTube: @ironedoutw89

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Ladies and gentlemen, this is an amazing episode with Steve Smith, Sr.
0:03.9	We actually talk more about business and we talk about life.
0:08.0	Steve Smith was somebody that he said, if he could reinvent himself or play the game today,
0:11.9	he would play it like Steve Smith.
0:13.3	I'm just so proud and honor of the man that Steve Smith is in this episode,
0:17.7	you're going to hear some really cool stories, and you're going to hear Steve Smith talk about emotional intelligence and break it down.
0:24.7	Ladies and gentlemen, I present the goat.
0:27.7	Steve Smith, Sr.
0:30.8	You're listening to Mick Unplugged, hosted by the one and only Mick Hunt.
0:35.6	This is where purpose meets power and stories spark transformation.
0:39.9	Mick takes you beyond the motivation and into meaning,
0:42.9	helping you discover your because and becoming unstoppable.
0:46.7	I'm Rudy Rush, and trust me, you're in the right place.
0:50.3	Let's get unplugged.
0:54.4	Steve Smith. How you doing? Goodged. Steve Smith.
0:56.0	How you doing?
0:56.6	Good morning.
0:57.3	Good afternoon.
0:58.7	I appreciate you, man.
1:00.0	Like, you have no idea what you mean to me because there's something about you that is also in me.
1:06.3	And you've said this, being an older sibling, being the person that people looked up to, I didn't
1:13.4	have a plan B, bro.
	...

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