Meet David Turcios | Mentor & Co-Founder of Sigue Sports Institute

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Turcios and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was that I realized, as a coach, the impact I could have on my players was limited, and there was a bigger issue that needed to be addressed.

As a coach, it was not going to be met. What kids need more now than ever is a mentor who can pave the way to more opportunities. Just paving the way would not be enough; building the character to persevere was more important.

Two colleagues and I all experienced similar challenges in the pursuit of playing college soccer but in different ways. We discovered that there was a common denominator between all three of us: the value and knowledge we can bring to young aspiring players in our community. I also came to the understanding that talent without character is not going to get you very far.

Combining all these thoughts and ideas, I concluded that having a mentoring program to build character would help these young players find success in not only sports but life after college. Having mentors who can pave the way is more valuable than just coaching.

I look back at my life, and I am grateful for the mentors that I had, but I always wonder how different it could have been if someone had pushed me out of my comfort zone. I am here because of others, and so, I want to help every student who comes through my program to experience an unbelievable life because someone pushed them out of their comfort zone.

What should our readers know about your business?
Sigue Sports is a mentoring program for high school student-athletes who desire to play college soccer. As I stated previously, we help pave the way for opportunities and prepare the student-athletes for life in college and beyond. While everyone is working on perfecting a player’s soccer skills, we often forget that it’s not talent but character that gets us far in our pursuit of playing soccer at a higher level.

We pair our high school athletes with college athletes who mentor and prepare them for life as a collegiate athlete. I am proud of how we have grown and continue to grow into a program of serving leaders. I am excited to see how much more we will be able to help each mentee as we increase in value as a program.

The journey to where I am today has not been an easy one. Believing in the process and taking one step at a time is incredibly difficult; I think all entrepreneurs can attest to this. However, I am where I am first and foremost because of God. The people who have come in and the support I’ve had along the way, I believe, can be attributed to the moments of being stuck and praying for my next step.

When the focus is on helping others, even in difficult moments, it makes it much easier to keep persevering. It’s also important to see not what is directly in front of you, but what it can become.

One of the main things I have learned along the way is to expect the unexpected. Many things will never be what you expect them to be; there are always surprises. From where we started to where we are going, there had to be a lot of adapting and growth along the way.

Ideas and plans never go as you imagine, but as an entrepreneur, you need to learn to adapt, follow the dream, and continually believe in the process. Sometimes, taking one step back often means five steps forward in another direction, and that’s okay. Don’t get in your own way.

What I want the world to know about Sigue is that our mission really comes down to one main aspect. It is a desire to continually find new and impactful ways to encourage and guide student-athletes who do not know how to help themselves. As a good and dear friend of mine always says, we are here to inspire the “gift of grind.”

We push our students to fight “complacency” and never stop seeking a better version of themselves. We want their future selves to look back on these years and thank them for not settling. The story of Sigué is about grinding, persevering, striving for more, not settling, embracing the differences, and just keeping going.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Take a day trip to Solvang (it’s only a few hours away, but worth every minute! Like a slice of Europe in California)

If you want a view of the whole city, a stop at the Griffith Observatory is the place to go (be wary of parking though, it can be tricky to find – also don’t forget to pay for your parking)

If you’re craving tasty seafood and a view of the ocean, Nobu restaurant in Malibu will check both your boxes! (it is a little on the pricy side but you might just spot a celebrity…)

If you’re looking to hike, the Santa Monica Mountains promise breathtaking views

If you want to catch a movie, Universal Citywalk is the perfect spot (it is full of restaurants, quirky shops, a sneak peek of Universal Studios, and an AMC that often showcases real costumes from movies!)

Another fun day trip is down to San Diego (it’s a bit further but it can be a nice break from the wildness of Los Angeles)

If you want a unique bar rooftop experience in the heart of Hollywood, Bar Lis is the place to go (they also have dancing on some nights!)

Lastly, if you’re just craving some delicious pizza, Gino’s East is THE spot (cannot recommend this enough!)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are quite a few people I would love to shout out for the success of Sigue Sports Institute, it has absolutely been a team effort.

Firstly, Kian Kohn and Ericson Peñate, co-founders of Sigue, and the people who helped bring this organization from simply an idea to the full operation it is today.

Juan Guzman aka Mr. Guzman is an incredibly generous person without whom we would not be what we are today. He’s the man. Once anyone meets him they will know what I mean about him being the man!

Joanna Katz, she believed in us from the start, saw what we envisioned, and helped tremendously to create a plan for this organization. She is a vital part of who are today.

Brenda Serpas came in with a passion for these kids and brought our idea to another level with her expertise in mental health.

Of course, Oksanna Shulgach without her I would have given up a long time ago. She believed in me when I didn’t and she is my rock. She continues to push me to be more and better. This is beside everything else she has helped with and continues to do that nobody will ever see.

To everyone else who has come in and believed in our mission, thank you. We could not do this without your kind, giving, and serving hearts.

Website: : https://siguesports.org/

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