This much I know: Frankie Sheahan

AS A kid, I certainly dreamed about playing rugby and wished for it.

It all worked out for me thanks to all my family and friends.

I’ve had many rugby highlights including winning my first Irish cap and many matches with Munster — but I’ve also very proud of setting up and building my company, Front Row.

I set up Front Row because not only had I a love for business and sport but I saw an opportunity to manage professional athletes better and give a better service to large companies and brands in the area of sponsorship.

Munster’s last season was a success in my opinion. Despite getting knocked out in the pool stages of Europe, they won the Magners League, brought on some young talent and developed a new style of play.

It was incredibly emotional for me to retire from rugby. I do not miss the daily routine, but still desperately miss the adrenalin rush that comes with the big matches.

I still keep fit of course.

I play soccer with some friends in Ballincollig once a week, do spinning on the bike with Christina and Jack Ferriter in the Locker Room and also do some swimming in the Rochestown Park Hotel.

There are many similarities between business and sport and that’s my pet topic for my speaking engagements. Companies find the talks fascinating as I go through all the similarities in detail — team work, individual responsibility, and getting in the zone, to name a few.

In my opinion, any successful sports person needs to have a confrontational, tough, tenacious streak.

My first paid job was probably working in my father’s businesses. I’ve been doing it as far back as I can remember in marketing, auctioneering, construction and property.

I do a lot of public speaking and motivational speaking engagements now. I actually think it is healthy to be nervous as its helps get you in the zone. My advice for anyone who needs to speak in public is the six P’s that my uncle Pat Sheahan told me: Proper prior preparation prevents poor performance.

My friends slag me over the media I’m doing saying I have a face for radio. However, I do like being versatile and doing the television with Sky Sports and RTÉ, but also radio with Today FM and RTÉ Radio 1.

My saying in times of stress is ‘I trust the process of life in adversity...’

I believe that if you know what you want and you are willing to work hard to get it then you will make it happen. Is that fate?

Any free time I get is spent with my wife Norma and my three beautiful kids, Frankie Óg, Cali and Arabelle. I try to get out to Fota for some golf every so often too.

The most useful advice I ever got is that jet pilots don’t have rear view mirrors. Life is for living now and in the future.

I’m still health conscious but a lot more relaxed than when I was a professional athlete. I try and achieve more of a balance now, being somewhat disciplined during the week but relaxing a little at the weekend.

My favourite place on earth is my bedroom. I have a chair at the window which is my quiet space where I can enjoy the views of Cork and work or gather my thoughts.

If I wasn’t doing my current job — I’d be running for president!

The last time I cried was 11 months ago for my daughter’s birth.

This is the one line from a novel that I always remember: ‘You could be the world’s best garbage man, the worlds best model, it does not matter what you do as long as you give it your best.’ Muhammad Ali’s autobiography

Frankie Sheahan now runs Front Row, a company focusing on sports management, guest speaking and celebrity sourcing.