Meet Archie Craft | Educator & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Archie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process when starting my business stemmed from a few ideologies. 1) I had been in education for over 10 years so I knew the ins and outs of how it worked and processes I had been privy to, which were important to the business I was looking to develope. 2) Being at a charter school district I experienced higher than normal turnover so that kind of caused me to question the longevity of what I was doing both mentally and physically. Meaning, I know teachers are always going to be needed, but in my position with the turnover rate, was I really mentally willing to invest in the constant reteaching and supporting of people that were not totally invested. It became more of a burden on me. 3) I just felt deep down in my heart that I was destined to do more and make a greater impact and one that I could actually lead and develop.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am Archie D. Craft, Jr. and I was introduced to golf as a sophomore in HS by my Head Football Coach at Houston James Madison HS, Coach Ray Seals. Coach convinced me that this new game would be a great concentration sport for quarterbacks. I was a 3 sport athlete, football player, basketball player and baseball player but had never been introduced to golf until Coach Seals spoke to me. Needless to say I was one of the few football players that took coach up on his invitation, which was an amazing and life altering decision I made. I’m still thanking God! Anyway, I was able to play golf sophomore year, Junior year, and senior year and then I went to Langston University and HBCU in Langston, Oklahoma and had the opportunity to join their golf team as well! Played football (quarterback) and golf for 4 years at Langston, while also being Student Body President my senior year! IT was a great experience, our team wasn’t that good, but we competed and loved the sport.

Upon graduating from college, I returned back to Houston and began working as a teacher and football coach. A couple years later I was able to transfer to James Madison where I had started and coached football, basketball, and yes GOLF! That was another great accomplishment. I did that for 2 years before a promotional opportunity came and I moved on. Some years later, I ended up at a charter school as the athletic director and Head football and PE coach. It just so happened that I was teaching Golf to the young people in my classes and began to start putting together actual lessons on how to do it. I did that for about 3 or 4 years before I met Mr. Cliff or Coach Cliff, an after-school program entrepreneur that teaches chess. Mr. Cliff coerced me and pleaded with me to begin teaching golf in the after-school setting, he told me, “Craft I have never seen a golf program in the after-school setting, you definitely need to try it”. I will never forget that. I put him off for about a year, but he kept at it, and I’m forever thankful he did!

I wrote up the curriculum and founded Little Birdies Mobile Golf Academy. A sister from church allowed me to pilot it at one of her campuses and I did Little Birdies for 2 hours and made more money and more of an IMPACT in 2 hours that what I was doing in 8 hours teaching and 12 hours coaching on the school campuses. So, in 2014, I stepped out on Faith, walked in Faith and officially founded the company and walked away from my job! That was in November, I didn’t even wait until the semester was over, I was just that excited, anxious, and lead! And the rest is history, still going strong 7 years later. It’ll be 8 in June!

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.
I’m a simple guy, but if a buddy came in town and he played golf, We would definitely have to hit up the Golf Club of Houston, and Gus Wortham and my home course Pearland Golf Course. Then we would have to eat at Casa Vaqueros, a little Tex-Mex spot in Missouri City that by far has the best food and margaritas in the city…Trust me you only need one! We would have to hit up Fogo de Chao and the Cheesecake Factory. Probably see about a Rockets or Texans game, although they are not doing well. And probably cap it off at the comedy club.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

All my success is due to My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!! Truly thankful for instilling in me the Faith to leave what I was doing and dive – literally head first into entrepreneurship with just and idea. Now looking back in year 7, I only give Him the GLORY and credit!

I would also like to thank my family for their support, my wife and kids, sister, cousins and parents for just being present. And Mr. Cliff for the PUSH!

Website: www.littlebirdiesgolf.com

Instagram: @littlebirdiesgolf

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/archie-craft-ii-6884643/

Twitter: @lilbirdiesgolf

Facebook: www.facebook.com/littlebirdiesgolfacademy