Mitlin Money Mindset

Why Young Athletes Are Burning Out (& How to Help Them) with Paul Cohen

September 24, 2025 | Episode #256

Meet the Guest

Paul Cohen

Paul Cohen is a semi-retired, performance-driven sales professional with over 15 years of experience at PepsiCo, where he thrived in fast-paced, high-volume environments. Renowned for his creative leadership and consistent success in achieving company objectives, Paul built an outstanding track record in cultivating new business, generating sales, driving marketing initiatives, and fostering exceptional customer relationships. His expertise in analyzing and solving complex business challenges, combined with his unwavering commitment to honesty, integrity, and responsiveness, has set him apart as a trusted leader and partner.

Beyond his corporate career, Paul is the founder of Ultimate Hockey Fans and Balanced2Day, an award-winning author; Twig & Biscuit: Learn to Play Hockey and a former professional hockey player -11-year career and was the first goalie in AHL history to score a goal. He has owned and operated Goalie and Hockey camps across North America and Europe, sharing his passion for the sport and mentoring the next generation of athletes.

One of the most fun ways that I have ever shared my love for hockey is co-writing Twig & Biscuit: Learn to Play Hockey with my co-author Lee Elias and starting our own publishing company, Rink Rats Publishing. It is the perfect welcome gift for new hockey players, helping them feel confident and excited about the game. This book makes the transition into the youth hockey world fun and easy through an engaging story, step-by-step dressing instructions, and an equipment vocabulary section.

Show Notes

What good is hard work if you lose the joy that got you started? Former pro goalie Paul Cohen knows that hustle alone isn’t enough to truly succeed — in sports, business, or life.

In this episode, he shares what his experience on the ice, in corporate, and as a coach taught him about leading a team and building a culture of trust. We also dive into how his coaching philosophy has changed, his “work hard but have fun” motto, and what parents need to know about helping their kids reach the next level in hockey.

Resources

Sending your child to college will always be emotional but are you financially ready?

Take the College Readiness Quiz for Parents!

The JOY and Productivity Journal by Lawrence Sprung

Get yours today!

JOYful Finances for Couples

Download your guide today!

About the Podcast

Welcome to Mitlin Money Mindset®️! With your host, Larry Sprung, CFP®️, Founder and Wealth Advisor at Mitlin Financial Inc®️. With over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the financial services industry, Larry thrives to help you achieve your goals while finding JOY in the journey.

Each week, he’ll go deep with engaging guests who provide tangible takeaways and a whole lot of JOY along the way. Here, we don’t just talk about money; we celebrate it as a catalyst for JOY and possibility. Whether you’re saving for the future, planning your next big adventure, or just looking to add some spark to your daily money management, you’re in the right place.

We hope you enJOY these conversations as much as Larry enJOYed having them. And remember to ask yourself, what did you do today that brought you joy?®️

Why Young Athletes Are Burning Out (& How to Help Them) with Paul Cohen

Meet the Host

Larry Sprung

CFP®, CEPA®
Founder & Wealth Advisor