Earvin “Magic” Johnson, 49, is continuing to educate people on how to succeed in business. His new book entitled “32 Ways to be a Champion in Business” explains how he transformed his fame as a NBA player to an investor and businessman.

As CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, a closely-held company based in Los Angeles that brings retail outlets like Starbucks and movie theaters to urban areas, Mr. Johnson still finds time to travel across the country to motivate others. Recently, he was ranked No. 58 amongst the 100 most powerful people associated with professional sports.

Here’s an excerpt of his interview with the WallStreet Journal:

The Wall Street Journal: There are so many business advice books out there. What prompted you to write yours?

Mr. Johnson: Every time I spoke at corporations and elsewhere I was asked why I hadn’t written about my success in investing in urban America. The athletes I spoke to also wanted something they could read. A lot of them want to figure out what I did, to understand the blueprint for what made me successful.

WSJ: Now that we’re in an international financial crisis, do you think your theme — that a business must be about more than making money — will still resonate?

Mr. Johnson: Yes, even more so. Consumers want you to give back to the community where you make your money. That’s how you gain brand loyalty. It’s not about making millions of dollars and not touching the community in a positive way. This is when you need to build brand loyalty. You want your customers to continue walking through the doors. The brands that have fallen are the brands that failed to do that.

To read the full interview, click here!