During his time at the University of Miami (Fla.), Ryan Braun studied business administration while developing his skills as a baseball player.

Now, Braun is putting what he learned in the classroom to good use.

"I've always said I never want to be defined by baseball," Braun says. "In no way do I mean that to disrespect the game, I just feel like intellectually, I've always enjoyed leaning as much as I can about everything."

The All-Star left fielder's portfolio currently includes a clothing line, Remetee, two restaurants, Ryan Braun's Graffito in the Third Ward and Ryan Braun's Tavern and Grill in Lake Geneva, and most recently, an energy drink. His time at Miami planted the seed for Braun, who took his academics seriously.

Classes weren't just an obligation for Braun, who despite emerging as a star ballplayer, attended Miami on an academic scholarship.

"It was always about, if I'm going to be there, in the classroom, I might as well learn as much as I can, I might as well study as hard as I can and I might as well accomplish as much as I can," Braun says.

That dedication to academics has paid off. He says the benefits are obvious when he looks at proposals or monthly financial statements.

"I think that's the coolest part," Braun says. "I understand what I'm reading. I'm able to apply the things I learned to my life today."

His goal was always to play baseball in the major leagues but Braun had an idea of what he wanted to do off the field, too. There were no specifics, but he did know that he eventually wanted to be his own boss.

Thus the business major, which Braun figured would allow him a broad range of opportunities.

"No matter what I did, I wanted to understand how to run it," Braun says. "I wanted to understand how to set up the infrastructure of a company. I wanted to understand the financial perspective and I feel like I have at least a basic understanding so that everything I get involved with, I understand what I'm getting myself into."

With a full time job that takes up significant amounts of time, focus and attention from February through October, Braun has had to find the right way to balance his efforts between baseball and business.

He admits he wants to be hands-on and involved with all of the endeavors but that's obviously not possible.

"I have to rely on the people I have in place," Braun says. "I have to rely on the experts in the industry."

All of Braun's success, whether it's on the field, in the restaurant, clothing or soft drink industries, he attributes all of it to working hard in the classroom.

"It's a pretty rewarding feeling knowing that the work I put in academically is actually paying off," Braun says.