We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Journey Shank a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Journey , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

As entrepreneur, I take pride in my story and creating something bigger than myself. The story behind my mission, comes from being faced with adversity and deciding to take it head on. I turned my struggles into a lifestyle where I learned to be vulnerable and keep trying despite the circumstances. The unseen hours of hard work and dedication has brought me to this point.
My main objective for my brand is to create an environment where the athlete can be themselves and embrace the journey they’re on.

Throughout the process, I’ve been blessed to come across great individuals who always remind me of my mission. Being authentic and present with every athlete I train, allows me to bring the best out of them. I’m dedicated to helping others reach their potential and having a meaningful impact.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Journey Shank and I’m the owner of JS3 Hoop Training. My brand is centered around sports performance and player development. As a personal coach, I specialize in elevating players’ game to the next level by improving their skills, mindset, and basketball IQ.

I started my brand after my first ACL injury and during the recovery process, I realized I have a gift to help others. When I started my business, I wanted to be able to provide a space where their art can shine. Basketball is art and I believe every athlete has their own style. As their trainer, it is my responsibility to help the athlete see their own talent and guide them to be their best.

I offer private and group training sessions that focus on the fundamentals. My program is for all ages and skill levels, and the goal of every training session is to get 1% better. My training style is designed to challenge the athlete and make the workout feel like a game. Majority of my drills are fundamental concepts with high repetitions in order to focus on the importance of going game speed. I believe this approach prepares the athlete to perform with confidence and at a high-level.

What I’m most proud of is seeing the development of my clients and their commitment to the process. It has been a blessing to see the growth of my business over the past couple of months. From being the athlete to being the trainer, this has been a full circle experience.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My journey has a been filled with adversity that required resilience. In November of 2023, while I was in London pursuing my professional career and earning my masters, I sustained my second ACL/meniscus injury. This was a devastating blow considering I had just returned from the first injury. Although I was unable to play the rest of the season, I fixed my focus on making the most of my opportunity to be overseas. During my time in the UK, I took time to explore and take in the culture. Throughout the experience I learn the value of being present.

Despite the injury, I am grateful for the experience to play professionally and be apart of a team like the Essex Rebels. Being resilient throughout this process taught me to keep a positive attitude about life. Developing a mindset of never giving up, allowed me to overcome these obstacles and create my business.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In the summer of 2024, I rebuilt my sports performance training business, focused on skill development for athletes of all levels.
When I got injured I was faced with a decision, To either quit or pivot. I chose to take a risk and pivot towards a path where I could make a positive impact on others. While the injuries are a tough blow, I’m still able to stayed connected to the game.

Starting my business from scratch was challenging, but my genuine passion combined with my basketball expertise allows me to keep pushing. Investing my full time into this process since I’ve come home from London has been fulfilling.
I earned my masters in Brand Management and Marketing from the Essex Business School. This allows me to implement the skills I learned every day in my that program in my day operations of my business.

Lastly, What excites me most about the future is the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the athletes I work with. Every training session is a chance to see my athletes improve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/journey.shank
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journey.shank3?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/journey-shank-msc-950571256?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app