We were lucky to catch up with Ebony Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ebony thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I wish I would have started working with people sooner. I decided to start my business while I was getting my Masters degree, but I had to stop because between school, my parents being sick and going through a divorce it was too much. I couldn’t focus on anything because I was in a full flare due to my autoimmune disease.

I officially started working with clients in 2019 almost 10 years after getting my degree in Exercise Physiology. As much as I would have liked to have started my business sooner, I wouldn’t be the trainer and coach that I am today. Our lived experiences contribute to our ability to serve clients and all of those things created a perfect foundation to provide better care.

For example, becoming a patient advocate and working on taking time to understand issues with access to health services, listening skills, and practicing kindness and compassion. I work with clients on a sliding scale. I wouldn’t have the skills I do now had it not been for my life experiences. Because I know the historical context behind weight bias, shame and health disparities, it has transformed the way I support people.

Ebony, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Ebony Williams, and I founded Joyful Ebony Health Coaching to support individuals who are navigating their way back to themselves after facing grief, stress, and trauma, particularly those living with autoimmune conditions. My approach is holistic, and I deeply believe in the power of co-creation. I use fitness and movement practices, nutrition education, aromatherapy, and somatic experiences to help reconnect your heart to your body.

In addition to my health coaching/personal training work, I also specialize in guiding health and wellness coaches to build sustainable businesses. I understand the challenges of breaking through barriers around business processes, and I offer coaching to ensure you’re not just growing your practice but thriving in it.

One of the biggest things that makes me different is that I also have a full time job. I have learned the importance of time management and managing expectations, communication and support. I have realized that many people I serve also struggle with time management, especially when they have an autoimmune condition.

I am able to see issues from multiple perspectives and it helps me to take a practical and thoughtful approach to problems that I help my clients solve. I also don’t take on many clients at once because I don’t have a desire to overwhelm myself or create a less than ideal environment for a client.

What sets me apart is my genuine commitment to meeting people where they are, honoring their journey, and offering personalized, compassionate support. Whether through one-on-one coaching or mentorship for fellow coaches, my focus remains on creating meaningful, lasting change that aligns with your unique goals.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn how to trust myself and my intuition.

When you have a chronic illness, especially at a young age, you learn to ignore the signs that your body is trying to tell you because so much can go wrong at once.

For me, I have learned how to recognize when something feels off or if I need to simply rest.

I used to try to “push through” or “keep grinding”, but that only led to burnout and frustration. Now, I know how to set boundaries, say no (politely) and focus on what’s most important.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There was a time when I was literally fighting for my life. My autoimmune condition had gone undiagnosed for so long and I couldn’t climb stairs or do basic tasks without experiencing extreme vertigo. I specifically remember. laying on the floor praying that the room would stop spinning long enough for me to make it the health center in college. What was worse is oftentimes no one believed that I was suffering as much as I was because I didn’t always “look sick”. I had to give up a lot for so long. The fact that I have been on the cover of Strong Fitness Magazine twice (and I am the current cover athlete) reminds me that I have conquered so much and that is something to be proud of. I could have given up and stopped trying, but I knew there was more that I wanted to accomplish. I mention my autoimmune condition constantly because it truly changed the trajectory of my life. It made me focus on patient advocacy, lean into wellness practices, and I started my podcast, the Thyroid Warrior because I want people to understand the options they have related to living a full life despite having an autoimmune disease.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joyfulebony.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfulebony/

Image Credits

First Image (Yellow) Paul Buceta

Reframe Your Brand
2-4th Photo: Sharon Lewis
5th Photo: Snappy Goode
6th Photo: WIll Hawkins