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

Hi Jonathan B., thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I ever took was betting on myself after losing everything I thought defined me.

I began my college journey at Texas State University on a track and field scholarship, driven, confident, and certain that athletics was my purpose. But during my sophomore year, a major pectoral injury changed everything. Not only did I lose my scholarship, but I lost a part of my identity. For a young athlete whose entire self-worth was tied to performance, that kind of loss shakes you to the core.

I had a choice to make; accept defeat or rebuild. I decided to take the risk of transferring to the University of Houston, even though I had no guarantees. No scholarship. No status. Just faith and determination.

When I arrived at UH, I walked on to the football team during my redshirt year, not because it was easy, but because I refused to let my story end with an injury. That year, I trained harder, studied deeper, and reshaped my mindset. Eventually, I rejoined the track and field team, where I not only found my rhythm again but went on to earn four conference championships and compete nationally as one of the top long and triple jumpers in the country.

That season of my life taught me that risk isn’t just about stepping into the unknown; it’s about choosing growth over comfort, even when the outcome is uncertain. It was never just about athletics; it was about redemption, discipline, and faith.

The risk to start over gave me more than medals, it gave me perspective. It taught me that the same mindset that rebuilds a broken athlete can rebuild any dream. Today, as an educator, I share that message with others: sometimes the greatest leap you take isn’t on the field; it’s in believing that your setback is setting you up for a stronger return.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jonathan B. Williams , and I’m the Founder of AFTLETE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping former athletes redefine purpose, rebuild structure, and rediscover identity beyond sports.

My journey began long before AFTLETE was born. I was a collegiate track and field athlete at the University of Houston, competing at the national level after transferring from Texas State University following a major injury that cost me my scholarship. That experience of losing something I loved and rebuilding from the ground up taught me that identity and discipline go far beyond competition.

After college, I spent 12 years as a wellness and performance coach, managing corporate wellness programs and training professionals and athletes using the EXOS methodology. My role wasn’t just to help people perform better physically, but to think clearer, lead stronger, and sustain excellence in their daily lives. That insight became the foundation for my work today.

Through AFTLETE, we provide personal development programs, community workshops, and storytelling platforms for current and former athletes navigating life transitions. Our goal is to bridge the gap between athletic excellence and life after sports by helping individuals strengthen their executive function. The habits, systems, and mindset that drive success beyond the game.

What sets AFTLETE apart is our holistic approach. We combine mindset training, leadership development, and community engagement to create a space where athletes can turn discipline into direction. We don’t just talk about potential, we help people build a structure that makes potential inevitable.

What I’m most proud of isn’t just the work we do, but the community we’re building. One where former athletes support, learn from, and empower each other to lead in every arena of life.

At its core, AFTLETE isn’t just a program; it’s a movement. It’s about helping individuals realize that who they are isn’t limited to what they did on the field or court; it’s about who they become next.

If there’s one thing I want readers to know, it’s this: the game may end, but your impact doesn’t have to.

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

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was believing that everyone operated with the same “can do” or “will do” mindset that athletes are trained to live by.

In sports, effort isn’t optional, it was the standard. You’re conditioned to show up, push through, and find a way to win, even when you’re tired, hurt, or unsure. That mindset served me well as a competitor, but when I transitioned out of athletics and into the professional and academic world, I realized that not everyone shared that same drive.

At first, it was confusing; even frustrating. I couldn’t understand why some people didn’t match the urgency or intensity that felt natural to me. Over time, I had to learn that not everyone is motivated by the same things, and that true leadership requires empathy, not just expectation.

It wasn’t a struggle to adjust, but it was definitely eye-opening. I had to learn to meet people where they are. To listen more, to understand their perspectives, and to recognize that growth happens at different speeds for everyone.

That lesson reshaped how I lead today. It taught me that while high standards are valuable, compassion is what sustains real progress. Whether I’m coaching, teaching, or mentoring, I remind myself that the goal isn’t just to help people perform better; it’s to help them believe better.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. My mission is to help people former athletes and high achievers rediscover structure, confidence, and purpose beyond performance.

After spending years as both a competitor and a coach, I realized that so many individuals lose their sense of identity when the structure of sports or achievement fades. My creative journey is about rebuilding that structure, not through motivation, but through clarity, discipline, and community.

Through AFTLETE, I’ve dedicated my work to helping others turn the same principles that made them successful in competition into tools for personal leadership and lasting growth. Whether it’s through storytelling, workshops, or mentoring, everything I create is designed to remind people that the habits that made them great on the field can also make them extraordinary in life.

At its core, my mission is simple: to help people transform discipline into freedom and purpose into impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aftlete.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aftlete
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aftlete