Meet William Field

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

William, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I grew up in a broken family situation. My father and mother divorced when I was 5. Father was in Vietnam War and is now diagnosed with PTSD. Eventually my mother remarried to a man with 3 kids of his own. Growing up in a household like that can be challenging especially being the 2nd youngest. My step father at the time favored his children over my brother and I. I knew at that point I had to be better then everyone else just to succeed in everyones eyes. I went to highschool, played soccer, worked a job at a local pizza place in order to buy a car and get things that were important. I then started taking Taekwondo and paying for the lessons myself. Eventually I had to quit at the time to try and follow a dream I had of getting into college one day to play soccer. My mother did the best she could to raise us with the situation at hand.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I own and operate Choe’s HapKiDo in Jefferson, GA with my wife. HapKiDo is a form of martial arts known for its circular motion and self-defense. Choe’s Chung Mu HapKiDo is an original and traditional style – the techniques have not been mixed with other styles of martial arts but has been further developed by the Choe family. My love for the art developed when I was a student. My desire to become a school owner grew when I was asked to become an assistant instructor as the facility I was a member. I loved watching the kids grow and develop into strong individuals and knowing I had a hand in helping them be better versions of themselves.

What is most exciting for me about owning and operating the school is the ability to help change lives. For the younger students, we help them build confidence, develop better focus and self control, all while also learning to defend themselves if the need ever arises. For our adult students, we can help them develop better flexibility, more stamina, and a strong appreciation for the art. In as little as a month, I get to see their transformation start to take shape. Our organization also actively helps the community – school supply drive for a local school at the beginning of the school year, fundraiser for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, canned food drive and toy drive during the holidays.

After a year at our location, we started an after-school program. Students are picked up directly from their school and brought to our facility where they get to learn martial arts. Eventually I would like to offer a summer camp and expand to a larger facility.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Atheleticism; I have always loved sports and participated in many extracurricular activities when I was growing up. My passion for sports also helped me to develop the drive to be successful in everything that I do. As a child, I took TaeKwonDo but did not advance very far because I did not have the money to continue. As an adult, I decided I want to earn my Black Belt. I chose HapKiDo on a whim as I did not know the differences of the various martial arts styles but I stayed with HapKiDo because of the camaraderie within the organization and the passion of the instructors.

Determination: I strive to be the best and to excel in everything I set my mind to achieving. Life is tough and sometimes you doubt if you’re on the right path. It’s my determination to succeed that helps me through the tough times and helps drive me to be better tomorrow.

Adaptability: The ability to change in different environments is crucial to all success. You never know what is going to happen and need to have an open mind and be willing to “go with the flow” sometimes.

Advice: Be open – open to what others have to say, open to new ideas, open to new challenges, open to new knowledge. We never stop learning and growing as individuals.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My mom was vital in helping me become the person I am today. She was a great role model for me because she always had a full plate but was always able to slow down, listen, and love. She never gives up. Her determination to make a better life for her boys was evident in everything she did for us. The most impactful thing my mom did for me was let me do my own thing and cheer me on from the sideline. She was always there for me when I needed her but she never let me take the easy way out. She let me stumble and fall so I could learn my lesson. She taught me that I have what it takes to achieve any goal I set my heart on.

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