Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonathan Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jonathan, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
First off, I don’t think anyone “overcomes” imposter syndrome. To me, feeling like I don’t belong or that I’m not “good enough” or “qualified enough” to be in any situation comes up more often than I’d like to admit. For me, this mindset comes from a place of perfectionism and comparison to others. When I have a job to do I immediately try to envision the “perfect outcome” and do all my planning to make this come to fruition. Inevitably, I’ll come across speed bumps or hiccups in getting this done and have to pivot a bit. The fact that I have to pivot at all can get really discouraging. I don’t know where it comes from, but in these situations there is this insecure lie that comes up where I tell myself that a true professional plans so well they don’t have to pivot. I think in my head I believe that other people’s outsides only look dope and their insides aren’t a complete basket of nerves like mine are. The reality and the truth I have to tell myself everyday is that I’m not the only human on this planet. The rest of the people here aren’t perfect robots who execute perfectly every time. The truth is that they are in situations they have created for themselves through their hard work, and I am also in a situation I created for myself because of my hard work. My drive and ability to learn new things qualifies me just as much as it qualifies the next guy.
There is a great story in baseball of a prospect who is playing his first game in the major leagues. At his first at bat he is facing off against the best pitcher in the league and likely future hall of famer. Within 3 pitches this guy strikes out and looks silly while he’s doing it. Discouraged, he walks back into the dugout. On his way to riding the pine, his coach stops him and says, “You know, you’re in the major leagues too, kid.”
This stuck with me because there are a ton of people who do what I do and have been doing it for years with plenty of experience. While I may be newer to the game, the reality is that I’m in the major leagues also (metaphorically, although if anyone wants to sign a semi-athletic guy in his mid-30’s, email me!)
Overcoming imposter syndrome….lol yeah right. But I speak truths and ways that I qualify my existence to myself daily, and I also work hard to show compassion to my own humanity and the natural feelings of insecurity that come up. After these little pep talks, I just get things done, because done is better than perfect!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name’s Jonathan Williams and I wear a ton of different hats. Over the last few summers, I’ve been riding the wave with Ice Cube’s Big3 basketball league, all thanks to Krause House, a web3 decentralized autonomous organization, or DAO for short. Here, I’m rocking the title of CEO for the Ball Hogs, one of the league’s squads. Krause House? It’s this wild collective of sports and basketball nuts with a dream as big as owning the first fan-run NBA team. The big play? Showing team owners the cool factor of fan involvement. How we’re making waves? Krause House snagged the Ball Hogs through the Big3’s NFT drop in 2022, testing the waters on how to crank up fan engagement from the owner’s box. Me and our crew throw our heads together to cook up fresh, fun ways for fans to amp up their favorite teams and spike brand buzz by getting hands-on. It’s a mind-bender, sure, but man, is it a blast. I’ve been all in and loving it.
When the game’s off, I’m not sitting still—I dive into freelance consulting for other teams and leagues. Got my hands in projects with Overtime Elite in Atlanta and Karate Combat, which is all about full-contact action. Aside from stirring up fan hype, I’m behind the scenes chopping up podcasts and videos for local businesses back home in Auburn, AL. That’s where I hang my hats, chilling with my wife and our three furballs, Ruby, Ralph, and Rosie.
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?
Oof, that’s a thinker… I reckon I could go on forever about 3 qualities, 3 skills, and 3 knowledge areas. But alright, let’s hone in on my top picks for each.
So here we go: Self-compassion, tinkering, and the almighty YouTube University.
Self-compassion steals the spotlight for me, topping everything else. I’ve hinted at this gem before, especially when chatting about imposter syndrome, so let’s dive deeper. Self-compassion means embracing your perfectly imperfect self, flaws and all, and finding freedom in that—not seeing it as a setback. And boy, it’s a toughie. It’s like, the folks who struggle the most with self-compassion are usually the ones dishing out heaps of kindness to everyone else but skimp on giving any to themselves. For me, It’s rooted in this burning desire to create stuff—be it things, experiences, you name it—that genuinely touches people. I’ve always set sky-high standards for my work, and falling short would either knock the wind out of me or have me throwing in the towel. Through the work of self-compassion, I’ve learned that the heart of why I do what I do is about serving and loving others. That’s the gold. But my brain likes to play gatekeeper, keeping a tight leash on outcomes. Self-compassion has been a game-changer, teaching me to appreciate my intent to care and love. It’s shown me to trust the journey without sweating the finish line too much. It’s also helped me make peace with the jitters that bubble up when I’m knee-deep in projects close to my heart. Those nerves are the proof that I’m where I need to be, doing what I’m meant to do. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be nervous.
Next, let’s chat about tinkering. Diving into new fan concepts or wrapping my head around the intricate software for editing is a beast. Thinking I’ll just waltz in and master these tools from the get-go is pure fantasy. So, I did what any self-respecting improviser would: nail down the basics and then tinker with the rest. Getting a grip on the fundamentals of most software is a few days’ affair, tops. After that, It’s all about playing around to get the hang of the fancier bits. I’m all for setting up my little experimental zones or sandbox setups where I can push buttons and flip switches to my heart’s content—no real projects harmed in the process. Tinkering’s been my secret sauce to getting savvy with some pretty slick techniques and, not gonna lie, it’s been a mega boost for my self-esteem.
And then there’s the crown jewel: YouTube University. In this digital era, whatever you need to get smart on—be it marketing, graphic design, you name it—there’s a YouTube tutorial for that. I’ve sunk countless hours into absorbing wisdom from folks who actually get it, sharing their expertise for the grand price of zero. Seriously, anyone hungry to level up their know-how should be diving into YouTube. Mash that up with a dash of tinkering, and you’re looking at becoming an absolute powerhouse.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love collaborating. At this point, I have immensely enjoyed working with people who are more experienced than me. Getting their input on ways I can improve myself is always helpful. I’ve also found that offering fresh perspectives from a greenhorn like myself has been of service to experienced folks.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsunclejon/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-w-55a44030/
