NFL Legend Chris Johnson on Life After Football and Hospitality Success

From NFL Superstar to Hospitality Entrepreneur

Chris Johnson, former NFL running back and one of only eight players to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, has successfully transitioned from professional football to the hospitality industry. In this exclusive interview, Johnson shares his experiences both on and off the field, offering valuable insights into the mindset of an elite athlete and the challenges of life after retirement.

Family First: Balancing Career and Fatherhood

Johnson became a father to twin sons in 2012, during his sixth year in the NFL. He candidly discusses the challenges of balancing his professional career with family life:

"It was tough, trying to balance raising kids, making sure they got everything they need, and focusing on football while trying to stay at the top of my game. It definitely takes a village, and I was fortunate enough to have that help, which allowed me to focus on football and continue trying to be great."

Now retired, Johnson relishes the opportunity to be more involved in his children's daily lives:

"It's totally different when you don't have to worry about football and can focus on being a part of the daily things. Going to their football practices, track practices, my daughter's plays and assemblies, taking them to school in the morning, or picking them up when they get out of school - when you're playing, you're not able to do any of those things."

The Mindset of a Champion

Johnson's success on the field was driven by his unwavering determination and self-belief. He explains:

"I was never the kid that had all the offers and was a five-star recruit. I always had that chip on my shoulder. I wanted success, I wanted to be the best. That's what kept me going. I was never satisfied with just making it to the NFL. I always knew what type of player I was, and I always looked at myself as the best in the world."

This mindset of constant improvement and self-motivation is something Johnson believes applies to all aspects of life:

"Football relates to life and business. In football or sports, there's never a situation where everything is going to be smooth sailing. There are always going to be bumps in the road, obstacles that you have to overcome to get where you want to go. I look at it the same way in life - it's never going to be smooth sailing. There are going to be obstacles and bumps in the road, different things that you have to overcome to get to where you want to go."

Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Motivation

Johnson shares his approach to dealing with setbacks and maintaining motivation throughout his career:

"Every season is not going to be your best season, every game is not going to be your best game. But when you have those bad games or a season that is not as good as you want it to be, it's about what you're going to do next. Are you going to sit around and be depressed about it, give up, or feel sorry for yourself? No, I'm going to work harder. I'm going to go back to some of the old things I was doing when that chip was on my shoulder."

He emphasizes the importance of finding motivation in unexpected places:

"When you're a professional athlete and you've done things to the highest level, you've got to always find little small things that can continue to make you have that chip on your shoulder, to continue to make you have something to look for, to grind for. Sometimes you've got to psych yourself out in your mind, and those types of things keep you going."

The Role of Media and External Pressure

Johnson discusses how media coverage and external opinions can be used as motivation:

"The media creates a lot of stories. Someone might say something about you that they probably don't know what they're talking about, but you can pull that and be like, 'Oh, they're saying I'm not this, I'm not the same type of running back anymore, I've fallen off.' Even though you know that's not true, that's something you can still pull and might write down. That's going to be in the back of your head, and anytime you think about quitting early or not finishing, you just think about those types of things, and that gives you that extra motivation."

Transitioning to Life After Football

Johnson candidly shares the challenges of transitioning from professional football to a new career:

"That's a tough transition, coming from playing football for the last 20 years of your life, and then it's over. You're trying to figure out what you're going to do next, what you're going to do with your life. Being a father at home and taking your kids to practice or taking them to school only takes up a certain void in your life. You're still looking to get into certain things and do different professions or trying to do something that takes up your time and also makes you money."

He emphasizes the importance of planning for life after sports:

"Now they've got different programs for guys in the league. If you feel like your goal is to play 10 years, when you're in year seven or eight, you need to start getting into these different programs that the league is providing athletes. You need to start working on those things in the offseason so when you do retire in year 10, you can go right into things."

Entering the Hospitality Industry

Johnson's transition into the hospitality industry was inspired by his observations of the vacation rental market in Orlando:

"I'm from Orlando, so I know a lot of people come from out of town, different states, different countries to go to Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld, and all these places. Even people here in Orlando rent these houses for the weekend or throw birthday parties just to get away. I started looking at the money being spent on these vacation rentals, and I thought, 'That's interesting. That's something I feel like I can get into.'"

He saw an opportunity to combine his interest in real estate with the growing demand for vacation rentals:

"I wanted to get into the real estate game, and being down here in Orlando is perfect. I'm just going to get into it and see how it goes, and it's something that I enjoy doing."

The Advantages of Vacation Rentals

Johnson highlights the benefits of vacation rentals over traditional hotel accommodations:

"If we're going out of town and there are five or six of us or two or three different families, and we're going to rent hotel rooms, everybody's going to be in their own hotel room. But if we rent a house, we all get to be together. We don't have to keep ordering room service and running up this tab because room service is expensive. We just get a house, go to the grocery store, get food, we all cook, we chill together, and spend time together. I just felt like it would be a good investment, and I think it is."

Finding Clarity in Business Decisions

When asked about how he gained clarity on his post-NFL career path, Johnson offers valuable advice:

"When you're in a situation and you're trying to figure things out, you've got this going on, you've got that going on, you've got so many different things going on, you get to the point where you're like, 'Man, I just want to simplify things and make it as easy as possible.' So, it's like, okay, I've got this situation, this investment situation, that investment. I just sat back and thought, 'Out of all of these investments, which one is the most simple and what's making me the most money the easiest?'"

He emphasizes the importance of focusing on what works best:

"If you're making your most money doing trucking and it's the easiest and it's not complicated, then I feel like you put the other two to the side and you put all your energy into trucking. With me, it was real estate. I looked at everything I had going on, and I'm like, 'I'm breaking my back on this, and it's not bringing me as much as real estate, and I'm just sitting back and the real estate is working for itself and bringing me the most money.' That just gave me my clarity."

Travel Experiences and Personal Growth

Johnson shares his most impactful travel experience:

"I would say it probably was my first overseas trip, and it was Hawaii. I went to Hawaii my senior year in college for a bowl game. We were over there enjoying Hawaii and seeing their culture. That was one of the times where it was a bowl game, so we were over there the whole week and able to do all these different activities and just check out the island and eat their type of food. That was probably it right there when I went to Hawaii for the first time."

He also discusses his approach to choosing travel destinations:

"I don't know, just wanting to check different places out, seeing things on Instagram. It doesn't really be much that goes into it, just wanting to try different places. Something you feel, or if you want to just be in your area or somewhere where you just go and chill and relax. I don't like long flights, so it usually be like Caribbean areas or somewhere like that."

Words of Wisdom

Johnson shares the best advice he's ever received:

"Be patient and let things come to you. Don't force it, don't rush it."

When asked about his personal hero, Johnson doesn't hesitate:

"My hero, I'd say my mom. Just seeing how hard my mom worked, my mom and my dad too, to keep a roof over our head, keep food in our mouth, and raise us up. I've got three older brothers, so it was four boys. Just to raise us up and try to make us successful."

Advice for Young Athletes

Johnson offers valuable advice for young athletes navigating today's sports landscape:

"Pay attention to the bigger picture. The bigger picture is, whatever sport it is, it's about making it pro. That's the bigger picture. So I would say stay tunnel vision and pay attention to the bigger picture. I know you're going to get your money here and there in college and stuff like that, but remember at the end of the day what the bigger picture is."

Living Life to the Fullest

In conclusion, Johnson shares his current life motto:

"I'm just living life. Wealth is health, health is wealth. So, you know, just continue to work at it, trying to stay healthy and living life."

Chris Johnson's journey from NFL superstar to successful entrepreneur in the hospitality industry serves as an inspiration to athletes and business professionals alike. His insights on maintaining motivation, overcoming challenges, and finding clarity in career decisions offer valuable lessons for anyone striving for success in their chosen field. By focusing on family, personal growth, and strategic business decisions, Johnson has successfully navigated the transition from professional sports to a thriving post-athletic career.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAPoYh7bNuw