Sean Michael Crane's Unstoppable Mindset
Sean Michael Crane's Unstoppable Mindset
Special Guest 3x Ms. Olympia Whitney Jones - Unstoppable Mindset Podcast
How does a single mother turn into a three-time Miss Olympia while running a business and raising two boys? Join us for an extraordinary conversation with Whitney Jones, where she unveils her incredible journey into the fitness division of bodybuilding. Whitney's story is a masterclass in resilience, showcasing how she managed to achieve remarkable success even after starting her career later in life at 35. Her unique fitness routines, filled with flips, jumps, and breakdancing, are just a glimpse into her innovative spirit and determination.
As the youngest of three, Whitney's early years were shaped by an active lifestyle and the influence of her older brother. She shares how her passion for sports led her to cheerleading, which eventually paved the way to her fitness career. Whitney’s journey is filled with lessons on embracing risk, having fun, and staying true to oneself. She emphasizes setting goals that bring joy and accountability, reminding us that personal fulfillment often comes from stepping outside our comfort zones and trying new experiences.
Whitney's story takes a dramatic turn as she recounts overcoming severe injuries, personal losses, and a difficult divorce. Her unstoppable mindset, even when faced with breaking her neck and undergoing 18 surgeries, is a testament to her resilience and determination. Listen to Whitney as she reveals the power of social media exposure, the significance of a positive attitude, and her strategies for maintaining motivation in the face of adversity. This episode is not just about fitness; it's a powerful narrative on life's challenges and the strength it takes to overcome them.
Okay, here we are back with another episode of the Unstoppable Mindset Podcast. I'm really excited to have Whitney Jones joining me today. I get to interview Whitney Jones. She's a three-time Miss Olympia, full-time mother of two grown boys who are getting ready to go to college right, We'll talk about that and, honestly, somebody who I'm considering a friend. I've got to know Whitney over the last couple of months and she's an amazing human being. Like she had me doing somersaults and plyo pushups last time we worked out. She's super athletic but just like a really down to earth and amazing person, honestly. So, Whitney, thank you so much for being here. I can't wait to just ask you a bunch of questions and get to know more about you and your journey that you've been on so welcome.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I'm excited, yeah, and you know what I have to give you massive props, because most people I try to dare a lot of people to do a lot of the dumb shit that I do because I think it's fun, but within reason, like I would never ask you to do something if I didn't think you were capable. But so many people back down, but I knew you of all people would not. And then, more importantly, you totally impressed me. I was like, well, damn the hell, you just you busted out those push flies instantly, like and you were game. I'm like this is bad-ass, I love it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, you got to try everything right. Honestly, I looked at the replay that I got to be able to get my arms straight and get elevated more, so I got to practice. Next time we're in Arizona working out or if you come to California more. So I got to practice. Next time we're in Arizona working out or if you come to California, I'll have them down a little bit, you know. But, um, so you have an incredible title. Like not a lot of people have the, the accolades that you do three-time Miss Olympia. Does anybody have a three-time Miss Olympia?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they do so, obviously, um I'm in the fitness division, so for anyone who doesn't know the industry.
Speaker 2:It's bodybuilding, it's in the bodybuilding umbrella, so the easiest person to relate to is Arnold Schwarzenegger. He actually won this title multiple times, seven times, and I'm in that realm. But I'm in the fitness division where you did the flips, the jumps. I don't get on stage and flex. They do judge your physique. You have to be in shape. So that is part of my score, but most of my score two thirds is based on a routine that you can put together.
Speaker 2:It can be anything you want. You have some mandatory moves, like mandatory skills, but otherwise you get to do whatever you want in regards to flipping, jumping, dancing I do break dancing. So I mean, those are some different areas that, like, I've been able to enjoy, but it's it's. There's seven. Wait gosh, how many different divisions now, because there's now wellness, they're coming out with classic physique. So there's tons of different divisions, but mine is specific.
Speaker 2:So there are some champions that have more than just three, but it's being number one in the world because it's a worldwide competition to qualify to compete at the Olympia. So it's a very prestigious title and if you're really good, like if you've mastered the craft, if you've only won one, you're kind of like oh, did that person get lucky, or could they not like handle the pressure to come back and regain that title? So there is a lot of power to say that you are a repeat winner. That's where it kind of goes. Oh, ok, this wasn't just a lucky shot, one and done, Like you've walked the walk, talked the talk, you've gone in. You took that pressure as a champ and said I want it again.
Speaker 2:And then I want it again and then I want it again. So you know, and that's when you want it and you are willing to work hard and do whatever it takes. That's truly kind of what makes that championship mindset. So, um, I went in to this sport out of a dare, so it's not like this was my lifelong dream and, to be honest, I get shit for being honest about that a lot, because there's some people who, from their very early beginnings in life, this was their life stream. That wasn't mine. I mean, I got started at 35. So it's like this wasn't something that I ever thought was going to happen.
Speaker 2:Now, once I started learning the industry and I started winning shows and then qualified, I became a pro. I thought what does this mean and what do I want to do with it? But for me it was always a personal challenge. I wasn't worried about the outcome. I never had cared about the result, the outcome, I never had cared about the result. So, yes, I wanted to win, but I wanted to win knowing I gave everything every day to my prep, put in all the hard work, all the sacrifice, not every day when it's planned.
Speaker 2:I'm a single mother. I own at that time own five businesses. During this whole process I had a lot on my plate, so not every day went the way it was supposed to, and I was far from the typical athlete in our sport because this wasn't the only thing I had in my life. So I was okay, just going in knowing I gave it my all.
Speaker 2:But I think for me personally, that's why I was a champion, that's why I was able to win, because I just focused on me. I didn't care about the competition, I didn't care what anyone else was doing, I cared about what I was doing. I stayed in my lane. I stayed focused on me. I wanted to present the best routine I could possibly do. If the judges liked it, great. If they didn't, so be it. So you know, I went in trying to impress myself and surprise myself, and that's how I continue to be a champion. And that sounds maybe kind of silly, but I was never focused on I must win, because I did have one year in my career where I was focused on winning. That was the year I did the worst.
Speaker 1:Wow. Well, I want to stop you right there because that's super interesting. I feel like sometimes you want to. Obviously you want to focus on your goals, but you can over-focus to the point where it affects your performance, and this is in any area of life, right. There's like the letting go technique where you kind of you do your best to prepare yourself for the event or the competition, whatever it is, and kind of just surrender to the outcome a little bit. You know, and I think that's really important. That's like sports psychology right there.
Speaker 1:But what you said two things you said that I love. You were more into doing the work for the best of your ability and that was your sole focus, like you didn't care about the other competitors, all this stuff focus. Like you didn't care about the other competitors, all this stuff, your, your joy or gratitude, or, like your, your results were based on how you showed up, like if you gave your all every day and you were doing everything in your power to be your best. That was like the epitome of success for you. And I think a lot of people who are champions in sports, um, competitors in business, whatever it is they, they, they have that they're more concerned about doing the right thing so that they can sleep at night, so they know they're giving their all in life versus getting that trophy or that reward and then, by default, a lot of times they're successful, right. And so when you fall in love with the process and you do what you do because you want to be the best, you continuously progress like and you don't get as daunted by what other people say are obstacles in your path, right? I think that's the key facet of people who have a winner's mindset in life. So thank you for sharing that. I'm interested.
Speaker 1:So you were 35 when you started competing which is crazy and I thought you know a Miss Olympia or just bodybuilding in general. I thought it was just like posing. I thought it was being. I thought it was just like posing. I thought it was being fit, I thought it was monitoring nutrition, tracking, just getting really lean. I had no idea they even had the division that you won all three of your Olympias in, you know. So what were you doing before that? Were you in gymnastics or were you like an athlete growing up? Can you tell us about just your athletic background overall?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So, believe it or not, I have zero gymnastics experience, which is kind of a prerequisite for anyone in my category, which is why I thought this will be probably one and done. So I have none, but I have been an athlete all my life. So I grew up with two older brothers. I was the youngest of three kids and growing up, both parents were working nonstop. My older brother always was in babysitting mode and we just had to entertain ourselves. So we used to just do crazy stuff all the time at the park. We were always just moving and active and for me, I loved sports. I loved any sport my parents would allow me to play so soccer, basketball, softball, track. I did do cheerleading because they wouldn't let me play football back then Girls weren't allowed to and of course, I had two older brothers. I wanted to be just like my older brother, so the one thing that I would say correlated with fitness would probably be cheerleading. But back then all you did was have pom poms and hey, go team, go, go, team. There was no like real gymnastic side that you see in cheerleading now, but being able to play all these sports like. When I grew up it was YMCA, so there was none of these like club sports, or you just signed up for the free stuff at school or the YMCA, which was $15 a season where we live. So my parents let us play any sport. So it was always just whatever I could do. But that's what was great, is? It kind of helped create this well-rounded athlete that I ended up becoming. And then, you know, in high school I ended up doing cheerleading, which helped just to have that ability to perform and not be self-conscious. I took like tap and dance when I was five and six, but no other dance training, I just don't really care. And so you turn music on and I'm like, oh yeah, so for athletes in our division it definitely helps if you have the technique and the training. But if you have the ability to enjoy performing and enjoy a challenge, then it's the perfect fit for you.
Speaker 2:Like me, going into the gym and just working out, it's kind of like, eh, I would get bored because if it's too monotonous for too long, I needed to find ways to be creative. So I actually didn't even lift in a gym regularly until later in my life. I mean, even after high school, college, I got into endurance events, so marathon training, triathlons and I did that as a way to be fit. And then I realized, wait, the body type I see in magazines they don't look like I do. But I didn't have the nutrition background, I wasn't eating enough, I was tearing down all my muscles. So I ended up like again going, oh, I'll try something else. And that's what ended up getting me into the sport.
Speaker 2:I'm now fitness competitions and it was like I said it was out of a dare. Sadly, I'm a type person that if you tell me I can't do something or you challenge me, that lights a fire and I'm like, hmm, really, I'm going to show you I can. So, for me, that's what got me into the sport. Someone said there's no way you'd be good at this and I honestly had no idea what they were talking about. I thought, yeah, I will. And I'm like wait, what am I agreeing to do? And then come to find out it was a fitness competition and I'm like, oh, wow, okay, let me figure this out. And long story short.
Speaker 2:I liked it and thought I'll just do this. And at that time they had YouTube. So I'd see these tricks and I'm a bit of a daredevil and just started kind of creating my own vibe, my own style of performance. And it was unlike people had seen because, again, I wasn't the standard athlete. I didn't have the standard training. So even backflips, a simple backflip, I do it very different than the standard person because I wasn't trained how to do it. So everything looked a little different and, to be honest, I didn't want to be like everyone else. I thought, if I'm doing this, I want to be like totally different.
Speaker 2:So I happened to see something breakdancing wise and I used to love to try to breakdance when I was younger. So I thought I'm going to bring breakdancing to the IFBB stage and just try it. And so I brought something different that people hadn't seen. I couldn't do what the other girls were doing. So why try? I thought I'm going to create this persona of a fitness athlete in whatever way I want, because I'm not at their level. I can't do the stuff that they can do, but I might as well try to be different and then master it.
Speaker 2:So that's kind of how I got in and started really getting some traction early, winning, leveling, going up to the next level and the next level, and I thought, oh shit, what do I do now? Because I didn't expect this. But again, it teaches you, do things you enjoy. I didn't enjoy what the other girls were doing skill-wise, so if I want to do something for me, I'm going to make it fun.
Speaker 2:So I started focusing on the stuff I enjoyed and I liked doing stuff that no one was doing, or coming up with crazy cattywampus flips that aren't even really tricks, but creating them, and so that's where it was interesting for me to go. This is fun because I get to be who I want. And again, I didn't care if the judges were like we've never seen this before and there's a reason why, then okay, fine, that's what they think. Would I have stopped it? Probably not, because my goal wasn't to win. My goal was to have fun, have fitness goals that keep me accountable, challenge me, and if the judges don't like it and I get last place, so be it Whatever.
Speaker 1:Was I me, and if the judges don't like it and I get last place, so be it. Whatever was I excited? Yeah, cool, I love your attitude. There's two things I want to touch on here. The first is that you were so open minded and willing to just get into this. You know this dare and it turned out to be something life changing. I think a lot of times people just say no to things so often that they they don't realize how many doors they're closing in their lives for future opportunities. I remember a long time ago I was in a place in my life where I just really was unhappy and I wasn't doing anything that felt like it was positive, I had no purpose, and I saw that movie, yes man with Jim Carrey. Have you ever seen?
Speaker 2:it yeah.
Speaker 1:And that movie I remember when I was watching I was like man. I got to be like that in life. There was just something stirring inside of me that I wanted to do or explore and I was just so close minded back then. So I think a lot of people struggle with that. And that takes me to my next point. I want to ask you this you had so much confidence and belief in yourself that you were willing to put yourself out there. I think a lot of people are scared to do that because they don't want to look like a fool or fail. They're so worried about judgment. And you were the exact opposite. You're like screw it, what's the worst that could happen. But you also you know it sounds like deep down inside you believed in yourself enough to really take it seriously and to give your best effort.
Speaker 2:And that is life changing People with confidence and self-belief, they're more likely to be open-minded and willing to try things Right. Where do you think you personally got that Cause it sounds like that was a huge factor in you getting to where you're at now in your life. Well gosh, to be honest, um, I feel like right in my early thirties, late twenties, there was just a lot of life changes. So it's like you're raised you know where I grew up everyone just does it's. You know middle class, everyone just has both parents work and you go to school. Sometimes you go to college. If you're lucky, you get a job, you have kids, you raise your family, you, you know nickel and dime, everything. That's just the way of life. So that's what I grew up seeing and just that was kind of what I thought was amazing Because, again, I was lucky enough to have two amazing parents who loved me. They were at least able to provide the house and, you know, help me do a lot of basic things. But then, by the time we were in high school, it's like you got to find a way to make your own money. You got to contribute, you know, but those things helped. But again, you just had this lifestyle of you just kind of shoot for middle of the road, which I did. It was never a thought of what would you want to be If you could be anything in the world, because that just wasn't reality. You got to pay bills right, and you got to have kids, and you got to raise those kids, and you know. So it was just this ceiling of thought.
Speaker 2:Well, life happens, you know, unfortunately. I lost my mom to cancer very quickly, early, right after I had both of my boys. My two boys were very young and that was, for me, life changed. She was my best friend, my role model. My whole world was shattered. Now, granted, I'm not the only person to lose a loved one so I knew it wasn't the end of the road.
Speaker 2:Shortly after that, I, my husband and I divorced. I you know it was a very bad situation. I found out some awful things. So here, my pillar of my life just passed away and my dad and my brothers and I were all just in this horrible place. Then I find out you know all this stuff about my husband, who's supposed to be my rock, and life went downhill there. And then, within again two months of that, one of my business partners was doing a bunch of horrible things and pulling money. So here, my work life was totally disrupted, my family life at home was totally disrupted and my best friend and the person I leaned on is no longer there.
Speaker 2:So all of that happening in such a short period of time was going to ruin me and I realized, oh my gosh, what am I going to do? Like I'm either going to crumble and I'm now responsible for two little boys who need me to be this role model and this pillar of strength, and I'm far from. And so it was like, okay, now's the shot to just I've got to be something and I have nothing holding me back. Like the life I thought was my path is no longer. So it was like this moment of going I'm either going to stay in this horrible spot and this will define me and I'm going to ruin my two boys' lives by being this train wreck of a mom, or I can choose to not let this define me and be everything opposite of what typically would happen in that situation. And it became this drive to be like I'm going to do it and nothing's going to stop me. No one's going to tell me I can't do anything. I'm not listening to any of the stereotypical stuff on this is what your life needs to be. I'm redefining out all of it. So, as awful as those things were, it was what literally propelled me to go. I will be unstoppable. Nothing will hold me back, I don't care how bad it is. I am going to learn from failures, because you look at, my family life just failed. My first business was at risk of failing. My confidence and my pillar of strength is no longer there. I'm now crumbling, so I was failing, but I'm like you know what I'm not going to.
Speaker 2:So that moment of going, pick yourself up and knowing that I had two little guys relying on me was probably the best thing, because it wasn't about me. It was more focused on. I'm responsible for their life at this point and I'm either going to create so much trauma in their life or I'm going to shield them from the negative and raise them to be you know, unstoppable humans as well, and, as cliche as that sounds, that was my mindset. So with that, I just never had a. I never had a fear of failure because in my mind, I had just failed at everything all at the same time and I was working my way up to not ever fail again and to learn from it all. So to me it was like I'm going to try this and if I fail it's not going to be like the failure it was years ago where I was in the worst place of my life. Now it's just a small step down and guess what? There's a lesson in it. So if I fail I'm going to learn something really valuable and I'll never make that mistake again, but it's going to push me to try harder.
Speaker 2:So I always encourage people shoot for the moon, because if you fail, that's not a failure. It's propelling you to go a different direction or it's teaching. Not a failure. It's propelling you to go a different direction or it's teaching you a lesson. So try it, because I never want to have regret. I never want to think what if in my life? So when I eventually die, I want to be sitting there on my way to heaven going. That was a wild ride. I did everything I wanted to. Not everything worked out, but I have no regrets.
Speaker 1:I love that so much. You're literally just giving away the blueprint for how to become a champion in life, in anything you do. No, it's the mindset. Honestly, I feel like you're reading my own mind and beliefs, because so many people look at a failed attempt or something that doesn't go your way, or gosh, a divorce or losing your mother, like these are things that we dread and you know my history and background. Like I, went through some tough times and we look at those and we think, oh gosh, that poor woman or that poor man or oh my gosh, how are they going to come back from that?
Speaker 1:But that's actually what builds you up into a stronger person and if you can have the mindset you did, where you're like I'm not going to let this beat me. You got pissed off a little bit. You're like I'm going to show the whole world who I am. It's so powerful because look at the catalyst that that became for where you're at now and probably having your boys gave you that strong why and reason to fight even more. You know what I mean. Like you're, like I'm not going to let them down. I'm going to show them how strong I am. I'm going to show them how strong I am and I admire you so much for that, because a lot of people would have let that ruin them and they would have turned to alcohol or drugs or some way to try to numb themselves. But you're literally everything you're saying.
Speaker 1:If anybody's watching this or listening and you want to know how to become a better version of yourself and how to get through anything, it's literally do things every day that make you proud of who you are, so you have that sense of confidence and belief in yourself and then be open minded to try things, because that's how you actually, you know, grow. That's how you get to experience life. No one wants to look back at the end of their life and go. I'm so glad I said no to all those things and I stayed in my little comfort zone. Yeah, people are going to look back and go. Why didn't I try more? Like my life just passed me by? Why didn't I do more things? Why didn't I learn new languages, read more books, build more relationships, like? So I love that so much. And the coolest thing is you were 35 when you got into. Do you call it just, I guess, bodybuilding or what would you refer to it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I call it fitness competitions because that's I mean, that's exactly what it is for me, Whereas if you say bodybuilding, everyone goes oh yeah, you flex. And to be honest, I think we joked. I just learned how to flex, like a couple years ago, because people always are like, take a photo and flex, and I was that awkward girl being like hmm, and like you know it. But then you look at the photo and my arm was always like out here. So I'm still learning, but yeah, like I don't flex. But when you say bodybuilding, that's where everyone's mind goes because they don't realize there's other divisions. So yeah, so I always just say fitness competitions.
Speaker 1:I like that more too. I mean, you're an athlete. I've seen you in person. I've seen your performances and stuff that you've done to win your Olympia titles. It's incredible. It's not easy. A lot of people can't even come close to doing what you do. So I love that.
Speaker 1:But for anyone listening to this, if you're in your 30s or late 20s or even beyond 35, you can redefine yourself and rebuild your life at any age. I was almost 30 when I got out of prison and rebuilt my life. Whitney was 35 when she got into her sports competitions, her fitness competitions. So it just shows you like it's your own self-talk and your mindset that's the key to everything. And so let's talk about that too, because it's not like you just started doing these fitness competitions. Yeah, you're winning, but it's not like you just easily won three Miss Olympias.
Speaker 1:There was a lot of adversity for you to get those titles, and this is how you know someone really wants it bad enough. Like who are you when shit goes wrong? Who are you when there's obstacles? Who are you when there's hardships? Just like in your personal life. It tells you and teaches you a lot about who you really are. Sometimes we don't even know what we're made of. Until we're put in those situations and you're like, damn, I'm stronger than I thought, like I'm more resilient than I thought. So let's talk about your first Olympia title and then the second and third, like how did those go? Just kind of share those experiences with us.
Speaker 2:Well, and you're right. I think that's why you and I resonate so well, cause we share so many of the same beliefs and like we've had those moments where it's like we can either crumble like everyone does, and like a majority, I should say, and where everyone expects us to just be for the rest of our lives, or we can redefine it. And so, for me, one of the biggest things is we all need to have control. So, you know, in your instance, when you were in jail, you didn't have control. Like all your control was basically taken away from you, but not everything. You still had aspects of your life you could control. Same thing for me. So when my business was in trouble, my personal life and my family husband, kids was in trouble, and, you know again, my mom passing none of that was within my control. So one thing that I always tell people is find ways to regain control of your life. For me, getting into these competitions, it wasn't again to win, it was a way to find something I could control positively in my life every day. So when I got on board with doing this, I was like, well, I don't know what I'm doing, but it's going to be fun. I can control how hard I work, how focused I am on getting to the end goal, and so you know again, that was something for me when all these things are thrown at me in my life and it's like I've been hit with so many curve balls, right, but I can't control that. I can control how I respond and I can control what I do in the moment. I sure as hell can control how I react to it. So in that aspect it gives you a lot of control and power in your life that many people do not realize, nor do they give themselves credit for so going into this themselves. Credit for so going into this again.
Speaker 2:Since I had no background in it, I've had a ton of injuries. So not all of them were part of the sport. But again, I'm a daredevil and I don't have any formal training. So people would say, hey, can you do this crazy flip? And it's like, well, there's only one way to find out. Not always did it work out.
Speaker 2:So my career path to get to my first Olympia included a lot of injuries, a lot of broken bones. To date I've had 18 surgeries, believe it or not, lots of metal in my body. But on my road to my first Olympia the year prior. So nine months almost to the day that I won my first world championship, which was the Arnold Classic. Nine months prior I had broke my neck and I have a 12-piece metal cage that's still in my neck to put my neck back together.
Speaker 2:And that was for me again another like propelling moment, because everyone said, oh, whitney Jones, her career's over, she broke her neck, she's out. And I thought, wait a second. No, I want control of my career in this industry. I want control as an athlete. I'm not done. I didn't decide that you guys are telling me that's it, that's not my choice. So it became my goal to get back on stage. Never did I think I'd never won the big competitions before the Arnold and the Olympia ever. So again, my goal wasn't to win, my goal was to get back on stage because I needed to provide hope.
Speaker 2:Like I found that in my journey as an athlete, a lot of people started following my story because they'd see me break a bone, they'd see me, you know, in a cast and I was still competing and they're like this chick's crazy, like sit down. And it's like no, I'm having fun, I want to do it If I get on stage and I'm in this cast who cares? I'm going to make it part of my routine and use it as a prop. So I thought, after this moment when I broke my neck, I'm getting back on stage. So it became my mission and again having that focus of I want to show people that, no matter how devastating an injury you have, even I'm in the spotlight. I've got all these eyes on me from all over the world, ready to be like good job, you had a good career and you know sad, you broke your neck and you'll never be anything. I thought I need to prove to everyone that I'm not done and for anyone that has any type of injury severe, minor or whatever you got to get back on the horse, you've got to try. So my goal was to get back on stage as best as I could do, the best routine I could, because, again, when you break your neck, you lose so much your muscles atrophy like crazy. It takes a very long time for your upper body to regain the strength. So what kind of push-up skills and handstands am I going to do when I'm nine months out from a neck surgery? But I created a routine Four weeks before my Arnold competition.
Speaker 2:I was doing a flip because, of course, everything was lower body focus and I blew my ACL, mcl, meniscus I mean, it was destroyed. So my doctor's like you got to have surgery and I thought, ok, listen, I have to show up at this competition. Everyone thinks I'm full of shit. I mean there was so much on social media and on these forums because I was posting on my social media platforms workouts and they're like this is fake. There is no way she's doing this. She'll never end up showing up at the Arnold Classic. These are old videos.
Speaker 2:So I told my doctor. I said we're going to have to wait on the surgery. I have to show up at this competition. And he's like you can't, like, you broke your neck, you can't do anything.
Speaker 2:Upper body, you have one leg. You literally have one leg to do a routine. I said, yep, so nobody knew about the leg. This actually is documented in generation iron three. So they documented this. So nobody knew I tore my ACL. Everyone knew about my neck.
Speaker 2:I had so much, I think, just grit and just fire, because I wanted to prove everyone wrong. Everyone wanted me to not show up so they could say I was a fake and that I was trying to be ultra positive but I was just full of shit. So I wanted to show up but there was just something in me. I mean, how do you do a two minute routine with one leg? But I did and I ended up fucking winning and it was like what the hell? I had a full blown knee brace. I had to wear this five pound post-surgical knee brace because I couldn't walk without falling over. You know, when you tear your ACL really bad, there's zero stability, couldn't jump, whatever. But I created this routine just thinking outside of the box with one leg to figure it out. And I won. And I won the physique round where they looked at you in your bathing suit. I won the routine round and it was like holy shit.
Speaker 2:So I get on stage for this interview with Arnold and he's like wow, oh my gosh, this is amazing. He looks down, he goes what is that you're wearing? Is that part of your costume? And I said, no, I actually have a torn ACL. I'm flying home first thing tomorrow morning because I got to have surgery, because I got to compete at the Olympia first thing tomorrow morning, because I got to have surgery, because I got to compete at the Olympia and he's like what the hell? Then I went to the Olympia six months later. Again, I still only have one good leg because, you know, six months after ACL, mcl and meniscus, your leg is not great and I won my first Olympia.
Speaker 2:So it's like again, on paper, this should never happen. But if you just have that belief in yourself and you quiet all the noise, like all this stuff that was being thrown at me saying you can't do this, you shouldn't do it, this is impossible, what are you trying to prove? You quiet all the noise and you're like let me try, let me just try. And I had so much belief in myself that there was no one who could tell me I couldn't. And it created this different drive and this different passion where it was like you're right, I may not be able to be great, crap shoot, but I'll make it fun, I'll be as entertaining as possible within the realm that I can with, within the skills and the ability. But again, I wasn't focused on the win. So it's just, it changes. You can only focus on the effort, you can only control what you put into it, and I didn't care about the outcome, I cared about showing up.
Speaker 1:I love that. I mean, I heard someone say one time you got to marry the process and divorce the outcome Right, and I want to, because you just talked about focus. That's what you opened up that segment talking about. Like, honestly though, whitney, you embody like my podcast is Unstoppable Mindset. You embody everything about that and embody like my podcast is unstoppable mindset. You embody everything about that and I love it so much. I love hearing your story.
Speaker 1:Uh, the part about the focus is so key because I think most people focus on all the things outside of their control that they can't change or impact and they neglect the things within their control. When I was in prison, I used to say the serenity prayer. You know, god, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. So being locked up taught me that I couldn't control other people's opinions. I couldn't control the weather, the government, the economy, but I can control my daily actions. I can control my self-talk, I can control.
Speaker 1:Am I going to get up early? Am I going to get up early? Am I going to go work out, like all those little things that most people know they should do and they neglect. And then they spend their time stressing out over all these things they can't control. And when you just focus on the little things in front of you every day and, like you said earlier, you give your best effort to the process, all the bigger picture stuff works itself out one way or another. It always does. So I love that because I think we as human beings are always looking for control and I think, accidentally, most human beings they do it the wrong way. You know what I mean. They're trying to control things they can't control.
Speaker 1:So, that's an incredible story. So that's how you first got to meet Arnold. I saw that clip the other day when he was looking at you on stage as you were doing your routine. How cool is that? I mean, here's the guy who mainstream bodybuilding and one of the most influential people we've seen in our time, and he's given you these accolades and stuff.
Speaker 1:Ok, so you know, I want to touch on something real quick too, because I think people who are listening to this go yeah, but you know, whitney, like you're, you're different, you're special, you're amazing. Like I still worry about what people think, or I'm still scared, and that fear holds me back. What would you tell someone? Cause like you're a coach right, we coach men and women. You have a really high level mindset, you have the accolades to prove who you are. But what would you tell just an average man or woman who says, yeah, but like the fear of failure or the fear of making a change or worrying about what other people think, like I can't get over that. How would you coach them through that?
Speaker 2:Well, to be honest and this is something you know too but like, you're never going to make everyone happy, right, but it's what you're saying is so true. So many people don't act or don't take action because they're worried about what others will think they're worried about if they fail, how will they look? But at the end of the day, those people in your life, probably five years ago, that you worried about, probably aren't in your life. Right, it's an evolving process with where we are in life, who our friends are, where we live, who we're surrounded by. So some of the people in the moment of your life right now you're probably never even going to talk about, but you're so worried about it so you stop doing something that's in your heart that you want. But at the end of the day, you have to answer to yourself.
Speaker 2:So do you want to live with regret? Because who cares what all these other people think, if they think you're crazy, if they think you're crazy, if they think you're amazing, if they think you're a lunatic, who cares? At the end of the day, you have to answer to yourself. So I always tell people take a moment, step back and go. What do I want If there's no barriers, if there's no negative noise, if there is nothing truly stopping you from doing X, y, z, why aren't you doing it? And it's always them.
Speaker 1:So I mean people. They're always going to find a reason why they can't, right, so you have two different types of people. One person is going to say how can I? The other person is going to immediately go to the reasons they can't. Because I would just put myself in the mind of a woman or man listening to this who feels stuck and they're like yeah, but I have to pay the bills. Or yeah, but I got a family to provide for.
Speaker 1:We're not saying you have to change your life overnight. It's a decision. And then it's a follow through with action, consistently over time. You can make a decision right now. You're like I don't want to be here next year. I don't want to be the same person five years from now. It's that decision right there.
Speaker 1:And when you start thinking this way and you ask yourself every day well, how can I change? How can I get out of this job, how can I improve my relationship, the answers start to appear over time. But if you say, oh, I can't because, well, you're just literally putting up a wall and you're never going to see a solution. So I think that's so important, like solution. So I think that's so important Like you got to want it. You got to know what's at stake If you don't make a change.
Speaker 1:Like regret is the number one thing that drives me every day. I know and I feel the pain of my, my regrets from the past, and it drives me every day to never make a decision that I'm going to look back on and go, oh, I wish I didn't do that or oh, I wish I made a change. Like that pain is such a motivator, you know. So, okay, thank you. This is really good. Now I'm curious did you win your next Olympia the following year? When did you win number two and number three and how'd those go? Did you have any adversity in those competitions as well?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I ended up winning the next year. So I went in and regained my title. So that was I won 18-19.
Speaker 1:Can I stop you? So you won 18-19. What was the feedback from all the people that doubted you, or all the people in that industry, in the bodybuilding world, in the competitive world? Did you just become a superstar overnight and were they very welcoming, or what was that like for you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean there's still, of course, some haters, like there were some people that said her routine didn't have X, y, z, like didn't have these tumbling passes. But then it's crazy how some of these doubters then come to your defense and they're like well, she just broke her neck and she had a torn ACL what do you expect? But she came out with all these crazy things. So I always just kind of take the high road. It takes a lot to get me to respond to anything negatively, honestly, because I'm like I'm never going to convince you of whatever it is that you're trying to bring me down with. So it was interesting to see all these people you know it's in your face and you so badly kind of want to be like I told you so, but the proof was there, I showed up. So all these doubters that said there's no way, I don't care what you think. Now I don't need you to come to my defense, I don't need you to praise me, I just want you to know I did what you said I couldn't. So maybe rethink next time you're trying to bring someone down. So it was, it all works out. I always feel like if you take the high road, it all works out. But it's hard to do, right Cause I, you know, there are those moments you just wanted to be like like, try to kind of message any of these people and be like, what do you want to say now? But taking the high road was always the best for me and then it was just like look, you know, I'm doing the best I can, you don't have to like me. I'm never going to get everyone to like me and I'm absolutely fine with that. So it also creates kind of again, sometimes negative attention where people were saying she's not great, she didn't do X, y, z brings to light yeah, she's not everyone else, she is different. So it was interesting to see it all come out.
Speaker 2:Now, the one thing that was probably my most prized thing was winning the Olympia. And again, I didn't know this at the moment, the very next day, obviously, it was like holy crap. She ended up winning the Arnold and then, six months later, after she had surgery, she had it again. But then there were these articles saying she is the first mother in all of Olympia history, all categories, to ever win an Olympia title. And I thought what? No way Now granted, a lot of people are younger, but for the women, there had never been a mom and I thought this is cool. So to me, that is like I won an Olympia title. I'm the first mom ever to have done it Now, since there've been a couple more since 2018, but it was like this was a very unique opportunity to have this platform to say look, you could be anything Like here.
Speaker 2:I am a mom, single mom at that, business owner. This is not the only thing I have to do, whereas most athletes at the top, most Olympia, top five Olympians they don't work full time, they don't have kids, they have a spouse that literally is their partner in crime, helping do everything and this is their life. That was not me. So, again, I was far from the typical athlete in our sport and, more importantly, very different from any of the champions. But I thought this is the perfect platform to say do not put a ceiling on your limit yourself, like, if you have something you want to do, do it and do it to the best of your ability, and you never know what's going to happen. So for me, that's what was really cool. And then, of course, going in, you know there was that pressure of oh, can you do it again. But I don't let that pressure change me. I welcome it. You know, pressure is a privilege. That's a huge saying and I think it's great.
Speaker 2:I had the opportunity to go in and defend my title. It was up to me if I completely shit the bed, but I wasn't going to. I was going to give it my all and go in with the same mindset. I'm not worrying about the outcome. I have this whole philosophy where you walk up the stairs and before I ever ever hit the Olympia stage, I asked myself did I win? And I have to be able to confidently answer yes or no. Now, with Olympia, I've always said yes.
Speaker 2:There have been other shows where I realized I didn't do everything I could. I failed myself, so the outcome didn't matter. The outcome to me was, before I stepped foot on that stage, I need to know did I win or not? Now, what the judges said was going to be to be determined, but I decided before I ever stepped foot on stage if I won. And if I won, then I was like I have nothing to lose. Now this is the icing on the cake. This is the fun part. There is no pressure. The pressure is every day doing what you're supposed to do to get to that day, to be at your best. And now, this is just the fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that attitude. I mean it's true too, and it goes back to what we were talking about earlier Like the results are secondary, like the awards or the placement, it's you knowing in your heart that you gave your all, and that's integrity at the highest level. You know, and that's something that I notice about ultra successful people is like the score is secondary, the result is secondary. They do it because they want to be that person so badly and that's the key, whether you're a guy just wanting to get off the couch and lose weight, or you know, I know you also work with a lot of women and I've seen women who have had kids and kind of they just get stagnant because now they're mom and they're not. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:And it's like you have to have that driver inside of you where, like, I want to look in the mirror and be my best self and it doesn't matter, you know what you're going through, um, that that you can make that change. But you have to have that feeling inside of you to motivate you. So I love that. And with the third one, the third title, what was the third one? Like?
Speaker 2:So I ended up. It was 18-19. 2020, I didn't win. So I lost my title. And you know, again, when you're at the top, there's only one place to go. Now, believe it or not, 2020 was my absolute favorite routine. I loved everything about it. And again I went in and to me, you asked me if I won. I absolutely won. To me, that was one of my greatest. Now, again, the judges didn't agree, but that's fine. But again, the best thing about that was everyone thought, oh, you're done Again, you're done right. And I'm like no way Again, I'm not going out like this. This was not how I wanted it to end. And they're like well, you lost your title. You kind of just need to go away. And I'm like I'm not afraid of losing my title Again. When you're at the top, there's only one place. But I'm an athlete, I'm a competitor, I'm not done. And they're like well, nobody comes back from being a champion, especially winning it twice, loses their title and ever regains it. It's only happened twice in the history of Olympia. At that time and I was like oh, so you're saying it's been done. Well, watch, because I'm gonna do it. And so again, everyone thought this is stupid, this is crazy, crazy.
Speaker 2:Randomly though, 2020 was the one Olympia I went into without an injury, I know, so it's like what? So, long story short, I go into 2021 and same mindset. You know, I want to win, but I'm not focused on the outcome, I'm focused on getting there. So that year, the Olympia was in Florida. It's usually always in Vegas, and it was in Florida. I fly out there. A week earlier you got to do the press, whatever I was doing my last run through there in the hotel.
Speaker 2:So this is three days prior to Olympia, and I had a freak accident because I'm practicing my routine in this small room and I was doing this crazy one-footed gainer flip and midair. I thought I was going to hit the wall. So I pulled out of the flip too early, came down on my knee and it's like on the boardroom floors, it's basically cement with a little bit of carpeting and totally jacked my leg. Now, I didn't know it at the time. I thought I tore my knee like ACL, or broke my kneecap or something. Well, I ended up breaking my leg, but at that point I'm three days out from competition. The next day I have meet the Olympian. It's this whole deal. So I thought, okay, well, what do you do? I have a broken leg Again.
Speaker 2:I didn't know until I got home and got the x-ray, but I knew it was bad. I couldn't walk. It was swollen to, like. It looked ridiculous black and blue. But thankfully I knew some great people that helped kind of bring STEM unit, get the inflammation out, get the swelling out.
Speaker 2:And I just visualized a routine that I had to modify because I knew I couldn't do certain skills, but it was like I wasn't concerned about it. I'm like this is normal. I always got my back up against the wall. I said, watch, now I'm going to win because I've never competed with a broken leg, like an actual broken leg. But I'm like this is pretty bad, but I know I'm going to be able to pull it out. And they're like but you've never even practiced this routine. I'm like it'll be fine.
Speaker 2:So at that point I remember that afternoon, after I hurt my leg, I said there was only four people in my camp who knew about it and I said no one's going to speak about this anymore. Do not look at my leg. We're not acknowledging it, there's nothing we can do about it. So we're all going in with the mindset that I'm perfectly healthy. So don't look at my leg, don't ask me how it is. The only thing I want you to do is, if I'm wobbling too much, like give me a clue. We had a word like we'll figure it out to be like wait, watch your walk. It's looking pretty obvious. So we didn't acknowledge it. I don't want to give it power. So I kept visualizing my routine with the way I was making the changes.
Speaker 2:Show day came on. I got through walking in heels, believe it or not, without stumbling, but again, it's like you got to focus on what you can do, don't focus on what you can't. I couldn't walk normal, so I wasn't focused on that. I'm like I'm going to have so much swag in these heels and that way, if I fell I'd be like okay, I got a little too excited. I was trying to really switch the player. You know there was always this backup plan.
Speaker 2:Then it came to the routine and I did have a friend who was a surgeon and just put some lidocaine in my knee. So I couldn't feel it, because I had two knee drops, where you do a jump and you land on your knee. So my knee was still the problem, I thought but it was actually my fibula I broke and I thought you know what I'm doing? The routine, I've got one shot, two minutes. You can do anything for two minutes. So I'd put in all the work. I'm like I'm not bowing out, I'm not giving up.
Speaker 2:And then I ended up with the win and the routine didn't look that bad Like. It's hard for me to watch it because that routine was legit and some of the stuff I had to take out was gonna like blow people's mind. But again, like people didn't know I had a broken leg and I didn't announce it on stage or anything. It ended up somehow it got like publicized like two weeks after and I still to this day don't know how they found out. But I wasn't planning to like bring attention to it because I won and it was like, well, it is what it is. But yeah, once the story kind of got busted, I I then kind of was like, yep, this is what happened. But you don't give it power, you don't focus on what you can't do, you only focus on what you can, and that's how you regain control.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's incredible. Like literally, this was like a masterclass on the ultimate mindset to achieve at the highest level. Right, because I just think so many people don't achieve success in life because they sabotage themselves, they quit and come up. They start thinking differently. You know your thoughts are so powerful and what you're saying is like the ultimate form of self-belief focus on what I can do and eliminate any other options or possibilities in your mind. You know that's so. Key is like whatever you focus on gets your energy and attention. And if you're focusing on the fact that your legs busted and I'm not going to be able to do this routine, I'm not going to feel the same. The judges are going to know I'm not going to win. What am I doing? It would have compromised your performance out there. But I love so much how you know you hear the term like delusionally optimistic, like it's true, like I'm like that too. I'm so delusionally optimistic. Like people get mad at me. You know they're like come on, dude, that can't happen. Or aren't you mad at the situation? Like you should be more mad at the situation. I'm like, yeah, I'm aware of what's going on, but I'm thinking that it's going to all turn out fine, big, big picture. You know that's what we do, so I love that so much.
Speaker 1:I want to wrap this up. I want to end with just asking you a couple of questions. You know again, what would you say to someone right now who feels stuck in life, like you said it earlier? But it's really important that anybody who's watched the episode this long and they've understand they understand what you've gone through, the fact that you're, at the core, just a self-driven, motivated individual. You're a family woman. You just have immense belief in yourself. What would you tell somebody who wants to make a change now and they just don't believe in themselves? Where do they got to start? What do they got to do today?
Speaker 2:Because let's be real today. You know what I it. Because let's be real. Like depression is a real thing and I hate when people minimize it and say you're depressed, just stop being depressed, and it's like it's. That's not easy, you know, and I'm not a therapist, not a counselor, but what I can say is there's so many times when you feel stuck or you feel like you're not succeeding at anything or you have nothing to be excited about or grateful for.
Speaker 2:Quit trying to do the same stuff that you keep doing in your life. Do something completely opposite, you know. Again, if this is like say you're like I'm going to go sign up for boxing classes, well, you've never done it. Cool, guess what? You may find that this is something that allows you to feel good about something, because why You've never done it. So there are zero expectations. You could be horrible in the beginning. Everyone's horrible in the beginning when they start something. So all you can do is be proud that you're trying something new. You may get new friends. You may open up a new path to your life. You may get new friends. You may open up a new path to your life.
Speaker 2:I feel like when people are stuck, they're trying too hard to improve the existing things in their life, and that's hard because they're bad for a reason.
Speaker 2:So completely do something opposite.
Speaker 2:Maybe become friends with new people, associate with new coworkers at your job. Whatever you're doing, try things that are completely opposite of what you're doing, and a lot of times, one minor change is the catalyst to help take a bigger step, to dig you out of that hole, and then you may have a good day at boxing class or at doing a book club with a bunch of women, something that you may think I will never enjoy this, but then all of a sudden you do, and maybe it's not that you enjoy books, maybe you enjoy the friendship of the girl you're sitting next to, and now you feel like you have a friend. So I always encourage people to try something they've never done, and to try more than one thing, because you need new emotions within your body, you need new feelings, you need new endorphins that are released, but you can't do that by trying to just improve everything within your current box of your life. You've got to step outside, and it seems that people that I've seen actually do this. That is where their life starts to improve.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 100%. I mean there's three ways you reprogram your brain. You know repetition, novel experiences like you're talking about in traumatic impactful experiences, so novel experiences, that's like just being open minded and willing to try something new and honestly, it works like it does. It changes the way you feel, it changes your brain chemistry, you know, the more that you get out of your comfort zone and you're open minded like that, so that's great input and you strike me as someone that's just willing to try things Right, and that's probably why it's such good advice from you, because look what it's done in your life. Yeah, so I'm curious.
Speaker 2:Another question Do you have anything spontaneous or something different or a change or something you've been wanting to do personally, but you haven't pulled the trigger on it. Well, yes, so I, I, I try to do something new every year. That's just like, what is she thinking? And so last year it was I'm going to learn to play guitar, which I'm not great, but I love it and it's great for that mind muscle connection, and I've had nine concussions, so my brain likes to be cattywampus. So it's actually a part of neuro training too. But that was one thing, and so one of the things this year that I thought about last year. And now I'm like, okay, I need to think of something different.
Speaker 2:But I wanted to get my pilot's license, but my eyes aren't great, so apparently that is a big hindrance, which I understand now. Granted, I wasn't going to try to be a commercial pilot, but that's what I was thinking. And then I, um, finally sat down and talked to a guy who is a pilot and he's like wit, with your eyes, you're not going to be there, you're not going to be there, you're not going to be allowed to. And I'm like, really, so I need to put that back into it. But again, like I always try to do something new. This year I think I'd shared with you, sean, I started doing jujitsu and Muay Thai, totally new. I love it. So that's kind of my thing this year, that I tried to do new and then I I always will continue it. So I have started those two things, but since being a pilot is probably not going to happen, I want to create something new, but I'm not sure what that third thing is yet.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, I love that. Being a pilot would have been really cool. I mean, you get to give a beautiful area there in Arizona you could fly around. You have Lake Powell in that area, right Isn't?
Speaker 2:Lake.
Speaker 1:Powell yeah, so, but the jujitsu and Muay Thai, like that's the thing is, how do you stay young? You keep like exploring life. You know a lot of people. They get to a certain age and they just I feel like they just quit and give up. They're like this is the way things are going to be. I'm a mom or a dad. I got, I'm married, I got a nine to five, I got my, my 401k. I'm just gonna do this until I retire and it's like your whole life passes you by and they're waiting for retirement to start living again.
Speaker 1:You know, the key is to do what you're talking about and try as many new things as possible, be that yes man or that yes woman in your life, and that's where, like, excitement and joy and happiness come from. It's really so honestly, this interview right here is super inspiring. I want the whole world to see this, because learning about your trajectory to where you're at now it's super exciting and it's inspiring for anyone listening to know. Like hey, number one, you can decide at any time to redefine yourself. You can, on a dare, become a world-class athlete, a three-time Miss Olympia no one's ever done it. As a mother, like break world records. You can just create future opportunities for yourself that never would have existed by being open-minded and believing in yourself and having courage, and so I want to thank you for being here, whitney.
Speaker 1:For those of you listening, whitney and I are friends, we're business partners. We're on a mission to change the world for the better. We created Unstoppable 365 for a reason to do that, and so there's so many men and women out there that if they listen to this episode, if they join us and come and be a part of our network and communities, we will help them to create that spark within themselves so they can grow, so they can experience life, so they can become someone they're proud of and do things that make them excited. That's my mission. It's like I want everyone to feel alive and to do things that they look back on one day and have immense gratitude and pride for, not regret, and that's something you touched on. So any final words, whitney, before we wrap up this interview.
Speaker 2:No, I mean I appreciate you having me on. It's so fun. I mean I'm highly encouraged and inspired by your own story and I think it's great. We always need to have that where it's like, oh wow. You know, people are so incredible with the stories that they have and why they got from this point to where they're at now. So, you know, being able to be in a partnership with you and grow a business and help others is something that's near and dear to my heart, as I know it is to yours, and love what we are building.
Speaker 2:So obviously we're very excited to help anyone and everyone who has that desire to level up, be unstoppable, master that mindset to truly like, push and be the best version of yourself. But just don't give up. I mean, think out of the box, Don't put limitations, quiet the noise and if you don't have that around you, then get involved with people like us who will absolutely bring it out of you. Or if you're not sure how, how to bring it out of you, that's where we're the masters at it. This is what we do for a living and we are happy to help you. Our tribe is intense and passionate and we've got a world of people all ready to help you be the best version, with no regrets in life.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent. I mean, you gave away the blueprint for personal success. So if everyone listening to this just does what Whitney said, you'll be fine, but nine out of 10 people don't, because there's uncertainty, they don't believe in themselves. You need to be around people who are doing it so that you can actually experience what that's like and get the push that you need. That's why we became coaches, because we want to see everyone thriving and we want to provide the tools, the guidance and the resources for them to get there. So, whitney Jones, you guys obviously look her up, we're there. So, uh, whitney jones, you guys obviously look her up. We're going to post all your social media handles, all the links to reach out to you, in the description of this episode. Um, but make sure you're following her, I mean on instagram, what is it? It's at whitney jones, or what is what?
Speaker 1:is it it's at whitney jones underscore ifbb pro yeah, and we'll post it in the notes description. Uh, the description right here. But again, whitney, thank you so much. I appreciate your time. Thank you for the message today, and let's keep changing the world together.
Speaker 2:Works for me, let's do it.
Speaker 1:Let's do it.
