What happens when the thing you thought defined you is suddenly taken away?

For Athena Brownson, professional skiing was more than a career. It was her identity, her passion, and the center of her life. But after nine knee surgeries and two neck operations, she eventually had to confront a reality she never imagined: skiing could no longer be her future.

That transition forced Athena to figure out who she was beyond being an athlete. She began exploring new interests, returned to school, and eventually found her calling in real estate. But just as she was building a career she loved, another major challenge arrived. After her second neck surgery, Athena developed debilitating symptoms and was eventually diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. For more than eight years, she battled severe fatigue, pain, neurological and other symptoms while continuing to build her real estate career.

In this episode, Athena opens up about the mental side of injuries, the pressure to constantly perform, the dangers of pushing yourself beyond your limits, and the importance of purpose when you’re going through adversity. She also shares how learning to ask for help, delegate, accept support, and take care of herself changed the way she approached both business and life.

Her story is a reminder that resilience doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. Sometimes resilience means showing up in whatever way you can that day—and recognizing that as a win.

Always in your corner,

Chuck