ATHLETIC Magazine - Cover Story - Fee Williams: Entrepreneur & IPL Pro - Natural Bodybuilding Competitions - Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland, Virginia & Alaska

Cover Story - Fee Williams: Entrepreneur & IPL Pro

“You’ll often work more hours for yourself than any job would ever require you to. So, if you want to be an entrepreneur, make sure it’s something you’re really passionate about.”

BEN YOSEF: Congrats on your success at the Texas show! And landing this cover and the cover of Natural GAINZ! Seems like a whirlwind! –laughs- How are you feeling about all that has happened?

FEE WILLIAMS: Still in disbelief, honestly. I am truly amazed to receive these accolades in such a short period of time. That shows the work I’m putting in is paying off.

BEN: Indeed! What is your background when it comes to sports and athletics?

FEE: I played football for the majority of my life. I signed a scholarship to the University of South Alabama where I played all four years. I played on the defensive line and made All Conference my senior season. I was third on the team in sacks. Held the record for most sacks in a game in school history.

BEN: Wow, man! That’s awesome! What position did you play?

FEE: Defensive Tackle and Nose Guard.

BEN: Nice! When did you become interested in Physique Competition? And what sparked your interest?

FEE: A little over a year ago now. Going to the gym was already a staple in my life. Now I wanted to see how far I could push my body.

GOING TO THE GYM WAS ALREADY A STAPLE IN MY LIFE. NOW I WANTED TO SEE HOW FAR I COULD PUSH MY BODY.

BEN: How does training and preparing for Physique Competition compare to Football? Mentally and physically…

FEE: Physique Competitions and Football are very similar when it comes to training styles. Competitions just require you to be more critical of foods. But ultimately the daily challenge is the same. Give your all until theirs nothing left.

BEN: Which do you enjoy more between the two? Or is it too early to tell, considering you are just getting started in Physique Competition?

FEE: I don’t enjoy one over the other. Both sports served their purpose when I needed them to. Both offering an outlet to express myself. While having an influence on others. Showing them their goals are obtainable too.

YOU’LL OFTEN WORK MORE HOURS FOR YOURSELF THAN ANY JOB WOULD EVER REQUIRE YOU TO. SO, IF YOU WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR, MAKE SURE IT’S SOMETHING YOU’RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

BEN: You have an exciting fitness brand, FITWITFEE. What can you tell us about the brand? And when did it start?

FEE: FITWITFEE Stands for Functional, Intellectual, Training. The word WIT is mental sharpness and inventiveness. So, having wisdom and knowledge in a certain field. And Fee is my nickname. So I created FITWITFEE as a play on words. It’s deeper than what meets the eye.

I officially created my brand in 2016. I wanted to help people meet their fitness goals. While having a closer connection with my clients, which box gyms couldn’t offer.

BEN: What are some of the greatest challenges being an athlete and an entrepreneur? As far as balancing the two? Or are they both just completely complementary to each other?

FEE: The greatest challenge so far is time management. It could all be overwhelming if you don’t prioritize your time to complete day to day tasks. Finding a schedule and sticking to it is my best advice. Training yourself while training others can be a bit exhausting.

BEN: What has been your greatest high point to date when it comes to entrepreneurship? I would ask the same question with regards to Physique Competition, but I think I already know the answer to that!

FEE: Surviving and thriving through the pandemic. Several other trainers and competitors had to take time off. Or changed careers during the heights of the pandemic. I’m happy I was able to continue to serve my clients, while still chasing my goals as a competitor.

BEN: What tips can you give Physique Competitors out there, or soon-to-be Competitors, when it comes to Physique Competition? And what pointers can you give to those who are entrepreneurs or really want to become one?

FEE: Become a student of the game. I studied other well know competitors, and methods they used to prepare for their shows. I watched “The Perfect Physique” on YouTube just to get some insight on what goes on in the mind of other competitors. I engrained myself into the sport, to ensure it was something I really wanted to do, before I stepped on stage.

Entrepreneurship isn’t as glamorous as it seems. You’ll often work more hours for yourself than any job would ever require you to. So, if you want to be an entrepreneur, make sure it’s something you’re really passionate about.

BEN: What was it like shooting with Michael Brooks?

FEE: Shooting with Michael was a great experience and the pictures are even better. We joked about having at least one money shot that would land the cover of a magazine. It turned out we had two.

BEN: At this moment you are just one week away from your second IPL competition, and your Pro Debut. How are you feeling about the upcoming show? And what can we expect to see from you on stage?

FEE: I’m more anxious than anything to showcase my craft and the hard work I’ve been putting in over the past few months. So we can expect to see my best work to date.

BEN: Other than growing your brand and competing, what’s next for you?

FEE: That’s just it. I’m having fun with the process and perfecting my skills as I go. Competing has brought me great opportunities up to this point. So I just want to continue working. Who knows what the future may hold. ATHLETIC