Meet Timone Brown: Husband | Father | Coach | Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Timone Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Timone, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risks are necessary! From my perspective, the level or risk you take, depends on your level of awareness. Knowledge of self, history and experiences redefine the word “risk.”

What do I mean by this? A person’s definition of “risks” changes based on their upbringing, life experiences and environment. What’s a risk to one person, isn’t a risk to the next. This is why self awareness is vital. Knowledge of self, can help you make a decision or take the risks necessary to reach new heights in life.

In my life, my risks have been based of my desire to break generational curses. Some of the risks I took include:

1. Sneakingly or stealthily attending a high school in the county, when I lived in the city. (The county seemingly provided better opportunities.)

2. I dropped out of college for a year to become the head of household and legal guardian of my younger sister when I was 19 years of age.

3. I transferred twice and attended three different universities within 5 years, in my attempt to live my dream.

4. I didn’t accept a guaranteed job in Baltimore, that would have helped me get closer to achieving a desired goal, because I returned to Richmond, Va to be there for my sister again after my graduation.

5. I resigned from a full time job after my daughters birth to pursue creating a sports academy that develops youth wholistically. (If I didn’t make this decision or take this risk, I would have continued to doubt myself and put off my dream, instead of being the living example my daughter and wife needs)

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Coach and Motivational Speaker, yet my foundation is being a man of God, a Husband and a Father. My foundation or principles are what fuel me professionally. I own Won Up Prep, LLC. – also known as Won Up Prep Academy. Through this organization I help develop new leaders through sports. The sport is nothing more than a platform, a place of life practice. We help students take the intangible skills and lessons learned from sports to life. We also, shift their perspectives to understand their value and worth.

You ask, “what sets you apart from others?” We are all set apart from each other, because we all have a deliberate or intentional purpose on our lives. What makes me standout, is the fact I know who I am meant to serve and what vehicle I can use to do it. Young “Black” Men have found great success in sports, but in the same breath, sports have been used to distract them from their purpose and ability to be world leaders, community leaders, and leaders of their family. I am here to help change that narrative, through the very vehicle (sports) that has been used to create it.

The journey here hasn’t been easy, and I have an even tougher journey ahead of me – yet I understand my life was crafted this way. Everything I teach and I do for youth, comes from my own experiences and /or trauma I’ve had to overcome.

Another purpose of the Won Up Prep Academy is to teach youth how to OVERCOME, BE RESILIENT, and BE PERSISTENT. No one truly cares what you’ve been through, they only care about results. Here’s a quick acronym I use to help the young Kings and Queens defeat challenges. K.U.P.A:

KNOW.
• Know who you are.
• Know that you matter
• Know what you do.
• Know you situation

UNDERSTAND
• Understand who you are
• Understand the impact of your upbringing and environment
• Understand what you do.
• Understand the cause and effect of your actions, parents or environment on your current condition

PLAN
• Create a plan of action and stick to it.
• Plan according to the life you seen yourself having
• Plan to overcome adversity

ACT
• Put in the work
• Show up

I want the world to know that WE ARE here for the betterment of our youth. We use sports as a platform, but it in no way shape or form defines us. WE ARE only defined by our actions, words, and commitment. We cannot be boxed in, because humanity is versatile and we seek to grow in all aspects of it. If you are willing to aid the growth of this program, make an investment, become a mentor, fund a youth or join us on the mission. And know, our mentality is #MoreGODthanAthlete. God has given us more than the power to run, jump and move. We can literally change perspectives, break curses, uplift a people and change the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m more of a homebody. I believe in great conversation, fellowship, laughs and games from the house or out at a park.

I also believe in coming together to be of service, to uplift someone else. For example, for two and a half years, Khalil Houston and I would meet every week to hang out, but we would “hang out” in the juvenile detention center, speaking to and building with the youth going through that experience. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m been blessed with numerous people, that have made great contributions to my growth and current success. Here is a few shoutouts:

YAH (GOD)
My Momma (Miyoshi Porter, Rest in Power)
My Wife (Jasmine)
Devon (Brother)
Billy McMullen (Sensei)
LeRone Gray (Brother)
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee
Virginia State University
University of Charleston, WV

And many more!!

Website: WonUpPrep.com

Instagram: @timonebrown @WonUpFootball @WonUpAcademy

Linkedin: Timone Brown

Twitter: @TimoneBrown @WonUpPrep

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/TimoneBrown/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCfD4MRR8Knt21JrZ9SD7OJw

Other: TiM_uNO on Twitch

Image Credits
Khalil Houston Ciera Martinez Gabe Flower Coach Tre