Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Johnson.
Hi Taylor, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My career has taken me through some pretty interesting places, but the common thread has always been a fascination with human performance and helping people become better at what they do.
I started my career in collegiate athletics, working in strength and conditioning and sports science at universities like Auburn, UCLA, USC, and San Jose State. Eventually, that path led me to the NFL, where I worked with the San Francisco 49ers. I was fortunate to spend years surrounded by elite athletes, coaches, and organizations, learning firsthand what it takes to perform at the highest levels.
From there, I made an unconventional transition into professional esports, the world of competitive video gaming, where players and teams compete at the highest levels around the world. I held leadership roles with world-class organizations, helping build performance programs for professional gamers. While the competitive environments were very different, I started recognizing how many of the same principles applied. Whether you’re an NFL athlete or a professional gamer, your ability to manage pressure, adapt to challenges, and consistently execute makes a tremendous difference.
That realization ultimately shaped the next chapter of my career.
I became increasingly interested in how the lessons from elite competitive environments could help people outside of sports. Business leaders, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and teams face many of the same performance challenges, even if the circumstances look different.
Today, I run Taylor Johnson Performance, a human performance coaching and consulting practice based in Austin, Texas. I work with high-performing individuals and organizations through executive coaching, keynote speaking, and interactive team workshops. I also collaborate on human performance initiatives supporting military and defense organizations.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: Self-awareness drives performance.
We can all get better at being ourselves and better at what we do.
For me, performance is about much more than achieving an outcome. It’s about understanding how you operate, developing the skills to show up at your best when it matters, and building a life that feels meaningful along the way.
Looking back, I never could have predicted the path from collegiate athletics to professional sports, esports, and now entrepreneurship. But I’ve found that some of the most rewarding opportunities come from being curious, staying open to new experiences, and being willing to take a chance on something unfamiliar.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey certainly hasn’t been a smooth or predictable one. Like most worthwhile journeys, mine has been filled with unexpected turns, setbacks, and plenty of lessons learned along the way.
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating transitions and learning to reinvent myself at different stages of my career. I’ve worked across collegiate athletics, the NFL, professional esports, technology, and now entrepreneurship. Each transition meant stepping into unfamiliar territory, building new relationships, and, in many cases, starting from scratch.
When you’re used to being good at something, it can be uncomfortable to suddenly find yourself in an environment where you have so much to learn. But I’ve come to appreciate that discomfort as an important part of growth.
Starting my own business has brought an entirely different set of challenges. When you work within an established organization, there’s often a team, structure, and resources around you. As an entrepreneur, you’re responsible for creating much of that yourself. You have to learn how to balance doing the work you love with the realities of running a business, including finding clients, building relationships, managing uncertainty, and making decisions without always knowing how things will turn out.
I’ve also had to confront my own tendency to measure success by achievement and productivity. When you’re passionate about your work, it’s easy to keep pushing toward the next goal without taking the time to appreciate how far you’ve come or whether you’re building the life you actually want.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, personally and professionally, is that success and fulfillment aren’t necessarily the same. I’m continually learning how to balance meaningful work, financial success, personal relationships, and the freedom to enjoy life outside of work.
I think those experiences have made me a better coach. It’s one thing to talk about resilience, adaptability, and performing under pressure. It’s another to have to practice those principles yourself.
I certainly haven’t figured it all out, and I don’t think I ever will. But I’ve learned to approach challenges with more curiosity, reflect on what each experience can teach me, and focus on what I can control moving forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of Taylor Johnson Performance. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Taylor Johnson Performance is a human-centered performance coaching and consulting practice focused on helping individuals and teams become better at being themselves and better at what they do.
I work primarily with executives, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and organizations already performing at a high level but recognizing there’s still room to grow.
My work draws on nearly 20 years of experience across collegiate and professional sports, esports, technology, and business. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some incredibly talented people in high-pressure environments, and one thing I’ve learned is that talent and hard work can only take you so far. How you think, make decisions, respond to adversity, and work with others often determines how consistently you perform.
That’s where I come in.
Through one-on-one performance coaching, keynote speaking, and interactive team workshops, I help people better understand how they operate, identify what’s getting in their way, and develop practical strategies to improve how they perform.
I’m also a Partner and Director of Performance Programs at Liminal Collective, where we design and deliver immersive human performance experiences for military, defense, and cybersecurity teams. This work brings together science, experiential learning, and real-world challenges to help people strengthen their ability to perform in demanding and unpredictable environments.
One of the things that sets my approach apart is bringing principles and practices from elite performance environments into everyday professional life. We use tools like design sprints, personal operating systems, and after-action reviews to help people become more intentional about how they prepare, execute, and learn from their experiences.
I also believe people are far more capable of finding their own answers than they sometimes realize. My role isn’t to tell someone exactly how to live or work. It’s to help them think more clearly, challenge assumptions, recognize patterns, and develop the confidence and skills to move forward.
When it comes to working with teams, I’m particularly passionate about creating environments where people can have honest conversations, learn from one another, and turn those insights into meaningful changes in how they work together.
What I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built and the trust people place in me. It’s incredibly rewarding when a client shares that something we’ve worked on helped them become a better leader, navigate a difficult situation, strengthen a relationship, or feel more confident in themselves.
Ultimately, I want people to know that high performance doesn’t have to come at the expense of your health, relationships, or happiness. I believe the real opportunity is learning how to pursue ambitious goals while building a life that’s meaningful and fulfilling.
That’s the kind of performance I’m passionate about helping people create.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories is spending time at my grandparents’ house, especially playing in my grandpa’s garage.
My grandpa was an engineer for Lockheed Martin and worked on projects with NASA, so his garage was like a giant playground filled with tools, electronics, gadgets, and all sorts of things to tinker with. I could spend hours in there exploring, taking things apart, figuring out how they worked, and trying to build something of my own.
Looking back, I think that’s where my love for building, creating, and figuring things out really began. My grandpa helped spark a curiosity that’s stayed with me throughout my life. Whether I’m exploring a new idea, solving a problem, or building something from scratch, I still carry a little bit of that kid playing in his grandpa’s garage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taylorjohnsonperformance.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjohnsonperformance/
- Other: https://calendly.com/taylorjohnsonperformance/30min
