We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jacob Thompson. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jacob, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
On a normal day, I wake up before everyone else and spend about one hour writing my next book before taking my trial medication for my rare disease while listening to the audio Bible. Then I do some strength and mobility training while the family is waking up and the kids are getting dressed. Next is breakfast with the family before the kids head to school and I head to the rock climbing gym to train for making the USA Para-climbing team. Once I get home and refuel, it’s time to sit at my desk and complete the tasks for the day; this is usually a combination of emails, content, Zoom meetings, and preparing for my next event. My disease drains my energy so I try to get an afternoon nap in and do another round of strength and mobility training before the kids get home. Evenings consist of playing with the kids, family dinner and cleanup, bedtime books and songs, and time to connect with my wonderful wife. That’s a great day!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a husband and dad to three amazing boys, a resilience speaker, author, and para-athlete living with a rare neuromuscular disease called Friedreich’s Ataxia. My journey with FA has taught me what real strength and purpose look like—and it’s what drives everything I do.
I travel across the country speaking to sports teams, schools, businesses, and conferences about how to turn obstacles into opportunities and build true resilience. I like to remind people that every challenge is an invitation to climb higher.
Outside of speaking, I’m training to compete in the 2028 Paralympics for rock climbing, which is both humbling and thrilling. I’m also working on my next book, diving deeper into the mindset it takes to grow through adversity. More than anything, I want people to see that no matter what mountain they’re facing, there’s always a way up.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My high school sports coaches saw potential in me and became mentors and friends who had a great impact on my life. This led me into coaching and mentoring and now the speaking that I do today.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I decided to start talking more about my disease and ended up winning an award with the NIH. I realized other people are going through similar trials and by sharing my journey I can inspire others.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my faith and my family come first, no matter what. They’d also tell you that I’m driven to inspire others—whether that’s through speaking, writing, climbing, or creating content that helps people see possibility in the face of adversity. And they know I love to push myself to the limit, both physically and mentally, to keep growing and living out what I talk about.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I faced a lot of challenges, but I never gave up—on my faith, on being a great husband and father, and on using my story to inspire others to keep climbing no matter what they face.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jacobthompson.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ten20words/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-thompson-m-a-0546341b6/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ten20words/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ten20wORDS
- Other: https://www.ten20words.com/dya
