5 Lessons on Leadership, Resilience, and Growth from D1 Training CEO Will Bartholomew

When Will Bartholomew’s football career ended with a devastating knee injury, he didn’t walk away from the game — he redefined it. 

In a recent interview on Business.com's Builders podcast, the D1 Training founder and CEO shared his journey from college football to building one of the nation’s leading training franchises, along with hard-earned lessons that apply to athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing a goal.

Here are five key takeaways from the conversation:

1. Adversity Can Be Your Advantage

Bartholomew’s professional football dreams ended abruptly during training camp with the Denver Broncos. But what looked like failure became the foundation of something greater.

“I had to look myself in the mirror and ask, ‘Who am I and what do I want to be?’ I realized I loved the weight room — that’s where my passion was. So I took that energy and built D1.”

Instead of letting injury define him, Will used it as fuel to create an organization now training over 35,000 athletes nationwide. His story is a reminder: setbacks can be setups for something better.

2. Accountability Builds Greatness

Bartholomew learned one of his most powerful lessons from former teammate Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee.

“We were in a player-only practice, and I dropped a pass. Peyton looked at me and said, ‘Will, you need to catch the ball. If you don’t catch it, I’m not going to throw it to you.’ That moment stuck with me forever.”

That culture of accountability — demanding excellence from yourself and others — became the backbone of D1 Training’s philosophy.

3. Never Stop Learning and Evolving

D1’s early days were built on grit and enthusiasm. But over two decades, the business evolved through experience and data. Today, D1 combines cutting-edge technology, sports science, and recovery methods with old-school fundamentals like squats, Olympic lifts, and discipline.

“The blocking and tackling haven’t changed. But how we measure and optimize performance has. The best athletes — and the best leaders — never stop learning.”

4. Leadership Is Service

As D1 grew into a franchise with more than 165 locations, Bartholomew’s focus shifted from expansion to impact.

“I realized I didn’t just want to build more businesses — I wanted to go deep on one mission: serving athletes. Our coaches have a responsibility to change lives, not just bodies.”

That servant-leader mindset drives D1’s culture today — one where coaches inspire, motivate, and build confidence in every athlete they train.

5. Character Outlasts Championships

At every D1 facility, 12 words line the wall — including discipline, perseverance, and accountability. They’re not just slogans; they’re a code.

“We love watching our athletes win championships. But more than that, we want to shape who they become. Because strength fades — character doesn’t.”

The Takeaway

From the locker room to the boardroom, Will Bartholomew’s story is about turning pain into purpose and leading with conviction. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or entrepreneur, the message is clear:

Train hard, stay humble, and lead with heart.

🎧 Listen to the full episode:
D1 Training CEO Will Bartholomew on Athletics, Growth, and What Made Peyton Manning Special