Embark with us on a heartfelt journey as we explore the triumphs and trials of a gym owner who transformed his relentless determination into a decade-long success story. As he recounts his evolution from beach bootcamps to franchising fitness havens, you'll witness the grit and passion that paved the way for countless individuals, from weekend warriors to elite athletes, to achieve their health and fitness goals. But beyond the sweat equity and business savvy lies a raw, deeply personal narrative of change, growth, and the courage to let go.
With a candidness that's as inspiring as it is rare, our guest peels back the layers of an entrepreneurial life devoted to fitness and community. As you listen, you'll feel the poignant shift in his life's focus, from fostering physical strength in others to embarking on a new path of personal inspiration. He leaves us with a profound reminder that our journeys are never static, and that true courage lies in embracing the evolution of our dreams. Join us for an episode that celebrates the strength of the human spirit, the power of transformation, and the enduring impact of saying "thank you" to those who have shared in our paths.
Embark with us on a heartfelt journey as we explore the triumphs and trials of a gym owner who transformed his relentless determination into a decade-long success story. As he recounts his evolution from beach bootcamps to franchising fitness havens, you'll witness the grit and passion that paved the way for countless individuals, from weekend warriors to elite athletes, to achieve their health and fitness goals. But beyond the sweat equity and business savvy lies a raw, deeply personal narrative of change, growth, and the courage to let go.
With a candidness that's as inspiring as it is rare, our guest peels back the layers of an entrepreneurial life devoted to fitness and community. As you listen, you'll feel the poignant shift in his life's focus, from fostering physical strength in others to embarking on a new path of personal inspiration. He leaves us with a profound reminder that our journeys are never static, and that true courage lies in embracing the evolution of our dreams. Join us for an episode that celebrates the strength of the human spirit, the power of transformation, and the enduring impact of saying "thank you" to those who have shared in our paths.
This year, I made a big decision. It was time for me to move on from a business that I had built from scratch, from the ground up. I started this business after returning from a short period in Australia, and it kicked off in beaches and parks before growing from strength to strength. This is a business that I had devoted 12 years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears to. I worked 7 days a week in this gym for years, opening at 6am and closing at 8pm, before I ever had the opportunity or the finances to start building a proper team Now. Back then, I started my gym business, back when I didn't really have a clue what a mentor was, and definitely before I could even afford to apply one. When starting a business, most people think they need loans or a business plan. I had none. I didn't have any financial backing, but what I did have was drive, determination and a strong reason why, coupled with a strong work ethic and a willingness to take a chance and go for it, to build something that, if I look back now, after 12 years, I can say that I'm proud of what I created and even prouder of who this business has served. It's served a great amount of people and over the 12 years we have certainly done that. I had built multiple different teams and many different coaches learned their trade under my roof. That enabled them to go on and create their own businesses. I have had the opportunity to coach thousands of people in this business in those 12 years, from Premier League footballers to professional boxers and fighters of all kinds to every other person wanting to get fitter and healthier.
Speaker 1:
When I started this business, it was the first of its kind in Derry. We had created what was the start of a fitness craze in Derry's boot camps just right before we opened our very first dedicated boot camp facility. This expanded with satellite boxes and going to Derry and Donegal before creating franchises, albeit for the short term. But many valuable lessons have been learned in all of those experiences and endeavours. We've raised tens of thousands of pounds for friends and for the local community at large. We climbed mountains, we went on foreign trips to France and Portugal and we ran the streets of not only Derry at 6am but also the streets of the Dordogne and the Algarve on multiple occasions.
Speaker 1:
This place was literally my life and it was all that I thought about and all that I wanted to make room. But that passion once had has dwindled, and for a long time now. My passion for coaching and helping others break through and create results in their lives has just changed for me, I have evolved so much from the guy that I was 12 years ago, from the younger guy who wanted everything that I created and that our business gave us. But now that's changed. I am now beginning to own fully what I am truly inspired to do and how I really feel inspired to serve not only my local community, but for all of those men that I coach around the world.
Speaker 1:
When it's time for change, you'll know it, you'll feel it, because energy doesn't apply. But that doesn't mean that it's going to be easy. It will still require courage, strength and vision for the future. It requires a shift in identity and it will ask of you the faith and belief to leave a big part of you behind so that you can step into whatever you feel inspired to be. So here's what I want to leave you with If that's you allow yourself that opportunity to lean into what might be to spend fear and safety and to have faith and trust in yourself and the vision that you have for the future. And to all those that have been a part of our lives and our business over the last 12 years, and that is every single person. I just want to say thank you. You don't know how much we have appreciated every single one of you. Much love, shemes.