Blog is Back! Where is my head at? - Coach John

It’s been a minute since I’ve taken time to write a blog. I miss it. I miss being able to engage with the members of the gym and give some insights into what’s going in my head in terms of fitness, health, and the gym’s future. As I have mentioned before, I’ve always taken pride in being vulnerable with the members of the gym and the relationship bonds that are created from that. So, the blog is back for those that want to read it and get some bits of knowledge from myself and the other coaches’ brains. Who knows, we may see the Podcast come back around as well. But to start off, I wanted to give some insight into where my head is at. If you’ve been here a while, you know that I’ve taken a step back from the gym in a lot of ways over the past 18 months, probably leaving some of you questioning what’s going through my head and what the future direction of the gym looks like. Here’s your answer:

Taking a step back was much needed over the past 18 months, more emotionally than anything. I’ve run this gym for 10 years. Members that have been with us most of that time have seen the gym move 4 different times, suffer some hard times, been with us through some incredible times. When I first started coaching here, life was very different. Coaching and working out was all I wanted to do. I poured my heart into this place every minute of the day. But as most of you have experienced in your own life, life changes and it’s unforgiving. The reality of life sets in when money gets tight because of economic swings, miscarriages, Tucker (best gym dog) dies, close friends move off, and we add more members to the family (what a blessing, but difficult to adjust to). The world of being at the gym from 445am to 730pm wasn’t possible anymore, and life starts to get heavy. Because of this, a few years ago it was time to reevaluate what the future looks like. My priority is my family but believe me I felt the weight of the impact this gym has had on the members who have been a part of it over the past 10 years. With the kids growing older and getting into different activities, and being able to financially provide opportunities for them, it was time to hand off some big responsibilities at the gym and pursue another direction. Not because I wanted to necessarily, but because I needed to. This was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. Initially, it was being a professor at JSU. I taught Kinesiology at JSU for 5 semesters, and I was working towards being a career professor in the department there. But an opportunity found me in the financial world that I couldn’t pass up. I chose this path because the parallels between financial success and success in fitness are innumerable. To be successful in fitness you need to take responsibility, create boring habits that are slightly uncomfortable, and put a plan in place for a future reward. It is no different with money. I’m doing the same job I always have, just for a different crowd working towards financial health instead of physical health. And now, I get to do both! I tell many of my clients, what good is having money if you are unhealthy? AND how healthy are you really if you exercise all the time but are so financially unstable that it negatively impacts other areas in your life and your future? The way I see it, true health is made up of 4 pillars. Food, Fitness, Finances, and Faith. All are priorities that we are responsible for. And I get to be a part in helping people now more than I ever have.

When I started my new career, I told kait I needed to pour all of my focus into it. The same time and energy that I use to put into the gym and the members, now was put into learning a new business so I can take care of my financial clients and do what’s absolutely best for them. I needed that time and fortunately we have the coaches and culture at the gym that allowed me that time. But now, I can do both! My focus moving forward to put more time and energy back into this place too. I love what I get to do. I love to teach, and inspire, and motivate in every way that I can, at the gym and in the financial world.

I want to make sure you understand that the gym is a priority. The best part about this place is the relationships that it facilitates. That’s something that me and Kait talk about often. We cannot quantify the incredible people that are in our lives because of this place. That has been a blessing that cannot be replicated anywhere else. That isn’t only for us, though. You guys can feel it too. We have seen marriages come from within the gym, business opportunities, lifelong friendships created, and lives completely changed. Don’t ever forget that.

Moving forward, I see the gym having the potential to be better than it ever has. Kait is the absolute best and, yes, she doesn’t get to coach as much anymore because we’ve been blessed with the 3 kids to take care of. I don’t get to be on the floor as much either when I am pulled away for travel or meetings. But what an awesome insight it is to have the fitness knowledge that we have from doing this for 10 years AND now have the practical and emotional knowledge of pursuing health while you are dealing with the reality of life. It’s one thing to tell people how to get strong and be healthy when you are 21, single, and have very little responsibilities. But it carries a little more weight when you’ve had 3 babies and have actually been through life, and you’re still committed to it (Kait). You guys deal with it every day. Your job, money, kids, everything about real life makes it more and more difficult to be healthy. But me and Kait are right here with you. We too are juggling business, kids, ball practice, family drama, and everything else all while trying to prioritize taking care of our bodies and health. We’re grinding with you every day, trying to stay disciplined for a future reward.

At the end of the day, that’s what we need and that’s why the gym exists. We all know what to do, but sometimes we need someone to come along side us and do it with us. We are with you. I’ll keep showing up if you will.

See you in the gym,

Coach John