your relationships, whatever. In my life, I always shoot
high. I seek big goals and then find myself crushing
small goals along the way getting to this large goal.
These small accomplishments along the way would
have never happened if I hadn’t reached high.
Crushing goals keeps me excited.
I feel like we’ve created this whole team of
entrepreneurs at this gym. Not just in business, but
people who are becoming entrepreneurs in their own
lives. They’re taking control and becoming the boss
of their life. They’re breaking the pattern and getting
somewhere. We’re learning to be thankful,
to appreciate what we have and get ready to take on
more.
I’ve read some your thoughts on a person’s “spirit” and
how it connects to living a rewarding life. We can all
appreciate a fresh perspective on that concept. Can you
elaborate?
I believe that the spirit is something within you, but
you don’t entirely have control over it. It’s
your personality, your soul, the good and the bad in
you. If you, as an individual, can contribute in any way
to help someone else to move forward, to show support
and do good beyond yourself, then all of a sudden it
becomes your genius. It becomes part of you and it
holds you accountable. For example, these kids that we
coach on a day to day basis, they start looking to us as
role models. Before I coached kids, I would hear about
pro athletes getting in trouble with the law, and I
would never condemn them. I used to think they’re just
a normal person going through trials and tribulations.
But now that I coach kids, I see it a little differently.
When you do have kids that are looking up to you, it
should hold you accountable. If our society’s going to
change at all, then we need to hold ourselves
accountable. These kids are looking up to me. Whatever
it takes, I have to hold myself accountable through
integrity and be a positive role model. I know that
things happen and life gets tricky, but you need to take
responsibility and move forward. Kids understand that,
but, when you work with them, you should really
hold yourself to a higher standard. Then these kids can
actually go out and contribute to other kids, or
they could start creating momentum for themselves to
get better grades, become better athletes or
do whatever it is to change the world.
One person can change the world. Working with kids
has changed me dramatically, to the point where I think
of those kids before I make a decision. It’s hard to get
out of old habits, but you have to learn to create new
ones. Getting back to the spirit…by contributing, I feel
good about myself, I feel like I’m doing a good deed for
these youth and their future.
That’s how I feed my spirit, by a contribution to society.
Now that we understand a little more about the
foundation of your business and background, let’s get to
the fun stuff. Tell me something interesting about
yourself that most people don’t know.
I can dance. I don’t dance in public too much, but at my
house I really know how to cut a rug. I do a pretty mean
robot. I go back to the eighties and breakdance; I do a
lot of pop and lockin’. Seriously, though, my life has
been such an open book that there’s not much people
don’t know about me.
You currently coach athletes and ordinary folks, both
young and old. What’s your favorite age group to coach
and why?
Truth be told, my favorite person to coach is the one
that comes in here with an open mind and is willing to
learn. The people who see the value of working out,
they come in here with passion and excitement and
that encourages me to coach to the next level. The
people who are being dragged in here, their energy is
kind of a kill. I like good energy, and I can feed off of
that energy. You bring that, and I’ll match it with my
own.
Some of us have been lucky enough to see your dance
moves. Any plans on taking it on the road?
I’m thinking eventually Dancing with the Stars. One day
I’ll show you all my moves, one day.