Happy Monday!
First and foremost, Happy Veterans Day & Client Appreciation Week!
In addition to the 2 things to remember & celebrate; I am feeling grateful today for YOU, our incredible team of coaches, and Fit Family community/family. This is in reflection of the fact that 7 years ago last Tuesday, we opened our first Fit Body Boot Camp location in Yorba Linda on November 5, 2012!!
It was a freezing cold morning; the warehouse lighting was so dim. Turns out, it wasn’t properly installed and I found out when getting the keys a couple weeks before, but didn’t have the money to fix..
I had just invested every penny I had to my name in the business including signing a personal guarantee to cover the franchise system buy in/royalties, the building lease/rent (3 months + security deposit), the mats (if you can believe the most expensive piece of equipment in the whole facility), paint, software, and the list goes on.. etc.
My beautiful wife Tatiana just moved to California the week prior (from Brazil) so her English was very rusty. And at the time, she was extremely shy.
We had 4 walls with some paint, mats, no equipment, and about 10 total people who showed up (for all the 7 sessions we had listed).
**That included Tatiana, my sister Emma, my dear friend Leslie Freeman (who still comes till this day), and myself as the coach which is an average a WHOPPING ½ client per session!!
We lacked a lot and as I reflect, had NO IDEA what I was doing… but Tatiana and I did have a TON OF HEART AND PASSION to INSPIRE FITNESS AND CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY!!
For the first month, we did pushups, sit ups, burpees, (all body weight) as we didn’t have enough money for any other equipment.
And I also didn’t realize at that moment, that I was about to embark on the most challenging effort of my life (running a fitness business in our great state of California).
That I was also going to have to develop skill sets that I definitely did not have (being I was just learning how to be a fitness professional) and was not a Leader, Marketer, Bookkeeper, Payroll Expert, Janitor, Accountant, IT Consultant, Therapist, Professional Negotiator, City Contractor, Building Architect, or Computer Programmer but would have to develop skills in all these areas..
And the reality of the situation was, that it would be 100X harder than I anticipated (& still is)!!!
In fact, being really vulnerable, I would be lying to you if I didn’t contemplate quitting on numerous occasions within the first 6 months (after the buzz wore off and my body nearly collapsed from coaching every session every week until that point) while having a full time job “on the side” to pay our bills.
But I took the first step…
And with support from Tatiana (who I owe much of my outward success to); we attracted a couple clients, that turned into a few more, which turned into a few more (including our rad Coach Jenn being one of our firsts as well) and out of nothing, something grew.
And fast forward 7 years later as I am a little teary-eyed writing this, Tatiana and I are SO GRATEFUL for the team we have been lucky enough to attract, the clients who have turned into family, the deep bonds and friendships we have made, and lives we have changed in the process!! SO GRATEFUL!!
Seriously, thank you so much for being on this journey with us!!!
And while I finish my message today and nostalgic in the moment, the lesson here is that there are no shortcuts, no “easy path”, no strategy that works without the effort. It takes time, focused energy and a “brick by brick” mentality of arduous effort to achieve anything of value in life.
And as my mother Donna always told me which rings true for you “What is hard to endure, is sweet to recall.” #TRUTH
So my message today is TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP, keep coming to session even when you don’t want to, keep drinking more water, keep putting down that sugar, and keep picking up more lean protein and veggies.
The results might be slower than you desire, but if you keep attacking every day with consistent effort and energy, the results will come – 100% guaranteed!
And I beg of you…. (even if not for you), at the very least keep being the role model for your family and children that they deserve!! People are counting on you!!
As the reality is being committed to your health and fitness are NOT easy. IN fact, it’s harder than you think. But like this fitness business and community we started 7 short years ago, IT and YOU are totally worth it!!!
Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for being part of our Fit Family!!!
**We are excited to celebrate collectively are 3 camps anniversary next month (being they are so close in proximity) on December 7 so stay tuned for a fun party to CELEBRATE YOU (the reason for FBBC’s success)!!!
Coach Bryce
Owner, Fit Body Boot Camp
