Something I have a really hard time doing is self promotion, or blowing your own trumpet. I am really reluctant to do it, however I do understand that when you do something if no one knows about it you will have to let them know somehow.
So eight years ago or so I began working as a personal trainer. Well, I was working for a couple of gyms and training about three clients, doing what I had been told was the norm in the fitness industry. Long hours, and not many clients, running from one place to the next.
Then I had had enough, it was sink or swim. So I went for it and started the first completely private PT studio here in town. From the little shed in Mann street we started to add some things like CrossFit. But after a great kick off in 2011 in 2012 -14 we hit really hard times and rough patch.
At one point it really looked like we may have to close the doors. Things were rough and I wasn’t sleeping, I was up most nights worried where the money for rent and wages was going to come from, I wasn’t drawing a wage. I had to make it work though. You were all counting on me.
I had lost my vision and so couldn’t see where I was heading. I was getting out of shape, gaining weight and the business was looking terrible. I was getting more and more lost.
So the guys at NPE, they are my business coaches, and I put our heads together and set up a goal and a plan. And so at the end of 2014, I decided to change our angle and really get the business back in check, after all, no business means no CrossFit, and no CrossFit meant I couldn’t help anyone that I wanted to.
And since that day three years ago I have started working on me. I have invested in learning more, and then in turn doing more for all of you. The team I have here has worked their butts off with me and we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Matty, Wor, Chloe, Bradley, Hugh, Westie and Jodie. These coaches are incredible, they represent everything positive about this place. They embody our core values and have really helped to keep me in line and have made it easy to run this place.
The most important part of it all though are the members. You are the reason my feet hit the ground in the morning and I start the day with a smile on my face. Seeing what people accomplish here day in day out makes it all so worth it. The things that they don’t think they can do, and then they show themselves they can, blow me away, and I am honoured to guide so many of you with your fitness regimes. And that is the thing, you are the ones doing this, living this story, I am just there to offer that little bit of assistance you need.
And to bring it round to the recognition. In the past we have snared a chamber of commerce award, and at a time when things weren’t looking the best. I have won awards and such in my life and always thought that with every up comes a down. But to be runner up in the NPE member of the year this year has been a pretty amazing bit of recognition, and at a great time in the business. We have really worked hard the last three years to make CrossFit Armidale a world class facility. We want nothing but the best for all the members and having been to a fair few CrossFit boxes now I know that CFA is up there with any box in Australia in terms of coaching and equipment. And I am damn proud of what we have all created here. Then to have our my coach and then my peers in the industry place us up there as highly as they do it has really brought it home to me that we are doing the right things for all of you.
So you, the members of CFA, and my dear readers, I thank you. You humble me and I really hope I can continue to serve you all as best I can for as long as I can 🙂