March 31, 2025 • 45 mins
In this inspiring episode of Palm Harbor Local, host Donnie Hathaway sits down with Gonzo Mora, the passionate owner of Core Fitness Athletic Studio in Palm Harbor. From reviving a struggling gym to building a thriving, multi-faceted fitness community, Gonzo shares his story of leadership, transformation, and the powerful role that fitness and connection play in personal and community growth.
Gonzo discusses:
- His decision to take over the gym in 2023
- The evolution from a traditional CrossFit gym to a holistic fitness studio
- Why community is the heartbeat of Core Fitness
- The importance of communication, team alignment, and adaptability in business
- How fitness has transformed lives—from athletes to seniors
- His vision for a co-op fitness studio where members have ownership
Whether you're into fitness or fascinated by local entrepreneurs making a difference, this episode is full of motivation and insight.
Connect with Core Fitness Athletic Studio:
📍 Located - 3785 US-19 ALT Suite D, Palm Harbor, FL 34683
📲 Follow them on Instagram: @corfitnessathletic
💻 Learn more: www.cfgetsalty.com
Stroll through the laid-back streets of the Palm Harbor community with this informative podcast, proudly brought to you by Donnie Hathaway with The Hathaway Group, your trusted guide and local expert in navigating the diverse and ever-changing property landscape of Palm Harbor.
Work with me + FREE Resources
Would you like help buying a home in Palm Harbor? - Buyer Consultation
Would you like help selling your house in Palm Harbor? - Seller Marketing Consultation
Download our free buyer's guide today - Buyer's Guide
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Palm Harbor Local, a podcast
dedicated to building communityand sharing inspiring stories
from the heart of Palm Harbor.
I'm your host, donnie Hathaway,and today we are joined by
Gonzo Mora, who is the owner ofCore Fitness Athletic Studio.
Palm Harbor Local is all aboutspotlighting individuals who are
making a difference, overcomingchallenges and fostering
connections right here in ourhometown.
(00:20):
If you are passionate aboutgrowing together, getting
involved and celebrating thepeople who are making Palm
Harbor thrive, you're exactlywhere you need to be.
In today's episode, you'lldiscover why Gonzo took over the
gym in 2023, his vision for thefuture of Core Fitness Athletic
Studio and why Gonzo believesin community boats inside and
outside the gym.
Don't forget to connect with uson Instagram at Palm Harbor
(00:41):
Local for behind-the-sceneshighlights, and subscribe to our
weekly newsletter atpalmroberlocalcom.
Now let's dive in and buildcommunity together.
Gonzo, welcome to the PalmHarbor Local Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Thank you, don, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, I'm excited to chat with you.
Let's start with, like you knowwhat it is you do and and kind
of who you are right now.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
As a as a business.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, me, yeah, as your business, yeah Right.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Um, well, actually, what we really focus on, uh, we
used to be a CrossFit gym, so weuh still have a lot of members
that like that type of workout,so we do have, um you know,
cross training style.
We are not a crossfit affiliateany longer, so, um, the reason
for that is we've added um yogaand aerial classes as well with
(01:31):
a gypsy air partnership, andwe've also introduced a youth
athletic program, so it's aperformance-based program for uh
youth athletes to build ontheir speed, their, their
vertical jumps, um, you know,stabilize the small muscles that
really help your large musclesdo what they need to do when
you're on your field or track orcourt.
(01:51):
Um, and it's really been agreat way to kind of add back to
the community, um, the the keyto our business is the people
that work out there.
Um, you know, it's notnecessarily the workouts, it's
not um the the owners oranything along those lines.
It's really when you get thereand the people who are pushing
(02:11):
you along, that's that's whatmotivates you to get up the next
morning or come back after workthe next day and and really, um
, get to it and keep your goalgoing.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
So you, you and you guys recently took over this gym
, correct?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, we're almost um a little over 18 months.
Okay.
So we took over in August of uh23.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Okay, and so it's.
It's been a gym for, like wewere just talking about, before
you know, 13 plus years,something like that.
Right, um, what led to youtaking over the jam and, and you
know, kind of making thistransition into what it is today
?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
yeah, it was really twofold.
Um, what you know, my partnerand I did it to to help out a
friend you know who just neededsome help, and, uh, we didn't
want to find another gym oranother group of members to
really push us along in thisjourney.
(03:10):
And so, you know, we justinjected some money into it to
build it up and change it alittle bit, give us a little bit
more of an advantage and thenfrom there, just keeping the
community together.
I mean, that was really themain goal is to keep the
community together and continueto improve on a daily basis
(03:39):
different group types of peopleand stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
But the community aspect of any gym I think the
CrossFit gyms like have more ofthat, because you're in the
classes and stuff together thanlike your typical commercial gym
where you know you're going asan individual and you don't have
the group classes.
But the community aspect, right, is a big part of going to the
gym.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Completely, and especially in group classes,
group group classes, groupworkouts, um, you start building
on each other.
You know, the first time you goin there you're received by
people, right?
So if you went into a regulargym like, uh, you know, planet
fitness or LA fitness orwhatever you want to call it.
Um first time you're in there,you may or may not know somebody
(04:20):
.
If you don't know anybody, it'stough to kind of talk to people
yeah right, not so much for guyto guy right, but for women
it's.
It's much different, right, um,if a guy approaches them, or if
even another girl approachesthem, there's, you know, a
different feel, whereas whenyou're walking into a group
setting, you welcome theapproach because yeah you feel
(04:41):
like an outsider coming in.
So when people approach you, youfeel like they're actually in.
So when people approach you,you feel like they're actually
welcoming you and you're part ofthe class and the group.
And so the other piece of thatis that the coach helps
tremendously.
So the coach receives you,introduces you to the class
during warmup or during cooldown, we may have some question
(05:01):
and answer, where people get toknow each other and things like
that, and then conversationsstart in different ways and
relationships start building andyou start seeing people carpool
.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
You know, versus anything else, the classes
always start at the same time,so it's not a matter of oh, I'll
make it at 7, 30 or I'll makeit at you know, whatever time
it's, you know you, you havecertain times that you can get
there yeah, I remember, Iremember like when my wife and I
when we did like a groupfitness it was Camp Gladiator,
like outdoor fitness, yeah, andlike to that, I mean to this day
like we're still friends withsome of those people that we
(05:32):
went to you know camp with wayback then, and that was that
might've been almost 10 yearsago now, but but yeah, it's like
, that's like, that's um, andyou're right, Like that was a
big part of it too.
I remember we did like theearly morning workouts.
It was like 5am or 530 orsomething like that.
You know.
So, like that group of peopleboys go every day, because if I
try to go at six, sometimes wecan't make it.
(05:53):
Seven we definitely can't makeit.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
They start school too early, uh.
And then the 5 30 class.
I mean anything can happenduring the day where some days
you're going to make it somedays you're not going to make it
so yeah, um so the 5, am forsure, is the is the time that
there's no interruptions.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's just a matter of whether you wake up or not.
Uh, can you do it?
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
And you know that's it's a beautiful thing because,
you know, everybody starts tokind of build their, their
relationships in those classes,right.
And when I first joined um, Itried out every class so that I
can see the different people.
Okay, right, so one day I wouldshow up at six, the other day
I'd show up at seven, eight, youknow.
And then I did.
The three o'clock scheduleswere way different back then,
(06:53):
but every class had its own likeatmosphere, right.
So some of them would beyounger, some of them would be
older, some of them would bemore female, some of them would
be more like competitive malesor you know.
So you really kind of pick whatworks for you.
But, um, it really created anopportunity for me to not only
(07:13):
meet all the members but um itwas good.
And I mean I had a Groupon, so Iremember I got in for $10 for
the first month and my goal wasjust to go meet people.
I had just moved to the area.
I know yeah.
And, um, you know, you mentionedearlier that you're still
friends with people from campgladiator.
When I did CrossFit the firsttime, um, I did, uh, sparta and
(07:38):
it was, you know they, they werein Tampa, um, were in Tampa.
Um, they're no longer around,but, um, and I'm still friends
with them and it's been 15, youknow, 16, 17 years since since
that that happened.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Yeah, what did you notice, like when you first
started?
Uh, when you moved here and youdid all tried all the different
classes and different times andstuff, which one did you end up
selecting, like, which time didyou find your, your group with,
and then why?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Like what, what stood out to you about that group?
I ended up staying with the 6am.
Um, and it was mostly because,like me, they were, um, you know
, business professionals thatwere trying to get stuff done in
the morning and make sure thatthey had a routine.
Um, you know, it was a.
The kind of mentality that weall shared was get it done early
so that we can go get our lifedone and not have to worry all
day about well, I gotta get backto the gym.
Yeah.
You know, um, the afternoonpeople were actually more.
(08:35):
They worked early, right, sothey couldn't make it to the
classes at 6am, so they wouldcome in.
So then every once in a while Iwould sleep in or whatnot, and
then go into the afternoon andand it was fine there too,
because it was a bunch of goodpeople on that at that time as
well cool.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
So let's, let's go back to like your, your
transition into like, owning thebusiness and running the
business.
Like what was that transitionlike?
Like some obstacles you had toovercome, some challenges you
faced during that, during thattime, and had you owned a
business before that, or this isyour first?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Um, nothing, nothing like this I had.
I never owned a um, a gym, Iwas.
I was a diving coach for a longtime in in in Arizona.
So I had my small, my smallbusiness with that um, and then
I had a real estate business,which I still own, some
(09:31):
properties, but nothing likewhat we're doing now.
Uh, the day-to-day running andanything like that.
But challenges, I mean, I thinkthe biggest challenge was, you
know, connecting with thecommunity, as now we have
decision making and what wewanted to see from them and what
(09:52):
they wanted to see from us, soreally understanding what they
liked about the situation, whatthey wished that we could
improve on.
That's where some of theequipment changes and you know
things like that came into play,um, to make it a little bit
nicer.
Uh, we made some decisions thatweren't received very well, and
you know that's understandable.
(10:13):
Right.
But, um, you know, so trying tobalance the fact that we went
from just being friends to nowmy decisions make, know, people
angry or yeah, or upset, or sador happy, or you know whatever
emotion comes from a decision Imake.
I mean, that was, that wastough because, you know, from
(10:35):
the beginning the goal was toget the community together yeah
and as decisions took place, welost some, gained some, um, and
you know we're, we're just,we're building on that, that
foundation what led.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
What led to this?
Like new direction, like wheredid that come from?
Versus just like trying to makesmall improvements over like
what it was and before it wasjust strictly like a crossfit
gym correct, like with the groupclasses and whatnot.
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Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, so it was group class CrossFit gym and it was
open five hours a day, right?
So you have 19 hours of uselessspace.
So what really made thedecision was we're not touching
the community in the right way,right?
So we added yoga.
(12:19):
We added um aerial, we addedthe kids program Um, we added 24
hour access, so all our membersget trained to understand what
it's like to open the gym.
Um, if they want the 24-houraccess, they don't, they don't
need to.
It's included in their, intheir package.
But there's some people thatonly would like to do it within
the group, right, um?
But they know how to come inopen doors, turn the lights on,
(12:43):
make sure everything's safe, andwe've.
You know they've done enoughclasses to where we, as coaches,
know that they understand themovements.
They're not going to, you knowbeing there by themselves trying
to lift 400 pounds when theyknow they can't do more than 250
, you know yeah.
So things like that, that and um, but the decision of just, you
(13:06):
know, ripping the band-aid righttype of thing was done because
you can only kick the can downthe road for so long you know
and, as that's working, asyou're, as you're building what
your, what your vision of your,of your community is, the hard
part comes when you're notseeing the end of the road
(13:30):
because you're focused on thepebbles along the way, and that
was so hard for me to take, andit was.
It was actually hurting mephysically like I.
I couldn't work out for two,two and a half months.
I could barely walk.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I was in crutches wow , and it was just stress related
.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Yeah like as soon as we ripped the band-aid.
You know I'm running again.
I'm yeah and it was almost likea week crazy and I didn't know
it was stress related until Iwas in crutches on a thursday.
I left friday morning to go toa wedding in Colorado Saturday.
I was dancing at the weddingand I was like, oh, this is
(14:08):
great, I feel great.
I went skiing, it felt great.
Came back on Monday and I waswalking around.
Fine, I did a workout.
I felt awesome.
Tuesday I couldn't walk.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So you just get back into the business.
The stress hits you and yourbody just crumbles yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Just shut down from my hips down, my knees were
swollen, my ankles were swollen.
I mean, it was just isn't thatwild yeah it was bad, so, but I,
I'm telling you then, you know,like I said, then we made the
changes and um, um, and I'vebeen fine ever since.
I mean, it was tough, don't getme wrong.
(14:46):
I lost a lot of good friends,you know, but I didn't lose them
as friends, you know.
That's the way I feel.
I didn't lose them as friends.
I lost them as daily companionsin my workout routines.
But you know we're still movingin the right direction.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Yeah, and I mean that happens like with any time you
know we're still moving in theright direction.
Yeah, and, and I mean thathappens like with any time we
change right and and I feel likeyou have to, um, like you talk
about being 1% better every day,or better every day.
I mean that's a big part of it.
Like you have to be able toadapt and go through those
changes to to grow and be better.
Um, and you're always, anytimeyou're changing anything, like
(15:26):
there's people, there's going tobe people that agree with it
and people that don't agree withit.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Right, it's just part of it and you have to take the
risk.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Right, so our slogan is better than yesterday.
Yeah.
That's what we focus on, andthe reason we say that is
because whatever you're doingtoday has to be to make you
better than yesterday.
If the action you're takingright now isn't moving you in
the direction you want to go to,you shouldn't be taking that
action.
Mm-hmm, you know Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yeah, so I guess, give us an overview of what you
guys are about now and what youguys offer at Core Fitness.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah, so we still have the group classes and we
focus on cross training.
So, really focused on um.
We're called core fitnessbecause COR is the is the root
for in Latin for heart, so we'rereally focused on the
cardiovascular piece of the body.
(16:21):
Um, so working from the insideout, okay, um, if you have good
core right, then your legs andarms and head can be strong.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
But if your core is not there, then it's difficult
to keep going.
So a lot of our workouts arefocused on engaging your core to
then be able to use your armsand legs.
Um, so that's, you know, that'swhat we really shoot for, and
with that we're building a lotof muscle, right?
So as we build muscle, thenyour metabolism improves, your
(16:54):
heart improves, your you knowfat burning and calorie burning
improves.
You know, a lot of times,people think that the time that
you're at the gym is the timethat you're burning calories.
Well, you're at the gym for anhour, you're burning calories
for 24 hours, right, but it'show you do what you do at the
gym.
That allows you to burnefficiently later on.
(17:14):
So building muscle is thenumber one way to continue to
burn for the rest of the day,whereas if you go to the gym and
you do the treadmill for anhour, you know you're burning
during that time, but then yourbody's actually in a different
state for the rest of the dayright.
It's in a recovery state versusa burning state.
(17:35):
You know we do a lot of runningand cardio and you know in our
workouts, so it's not knockingthe running.
I think running is extremelyimportant.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, has its place.
Yeah, Well, it's more has itsplace.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Yeah Well, it's more than has its place right, like
you see some of the statisticsthat come out.
You know people over 30, youknow may never sprint again, but
you think about that for asecond and you, you know as an
athlete right, I know you'reright, yeah.
As an athlete, you're going.
It's impossible.
Yeah.
But then you start thinking ofthe people you know and it's
(18:08):
like would you ask them tosprint.
There's probably a bunch ofpeople you'd be like no, I
wouldn't even ask them to do it,let it go and do what I think
they could.
So it's kind of crazy to thinkabout those things.
So then you start to involvethat kind of stuff into the
workouts so that we challengethe status quo.
(18:29):
Right, why aren't you jumping?
Why aren't you sprinting?
You know, and it's because wedon't trust our bodies anymore.
So when we're working withseniors or when we're working
with injured people, right, ifyou're at home and you need to
change a light bulb and you needto step on a stool or a chair
or whatnot, the last thing Ineed you to be thinking of is I
(18:52):
can get really hurt if I justhave to step down quickly.
If I lose my balance and I haveto step down quickly, I'm going
to get hurt.
So our goal is to train that.
You're not going to train it ina day.
So little things, you know,build up.
So, stepping onto a box,stepping off to a box, stepping
on, stepping off, you know,moving side to side, jumping
(19:13):
over a line I'm not asking youto do a broad jump of eight feet
, right, just jump over the line, yeah, right.
So just get those littlemuscles.
Comfortable to where if you'reup on that stool and you lose
your balance.
A little bit comfortable towhere if you're up on that stool
and you lose your balance.
A little bit.
Your body says I got this.
(19:34):
I step off a box all the time,you know, and I've seen 60 year
old women jumping on you know,20, 24 inch boxes, missing it,
falling to their side, gettingup, laughing and saying, man,
like that could have been.
You know, that could have beenway worse if I haven't been
doing this for as long as I'vebeen doing it.
So you know it's, it's, it's anexact.
It's an exciting thing to seethe progression, you know, and,
(19:56):
and you see the differences when, when people really dive in and
we have some great members thatyou know are so committed to
themselves and to the communityand um, you know, it's just so
motivating to just want, youwant to be there to see them and
then, in turn, you becomebetter.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Yeah, yeah, you want to be a part of that, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Yeah, so a couple of things that stood out.
like it reminds me of um, Iwatched a documentary on like,
like the blue zones, like someof the healthiest regions in our
, in our, in the world yeah andlike one of the things they talk
about I think it was, it mighthave been like japan, like
there's a blue zone in japan orsomething over there, and they
talk about their core strengthbecause I think is they.
(20:38):
They sat on the floor like theydidn't sit in chairs, right.
So just the the act of likesitting down on the floor and
then having the, the to get upand stuff, and doing that over a
long period of time.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, they get up without hands Right.
Yeah.
Most people here.
We're very comfortable right.
Yeah.
Most people here can't sit andstand up without using their
hands.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Yeah, they got to lean over yeah exactly, I'm one
of them.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I don't have the flexibility yet, I say them yeah
, I I don't have the flexibilityyet.
I say yeah because we'reworking on that.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Right now I'm getting better, but I'm one of them
where I struggle to, you know,get all the way down to the
ground and then stand right backup without using my extremities
in different ways yeah, andthen the running part, like I
used to you mentioned, like Iused to run a lot too and I I
recently started doing morestrength training and I've I've
(21:30):
noticed just a difference in theway I feel and like going about
the day, like you said, justyour balance, like moving
through things, lifting heavierboxes or whatever it is.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Like the, the core strength, the strength training
is obviously it's an essentialpart of like being healthy, like
long know too right you know,and one thing for me that
triggered all of it was the um,like learning, just like how
difficult it can be to buildstrength the later you get in
life, absolutely so I think it'slike after 40, like you really
(22:01):
start to diminish, like howAtrophy speeds up.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Yeah, it's after 30, but it doesn't really speed up
to a level where it's noticeable.
Okay.
But after 40, 45-ish you startto see atrophy add up right.
Mm-hmm.
And that's where muscle createslongevity.
Mm-hmm.
Right, and running createsmuscle too.
(22:25):
It's just, your body's notgoing to be right as strong if
you're not doing anything upthere.
Um, you know, but because Imean muscles, just it's just
created by tearing it.
And you know that when you runx or even at a certain speed,
right, yeah, you're tearing themuscle.
That's why you get sore.
Yeah, yeah, you know.
(22:45):
So, you know, and diet the bluezones, like you were saying.
So not only is core veryimportant, but then the diet
comes into play.
You know, and unfortunatelywe're in a situation where
people are starting to noticethat there's a lot of politics
that play into our diet.
And you know how, you know, ourchoices hurt us, um, and I just
(23:10):
, you know we should be focusedon the right choices you know,
yeah, what, um, how long haveyou like, how long has like
fitness been a part of of ofyour life?
Like I know you mentioned before, like you were, you were a
coach and and and did swimmingand stuff yeah, so I've grown up
in sports my whole life, soI've always been in sports and I
(23:30):
was in martial arts, I wrestled, I did diving and that's what
got me into college, um, I Icoached several olympians,
several national champions, um,and started really focusing on
weightlifting.
That's when I got too thick tobe a diver anymore.
(23:51):
So I really fell in love withthe push, the mental aspect of
it, and then, as going to thegym got boring for me, just by
myself or with the same one ortwo people, then I found group
(24:12):
classes.
And that you know, created awhole different atmosphere.
It was like going back to beingon a team right.
So if you grew up in sports,you understand the importance of
going to practice right, notbecause you're getting better,
but because you go to practicemost of the time and today you
see it significantly.
I see with my kids they go justto be with their friends more
(24:34):
than I want to do this drill orI want to get there at this
(25:03):
right.
It's all about I want to talk tothe freshmen, and so on and so
forth, right, um, and then youmove through that level, always
being like, oh, I'm less thanthese people or more than these
people, based on what age I am.
Then you get into corporateAmerica, or you get into the
world Right, and you realizeyou're working side by side with
a 60 year old, or you'reworking, you know, side by side
(25:25):
with a 60 year old, or you'reworking, you know, side by side
with a 16 year old, and you gotto figure out that you're all at
the same level and you all haveto move this ball forward.
Yeah.
And that's what group trainingdoes as well.
You know, you walk in and youmay feel like you're strong and
there's going to be workoutsthat it's all about your
(25:47):
strength, and then you're goingto come in the next day and it's
not your strength and you'renow feeling like you're inferior
to those around you.
Um, and that is so powerful,right?
It's kind of like if ifcorporate America was allowed to
post reviews in ranking orderyeah.
(26:08):
Right, so you could see I'm10th on my team.
Holy crap.
Yeah.
You know that would be sopowerful.
Yeah.
Right, they keep it quietbecause they want to make sure
everybody's happy Right.
Yeah.
You know so, uh, so that's,that's losing that that bit of
it.
But you get that from the grouptraining and you know,
(26:29):
sometimes you have partner wadsand you know it might be me and
you and again your strength isrunning and if our partner wad
doesn't have running but it hasdeadlifting right, then you're
looking at me like please helpme carry the load here, right,
um, and that's okay.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Yeah, right, or we all go down and wait a little.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Um, and that's okay yeah right, or we all go down
and wait a little bit, andthat's okay too yeah, you know
like we.
We got to make sure that we arepushing each other.
You know evenly like the mentalstrength and the physical
strength will all come into play, but it's it's the mentality of
the group that really createsthat, that excellence.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah, do you so going back to like the, the corporate
America, or just working in ain a job, in a, in a in a
company, um, and like that group, team aspect?
I'm sure there's some companiesthat that have that nailed and
they create that camaraderie andyeah.
And where they're all motivatingeach other and stuff like that.
But do you think that's missinga lot from these larger
(27:28):
companies?
And is that come from?
Like you know, some of theindividuals like not growing up
in team sports and stuff likethat, because I grew up playing
baseball too.
So, like you know the teamaspect, the camaraderie aspect
of it all, like I understandthat and do you think I mean, I
feel like there was there's somuch you can learn from from
(27:48):
team sports too.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Yeah, you know, and I'm obviously biased that
perspective because I grew up inthat space.
But if I were running abusiness where I was hiring
multiple people, right, I wouldalways be looking for athletes
and military Like becauseespecially team sport athletes
(28:12):
or collegiate athletes who werepart of because it might be like
diving is not a team sportuntil you're in college, and
then you're an event for theswim team right.
So you're competing as a team,but the reason I say that is
because you really get anopportunity to learn, like
what's my task, right, what's myrole here and in a team sport,
(28:36):
right, you can't do everythingright, you gotta be the pitcher
and the catcher right.
You can't be the first base,second base, no-transcript.
That's so strong.
So when you're bringing thatmentality in as a business owner
(28:59):
, then you're now all you haveto do is explain your vision and
explain where you see them.
As a big part of that vision,and most of the time they'll buy
in and they'll say, all right,you know, and they'll know what
their strengths are and they'regoing to put their strengths
into it, not just their time.
Right, I think that's powerful.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
Yeah, I like that, that's and I wonder I'm sure you
can get that like outs withoutteam sports, whatever Right, but
I feel like as as a young kidgrowing up and stuff like that's
a a great way to learn you knowthat, that trait or that
skillset of being able to justwork together as a team see the
larger picture yeah and andfocus on, on your role
(29:42):
completely and, like you said,you don't have to be in teen
sports right but surroundingyourself with people who have
that kind of mentality, and thatcould be as simple as coming to
a group class or joining arunning group right.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Not everybody's going to run the same pace, but if
you know that Saturday long runis going to be a group run, so
we're all going to run the samepace.
So the weakest link, that's thepace we're running.
Right, I don't want to callthem the weakest link, but you
know it is what it is Like.
That's, that's what we're.
We're going to run as a group,we're not just going to run at
the same time.
You know, what I mean.
That's the type of chip thatsome people have.
(30:19):
Yeah.
And others.
Don't Not saying that one'sbetter than the other.
I'm just saying that, dependingon what your goal is and what
your vision is, that's reallywhere you want to um elevate
that that mentality right is isit's not about me, right?
(30:40):
It's how do we get the wholegroup to be better, and that's
what this community is about.
Right, that's what your podcastis about.
Yeah, you know, um, that's why,when we met, it was so easy for
me to connect with you, becauseI was, like man, like that's my
mentality.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Yeah, you know, my mentality isn't about yeah, it's
not like.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
our goal in our gym is to make it a co-op where
everybody becomes an owner.
But if we did that right now,we'd be charging everybody way
too much.
You know what I mean?
We don't have that.
We don't have enough members,but as we continue to grow and
we were we're going to be ableto cover all expenses.
Then every member makes itcheaper for everyone.
(31:14):
Yeah.
And that's the way it should beLike.
If I could get I think I have38 members right now, If I can
get to 100, every single one ofour members would be paying 50
bucks.
Crazy, you know yeah.
Versus what we're paying now,and I mean it's kind of nuts to
think about it that way, butwe're right there.
(31:36):
All we need to do is continueto build the foundation of the
community we want to embrace.
I'm a big believer in JesusChrist and.
I think that he put me here tobe able to do that.
I'm not smart enough to know itquickly.
It takes time, yeah it takestime.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
So I've got to go through the process and I've got
to continue to pray and know ittakes time.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Yeah, it takes time.
So I've got to go through theprocess and I got to continue to
pray, and I got to continue tolisten and and learn.
So sometimes you just got toroll your sleeves up and hop
into it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
I think that's uh, yeah, I mean, that's a good
point, right, like it, and Idon't nothing, I don't think
anything comes easy.
Um, even if you've been inbusiness for for a long time,
right there, there's alwaysobstacles or challenges and and
stuff.
I mean even with the podcasttoo.
Like we're in the new studionow.
Like there were some challengesthe last few weeks of like
getting to this space and stuffand and I've been doing the
(32:28):
podcast for for five years now,you know.
So it's like they're uh, youknow there's there's always
obstacles to overcome.
But I just having that, thatmindset of like I'm going to
roll my sleeves up and then, I'mgoing to take on this challenge
today and and I'll be betterfor it.
Right, that's awesome yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
I'd love for you to meet Brandon, who's our coach.
Yeah.
Um, he's going to be doing, uh,ruck marches.
Oh cool.
Like every month on Saturdays,um, he'll do one a month or one
every other month, or somethinglike that, just to kind of get
the community involved.
It's not, you know, it's freeto everybody.
Just come out, we'll start atthe gym.
We'll walk down to Palm Harbor,you know, um, or up to Tarpon,
(33:07):
or whatever.
Cause, we're right next to thetrail, far, you know, and then
from there, you know, you get toknow each other, walking,
talking, you know, and then youknow, bringing, bringing friends
along, and you know.
I think it's easier to say, hey, let's challenge ourselves for
an hour of walking with a ruckon yeah then it is to tell
(33:31):
somebody hey, come lift with me,yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
or let's go run 10 miles, yeah, or let's go run 10
miles exactly.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Yeah, sometimes we'll you know, maybe we'll just meet
at a bar or something.
Yeah, you know like we do thattoo.
You know we've done that in thepast.
We've tried doing like eventsat our gym and things like that.
So you know, I think we're likeI said we and things like that.
(33:57):
Um.
So you know, I think we're likeI said, we're really building a
strong foundation as to whenyou walk in, you're going to be
introduced to people who careabout themselves, care about the
gym, um, and care about makingothers better.
And you know, as as thatcontinues to build, it'll just
snowball.
We just have to have thepatience to let it get there.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Yeah, and just stick with it, right, yeah, and that's
a big part of it too.
So we talked a little bit kindof like throughout the
conversation.
But, like communication is abig part of, I think, a business
or or, and especially like, asyou transition into the you know
this new concept and what youguys have now um, talk to me a
(34:42):
little bit about, about justlike like that piece that part
of like your business, likecommunicating with the um, with
the members and stuff and, likeyou know, bringing them along,
and obviously some of them, youknow, didn't stick, stick with
you but um, but what's importantthere?
Speaker 2 (34:57):
More important than communicating to the members is
is having the right message as ateam.
So if you're talking to me, orif you're talking to Pablo, or
if you're talking to Brandon, um, it should be the same message,
cause if, if we're notdelivering the same message,
then the members don't knowwhich way to to run, especially
if one member talks to Pablo andthe other member talks to me.
(35:17):
We deliver different messagesand then they talk to each other
.
Well, that's not what I heard.
Yeah, you know yeah.
So then that creates um trustissues.
It creates, you know, um a amentality of uncertainty, um, so
, I mean, a lot of ourcommunication is done through
email, really, um, so everybodygets the same message, um, but
(35:41):
the key for us is making surethat we know if they come to any
one of the three of us, theywill receive the right answer.
So, before I send out an email,you know I I talk to the others
and make sure that they know,like, hey, this is what I'm
sending, this is what I mean byit, right, or, and that's, if
(36:03):
it's something, that's justwhatever.
But if it's something that isbeing like, you know, a
management decision is betterfor the community or better for
the coach, then you know we'vetalked about it beforehand.
And before we leave the meeting, we know, hey, this is what we
mean, right, and then we'll goahead and deliver it.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Yeah, so everyone's on the same page.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
I like that.
Where is what do you want to?
Where do you see the future?
Speaker 2 (36:29):
I know you've touched on a little bit about it, but
like where do you see like thenext, you know, let's say, two
years of the gym.
Like what does that look like?
I would love to have asituation where our gym is open
from 5 am to 8 pm, withdifferent classes coming in and
different things.
Right, we're called a studiobecause we want to reach the
(36:55):
masses.
Right, we want the right peopleto find the right place for
them, and not everybody wants tolift weights and that's okay.
But four hours out of the daymaybe five we have weightlifting
classes Three hours out of theday, we have youth performance
training Three hours out of theday, we have youth performance
(37:18):
training Three hours out of theday, we have yoga and then, if
we continue to add things, thenwe're going to get to a point
where the whole day is open, butwith options.
We're not walking in and alwaysseeing the same thing the beauty
(37:40):
of that goes with.
Maybe on Mondays and Tuesdaysyou like to lift weights, but on
Wednesdays you want to do yoga.
So you're going to the sameplace.
You're just coming in at adifferent time.
That's really the goal there.
But I would tell you, the maingoal for us would be to grow the
space right.
If we can get the right membersin um, then we can continue to
grow the space the.
(38:01):
The sky's the limit from thatperspective, in a sense that if
you could tell me that I couldrun aerial and yoga at the same
time as I could run, you know,across training, oh yeah you
know, class um or a youthperformance class?
that's game changer.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Mm-hmm, you think that's something that separates
you guys from like other gyms,because I don't think there's
any other gym that does like thevariety of stuff, right, it's
usually just like a CrossFit gym, right, and they just have
those classes.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
Yeah, that separates us from a target perspective.
We're not targeting onlyCrossFit-minded people, and
there's some really goodCrossFit gyms around here too,
I'm not taking anything awayfrom them, so that piece of it
(38:54):
is strong, but there isn't, tomy knowledge, any youth
performance training or anybodywho is focused on agility and
injury prevention for everyone,right.
(39:16):
For years, crossfit had this,you know, bad perception that
they were just pushing you toget hurt.
Just go heavier.
Just go heavier, you know.
Try the movement even if youweren't there.
And it's such a bad perceptionbecause I've never experienced
that and I've been doingCrossFit for almost 20 years and
every coach I've ever had wasalways focused on um, on form
(39:41):
and and keeping you in line.
When I say keeping you in lineis because I'm the dummy that
wanted to beat you, donnie, so Ipushed myself for an extra rep
or an extra hound Right, andwhen my body was telling me not
to, yeah, you know, and that'swhen you know you blow a
shoulder or you, you know pipe ahip out.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Yeah, the back goes out yeah, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
But, uh, but if you're, you know, if you're
there to you know, do what youdo and get your day started, and
things like that, then I thinkthat that, just it's such a good
way to work out yeah you know,crossfit had it right.
The mentality was is so good.
Um, you know, obviously as a,as an organization, they're
having their issues right nowand it's a shame to see because
(40:27):
they're like I said.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
The thought behind crossfit is awesome yeah, and
just the community aspect rightof crossfit and then like what
you guys are doing too, I knowyou're involved like just being
a part of the community aspectright of CrossFit and then like
what you guys are doing too, Iknow you're involved, like just
being a part of the community.
That's how we met was at thedowntown Palm Harbor market.
Right, that's right, but I meanthat's a big part of, I feel
like it's a big part of maybejust like in our local area.
(40:49):
Right, but like these smallbusinesses and stuff, like if
you can show up and be a part ofthe community in some way, like
that's going to go a long waytoo.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Absolutely.
I mean it's it's more importantto be part of the community
than it is to be um locatedcentrally Right.
So if I was located you know,near here, where most people
drive in Palm Harbor, right, Ithink everyone would recognize
our logo.
Drive in Palm Harbor, right?
(41:19):
I think everyone wouldrecognize our logo.
But I'm located in a spot wherethe majority of people who live
in Palm Harbor don't drive bythere, you know so.
So the logo may not berecognizable.
Or even when I tell you, oh,I'm right next to JJ Gandy's,
right Like you know, jj Gandy'sbut you're like, oh, I've never
seen your gym, I was like, well,that logo has been there for a
long time.
So it's one of those things.
I think that's why gettinginvolved and it's more about who
(41:42):
you know, not what you know Imay be the world's greatest
coach or I might have the bestequipment or whatever, but if
nobody knows you're there, ifnobody knows where your heart is
, then what's their motivationto go check it out?
right yeah, um, and that that'swhat's really cool about.
(42:04):
When you come in and you know,you, you, you meet the heart by
meeting the people who areworking out there.
You know that's, that's whereit's at.
You know you don't have to sitdown with me or pablo or or
brandon and to really know whatour vision is, our vision is
those people you know, and someof them Donnie.
They've been there for man, meland Robin, I think.
(42:26):
Have been there since day one.
Crazy yeah.
I think they were part of thefirst owner started the gym
thought in his garage, and Ithink they were part of going to
the garage and working out withhim.
I mean T, I know TR and Paulwere part of that as well and um
, you know there's, you know youhave people who.
(42:47):
They are the heart of the gym.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
You know, it's not about who owns it.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Yeah, and that's cool .
And, like you said, yeah, Ithink that's cool, it's, and,
like you said, like once youshow up there, then that's when
you really truly get toexperience like what you guys
are creating and stuff exactly,yeah and then you get bought
into it, and then it's like yeahnow you have some great friends
that you're gonna know for along time right and that's why,
you know, pablo and I have jobs,right like, our goal was never
to make money here.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Our goal was to help a friend and, you know, continue
to build the community.
That's why we are really fondof the co-op.
Thought Right, um, and you knowwe'll, we'll see that if we can
get there, but that's uh,that's our next.
You know, that's that's ournext.
Goal is to get out of the redso that we can start you know um
(43:33):
bringing partners on.
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Yeah, I like that idea canstart, you know, bringing
partners on.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Yeah, I like that idea.
So where are you located forthose people that don't drive up
that way?
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Yeah, so we're right across the street from Highlands
of Innisburg, right next to JJGandy.
So if you know where GraciePalm Harbor is, we're in the
same parking lot, just on theopposite uh building so right
across the street from that.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
Yeah, kind of like north north Palm Harbor for some
like off.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
Alternate 19 yeah, alternate 19, just south of
Klosterman, north of Aldermanyeah and um.
We are just north of theentrance to Wall Springs Park
okay, yeah, cool.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Gonzo man, thanks for being here.
This is this.
Has been fun to get to know youa little bit more and learn
about your business.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
So thank you very much for having me.
I mean, I think it's a um greatthing that you do.
I love seeing the podcast andthe people.
That you're doing is allowingpeople who may not have that
opportunity to know the storyand the heart behind what's
(44:42):
happening in Palm Harbor.
So thank you for everything youdo.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
Yeah, I appreciate that.
It's all about community, right, that's what we're doing is
just building a community.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
Excellent, so thank you.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of
Palmer Local, for tuning in toanother episode of Palmer Local.
We are incredibly grateful forour sponsors Jacob with Roadmap
Money, who make this showpossible.
Now be sure to support theselocal businesses and let's keep
building community together.
We'll see you next week.
Welcome to Palm Harbor Local, a podcast
dedicated to building communityand sharing inspiring stories
from the heart of Palm Harbor.
I'm your host, donnie Hathaway,and today we are joined by
Gonzo Mora, who is the owner ofCore Fitness Athletic Studio.
Palm Harbor Local is all aboutspotlighting individuals who are
making a difference, overcomingchallenges and fostering
connections right here in ourhometown.
(00:20):
If you are passionate aboutgrowing together, getting
involved and celebrating thepeople who are making Palm
Harbor thrive, you're exactlywhere you need to be.
In today's episode, you'lldiscover why Gonzo took over the
gym in 2023, his vision for thefuture of Core Fitness Athletic
Studio and why Gonzo believesin community boats inside and
outside the gym.
Don't forget to connect with uson Instagram at Palm Harbor
(00:41):
Local for behind-the-sceneshighlights, and subscribe to our
weekly newsletter atpalmroberlocalcom.
Now let's dive in and buildcommunity together.
Gonzo, welcome to the PalmHarbor Local Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Thank you, don, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, I'm excited to chat with you.
Let's start with, like you knowwhat it is you do and and kind
of who you are right now.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
As a as a business.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, me, yeah, as your business, yeah Right.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Um, well, actually, what we really focus on, uh, we
used to be a CrossFit gym, so weuh still have a lot of members
that like that type of workout,so we do have, um you know,
cross training style.
We are not a crossfit affiliateany longer, so, um, the reason
for that is we've added um yogaand aerial classes as well with
(01:31):
a gypsy air partnership, andwe've also introduced a youth
athletic program, so it's aperformance-based program for uh
youth athletes to build ontheir speed, their, their
vertical jumps, um, you know,stabilize the small muscles that
really help your large musclesdo what they need to do when
you're on your field or track orcourt.
(01:51):
Um, and it's really been agreat way to kind of add back to
the community, um, the the keyto our business is the people
that work out there.
Um, you know, it's notnecessarily the workouts, it's
not um the the owners oranything along those lines.
It's really when you get thereand the people who are pushing
(02:11):
you along, that's that's whatmotivates you to get up the next
morning or come back after workthe next day and and really, um
, get to it and keep your goalgoing.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
So you, you and you guys recently took over this gym
, correct?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Yeah, we're almost um a little over 18 months.
Okay.
So we took over in August of uh23.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Okay, and so it's.
It's been a gym for, like wewere just talking about, before
you know, 13 plus years,something like that.
Right, um, what led to youtaking over the jam and, and you
know, kind of making thistransition into what it is today
?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
yeah, it was really twofold.
Um, what you know, my partnerand I did it to to help out a
friend you know who just neededsome help, and, uh, we didn't
want to find another gym oranother group of members to
really push us along in thisjourney.
(03:10):
And so, you know, we justinjected some money into it to
build it up and change it alittle bit, give us a little bit
more of an advantage and thenfrom there, just keeping the
community together.
I mean, that was really themain goal is to keep the
community together and continueto improve on a daily basis
(03:39):
different group types of peopleand stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
But the community aspect of any gym I think the
CrossFit gyms like have more ofthat, because you're in the
classes and stuff together thanlike your typical commercial gym
where you know you're going asan individual and you don't have
the group classes.
But the community aspect, right, is a big part of going to the
gym.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Completely, and especially in group classes,
group group classes, groupworkouts, um, you start building
on each other.
You know, the first time you goin there you're received by
people, right?
So if you went into a regulargym like, uh, you know, planet
fitness or LA fitness orwhatever you want to call it.
Um first time you're in there,you may or may not know somebody
(04:20):
.
If you don't know anybody, it'stough to kind of talk to people
yeah right, not so much for guyto guy right, but for women
it's.
It's much different, right, um,if a guy approaches them, or if
even another girl approachesthem, there's, you know, a
different feel, whereas whenyou're walking into a group
setting, you welcome theapproach because yeah you feel
(04:41):
like an outsider coming in.
So when people approach you, youfeel like they're actually in.
So when people approach you,you feel like they're actually
welcoming you and you're part ofthe class and the group.
And so the other piece of thatis that the coach helps
tremendously.
So the coach receives you,introduces you to the class
during warmup or during cooldown, we may have some question
(05:01):
and answer, where people get toknow each other and things like
that, and then conversationsstart in different ways and
relationships start building andyou start seeing people carpool
.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
You know, versus anything else, the classes
always start at the same time,so it's not a matter of oh, I'll
make it at 7, 30 or I'll makeit at you know, whatever time
it's, you know you, you havecertain times that you can get
there yeah, I remember, Iremember like when my wife and I
when we did like a groupfitness it was Camp Gladiator,
like outdoor fitness, yeah, andlike to that, I mean to this day
like we're still friends withsome of those people that we
(05:32):
went to you know camp with wayback then, and that was that
might've been almost 10 yearsago now, but but yeah, it's like
, that's like, that's um, andyou're right, Like that was a
big part of it too.
I remember we did like theearly morning workouts.
It was like 5am or 530 orsomething like that.
You know.
So, like that group of peopleboys go every day, because if I
try to go at six, sometimes wecan't make it.
(05:53):
Seven we definitely can't makeit.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
They start school too early, uh.
And then the 5 30 class.
I mean anything can happenduring the day where some days
you're going to make it somedays you're not going to make it
so yeah, um so the 5, am forsure, is the is the time that
there's no interruptions.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's just a matter of whether you wake up or not.
Uh, can you do it?
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
And you know that's it's a beautiful thing because,
you know, everybody starts tokind of build their, their
relationships in those classes,right.
And when I first joined um, Itried out every class so that I
can see the different people.
Okay, right, so one day I wouldshow up at six, the other day
I'd show up at seven, eight, youknow.
And then I did.
The three o'clock scheduleswere way different back then,
(06:53):
but every class had its own likeatmosphere, right.
So some of them would beyounger, some of them would be
older, some of them would bemore female, some of them would
be more like competitive malesor you know.
So you really kind of pick whatworks for you.
But, um, it really created anopportunity for me to not only
(07:13):
meet all the members but um itwas good.
And I mean I had a Groupon, so Iremember I got in for $10 for
the first month and my goal wasjust to go meet people.
I had just moved to the area.
I know yeah.
And, um, you know, you mentionedearlier that you're still
friends with people from campgladiator.
When I did CrossFit the firsttime, um, I did, uh, sparta and
(07:38):
it was, you know they, they werein Tampa, um, were in Tampa.
Um, they're no longer around,but, um, and I'm still friends
with them and it's been 15, youknow, 16, 17 years since since
that that happened.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Yeah, what did you notice, like when you first
started?
Uh, when you moved here and youdid all tried all the different
classes and different times andstuff, which one did you end up
selecting, like, which time didyou find your, your group with,
and then why?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Like what, what stood out to you about that group?
I ended up staying with the 6am.
Um, and it was mostly because,like me, they were, um, you know
, business professionals thatwere trying to get stuff done in
the morning and make sure thatthey had a routine.
Um, you know, it was a.
The kind of mentality that weall shared was get it done early
so that we can go get our lifedone and not have to worry all
day about well, I gotta get backto the gym.
Yeah.
You know, um, the afternoonpeople were actually more.
(08:35):
They worked early, right, sothey couldn't make it to the
classes at 6am, so they wouldcome in.
So then every once in a while Iwould sleep in or whatnot, and
then go into the afternoon andand it was fine there too,
because it was a bunch of goodpeople on that at that time as
well cool.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
So let's, let's go back to like your, your
transition into like, owning thebusiness and running the
business.
Like what was that transitionlike?
Like some obstacles you had toovercome, some challenges you
faced during that, during thattime, and had you owned a
business before that, or this isyour first?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Um, nothing, nothing like this I had.
I never owned a um, a gym, Iwas.
I was a diving coach for a longtime in in in Arizona.
So I had my small, my smallbusiness with that um, and then
I had a real estate business,which I still own, some
(09:31):
properties, but nothing likewhat we're doing now.
Uh, the day-to-day running andanything like that.
But challenges, I mean, I thinkthe biggest challenge was, you
know, connecting with thecommunity, as now we have
decision making and what wewanted to see from them and what
(09:52):
they wanted to see from us, soreally understanding what they
liked about the situation, whatthey wished that we could
improve on.
That's where some of theequipment changes and you know
things like that came into play,um, to make it a little bit
nicer.
Uh, we made some decisions thatweren't received very well, and
you know that's understandable.
(10:13):
Right.
But, um, you know, so trying tobalance the fact that we went
from just being friends to nowmy decisions make, know, people
angry or yeah, or upset, or sador happy, or you know whatever
emotion comes from a decision Imake.
I mean, that was, that wastough because, you know, from
(10:35):
the beginning the goal was toget the community together yeah
and as decisions took place, welost some, gained some, um, and
you know we're, we're just,we're building on that, that
foundation what led.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
What led to this?
Like new direction, like wheredid that come from?
Versus just like trying to makesmall improvements over like
what it was and before it wasjust strictly like a crossfit
gym correct, like with the groupclasses and whatnot.
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Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, so it was group class CrossFit gym and it was
open five hours a day, right?
So you have 19 hours of uselessspace.
So what really made thedecision was we're not touching
the community in the right way,right?
So we added yoga.
(12:19):
We added um aerial, we addedthe kids program Um, we added 24
hour access, so all our membersget trained to understand what
it's like to open the gym.
Um, if they want the 24-houraccess, they don't, they don't
need to.
It's included in their, intheir package.
But there's some people thatonly would like to do it within
the group, right, um?
But they know how to come inopen doors, turn the lights on,
(12:43):
make sure everything's safe, andwe've.
You know they've done enoughclasses to where we, as coaches,
know that they understand themovements.
They're not going to, you knowbeing there by themselves trying
to lift 400 pounds when theyknow they can't do more than 250
, you know yeah.
So things like that, that and um, but the decision of just, you
(13:06):
know, ripping the band-aid righttype of thing was done because
you can only kick the can downthe road for so long you know
and, as that's working, asyou're, as you're building what
your, what your vision of your,of your community is, the hard
part comes when you're notseeing the end of the road
(13:30):
because you're focused on thepebbles along the way, and that
was so hard for me to take, andit was.
It was actually hurting mephysically like I.
I couldn't work out for two,two and a half months.
I could barely walk.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I was in crutches wow , and it was just stress related
.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Yeah like as soon as we ripped the band-aid.
You know I'm running again.
I'm yeah and it was almost likea week crazy and I didn't know
it was stress related until Iwas in crutches on a thursday.
I left friday morning to go toa wedding in Colorado Saturday.
I was dancing at the weddingand I was like, oh, this is
(14:08):
great, I feel great.
I went skiing, it felt great.
Came back on Monday and I waswalking around.
Fine, I did a workout.
I felt awesome.
Tuesday I couldn't walk.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So you just get back into the business.
The stress hits you and yourbody just crumbles yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Just shut down from my hips down, my knees were
swollen, my ankles were swollen.
I mean, it was just isn't thatwild yeah it was bad, so, but I,
I'm telling you then, you know,like I said, then we made the
changes and um, um, and I'vebeen fine ever since.
I mean, it was tough, don't getme wrong.
(14:46):
I lost a lot of good friends,you know, but I didn't lose them
as friends, you know.
That's the way I feel.
I didn't lose them as friends.
I lost them as daily companionsin my workout routines.
But you know we're still movingin the right direction.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Yeah, and I mean that happens like with any time you
know we're still moving in theright direction.
Yeah, and, and I mean thathappens like with any time we
change right and and I feel likeyou have to, um, like you talk
about being 1% better every day,or better every day.
I mean that's a big part of it.
Like you have to be able toadapt and go through those
changes to to grow and be better.
Um, and you're always, anytimeyou're changing anything, like
(15:26):
there's people, there's going tobe people that agree with it
and people that don't agree withit.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Right, it's just part of it and you have to take the
risk.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Right, so our slogan is better than yesterday.
Yeah.
That's what we focus on, andthe reason we say that is
because whatever you're doingtoday has to be to make you
better than yesterday.
If the action you're takingright now isn't moving you in
the direction you want to go to,you shouldn't be taking that
action.
Mm-hmm, you know Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yeah, so I guess, give us an overview of what you
guys are about now and what youguys offer at Core Fitness.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah, so we still have the group classes and we
focus on cross training.
So, really focused on um.
We're called core fitnessbecause COR is the is the root
for in Latin for heart, so we'rereally focused on the
cardiovascular piece of the body.
(16:21):
Um, so working from the insideout, okay, um, if you have good
core right, then your legs andarms and head can be strong.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
But if your core is not there, then it's difficult
to keep going.
So a lot of our workouts arefocused on engaging your core to
then be able to use your armsand legs.
Um, so that's, you know, that'swhat we really shoot for, and
with that we're building a lotof muscle, right?
So as we build muscle, thenyour metabolism improves, your
(16:54):
heart improves, your you knowfat burning and calorie burning
improves.
You know, a lot of times,people think that the time that
you're at the gym is the timethat you're burning calories.
Well, you're at the gym for anhour, you're burning calories
for 24 hours, right, but it'show you do what you do at the
gym.
That allows you to burnefficiently later on.
(17:14):
So building muscle is thenumber one way to continue to
burn for the rest of the day,whereas if you go to the gym and
you do the treadmill for anhour, you know you're burning
during that time, but then yourbody's actually in a different
state for the rest of the dayright.
It's in a recovery state versusa burning state.
(17:35):
You know we do a lot of runningand cardio and you know in our
workouts, so it's not knockingthe running.
I think running is extremelyimportant.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, has its place.
Yeah, Well, it's more has itsplace.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Yeah Well, it's more than has its place right, like
you see some of the statisticsthat come out.
You know people over 30, youknow may never sprint again, but
you think about that for asecond and you, you know as an
athlete right, I know you'reright, yeah.
As an athlete, you're going.
It's impossible.
Yeah.
But then you start thinking ofthe people you know and it's
(18:08):
like would you ask them tosprint.
There's probably a bunch ofpeople you'd be like no, I
wouldn't even ask them to do it,let it go and do what I think
they could.
So it's kind of crazy to thinkabout those things.
So then you start to involvethat kind of stuff into the
workouts so that we challengethe status quo.
(18:29):
Right, why aren't you jumping?
Why aren't you sprinting?
You know, and it's because wedon't trust our bodies anymore.
So when we're working withseniors or when we're working
with injured people, right, ifyou're at home and you need to
change a light bulb and you needto step on a stool or a chair
or whatnot, the last thing Ineed you to be thinking of is I
(18:52):
can get really hurt if I justhave to step down quickly.
If I lose my balance and I haveto step down quickly, I'm going
to get hurt.
So our goal is to train that.
You're not going to train it ina day.
So little things, you know,build up.
So, stepping onto a box,stepping off to a box, stepping
on, stepping off, you know,moving side to side, jumping
(19:13):
over a line I'm not asking youto do a broad jump of eight feet
, right, just jump over the line, yeah, right.
So just get those littlemuscles.
Comfortable to where if you'reup on that stool and you lose
your balance.
A little bit comfortable towhere if you're up on that stool
and you lose your balance.
A little bit.
Your body says I got this.
(19:34):
I step off a box all the time,you know, and I've seen 60 year
old women jumping on you know,20, 24 inch boxes, missing it,
falling to their side, gettingup, laughing and saying, man,
like that could have been.
You know, that could have beenway worse if I haven't been
doing this for as long as I'vebeen doing it.
So you know it's, it's, it's anexact.
It's an exciting thing to seethe progression, you know, and,
(19:56):
and you see the differences when, when people really dive in and
we have some great members thatyou know are so committed to
themselves and to the communityand um, you know, it's just so
motivating to just want, youwant to be there to see them and
then, in turn, you becomebetter.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Yeah, yeah, you want to be a part of that, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Yeah, so a couple of things that stood out.
like it reminds me of um, Iwatched a documentary on like,
like the blue zones, like someof the healthiest regions in our
, in our, in the world yeah andlike one of the things they talk
about I think it was, it mighthave been like japan, like
there's a blue zone in japan orsomething over there, and they
talk about their core strengthbecause I think is they.
(20:38):
They sat on the floor like theydidn't sit in chairs, right.
So just the the act of likesitting down on the floor and
then having the, the to get upand stuff, and doing that over a
long period of time.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, they get up without hands Right.
Yeah.
Most people here.
We're very comfortable right.
Yeah.
Most people here can't sit andstand up without using their
hands.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Yeah, they got to lean over yeah exactly, I'm one
of them.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I don't have the flexibility yet, I say them yeah
, I I don't have the flexibilityyet.
I say yeah because we'reworking on that.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Right now I'm getting better, but I'm one of them
where I struggle to, you know,get all the way down to the
ground and then stand right backup without using my extremities
in different ways yeah, andthen the running part, like I
used to you mentioned, like Iused to run a lot too and I I
recently started doing morestrength training and I've I've
(21:30):
noticed just a difference in theway I feel and like going about
the day, like you said, justyour balance, like moving
through things, lifting heavierboxes or whatever it is.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Like the, the core strength, the strength training
is obviously it's an essentialpart of like being healthy, like
long know too right you know,and one thing for me that
triggered all of it was the um,like learning, just like how
difficult it can be to buildstrength the later you get in
life, absolutely so I think it'slike after 40, like you really
(22:01):
start to diminish, like howAtrophy speeds up.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Yeah, it's after 30, but it doesn't really speed up
to a level where it's noticeable.
Okay.
But after 40, 45-ish you startto see atrophy add up right.
Mm-hmm.
And that's where muscle createslongevity.
Mm-hmm.
Right, and running createsmuscle too.
(22:25):
It's just, your body's notgoing to be right as strong if
you're not doing anything upthere.
Um, you know, but because Imean muscles, just it's just
created by tearing it.
And you know that when you runx or even at a certain speed,
right, yeah, you're tearing themuscle.
That's why you get sore.
Yeah, yeah, you know.
(22:45):
So, you know, and diet the bluezones, like you were saying.
So not only is core veryimportant, but then the diet
comes into play.
You know, and unfortunatelywe're in a situation where
people are starting to noticethat there's a lot of politics
that play into our diet.
And you know how, you know, ourchoices hurt us, um, and I just
(23:10):
, you know we should be focusedon the right choices you know,
yeah, what, um, how long haveyou like, how long has like
fitness been a part of of ofyour life?
Like I know you mentioned before, like you were, you were a
coach and and and did swimmingand stuff yeah, so I've grown up
in sports my whole life, soI've always been in sports and I
(23:30):
was in martial arts, I wrestled, I did diving and that's what
got me into college, um, I Icoached several olympians,
several national champions, um,and started really focusing on
weightlifting.
That's when I got too thick tobe a diver anymore.
(23:51):
So I really fell in love withthe push, the mental aspect of
it, and then, as going to thegym got boring for me, just by
myself or with the same one ortwo people, then I found group
(24:12):
classes.
And that you know, created awhole different atmosphere.
It was like going back to beingon a team right.
So if you grew up in sports,you understand the importance of
going to practice right, notbecause you're getting better,
but because you go to practicemost of the time and today you
see it significantly.
I see with my kids they go justto be with their friends more
(24:34):
than I want to do this drill orI want to get there at this
(25:03):
right.
It's all about I want to talk tothe freshmen, and so on and so
forth, right, um, and then youmove through that level, always
being like, oh, I'm less thanthese people or more than these
people, based on what age I am.
Then you get into corporateAmerica, or you get into the
world Right, and you realizeyou're working side by side with
a 60 year old, or you'reworking, you know, side by side
(25:25):
with a 60 year old, or you'reworking, you know, side by side
with a 16 year old, and you gotto figure out that you're all at
the same level and you all haveto move this ball forward.
Yeah.
And that's what group trainingdoes as well.
You know, you walk in and youmay feel like you're strong and
there's going to be workoutsthat it's all about your
(25:47):
strength, and then you're goingto come in the next day and it's
not your strength and you'renow feeling like you're inferior
to those around you.
Um, and that is so powerful,right?
It's kind of like if ifcorporate America was allowed to
post reviews in ranking orderyeah.
(26:08):
Right, so you could see I'm10th on my team.
Holy crap.
Yeah.
You know that would be sopowerful.
Yeah.
Right, they keep it quietbecause they want to make sure
everybody's happy Right.
Yeah.
You know so, uh, so that's,that's losing that that bit of
it.
But you get that from the grouptraining and you know,
(26:29):
sometimes you have partner wadsand you know it might be me and
you and again your strength isrunning and if our partner wad
doesn't have running but it hasdeadlifting right, then you're
looking at me like please helpme carry the load here, right,
um, and that's okay.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Yeah, right, or we all go down and wait a little.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Um, and that's okay yeah right, or we all go down
and wait a little bit, andthat's okay too yeah, you know
like we.
We got to make sure that we arepushing each other.
You know evenly like the mentalstrength and the physical
strength will all come into play, but it's it's the mentality of
the group that really createsthat, that excellence.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yeah, do you so going back to like the, the corporate
America, or just working in ain a job, in a, in a in a
company, um, and like that group, team aspect?
I'm sure there's some companiesthat that have that nailed and
they create that camaraderie andyeah.
And where they're all motivatingeach other and stuff like that.
But do you think that's missinga lot from these larger
(27:28):
companies?
And is that come from?
Like you know, some of theindividuals like not growing up
in team sports and stuff likethat, because I grew up playing
baseball too.
So, like you know the teamaspect, the camaraderie aspect
of it all, like I understandthat and do you think I mean, I
feel like there was there's somuch you can learn from from
(27:48):
team sports too.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Yeah, you know, and I'm obviously biased that
perspective because I grew up inthat space.
But if I were running abusiness where I was hiring
multiple people, right, I wouldalways be looking for athletes
and military Like becauseespecially team sport athletes
(28:12):
or collegiate athletes who werepart of because it might be like
diving is not a team sportuntil you're in college, and
then you're an event for theswim team right.
So you're competing as a team,but the reason I say that is
because you really get anopportunity to learn, like
what's my task, right, what's myrole here and in a team sport,
(28:36):
right, you can't do everythingright, you gotta be the pitcher
and the catcher right.
You can't be the first base,second base, no-transcript.
That's so strong.
So when you're bringing thatmentality in as a business owner
(28:59):
, then you're now all you haveto do is explain your vision and
explain where you see them.
As a big part of that vision,and most of the time they'll buy
in and they'll say, all right,you know, and they'll know what
their strengths are and they'regoing to put their strengths
into it, not just their time.
Right, I think that's powerful.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
Yeah, I like that, that's and I wonder I'm sure you
can get that like outs withoutteam sports, whatever Right, but
I feel like as as a young kidgrowing up and stuff like that's
a a great way to learn you knowthat, that trait or that
skillset of being able to justwork together as a team see the
larger picture yeah and andfocus on, on your role
(29:42):
completely and, like you said,you don't have to be in teen
sports right but surroundingyourself with people who have
that kind of mentality, and thatcould be as simple as coming to
a group class or joining arunning group right.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Not everybody's going to run the same pace, but if
you know that Saturday long runis going to be a group run, so
we're all going to run the samepace.
So the weakest link, that's thepace we're running.
Right, I don't want to callthem the weakest link, but you
know it is what it is Like.
That's, that's what we're.
We're going to run as a group,we're not just going to run at
the same time.
You know, what I mean.
That's the type of chip thatsome people have.
(30:19):
Yeah.
And others.
Don't Not saying that one'sbetter than the other.
I'm just saying that, dependingon what your goal is and what
your vision is, that's reallywhere you want to um elevate
that that mentality right is isit's not about me, right?
(30:40):
It's how do we get the wholegroup to be better, and that's
what this community is about.
Right, that's what your podcastis about.
Yeah, you know, um, that's why,when we met, it was so easy for
me to connect with you, becauseI was, like man, like that's my
mentality.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Yeah, you know, my mentality isn't about yeah, it's
not like.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
our goal in our gym is to make it a co-op where
everybody becomes an owner.
But if we did that right now,we'd be charging everybody way
too much.
You know what I mean?
We don't have that.
We don't have enough members,but as we continue to grow and
we were we're going to be ableto cover all expenses.
Then every member makes itcheaper for everyone.
(31:14):
Yeah.
And that's the way it should beLike.
If I could get I think I have38 members right now, If I can
get to 100, every single one ofour members would be paying 50
bucks.
Crazy, you know yeah.
Versus what we're paying now,and I mean it's kind of nuts to
think about it that way, butwe're right there.
(31:36):
All we need to do is continueto build the foundation of the
community we want to embrace.
I'm a big believer in JesusChrist and.
I think that he put me here tobe able to do that.
I'm not smart enough to know itquickly.
It takes time, yeah it takestime.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
So I've got to go through the process and I've got
to continue to pray and know ittakes time.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Yeah, it takes time.
So I've got to go through theprocess and I got to continue to
pray, and I got to continue tolisten and and learn.
So sometimes you just got toroll your sleeves up and hop
into it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
I think that's uh, yeah, I mean, that's a good
point, right, like it, and Idon't nothing, I don't think
anything comes easy.
Um, even if you've been inbusiness for for a long time,
right there, there's alwaysobstacles or challenges and and
stuff.
I mean even with the podcasttoo.
Like we're in the new studionow.
Like there were some challengesthe last few weeks of like
getting to this space and stuffand and I've been doing the
(32:28):
podcast for for five years now,you know.
So it's like they're uh, youknow there's there's always
obstacles to overcome.
But I just having that, thatmindset of like I'm going to
roll my sleeves up and then, I'mgoing to take on this challenge
today and and I'll be betterfor it.
Right, that's awesome yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
I'd love for you to meet Brandon, who's our coach.
Yeah.
Um, he's going to be doing, uh,ruck marches.
Oh cool.
Like every month on Saturdays,um, he'll do one a month or one
every other month, or somethinglike that, just to kind of get
the community involved.
It's not, you know, it's freeto everybody.
Just come out, we'll start atthe gym.
We'll walk down to Palm Harbor,you know, um, or up to Tarpon,
(33:07):
or whatever.
Cause, we're right next to thetrail, far, you know, and then
from there, you know, you get toknow each other, walking,
talking, you know, and then youknow, bringing, bringing friends
along, and you know.
I think it's easier to say, hey, let's challenge ourselves for
an hour of walking with a ruckon yeah then it is to tell
(33:31):
somebody hey, come lift with me,yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
or let's go run 10 miles, yeah, or let's go run 10
miles exactly.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Yeah, sometimes we'll you know, maybe we'll just meet
at a bar or something.
Yeah, you know like we do thattoo.
You know we've done that in thepast.
We've tried doing like eventsat our gym and things like that.
So you know, I think we're likeI said we and things like that.
(33:57):
Um.
So you know, I think we're likeI said, we're really building a
strong foundation as to whenyou walk in, you're going to be
introduced to people who careabout themselves, care about the
gym, um, and care about makingothers better.
And you know, as as thatcontinues to build, it'll just
snowball.
We just have to have thepatience to let it get there.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Yeah, and just stick with it, right, yeah, and that's
a big part of it too.
So we talked a little bit kindof like throughout the
conversation.
But, like communication is abig part of, I think, a business
or or, and especially like, asyou transition into the you know
this new concept and what youguys have now um, talk to me a
(34:42):
little bit about, about justlike like that piece that part
of like your business, likecommunicating with the um, with
the members and stuff and, likeyou know, bringing them along,
and obviously some of them, youknow, didn't stick, stick with
you but um, but what's importantthere?
Speaker 2 (34:57):
More important than communicating to the members is
is having the right message as ateam.
So if you're talking to me, orif you're talking to Pablo, or
if you're talking to Brandon, um, it should be the same message,
cause if, if we're notdelivering the same message,
then the members don't knowwhich way to to run, especially
if one member talks to Pablo andthe other member talks to me.
(35:17):
We deliver different messagesand then they talk to each other
.
Well, that's not what I heard.
Yeah, you know yeah.
So then that creates um trustissues.
It creates, you know, um a amentality of uncertainty, um, so
, I mean, a lot of ourcommunication is done through
email, really, um, so everybodygets the same message, um, but
(35:41):
the key for us is making surethat we know if they come to any
one of the three of us, theywill receive the right answer.
So, before I send out an email,you know I I talk to the others
and make sure that they know,like, hey, this is what I'm
sending, this is what I mean byit, right, or, and that's, if
(36:03):
it's something, that's justwhatever.
But if it's something that isbeing like, you know, a
management decision is betterfor the community or better for
the coach, then you know we'vetalked about it beforehand.
And before we leave the meeting, we know, hey, this is what we
mean, right, and then we'll goahead and deliver it.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Yeah, so everyone's on the same page.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
I like that.
Where is what do you want to?
Where do you see the future?
Speaker 2 (36:29):
I know you've touched on a little bit about it, but
like where do you see like thenext, you know, let's say, two
years of the gym.
Like what does that look like?
I would love to have asituation where our gym is open
from 5 am to 8 pm, withdifferent classes coming in and
different things.
Right, we're called a studiobecause we want to reach the
(36:55):
masses.
Right, we want the right peopleto find the right place for
them, and not everybody wants tolift weights and that's okay.
But four hours out of the daymaybe five we have weightlifting
classes Three hours out of theday, we have youth performance
training Three hours out of theday, we have youth performance
(37:18):
training Three hours out of theday, we have yoga and then, if
we continue to add things, thenwe're going to get to a point
where the whole day is open, butwith options.
We're not walking in and alwaysseeing the same thing the beauty
(37:40):
of that goes with.
Maybe on Mondays and Tuesdaysyou like to lift weights, but on
Wednesdays you want to do yoga.
So you're going to the sameplace.
You're just coming in at adifferent time.
That's really the goal there.
But I would tell you, the maingoal for us would be to grow the
space right.
If we can get the right membersin um, then we can continue to
grow the space the.
(38:01):
The sky's the limit from thatperspective, in a sense that if
you could tell me that I couldrun aerial and yoga at the same
time as I could run, you know,across training, oh yeah you
know, class um or a youthperformance class?
that's game changer.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Mm-hmm, you think that's something that separates
you guys from like other gyms,because I don't think there's
any other gym that does like thevariety of stuff, right, it's
usually just like a CrossFit gym, right, and they just have
those classes.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
Yeah, that separates us from a target perspective.
We're not targeting onlyCrossFit-minded people, and
there's some really goodCrossFit gyms around here too,
I'm not taking anything awayfrom them, so that piece of it
(38:54):
is strong, but there isn't, tomy knowledge, any youth
performance training or anybodywho is focused on agility and
injury prevention for everyone,right.
(39:16):
For years, crossfit had this,you know, bad perception that
they were just pushing you toget hurt.
Just go heavier.
Just go heavier, you know.
Try the movement even if youweren't there.
And it's such a bad perceptionbecause I've never experienced
that and I've been doingCrossFit for almost 20 years and
every coach I've ever had wasalways focused on um, on form
(39:41):
and and keeping you in line.
When I say keeping you in lineis because I'm the dummy that
wanted to beat you, donnie, so Ipushed myself for an extra rep
or an extra hound Right, andwhen my body was telling me not
to, yeah, you know, and that'swhen you know you blow a
shoulder or you, you know pipe ahip out.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Yeah, the back goes out yeah, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
But, uh, but if you're, you know, if you're
there to you know, do what youdo and get your day started, and
things like that, then I thinkthat that, just it's such a good
way to work out yeah you know,crossfit had it right.
The mentality was is so good.
Um, you know, obviously as a,as an organization, they're
having their issues right nowand it's a shame to see because
(40:27):
they're like I said.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
The thought behind crossfit is awesome yeah, and
just the community aspect rightof crossfit and then like what
you guys are doing too, I knowyou're involved like just being
a part of the community aspectright of CrossFit and then like
what you guys are doing too, Iknow you're involved, like just
being a part of the community.
That's how we met was at thedowntown Palm Harbor market.
Right, that's right, but I meanthat's a big part of, I feel
like it's a big part of maybejust like in our local area.
(40:49):
Right, but like these smallbusinesses and stuff, like if
you can show up and be a part ofthe community in some way, like
that's going to go a long waytoo.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Absolutely.
I mean it's it's more importantto be part of the community
than it is to be um locatedcentrally Right.
So if I was located you know,near here, where most people
drive in Palm Harbor, right, Ithink everyone would recognize
our logo.
Drive in Palm Harbor, right?
(41:19):
I think everyone wouldrecognize our logo.
But I'm located in a spot wherethe majority of people who live
in Palm Harbor don't drive bythere, you know so.
So the logo may not berecognizable.
Or even when I tell you, oh,I'm right next to JJ Gandy's,
right Like you know, jj Gandy'sbut you're like, oh, I've never
seen your gym, I was like, well,that logo has been there for a
long time.
So it's one of those things.
I think that's why gettinginvolved and it's more about who
(41:42):
you know, not what you know Imay be the world's greatest
coach or I might have the bestequipment or whatever, but if
nobody knows you're there, ifnobody knows where your heart is
, then what's their motivationto go check it out?
right yeah, um, and that that'swhat's really cool about.
(42:04):
When you come in and you know,you, you, you meet the heart by
meeting the people who areworking out there.
You know that's, that's whereit's at.
You know you don't have to sitdown with me or pablo or or
brandon and to really know whatour vision is, our vision is
those people you know, and someof them Donnie.
They've been there for man, meland Robin, I think.
(42:26):
Have been there since day one.
Crazy yeah.
I think they were part of thefirst owner started the gym
thought in his garage, and Ithink they were part of going to
the garage and working out withhim.
I mean T, I know TR and Paulwere part of that as well and um
, you know there's, you know youhave people who.
(42:47):
They are the heart of the gym.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
You know, it's not about who owns it.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Yeah, and that's cool .
And, like you said, yeah, Ithink that's cool, it's, and,
like you said, like once youshow up there, then that's when
you really truly get toexperience like what you guys
are creating and stuff exactly,yeah and then you get bought
into it, and then it's like yeahnow you have some great friends
that you're gonna know for along time right and that's why,
you know, pablo and I have jobs,right like, our goal was never
to make money here.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Our goal was to help a friend and, you know, continue
to build the community.
That's why we are really fondof the co-op.
Thought Right, um, and you knowwe'll, we'll see that if we can
get there, but that's uh,that's our next.
You know, that's that's ournext.
Goal is to get out of the redso that we can start you know um
(43:33):
bringing partners on.
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Yeah, I like that idea canstart, you know, bringing
partners on.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Yeah, I like that idea.
So where are you located forthose people that don't drive up
that way?
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Yeah, so we're right across the street from Highlands
of Innisburg, right next to JJGandy.
So if you know where GraciePalm Harbor is, we're in the
same parking lot, just on theopposite uh building so right
across the street from that.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
Yeah, kind of like north north Palm Harbor for some
like off.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
Alternate 19 yeah, alternate 19, just south of
Klosterman, north of Aldermanyeah and um.
We are just north of theentrance to Wall Springs Park
okay, yeah, cool.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Gonzo man, thanks for being here.
This is this.
Has been fun to get to know youa little bit more and learn
about your business.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
So thank you very much for having me.
I mean, I think it's a um greatthing that you do.
I love seeing the podcast andthe people.
That you're doing is allowingpeople who may not have that
opportunity to know the storyand the heart behind what's
(44:42):
happening in Palm Harbor.
So thank you for everything youdo.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
Yeah, I appreciate that.
It's all about community, right, that's what we're doing is
just building a community.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
Excellent, so thank you.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of
Palmer Local, for tuning in toanother episode of Palmer Local.
We are incredibly grateful forour sponsors Jacob with Roadmap
Money, who make this showpossible.
Now be sure to support theselocal businesses and let's keep
building community together.
We'll see you next week.
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