Brian Whelan
Owner / CEO
Foothill Gym, Monrovia CA
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Excellent in sales, but was never happy.
Quit smoking and joined Foothill Gym.
Competed in a bodybuilding contest and loved the gym atmosphere.
Merged what I was good at (business & sales) with what I loved (gym).
Purchased a bankrupt Laguna Health Club and in two years turned it into a success.
Sold Laguna to purchase Foothill Gym.
Had both legs crushed and was in wheelchair for over a year, learned to overcome and succeed.
Worked hard, worked smart, studied all about business, gyms, people.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Owner / CEO
I own a gym and am a personal trainer
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Entrepreneurship
Problem Solving
Day to Day
I work 8-5 on weekdays and 4 hours on Saturdays. I used to work 7 days a week, 15 hours a day. I arrive and do the previous day & night review and address issues. At 8:30 I train my first client and do so on and off throughout the day, each day varies as to how many. I work the front desk and sell memberships, make drinks etc. A big part of my day is keeping customers happy and connected to the gym. I plan marketing and implement strategies to get new business and retain existing. Meetings etc.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for professionals
Do it because you want to, not because you are running from what you do now. Get a complete understanding of the industry, where it was, is now, and headed too. Understand completely all aspects of the profit centers and expenses. Visit a ton of gyms and begin to understand the consumer and what drives them to the different types of health clubs. Establish what type of gym you will be, many love the old school bodybuilding gyms but they make the lowest revenue. Understand it is a business not a hobby.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Bachelor
Certification/License
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"You cant succeed, you aren't good enough. (Father) People thought "he will fail." (Members at the beginning)"
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Gangs / Violence
First-Generation Immigrant
