Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joe Drake, CEO of Axiom Fitness Academy, located in Boca Raton, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We're in the business of helping people build the life of their dreams! There's nothing like waking up every day being absolutely in love with what you do and being able to make great money doing it.
This is possible as a personal trainer in the fitness industry, but it can be a tough path in your first few years, especially if you're doing it alone. We have built an experience and courses that give people the guidance, support, and expert instruction they need to gain traction in the fitness industry and build long-lasting and lucrative careers. This begins with our signature 8 LIVE Week NASM Certified Personal Trainer course that provides one of the very few opportunities in the country to learn hands-on from experts in the field as you are looking to get certified and pass your exam.
Most of our students work full time or are parents and are at a pivotal time in their life where they want to pursue something they love. They want to escape the soul-sucking corporate work life they have had for decades and commit to helping others through fitness in the ways they have helped themselves. Or, as parents, their kids are getting older, and maybe they haven't worked for years and want to get back out there doing something fun and flexible. They are students who haven't been in a classroom or taken an exam in years, so jumping into this process alone can seem impossible.
We simplify the process of getting to the start line and gaining experience with clients and help them to create a plan for work and career beyond the certification as well with job placement and assistance in building their book of clientele. With over 450+ graduates from our courses, we are building an amazing community of trainers and aspiring fitness pros in the South Florida community, and we're just getting started!
Tell us about yourself
As a lifetime athlete, I fell in love with training and fitness but never knew that it could or would be my path in life. I got certified in college and started working with clients, and within a few weeks had changed my major to exercise science and never looked back! Fast forward 16 years, master's degrees and dozens of certifications later, I still love training and working with clients every day now more than ever!
Along the way (about 10 years ago), I realized how much I also loved teaching others and helping them start to train clients and set out on a journey to create a better educational experience for fitness pros looking to get started. This has led me to teach and speak around the country and internationally and work with major fitness industry brands like Technogym and the NSCA and eventually start the Axiom Fitness Academy. I was fortunate to have some of the best mentors along the way, and I know that it's been pivotal in my success as a trainer and business owner. Now we get to do that with others through the Academy, and I can't think of anything that I love more!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, my biggest accomplishment is seeing others who were once students now be educators, speakers, and leaders in the community themselves. Axiom is so much bigger than just Joe Drake. It only motivates us to continue to grow what we are building because so many people have so much to offer in the industry as trainers and even teachers - but need the right support and community to get there.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Learning to say no. The more success you have, the more opportunities come your way, and it's easy to get distracted by shiny objects and new opportunities. This happened to me around the time we opened the gym and the Academy at the same time and eventually led me to sell my share of the gym to give Axiom the attention it needed.
Outside of that - managing people! This has to be the biggest challenge for any business owner to grow because your vision and dream have to be big enough for others' dreams as well, and what made you successful early on by yourself is not likely what will get you to the next level.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Choose a big opportunity! It's got to be big enough to get others on board and leave room for everyone on the team to be wildly successful.
- Keep your blinders on. It's easy to compare too much to what others are doing and lose track of what makes you special and unique. There are plenty of customers, just focus on them and ignore the competition.
- Don't jump into partnerships! Partnerships can be powerful and massively accelerate your potential, but it's like a marriage, and you need to get to know the person or people you are getting into bed with. This is likely why so many partnerships fail. I believe in partners and have one in the Axiom Fitness Academy, but one I have known for years prior to joining forces.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://axiomfitnessacademy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AxiomFitnessAcademy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjoedrake/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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