[00:00:56]
My guest today is the founder and co-owner of @chargecrossfit in Melbourne. Ashley Jones (uncommon__strength).
Ash has owned Charge CrossFit for over a decade. And he's definitely learned a lot in the process. 18 months into the business, the partnership broke down and Ash nearly went bankrupt. Ash was injured and burnt out at the time, and his work-life balance was skewed heavily towards work.
But he made the call not to close the gym and to try to turn things around.
Ash and I discussed business partnerships, the challenge of running a business, becoming a team leader and investing in mentors and business coaches.
Full credit to Ash and his wife, Renee, who managed to turn their business around and build an incredible gym community in Melbourne.
A few years back Ash and Renee made the call to leave Melbourne and move to the beach town of Noosa. Together they've set up a new life at a much slower vibration than the city life they've left behind.
Ash still manages the business side of CrossFit charge from Noosa, but he also runs personal training sessions from his home gym and he teaches some classes at one of the local gyms.
This lifestyle change has given Ash more freedom, energy, and time to do the things he loves, like go surfing.
It's been challenging and Ash has jumped off a lot of cliffs to get where he is today.
I really enjoyed catching up with Ash and learning more about his story. Although we've known each other for a while, we've not had the chance to sit down and have a conversation like this.
So I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Let's get stuck in.
[00:02:29] Ash: So, what I'm up to now is I currently live in Noosa heads in Queensland. I'm sort of split with what I do. So maybe half of my work, or, or maybe even more is, is like admin.
[00:02:42] Of my CrossFit business that I still own a part of in Melbourne. So like I do a lot of the programming and just like a lot of the things behind the scenes, the admin stuff that you can do without being there in person as often. So I've got that part of me. Split down the middle, I guess. And then the other half is I'm, I'm running like a PT business up here in Noosa, because the main thing is, is I just love training people in person.
[00:03:06] And I also do a lot of zoom PTs as well, but just training people and like trying to help them solve their issues or just get better at things. That's what really like gets me revved up and I get to do that remotely for the gym, but I also need to have that fix of of, of doing the in person training.
[00:03:24] Stretch: Awesome mate. I think it's one of the things we all enjoy. Isn't that just being able to help the people that we serve and see the progress that they can make under our guidance. They're just trying to recall. I think we met by maybe 2016. I think it was, I came back from London to Australia, just for a holiday.
[00:03:41] And I was spending time with one of my best friends in Melbourne. And funnily enough, she was she was training at your gym. And not only that, one of the coaches that used to work for me in London was was working for you guys as well at CrossFit charge there. And I just remember you being so welcoming, you know, the doors were open and you invited me into the gym to come and train, and we did some training together, which was epic. But one of the things I don't think I ever asked you was like, what were you doing before the gym?
[00:04:07] Ash: Ah, yeah. Interesting question. But just before I answer that, it's actually funny. It was actually a while ago when we met, but it, I don't know if you agree, like the last couple of years with all the stuff happening.
[00:04:20] It sort of makes me feel like those two years don't count, you know, but they do count. They've definitely shaped me. And I'm sure you can say the same. But get, get into your question. So what I did before owning a gym and training people was essentially I was a desk jockey, I guess you would say I was learning how to shape my body into the shape of a chair..
[00:04:43] All day, you know, like a real slouch chair. I was really like getting good at that, getting good at that position. And I basically, for about 10 years after school, I was like, I built myself. I had to be in a manager in an office and I was actually in a transcription office in the city in Melbourne.
[00:05:02] And what that meant was like, we recorded what happened in court. In court proceedings all around Melbourne and then it had to get typed up and then put together given to the barristers and the judges. I became like a manager in that business and just running an office and just, I was good at what I did but I realized, you know, like maybe 10 years in, what am I doing here? Like, I actually didn't know what else to do, but I was thinking what. Why am I doing this? And also all I can see in the future is getting paid a bit more each year. Maybe if there was some other step to go up, they'd put me up on that next step.
[00:05:41] And then I'd be looking back at the next 10 years. I'd be 20 years in that position thinking like, why am I here? This isn't like really doing it for me. I realized that this wasn't good for my health. I was starting to put on a bit of weight, which was something I never actually ever did earlier because I was so active and just, just basically a skinny kid.
[00:05:59] But then I started eating really bad food, drinking, maybe eight coffees a day. I wouldn't be surprised if it was that, to be honest I was like, I was flying high, just like working fast, drinking coffee all day, eating the worst food. Didn't even know anything about food. Didn't know anything. All that stuff.
[00:06:16] I was so as a kid, look, I didn't really put on much weight, but I also had like a mom that just looked after us so well with food. I, but I didn't even take note of what she was doing. It was just like, that's how we ate. But then when I went out on my own, I didn't know how to eat at all. And I was just eating whatever I decided I'd learn how to cook and then take away everything, you know?
[00:06:38] So I just realized this wasn't doing me any good. And I, all I could see in the future was just more of that. So I actually, I quit. I just decided, like, I can't just keep doing this, but I dunno what else I want to do, but I've got no time to work that out. So I quit the job and I found a job that just had no responsibilities and I could just do those hours and not even worry about it.
[00:07:02] I was in an office and I even had like at one stage, like a view of the ocean from the office, it was pretty fancy wearing suits and stuff. Then I actually started putting up advertising in bus shelters after that. So putting up movie posters and whatever else, posters, and like had to clean the, the posters and clean the bus shelter.
[00:07:22] So I was driving around this little van, just like cleaning things. I was like a cleaner advertiser person. And at that point in time, that's when I had some time for myself. And I started going to the gym like properly for the first time in my life. And then that's when I found the love of of me getting fitter and I always loved teaching people, and I started like helping out my friends and family. And I just realized that this is what really lights me up, but I took a big risk by like, just getting rid of that full time wage and what everyone thought was like a really good career path. And but it just wasn't for me. And Jump jump off the cliff and it, I landed pretty
[00:08:01] Stretch: An interesting story, cuz both, both you and I were corporate. So I was corporate for a number of years as well. And yeah, I came to probably a very similar realization that it wasn't fulfilling it wasn't doing what I wanted to do and my health was a priority. So I didn't wanna be stuck at a desk all day.
[00:08:17] Yeah. So the gym sort of evolved outta that or the fitness sort of evolved outta that. So when did you decide to open a gym or how did the whole idea to open CrossFit charge come
[00:08:25] Ash: So the way I opened charge CrossFit was so I was a personal trainer for a few years. I was basically booked out as a personal trainer.
[00:08:33] And so that's on the one hand, but on the other hand, I was just always searching. I'm always searching for the best practices. Like how can I learn? How can I teach someone something that will actually be more effective in that hour that I had for them? How can I help them with nutrition or just moving better?
[00:08:49] How do I learn better technique? And, and back then it was at the very, I call it more like the start of like the boom of CrossFit. Like there were a few CrossFits around. But not many. And they were like sporadically placed. So like, you'd have to travel generally to go work this out. And I started hearing about CrossFit, but everyone was badmouthing it essentially because they said there's no technique and all that.
[00:09:12] But honestly, when I was looking around the, the gyms that I was going to, people weren't using good technique at all. Anyway. So like, I don't know what they were talking about. They didn't know how to do a squat themselves for a deadlift, but they were still trying. So I actually. Thought I'm gonna go this CrossFit course.
[00:09:27] And, and I found that they actually taught me technique better than anyone did prior to that. I had a lot of respect for that and I started enjoying the workouts and just how it went. So like one side of me had like a full PT roster and the other I'm learning about these new things. And then I realized that if I could open a gym.
[00:09:48] Like I reckon there was a space for me to be able to open a gym in the area. I'd be able to keep training my people, but they'd be able to come see me more often. So hopefully that'd be, even get healthier because they can come more often for like a similar price to a PT session. And Yeah. And I was just becoming just, I just was in love with CrossFit and that methodology, and I just thought, this is what I need to do.
[00:10:09] So I just jumped off another cliff and decided to open a business, even though , everyone's telling me it's gonna be hard. It's gonna be how many they were. Right.
[00:10:18] Stretch: How many lives have you got mate? There's a lot of cliff jumping going on here.
[00:10:21] Ash: Well, jumping up cliffs, but I haven't like hit the rocks yet.
[00:10:23] Right. Yeah.
[00:10:24] Stretch: Yeah, you do well. You do well.
[00:10:27] Ash: Some good risks.
[00:10:27] Stretch: Yeah. I agree with you there. I think, you know, CrossFit did get a bad name for itself and there was a lot of people sort of up in arms about it. But no, I had the same experience too. Like there, there are CrossFit gyms and there are CrossFit gyms and there are PTs and there are PTs, there are people doing it right. And there are people doing it wrong and yeah, it's always gonna. Be like that, isn't it people have got their beliefs about what's better and what's not, but at the end of the day, it's about the members and if that's what they want and they're getting a good support and good training and it's allowing them to train more.
[00:10:56] Well, then, you know, you can't really say it's a bad thing. Can you? So
[00:10:59] Ash: definitely not. Yeah. And I reckon you hit the now on the head, like every profession has got people that really know what they're doing. And other people that are just coasting by, you know, like, and it doesn't matter whether it's CrossFit or Pilate, Zumba being a doctor, being a plumber, it's all the same thing.
[00:11:15] Isn't it? Like there's, there's people that have got it. And there's people that just trying to do. The least amount possible.
[00:11:21] Stretch: I'd like to go back to the early days of open the gym. Like when you, when you decided to open, you know, the gym and, you know, start to build this amazing business that you have there, what was going on for you?
[00:11:31] How, how are you feeling? Can you speak to us about that time in your life?
[00:11:36] Ash: It's a bit over 10 years now and it's, it's interesting. It's been a really dense 10 years. I've got memories in like strong memories in parts of it. And then others' just like, boom, that's going like a blur, but starting the business and anyone that wants to start a business, I just think you should just be ready for like a mega hustle.
[00:11:56] Like, I mean, what I did to start the business was work as many of the hours as I possibly could, like, you know, run myself into the ground almost. But I felt like really, it was either that or. Get a loan or something like that. I didn't wanna get loans to pay for things I wanted to like, just build it up and then I could have staff later.
[00:12:16] I feel like you even give more of yourself at the start because you have a, you've got that energy at the start. You got the reserves, cuz you're so excited about it. This new thing that you gotta try and you know, like make solid. And so there was that, and there's a lot of extra things that I didn't know about, which actually were a bit problematic at the start.
[00:12:37] About a year and a half in, like, we nearly closed, like it came close like we're nearly bankrupt for, for a part time there. So like my focus was on being the best coach I could and I was doing a good job of it. I feel anyway. And I was building a community, being a really. A better coach learning more and more all the time, just trying to work on that.
[00:12:59] But like what I knew about business though, and was behind that and that was a bit problematic cuz that's how you pay the bills and pay the tax and all that sort of stuff. The important stuff. I also, at the very start I had a business partner and I, I learned a big lesson and I'm sure she did too.
[00:13:16] We've got different stories to tell on this, but essentially. If you're gonna get into business with someone, you might as well treat it like a, a marriage, I think. And as in it's best not to do that Las Vegas, I've met you for a month, a week, a night. Let's just get into this. It's better not to jump off a cliff with And just dive into something you don't know about with a business partner, because that can turn into bad things, cuz maybe you don't know each other.
[00:13:41] And we didn't know each other and that's where things were going wrong. We didn't communicate well , I thought business was going really good. But then when I actually looked into the figures, it wasn't. But I had like a room full of people all the time, but then we weren't being able to pay things and I'm like, there was just weird things happening.
[00:13:59] And so like that business partnership fell apart. Like we had a divorce, which it could have changed all that if I could go back in time, but that's, that's part of it. I was really put under the pump then. we're a year and a half in had this successful business in my mind, but like money wise, it wasn't, so we need to make changes.
[00:14:17] And then I just, I went out on my own with that. Then it was like hustle number two, but I also realized how you needed to do it differently. So like, it was just a big lesson learned and just stepped up our game even more and made the business even better. But That's what I remember at the start. I dunno if I've answered your question.
[00:14:34] Stretch: There's definitely's some similarities between you and I and that experience as well. Yeah. I went into business with two other business partners and one I saw it tie with and the other one, we just butted heads and in the long run, you know, our values and beliefs didn't align.
[00:14:46] So it became hard to have that business together. And I think it's a very common story. So it's sound advice that you're offering there. If you're gonna go into business with your partner, it's one of those things that you need to really know each other and those valuesand belief systems have to align because at some point you are gonna butt heads and it could cost you your business.
[00:15:03] I like the way you also talk. The extra responsibilities, cuz I think a lot of coaches have the idea of, okay, let's open a gym, that'll be awesome. And I just wanna coach people and this gives me the opportunity to train more people. How great is this gonna be?
[00:15:16] But you go from, you know, being a PT, working in a gym to now you own a gym and there's all these extra components managing the accounts, the memberships, hiring staff, the programming, the cleaning, like all these extra layers that come on board with that. What were your favorite parts and what were the parts that you just were like totally lost at or feel like, oh, how, how do I even start with this stuff?
[00:15:39] Ash: Hmm. Well, definitely my favorite parts were training people in person and the programming, the things that really lit me up. But then I mean, like you said about the cleaning too. Yeah. The, cleaning's not my favorite part because it just like, I don't care. Doing cleaning. It's just more, it takes a lot of your time and you're already like really time poor doing other things.
[00:16:04] So as soon as I could afford to get a cleaner, that was like the best move ever, because pay someone else that will like maybe even do it better because they're like, Not rushing hopefully the whole time and they've got the eye for it. And then it gives you that time to maybe in make income even greater than what you're paying the cleaner, that, that time to up the business.
[00:16:25] So like, you know, learning not to spread yourself too thin was important because you can't do everything, but you sort of need to at the start the business stuff is things that really sort of. Did my head in at the start, like, like I said, I preferred the training and the programming then, like, I don't know, talking about all the tax stuff, the accounting stuff.
[00:16:45] Like that stuff, I didn't really enjoy. but now ironically though, that's I had to learn more about that and that's more of the stuff that I do now. And but I always knew I would wanna learn more about it, but I, but I look eventually my wife was part of the business Renee at that time and she did that side.
[00:17:01] I could really trust her cuz we were married and then I did the other parts and we came together with this, but now I've sort of swapped over to more her role. And, but she's been able to mentor me and teach me that part of it, which has been really great because it's, I always knew it was a bit of a whole, but I didn't have the space to like deeply learn it.
[00:17:20] I could just skim over.
[00:17:22] Stretch: Exactly. I love what you say there. And it's like the business skills. So a lot of coaches are lacking those business skills and they think, oh, it'll just happen. Like we can open a gym or we can open a business and it'll take care of itself, but it is something you have to be on top of, and it's a new set of skills we definitely have to learn.
[00:17:38] I know from speaking to you earlier that you've had mentors and you've had coaches along the way, both with training and business. Can you shine a light on that and tell us how you came. You know, hiring those coaches and what that did for you.
[00:17:48] Ash: Yeah. So definitely the most important mentor I've ever had over this part of my life is his name's Jules Burgemeestre, and he's he's a trainer, but he is just, he's a lot of different things. He just depends on what you're needing to be, I guess. But at the point in time, like me and Renee we were both injured. We're just giving a whole body to the gym and then I dunno if other people can identify all this, but basically I would do workouts, but I wouldn't, I would often not do the warm up.
[00:18:20] I'd often not do a good enough call down, cuz I only had like this amount of time. So I'm like just lift these weights, do this as fast as possible. And like, I wouldn't be using bad technique or anything like that, but. I wasn't doing the smart things around it because I didn't have the time. And I just was like, just trying to like skim this in.
[00:18:40] But I was injured from that and I just couldn't get out of that injury too. I went to see a lot of people and it didn't quite solve the issue. I had like a really, really sore knee. And what I learned about injuries, especially through my own exposure was that your whole body starts becoming to the level of your injury after a while, because it's just, just weighs you down. And Renee had like a slap tear in her shoulder as well, she had an injury. We heard about this guy Jules that can help people with injuries. And I wasn't a hundred percent into actually doing this session at that time.
[00:19:14] I thought I didn't realize who, like Renee's the person who found him. And I actually thought. Is someone just gonna get me to do some more fucking workouts. I already do. Like, what is this process even gonna be? But it changed everything because he, he just got us to do what we needed to do. And like, he helped us number one with injuries.
[00:19:34] He told me how to train at a different level. And the, the things that I've learned have just been crazy because I've kept on learning more and more. I can ask more things of him. We've been training together for like, I'd say like six years. Every two weeks have a PT training session with him for six years.
[00:19:51] And it's turned on to zoom things now. I reckon personally, every trainer should have a trainer. You need someone that you can ask and you can grow with, you can be honest with, and that can also help you with the things that maybe you are not seen from the outside about yourself, about how you're moving about like many things like someone that can get really deep is I think even better. But the way he trained me, taught me how to train people even better. That's really what I was really interested in. And I still am. I just wanna learn as many things as I can, so I can have more tools and just be able to implement that. So he's actually helped me physically, but also business wise too. Like he he's ran businesses and his own business and he can, he is really can see into that sort of.
[00:20:35] But then more specifically around about the same time. So it was a really big time of change for us. And for me, we had our business coach as well. And his name was Drew Slater, and basically he set up a, a community of other gyms and all the owners. He somehow got them into his sales and he taught us how to, how to do sales a lot better in a, in a better way a non sleazy way. I understand sales a lot more since learning from him, like how to be on the phone call with people and just how to maybe close the deal if you want to, or how to say no to someone, join your gym. And we also went into the back end of the gym, all the works that we could just make a bit slicker.
[00:21:18] Yeah. Even like advice on how to put the memberships rate rates up, cuz I was a bit of a pushover at the start. Like we probably, we had the same rates for like five years, and that's not a good idea, especially because money. Yeah. Devalues and. Prices go up for everything else. And you're just like too afraid or too nice, or, you know, too pleasing of everyone to, to charge the actual rate you need.
[00:21:41] And just learn how to be a bit more real about that, because it's just how it has to be. And yeah, so like we learned a lot of good things about that.
[00:21:48] Stretch: How far in the journey then were you, like you'd been running the gym for how many years before you just decided, okay we need a business coach. And, and what do you think led to that decision?
[00:21:57] Ash: I reckon it was about years in. I really got to the point where I felt like, Hmm, I've, I've taken this as far as I can with my current knowledge. And it needs to grow more like it, we were at the second turning point of the gym.
[00:22:12] Like the, the first turning point was like one and a half years in where we nearly went bankrupt. And I'm like, wow, there's some real stuff we've gotta do. The second time was more like, yeah, we've just gotta up our game in every way now. So that's what spurred me. And happened to see something on, on the web and probably put my email address in something.
[00:22:32] And then he just happened to contact me and it was just at the right time. I was actually open to this sort of thing instead of like angry that someone just contacted me. Yep. . Yeah. And then he then through the sales process of him talking through his mate, I was really inquisitive as to how he got me to sign up to that thing.
[00:22:50] Cause I was generally resistant. Yeah. But to be honest with you, like if I could have gone back in time, I would do that from day one. I would've had that business coach because. There's just not enough time to just have to learn all the lessons yourself. Yeah. I think it's, it's pretty smart and it can be a next level maturity to actually like learn from someone else, they've learned from their mistakes, but they wanna help you not repeat those mistakes.
[00:23:15] And I think it's just super valuable just to move on with things faster in that way. And it's like, it looks like it's gonna be a lot of money that you have to give them, but it's, it's just an investment.
[00:23:27] Stretch: It probably comes back tenfold, doesn't it like when you put it does. Yeah, yeah,
[00:23:31] exactly. It really does.
[00:23:32] Ash: And you learn those things and you just become next level with what used to do and have a more professional business. It's just gonna be a better thing.
[00:23:40] Stretch: You've already given us a couple examples. You talked about, you know, the sales call and deciding whether members are suitable for the gym and stuff like that, but could you give us maybe another insight?
[00:23:48] What was another really big, valuable point that you think you took away from having a business mentor?
[00:23:55] Ash: I think that one thing he did was encouraged me to be a better leader. Just like how to lead the ship a little bit better, because I think at that time I was going through a lot of growth and I'd, I'd read some books, like I think it was Know your why Simon Sinek yep. Then he had another one, like leaders eat. From memory, that's what it's called. I was just, I was really getting into all these sort of things and podcasts about it and yeah, just the leadership role and realizing where I needed to be as a leader and not just like I'm a nice boss, you know, like how to lead a crew of coaches, how to help the PTs get more work, just how to be a mentor to them.
[00:24:35] I think that's one really valuable thing I learned as well, cuz it's a very big part of a successful business, I believe.
[00:24:41] Stretch: Yeah, huge mate, especially when you know, you've got a front facing team, these are the people that are working with your members every day. And if you're not looking after them and supporting them, then how can you expect your business to grow?
[00:24:51] And another thing that's often overlooked. I go from being a personal trainer looking after myself and now all of a sudden I've gotta manage a team. Like how does that work? So yeah, I love that mate. It's a really good, valuable lesson that you can learn. I wanna sidestep just a little bit now.
[00:25:04] Ash: Cool.
[00:25:04] Stretch: Going, going through your social media, there's a post that you put up last year and I just wanna read the comment from it. So 37 year old Ash injured, burnt out work life balance skewed towards work. No warmups, no cool downs inside all day. 41 year old Ash fit, healthy, listening to his body, investing in himself in order to help others.
[00:25:27] That's pretty powerful mate. And obviously in that four years, there's a lot that happened. Can you talk to us a little bit about that post and talk to us a little bit about, you know, that work life balance and what was going on for you?
[00:25:39] Ash: What changed was I realized if I invested in myself and my health and learning more things about this, but also just making me better.
[00:25:49] I was so much better as a coach and a, and a business owner as a, as a mentor. Like, so I had to keep leveling me up, not just worry about everyone else. It gave me more energy to give to them. It gave me more experiences to teach people with like with there being outside portion of that, but I'm still just living inside. I'm just inside this gym, which is still full of shadows. Maybe it's got big roller doors up, but it's like, I'm still living this inside existence. And I needed to just get a little bit more of that natural health into me. So I made sure that I spent some time every day outside, whether it was even doing like sales calls or emails and I'd get my laptop, I'd make sure, like, I'd be mobile enough to be able to do that.
[00:26:33] And I'd go do that. I'm spent a bit more time in nature, which I always found was a nice balance to the amount of time you spend inside. Yeah, like those things changed, but then also, like my mind just opened up to just how many things I was just doing because they were sort of programmed from a long time ago.
[00:26:51] And it's just like the norm. This is how you live your life. And I was just realizing. To me, they didn't resonate with me anymore. And I was just really growing as a person.
[00:27:02] Stretch: Back at the start, you talked about your health, you know, you really sort of honed in on like, Hey, when I was working this office job, it was affecting my health.
[00:27:08] I didn't wanna be like a chair and I was eating bad and all these sort of things. So there's a, there's a definitely an underlying value there of health. Do you think. At this point in time in these four years where you've gone through this transformation, that, that value really started to sink in a bit more like is what I'm doing actually healthy.
[00:27:24] And what do I need to change to improve as I am obviously getting older.
[00:27:29] Ash: Yeah. That is exactly what went through in my mind, like is what I'm doing healthy. Like making other people healthy. Feels great. And that's a really like it's life affirming for you too, but you just can't get left behind. And also, I don't think you can be a serious to me.
[00:27:47] I need to live what I do. Mm-hmm and I didn't, it just, I just couldn't respect what I was doing. If I wasn't doing it for myself, I'm not gonna be one of those people to tell people to drink less coffee. And then me whenever no, one's looking to just like roll it up, like. I wanted to be the embodiment of what I wanted people to be.
[00:28:06] Doesn't mean I'm perfect, but I'm just gonna try, I'm gonna learn. I'm gonna keep pushing. And what I also noticed, and maybe this is something you felt too, but like, you know, let's say 14 years ago when I started, I was learning more about nutrition, things I didn't know. And I'm like, wow, I feel so healthy.
[00:28:22] But then I learned something else about nutrition and made a change. And. Geez, this is so much more healthy. You just keep on leveling up and you're realizing like I was way down there, but I needed to ride the stairs up, I guess, especially the way I was doing it, but going to the next level, you don't want to go down a level.
[00:28:41] So like, I just have to keep on making new changes and you also, cuz your eyes are open. You can see things in a different way too. It's sort of. For example, just say I did the CrossFit level one course again now, like over 10 years on, I would see so many different things and maybe they've changed the course too, but maybe if it's exactly the same course, I would learn different things now because I'm ready to, and that's sort of how everything's transpired.
[00:29:08] Yeah. I'm seeing things differently with every exercise and yep.
[00:29:11] Stretch: Yep. That experience and knowledge just grows with time. Doesn't it made it in all aspects and it really makes us question our own, our own lifestyle and our own belief system. So it's great to see how that's evolved over the years for you.
[00:29:22] And I agree. It's the same for me. Like I was going through the gym years, working really hard, you know, doing my best to serve all these people. But I was reflecting back on my own health and thinking, geez, I'm not healthy myself. Like I've got issues I've gotta solve. And you know, This career that I've, I'm chasing and, and the amount of effort that I'm putting in is not lining up with that work life balance.
[00:29:42] So yeah, it's a great realization to have speak to us on that burnout point. So you said there that your burn out, like tell us a little bit more about that, is that the gym is that training, is that what's leading to that burnout? Mm,
[00:29:55] Ash: At this point in time, the burnout like the pre mentors I was living my life in every way in high intensity.
[00:30:04] Like I'd be working in high intensity. I'd have not enough sleep. I'm just trying to catch up all the time. Like working a whole lot high intensity drinking coffee, add into the intensity. I'm working out with intensity, never rest in just always doing that next job. Because like, if you own your own business, you know that you've got this endless list of things to do and you actually never get to the bottom.
[00:30:27] You just add to the bottom, you know, like, and then you realize like, don't expect to get to the bottom. Mm-hmm exactly like you've done a good job and maybe you're halfway through the list. It's it's, it's fine.
[00:30:38] You've gotta actually say no at some stage where there's still me and up and down, open up and down relationship with that sort of thing. But I cash myself when I'm trying to do too much. But the burner happened just from everything like trying to do everything. and then you're not really doing everything on a high level.
[00:30:54] I don't think, but you're just trying and you're not realizing cuz everything's a.
[00:30:58] Stretch: And it's at accumulation, isn't it? It just catches up with you at the start. You think you can handle it, but two years, three years, four years down the track, you know, it's, at some point it is gonna catch up with you.
[00:31:08] I think you're right there. It's right with everything. You know, we, we talk about, we, we talk about it to our clients. Like our clients come to us with these health and fitness goals and they're after an eight week transformation or a 12 week transformation, it's like, well, health and fitness is a lifetime journey.
[00:31:20] You know, we're telling them to slow down, enjoy the journey. Business goals, life goals. It's the same approach. It's never ending. You're not just gonna find a shortcut, build a business and retire and be happy. You're always gonna continue to work on this stuff.
[00:31:34] And it's just ongoing. I wanna change gears again now. And I wanna talk about this art, this move to Noosa. Like when did this start to brew in the back of your mind?
[00:31:43] Ash: So a bit over 20 years ago, I. Went for a working trip up to Queensland. So I grew up in Melbourne and I was in Melbourne for the whole time before that, apart from little holidays here and there.
[00:31:56] And I went up, we worked, worked on like daydream island. I was like a bartender working on an island, this beautiful island, but it was a horrible place to work at that time. Maybe it's different, but it wasn't for me. Anyway, we drove down and I saw this sign for Noosa. And I thought, oh, that's that place that my friend used to go to as a kid.
[00:32:18] And he brought back all these really cool, like hollow rocks and stuff. Like, you know, like volcanic rocks that look like they're gonna be heavy, but they're not. And I always had these like memories, like I've gotta check out this beautiful place. And I saw the sign. I just thought, well, this is the sign.
[00:32:32] And I drove in there and I lived there for a year, nearly a year, but I didn't. Like, I didn't have any skills that I really loved. Like I could be a good barista and make drinks and stuff like that. But if I was gonna live there forever, I probably would've been stuck in hospitality and there's nothing wrong with that, but it just wasn't for me.
[00:32:50] And so I moved back to Melbourne and that's when I really went up in my office job, but I always wanted to get back to Noosa, I knew like there was things holding me in Melbourne, cuz I also like played a lot of music and the music scene in Melbourne was really good. I mean, noose is like a rich little country town.
[00:33:07] So he is, doesn't have those scenes. So like I was staying in Melbourne, open up the business and then I always thought I've gotta get back to Noosa at some stage. Like, is this the place where I retire, but then I also thought. Why wait till you retire? What, what, wait till I'm what 70 is it 80 when you retire nowadays?
[00:33:25] I don't know. Like it's getting further and further away. Isn't it. Am I gonna be able to enjoy it as much as I can now? Like I just thought I've gotta make this happen. So essentially me and Renee and my wife, we would come up to Noosa most years for a two week holiday and we just, we just love this place and I was getting her into it too, but like, I just have so many good memories from it.
[00:33:46] We've been trying to save up for a house for a really long time and realized that a friend said, oh, you should go to this mortgage broker and see if you get a loan. Cause we never were able to get a loan. Cause when you have a small business, it's actually quite hard to get a loan until you can prove that you have the income for a certain amount of time and the profit.
[00:34:02] And then also you end up giving a lot of money back to the business if it needs it. So we actually had this one opening to actually get a loan. We had the deposit saved. And we were in Noosa at this time and I just said, let's buy a house. Cause this is pre COVID. Right. It was this pre explosion of prices and stuff like that.
[00:34:24] And so for a week we went to about 30 different houses, like a holiday turned into essentially looking at houses and Found a house that we thought this could be our family home, which was like the rule. It wasn't just like an investment. It was like somewhere you actually wanna live. And we thought, look at worst, someone's gonna wanna buy this office one day.
[00:34:43] If it's not the right place for us to live. Sure. People wanna live in no for some stage. And at best we'll get someone to buy the business in Melbourne and we'll move up here and just make a change. I. Felt like jumping off another cliff, I guess. And
[00:34:57] she's the same she's life gone.
[00:34:59] even though I don't like jumping off actual cliff that much, but you know, it's turned out right for you so far, it turned out, right?
[00:35:05] Yeah. And so we bought a house before and just cuz essentially just, it was just the next level of quality of life. Like I wanted to be somewhere that I really wanted to be outside all the. like I would be outside more in Melbourne, but still just like the cold winters, just wasn't resonating with me.
[00:35:22] I like warm mm-hmm so I just wanted to make that change. And the two, two years of like COVID stuff and all that, it just like showed me at the very start of it is like, everything can be taken away. Mm. It can be taken away. I need to run at things now. Like I need to run at what I need to. Because look, things could be taken away.
[00:35:44] It reminds you, like, you have to do what you need to do in life. And not sit back and have regrets. Like you've gotta work the job. That's gonna do something for you.
[00:35:52] You've gotta spend your time, how you need to. And that's what made that happen.
[00:35:57] Stretch: Powerful mate. Absolutely powerful. Love it. Why? Wait, like you said, you could have waited until you're retired, but you'd be missing out on such a beautiful experience that you've got hold of now. And the opportunity came about.
[00:36:07] Sounds like the stars aligned for you, mate. The fact that you got him before COVID and the property. Boom. It's just yeah, again, turned out in your favor. Just so people know, like, you've talked a little bit about Noosa, but describe the environment in Noosa and you know, what, what, it's it like to live there?
[00:36:22] Ash: So Noosa is about an hour and a half from Brisbane. But to be honest, like I tried to never leave here at the moment. I've got like an allergy to city to city. So I don't wanna be anywhere near that crap. It's it's like a country town, but it does sort of have most things you would ever need. It's got decently built up population, but it, this actual part here can't be built up anymore.
[00:36:47] They've got a lot of rules about like like the forest national park. So they protect all that. So they really care about the, like the environment and making sure everything's not too built up to give you an idea too. Like you know, around the beach and anywhere in Noosa, from what I understand, there's no place that has more than three stories.
[00:37:06] Like that's the cap on the whole place. So it can't become like the gold coast where you have these huge buildings, which it could easily cuz people wanna be here, but they've got a three story cap. So it looks different to most of those other beautiful places. That have been a bit more overpopulated and it's got a bit of a cap on it.
[00:37:22] So I always love that about it. And I love that. Like people fought for not building this up, like in the seventies and they've been able to keep it that way since then. What I also love about is like, I just really, really love the beach and where I live is sort of in the heart of Noosa, maybe you could.
[00:37:38] But I've got like the option of like five or more different beaches around me. And they're all like a five minute drive and on top of love in the beach, I love surfing. And I just got, they got perfect waves for me. Like I'm not the best surfer in the world. I grew up in Melbourne and didn't really go to the beach that much, even though I loved it, it was just cold.
[00:37:59] And it's like got perfect learning waves. And then up to the next levels, it's sort of. I'm just absolutely loving it. And maybe to finish my story. What's cool about living near the beach. Is that like everyone is cruiser, like the vibration is lower. Yeah, it's just, there's a less level of stress and that's really what I was hunting.
[00:38:19] Like every time I'd go away for two weeks. It's a Noosa or somewhere like Noosa, like somewhere hot and tropical, I guess I'd be like, ah, and then I'd get back to Melbourne. It's like, and yeah, I wanna live my with that sort of stuff, you know?
[00:38:33] Stretch: Yeah, man, for sure. Living the dream.
[00:38:35] I, I know it's a beautiful place. I've yet to be there, but we are planning a trip down mate, and I look forward to catching up.
[00:38:40] Ash: Ah, you gotta come down where we get there.
[00:38:41] Stretch: Yeah. We've got other friends mutual friends there with with those guys around the corner from you too.
[00:38:45] So, well, isn't that funny? You were telling the story of like, Like Elisa working for us.
[00:38:50] Yeah. And she used to work for you and Alisa lives here now. Yeah, yeah,
[00:38:53] exactly. That mate, it's a far cry from London and the cold days in the gym now so I'm sure she's loving it too. Imagine it's a great, it's a great story, mate. You can see the energy when you tell that story and, you know gives me goosebumps just to see how happy you are and what's going on in your life, mate.
[00:39:08] So congratulations on that. You, and it's awesome to see that you've, you've jumped off that cliff. You took that risk. Cuz I think a lot of coaches are reluctant. Follow their dreams and go after what they want. Cuz we're so busy trying to help other people. So it's awesome. You've done that now.
[00:39:22] You've also managed to rebuild a new business. There you've started something new. You've got uncommon strength, this personal training business. How's that turning out for you?
[00:39:30] Ash: It's turning out really good. It's turning out really well. Look, essentially look, 14 years. I learn a lot of different things.
[00:39:38] What I was really excited about to come up here is to start something new, that it doesn't even need to have a brick and mortar business right now, or ever, and I just wanted to be able to like find some people to train and just give them whatever I think they need or whatever, and just give them what they need.
[00:39:56] But there's no brand. There's no bias to it. Like, okay. Like, so some people do CrossFit and there's part of CrossFit that isn't good for some people, but they can't accept that. They shouldn't do that part. Like I'm not saying the whole thing, but like, they sort of they've been taken in by the brand. It was like, some people will do power lifting and they just can't accept that right now. that deadlifts are not good for. Like the way they're living their life, the way they're doing the deadlift or, you know, many reasons, but cause they're a power lifter. They identify with having to do the deadlift as well as the other moves. What I wanted to try and bring was just like, they don't even know what I'm gonna give 'em, I'm gonna give them different things, but I'm really trying to like sit down, be intuitive, but also watch and see what they actually need and give them some different things.
[00:40:45] And what I've been finding is that what's been really valuable for people. Heaps of dumbbell work, like especially unilateral stuff. And you know, like I love barbell stuff. I still train people with that, but like, it's pretty awesome to, to make sure both sides are strong, you know, unilateral work, which is getting missed.
[00:41:03] I, I believe, and also like balance work hanging using in the gyms work, hanging using the gymnastics rings. You can do that from any level of, of fitness. It doesn't matter. And just core work and rehab. Mobility, just like trying to build like really strong, able humans. And I work with a lot of surfers up here and look, surfing's like one of my huge passions.
[00:41:24] So like it's really fun to like, help them make their bodies healthier and stronger. And so then they can be even better. And yeah, so essentially I've come up here and I just thought, honestly, what I, my business plan was. This is just gonna work. I'm gonna make this work. Yeah. And I'm gonna train people as well as I can do a really good job.
[00:41:42] They'll tell people, and that's how it's gonna work. I haven't advertised anything just like Instagram, which could work or doesn't work, you know, you know how that business can be. And but basically just I'm building up a really nice group of people that I trained and just really enjoying it.
[00:41:58] Stretch: That's awesome to hear. How does it compare? Like, I just wanna like maybe quickly compare the two, the hours that you were working in the gym, running the gym, doing all the stuff there to your lifestyle now, like what's a typical week. That'll look like for, for you now.
[00:42:12] Ash: In some ways it's similar. but the difference is, is I get out into nature, like every day, like I've got that right here. So every day, like at least five days a week, really like, especially at the moment is that I'd be spending few hours sometimes more, sometimes less on looking after the gym in Melbourne working out all the operational stuff.
[00:42:36] And, you know, there's busier times there's a little bit quiet times. And then in dispersed with that, I'd have personal training sessions or I'd run a couple of classes at a gym around here. Good vision. So I'm just basically training people in my gym that I've built at my house.
[00:42:52] And I'll be training going back in doing a bit of admin training, admin, doing some training for me, bit of admin and just like whatever is required. , but, but during that, maybe during the day, or to start the day, I've spent like a lot of time, hopefully surfing or just like getting out there and just connecting with things and just like really uplifting myself.
[00:43:13] Mm-hmm , that's probably the major difference cuz I used to, instead of training people, PT wise, I'd do some classes, you know, back in Melbourne and then do the admin stuff. So. Have I described
[00:43:24] it well enough.
[00:43:25] Stretch: Yeah, no, definitely. Might I get where you're going, reflecting on it. Like, how do you feel now? Like how do you feel in terms of mental health, physical health, just overall health, like what's changed?
[00:43:35] Have you noticed much has changed or
[00:43:38] Ash: I think I am definitely the healthiest I've ever been and I can just feel that. And I'm getting better at. Things I'm working closer to that one arm, chin, I'm just, I'm getting close to like getting some of those movements that I always wanted. But I also just feel a bit more calm in myself, honestly, a bit more censored and that's been great.
[00:43:59] Stretch: Yeah. Beautiful man. Do you wish you'd done it sooner?
[00:44:02] Ash: Yes, but you know, like those sort of questions it's tricky because honestly, everything did align in, in the right way for this to happen. Like, I guess one thing I haven't described is that once that business partnership went down, I was like, I am never gonna have a business partner ever again.
[00:44:18] Never, never, never, like, I'd probably tattoo it on my neck, but but then I realized that you can't always do everything. And in the process of, of like thinking that someone else is gonna need to buy my gym at some stage, we actually, one of our past staff members, which was a full-time coach ed, he was like such a good coach.
[00:44:38] He was the best staff member ever. He just like, he could empathize with what we did, cuz a lot of his friends were coaches as well. So he sort of knew that, like, I believe that a lot of trainers sort of see an owner of a gym, the person that maybe they work under, they think that they've just got this easy life and like I'm doing all the training.
[00:44:56] What the fuck are you doing? That sort of mentality? And He knew that that's not the truth is that like, you're pretty much always working, but maybe you're at the gym trying to sneak in a workout and that's like, could be frowned upon because that other coach is coaching or something, you know, like, you know, the negativity that can happen.
[00:45:14] Yep. So we had this guy that was, he understood that that was a bit bullshit. He left for a little bit to try and find himself and for other reasons, and then we bought the house. he contacted us and said, Hey, have you ever thought about someone else buying into the business? And I'm like, wow, this is such strange timing.
[00:45:34] Like, and it happened, I reckon it had to happen at that time for him. Mm. And then in the end, instead of him buying it all, we realized that I could still be really helpful with my knowledge of the business and business. And just like I could stay on board and do the things that you don't have to be in place.
[00:45:48] I could fly down whenever needed. And so we got a new business partner, ed and It is like a marriage, like, but we really do know each other. And that's, that's the difference. And so yeah, I wouldn't change it, but I mean, obviously if I could go back 20 years and say live in Noosa ever since yeah.
[00:46:04] I would do that. but, but I'm a different person. Like I also, I was talking to someone else about it today. Someone was training. Cause I think. Melbourne was a really good place for me to be in. Cause I, one got to sort of live out my music dreams in certain ways. Like I, I had a lot of fun playing live music and it was a place to do it.
[00:46:23] And then also I feel like I was in a good place to learn from a lot of different people about movement, about exercise. It was a bit of a hub and it was also easy to go to different places from there. So like I felt like it was just meant to be, I learned a lot of stuff. In there. And then I could take my knowledge up here, which, and I think like sometimes these smaller places, they haven't like been exposed to some of that stuff.
[00:46:48] So like I knew that there'd be a place for me somewhere to like help people with some different things.
[00:46:54] Stretch: I love that. And it was a great way to sort of summarize, you know, I think our whole conversation today, you just, you know, you started off talking about business partners and, and a marriage and the relationship you've obviously built with ed and, you know, he's been a key part of, you know, your staff for so long, same values, same beliefs, understanding.
[00:47:10] So, you know, he, he is that maybe he's your affair. You know, things, things are, things align quite well there. Yeah. Yeah. And you talked before about, you know, your experience growing step by step in terms of your own health journey, your own coaching journey. But you know, Melbourne offers that opportunity or big cities offer that opportunity.
[00:47:26] You've got so many people you can learn and grow from, and it got to a certain point where, you know, you've got the knowledge and experience I need. Now it's time to really focus on me. What do I. You know and it's great that you've gone through and jumped off those cliffs and managed to build the life that you, that you want, mate.
[00:47:41] Just to finish up, there's, there's three questions I like to ask . So I'm just gonna throw these at you and see, see where you're at mate. So what book would you gift? And it doesn't have to be a book. Maybe it's a, a documentary, a Ted talk, whatever would you give to a personal trainer who wants to build a business that supports their dream life?
[00:47:57] So I reckon if I can say two books, they're like, they're different. So like a really good book that I've read recently, which I think I would give to any person starting out in the business or everyone, anyone that just wants to learn more. It's called The Happy Body by Jerzy Gregorek. I dunno if you've heard of it.
[00:48:18] No, I can't say that. And I feel like that when I read. I was like this summarizes a lot of the best things that I've learned over in the last, like six years. I'm like, wow, this is a great book. Like I enjoyed it, but like a lot of the stuff I've learned from other people. but he summarizing in a good way.
[00:48:36] And I think that any trainer, they should read that and it's, they're gonna get a lot of valuable stuff and just get some ideas on how to train people in a different way are even better. Yep. So that's one book that comes to mind. And the second one is maybe I dunno exactly what it's called, but you know, the barefoot investor.
[00:48:52] Yep. Yep. So he's got a book. Maybe he's got multiple books, but I think, I feel like it could have been his first book. It was just basically on how to save essentially. It was like a savings plan. Have you done, have you read it?
[00:49:03] Yeah, I read it when I got back to Australia, so I hadn't heard of him when I lived in London and I got back and everyone was speaking about him, like, who is this guy?
[00:49:09] What's he done? But yeah, I did dive down that path and read all about his accounting advice for, you know, individuals and how to save money. Yeah.
[00:49:16] Ash: Yeah. Cuz it's just done in such a simple way. And he also. The finance books. I'm not really into finance books. I can't get through them, but he, he writes in, in a story fashion, he relates things to real life stories and like, it really caught me and I actually finished this book and also, I definitely attribute us been able to save the deposit for our house, from reading that book.
[00:49:35] Like I implemented the things he said, and I was like, wow, this is so.
[00:49:39] Stretch: Yeah, the power of story, mate. I love it. And yeah, he does. He's a really good storyteller. Cuz accounting's a boring subject. So how do you get people excited about that sort of stuff? So hundred percent yeah, no, it's a good book.
[00:49:49] I have read it and yeah, I strongly recommend it too. We've especially for person trainers. We're terrible at managing our finances. I think so to have a little bit of that's not good enough. that's it. If you could go back in time, you know, what advice might you give to a younger version of yourself?
[00:50:05] Ash: Essentially never give up your health for money is what I'd tell myself in my early twenties and maybe stop drinking so much. and I reckon. Then later I'll definitely say, Hey look, business partnerships are like a marriage. Just like I said. Yep.
[00:50:23] Yeah. Please just look into this a little bit further just because you, yeah. That's how you need to approach that.
[00:50:29] Stretch: Your story today has definitely highlighted that. And I think it's, like I said, it's a common theme with a lot of businesses. I think the partnership is what brings the company to the end.
[00:50:35] If you're not, if you're not careful. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Last one, mate. If you could have dinner with anyone, be them dead or alive, who would that be? And.
[00:50:44] Ash: Mm, that's a tricky question. Mm. Like there's a lot of people that I would love to spend a bit of time with. Even people like Jimmy Hendricks.
[00:50:55] Daniel Johns. I'd love to actually ask a few questions. So he is got a new album, which I think's pretty kick ass. Yeah. Yep. That are alive too. I don't know. But I reckon, honestly, what I'd go with is I would love to just grab my family up here at any time that I like. Cause look, I've moved away from my family and they're down in Melbourne and we used to have dinner every Sunday night and that's.
[00:51:15] I was a part of the week that I really enjoyed if I could make that happen more often. Yeah. Yeah. I'd do that over any famous or infamous person, you know?
[00:51:25] Stretch: I suppose that's, that is a tricky thing. Sometimes when we move away, isn't it, they got that same thing. My folks have actually recently moved to Queensland, so they're a bit closer, but yeah, they're in our Serena.
[00:51:33] So they're about 11 hours south of us at the moment. So never heard of
[00:51:37] Serena where's.
[00:51:38] Mackay maybe, ah, two, two hours. Yeah, no one hour south of Mackay. Sorry. So yeah, not far from there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's a nice part of the world and my brother's in Airly beach, so I've been down there once to see him, but yeah, that's about eight hours from us, but yeah, it's nice to have the family a little bit closer.
[00:51:55] So I do resonate with that. From the years living in London, Like tough to be so far away from family.
[00:51:59] Ash: Yeah. I can imagine.
[00:52:02] Stretch: Mate, just before we finish up, is there anything else that you'd like to add? Any comments you'd like to share you know, to personal trainers or coaches?
[00:52:08] Ash: Yeah. I reckon the main thing is if you enjoy learning more and you wanna get better at what you do, just find someone to help you, like, just do it, invest that money into it.
[00:52:18] And, and honestly, if. If you're afraid of spending that money on that, I think that deep down people will be afraid to give you money. like, why, why would they invest in you if you're afraid to invest in other people? And I think that's something that I learned myself and I think it's just, I value learning more things.
[00:52:36] And if you're the same, I think jump on it, make it happen.
[00:52:39] Stretch: Yeah. I love to hear that mate, for multiple reasons. Not just cuz I'm coaching coaches, but I do agree with it. I think them. The most I've said this before the most I've grown as a coach. And the most I've learned is actually from the mentors, not from any course, not from any qualification book or podcast, it's the time I've spent with the coaches I've hired that have really accelerated, you know, my career growth.
[00:52:59] So I do really resonate with you on that.
[00:53:01] Ash: Yeah. I fully agree. And also like what you're saying about. Courses and seminars, like they're always valuable, but they're just skimming over things. They've had to like dumb it down to, to, to sell it to that 50 people or whatever. Like it's mentor. Doesn't have to do that.
[00:53:17] And that's the beauty of it. Yeah.
[00:53:19] Stretch: Thanks Ash. For your time. It's great to chat to you. Great to see what's going on. Pleasure in your world. I really appreciate it.
[00:53:24] Ash: Thanks stretch. It's great to see you, man.
[00:53:26]