Marine Sniper Ron Montez started working for a gym as a trainer. When the gym was about to close down, he decided to buy the business from the seller and run the business himself.
Now, he is successfully unemployed and loving life helping others get healthy and well.
Today, I am excited to have Ron Montez on the podcast. He has a tangible, brick and mortar business and is a coach and mentor. Like Ron, you can be successfully unemployed.
Listen to the Podcast Episode
How Ron Makes Money Without Having a Job
Ron got into health and wellness, because a lot of people who get out of the military come back with a lot of problems. In the military, fitness was their outlet to relieve the stress and pressure.
It was natural for Ron to get into fitness, because he was into sports in high school and he got into CrossFit in the military. Fitness is something he has always been passionate about.
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He loves helping people and helping them feel good about themselves.
Ron Bought the Gym From a Friend the Day He Found Out it was Going to Close
Ron has owned the business for four years, and his friend owned it before him. Ron was a coach at the gym, and one day his friend told him and the other coaches he was going to close it.
Ron immediately called his brother and his friend, who have each owned businesses in the past, to find out what to do next. The environment they had created at the gym was so great and people loved being there, and he didn’t want to lose that.
Ron went down to City Hall to get the permits, pay the taxes, pay for the business license, and change the name of the gym to California Precision. The name was the first thing that came to his mind.
It was quite easy to buy the business and the previous owner is still his friend. The landowner gave Ron the same price as the previous owner.
What You Need to do if You Want to Start a Gym
You need to have a passion for the business, because there will be good times and bad times.
You need to understand that the bad times are speed bumps in the process.
The third year was the hardest year for Ron, with people leaving and not doing the right things. He has come across more problems since then, but he learned a lot more in the third year than the previous years.
Ron never wanted to be a serial entrepreneur, he just wanted to own a gym.
Get past the speed bumps, because you started your business for a reason. Make sure it is always about the people.
Many people get caught up in making too much money too fast. Gyms come and go, and small businesses take a long time to get to that point, so don’t rush it.
Lessons Ron Learned from a Difficult Year
Ron learned to try to read people a little better, especially who he can trust and who he can’t trust.
He knows the people who come in and make it a better place and those who will never come back again.
It is all about finding the right people and realizing what to look for when things start to go wrong.
Knowledge is Most Important, then Equipment
For Ron, product knowledge is the best thing. People come to the gym to get healthy and well, and if you don’t have the knowledge to teach this, what are you good for. That is your sole purpose, and, without it, eventually people will notice they are wasting their time.
You need equipment to do certain things, because it adds different elements to the workout. Ron bases his workouts off the bike, rower, and treadmill.
The CrossFit Name Isn’t Necessary for Ron’s Business
About two and a half years ago, CrossFit was more forced upon people, because that was all that was available when you sought out a gym. Ron’s gym is based on strength and conditioning and he has never needed the CrossFit name, because he has never marketed his business. His advertising has always been word of mouth.
Ron sees what people are interested in, and he is able to pivot and give them what they need. At his gym, they do power lifting, weight lifting, CrossFit, and other types of fitness.
Watch the entire episode here:
Two and a half years ago, Ron changed his programming, and in the next year or two, it will probably go to more individualized training. He is hoping to be ahead of the trend.
Ron has two types of programming. One is for people who want to be healthy and well and the other is for people who are on the competition side. It is more class based, but he is working toward more individualized training.
Classes are an hour long and they include two pieces: Fit for Life and Fit for Comp.
Fit for Life doesn’t stand for fitness, just fit.
It includes things that are fit for your lifestyle and general health. Fit for Comp is all of the things you need to be ready for a competition. At the end is a conditioning piece.
Other Things to Watch When Building a Gym
While you are growing your gym, you need to watch the area you are in. In some cities there are gyms on top of each other and it is starting to get that way in Ron’s area.
Everybody is branching off from their gym and trying to open other gyms. Some areas are good and some are not. It is a tough business, and not everyone wants to do the type of workout offered at your gym, so the market can be really small.
Ron’s Gym is a Community of Friends
Ron doesn’t market his business, because everyone in his gym is friends with each other. A lot of gyms try to force community on their members and mass produce.
Ron doesn’t have to do that, because a friend brings a friend who brings another friend in. Their environment is all friends and it has helped the gym grow.
The Future Vision of Ron’s Gym
Ron is pretty comfortable right now and he wants to keep doing what he is doing. If he needs to change it he will. Next year may bring new things, like more individualized programming.
Ron is always paying attention to the industry and what people like and what they want to see. In ten years, he may be in the same spot.
How Ron is Giving to Others and Making the World a Better Place
Time is money. If you can give someone your time, it is a great thing. He isn’t just a coach and gym owner, he is kind of a therapist too.
The Advice Ron Would Give to Anyone Who Wants to Get Started
Learn as much as you can about the business you want to get into and also business in general.
Find out what will make you spend the most productive time in your business.
The Advice Ron Would Give to His Younger Self
Work hard. Ron played sports in high school. He was a 136-pound quarterback and he had to work no matter what he did. He also played short stop and he is 5’6”.
Ron found out how he could be a sniper in the military and he trained hard to be one.
He graduated from a school that had 27 students and only 9 or 10 graduated.
He was one of them because he studied hard.
The Tools Ron Uses in His Business
Have heart in everything you do. Be willing to put everything you have into your business.
The Non-Fiction Book Ron Recommends
Two-Brain Business, by Chris Cooper
Visit Ron’s Gym in Fresno: California Precision Strength and Conditioning