We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Travis Wells. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Travis below.

Travis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Some of the most interesting parts of our journey emerge from areas where we believe something that most people in our industry do not – do you have something like that?

We all understand how important it is to be healthy, but what I find that others disagree with, is that “working out” is the only form in doing so. As a personal trainer, we spend majority of our time within a gym setting assisting our clients in reaching their full “physical” potential, but have we taken into consideration alternatives to reach that same potential and some? I am a firm believer in how you feel internally, protrudes externally. 4ortune is a movement pushing the idea of feeling, staying, and being active. Prior to becoming a personal trainer, I also thought the only way to be healthy was by going to the gym, but my perspective changed after an ACL surgery. As anyone else that has gone through this specific procedure, we know how important it is to make sure we gain leg strength back, but upon clearance to return back to sports in my case, how do we continue to keep that strength? For me, it was cycling. Something that has held me accountable, keeps me healthy, has maintained my leg strength, while all at the same time… not feeling like a “workout”. Many struggle with the idea of going to the gym for various reasons, but I don’t find that to be the same struggle with something you don’t associate with “working out”. Cycling, pilates, running, yoga, pickleball are just a few activities that can bring you all the same benefits as working out if not more. Applying something within your lifestyle that you can enjoy doing on a consistent basis brings longevity, and if being healthy is of importance to you, longevity is what you want.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I believe creating impact is the true purpose of life. Whether it be towards someone or something, having a lasting impression is what I believe is worth living for. When I think about my time prior to becoming a personal trainer, I usually found myself in positions of mentorship. Whether as a soccer coach, as a rehab aide at my full-time hospital job, or even just a point of reference for family/friends. I’ve felt that others value my presence and perspective. During my time as a soccer coach and about 1 year post ACL reconstruction, I was in the gym pretty frequently. A friend of mine who valued my mentorship, wanted to join my workouts to find some direction within the gym. During this time, I noticed my friend followed my direction on exercises and tips that were beneficial for the goals they were looking to achieve. I realized my direction turned into leadership, my guidance turned into coaching and my passion shifted to personal training. If it weren’t for my community giving me the opportunity and trust to train, teach and support their goals, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.

Coming from a strong background in sports, and understanding human anatomy with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from The University of Tampa, personal training comes naturally. During sessions with my clients, it’s imperative that I educate. Clients that are educated on what works for their bodies, abilities, etc., cultivates a level of confidence to take on workouts alone. As a trainer, I also emphasize the importance of engaging in various extracurricular activities to supplement a regular gym workout. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires balance. Staying fit and healthy comes in many forms other than just being in the gym and my focus on being active is what sets me apart from other personal trainers.

With 4ortune, I am creating a space for all individuals to feel, stay, and be active. Outside of client sessions, I have created “4ortune Flex”. An event that shifts the focus from heavy lifting to getting your body moving and feeling good, all while enjoying the experience with others. When it comes to fitness, some are fearful of a traditional gym environment. 4ortune Flex provides a space to be your truest self within a health and wellness environment. Other than knowledge, to succeed as a personal trainer you must be able to empathize, adapt, improvise, and pay attention to detail. Compared to others within my industry, I believe I offer far more than just a service. Those who choose to move with 4ortune embrace a healthy and active lifestyle through nontraditional forms of movement. As 4ortune continues to grow, I am excited to expand the opportunities for “working out” and aim to create a lifestyle that everyone can be a part of.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Building strong, meaningful relationships with my clients is essential. It goes well beyond a transactional interaction. As a personal trainer, I strive to be a supportive presence and create an environment where clients feel safe and confident sharing their thoughts and feelings. This openness leads to conversations that might not happen elsewhere, fostering a deep sense of trust. I’m grateful to have clients who find that comfort in me. While I’ve used various strategies, word of mouth has been my primary source of new clients, and I truly appreciate it. When I receive inquiries from potential clients referred by those I currently train or have trained in the past, it reassures me. Their willingness to recommend me reflects the trust I’ve built, making it easier for newcomers to feel confident reaching out.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As adolescents, we’ve all been asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Our responses are often derived from an experience, conversation, or visual. For me, it was an experience of getting stitches to the forehead after a fall. From that very moment, I wanted to be an Anesthesiologist. At least I thought so up until I entered high school, and found interest in becoming a Physical Therapist, and saw myself dealing with athletes as my primary patients.

At 15 years old, I had the opportunity to work during the summer within a hospital setting, and was exposed to a complete new side of being a Physical Therapist, and felt a sense of confidence that whether it be with athletes or more critical patients, this was the career for me.

Now, you might be wondering how I became a personal trainer. I graduated undergrad during the COVID pandemic, and returned home to New York, the epicenter at the time, stepping into a field directly impacted by the crisis. Without much time to reflect, I found myself full throttle as a rehabilitation aide. Over the next two years, I became knowledgeable of what life could potentially look like for me as a Physical Therapist, but had this feeling of doubt.

In 2022, I decided to take my first solo trip to Curacao. While it was a vacation, it was also a chance to place myself in an unfamiliar environment and confront my doubts. After the trip, I felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. It became clear that I needed to create a life aligned with my beliefs and aspirations.

Like anything in life, there are pros and cons to consider. It’s important to have honest conversations with yourself and others to discover what works best for you. Change is a part of the journey, and just as I did, you might find yourself shifting your mind or direction more than once. Remember, you are the author of your own story. As long as you move through life with confidence and purpose, you won’t need validation from anyone but yourself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: 4ortunefitness
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits

Keyla Navarro
Derreck Stanley