Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Guy Grundy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Guy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
There are many elements that go into becoming successful in your chosen field.
How you deal with failure is a huge indicator, if you will succeed or not. No matter who you are, failure is something you will experience much more than you realize.
I follow a stoic way of thought.
My motto is, the Obstacle is the way. Every time I face an obstacle or failure, I tell myself, “good”, as they allow you to take another path & if you are smart enough you learn so much from each failure. I have failed in so many ways in my life & each provides a lesson if you look for it. Getting emotional doesn’t help in any way, it clouds your judgements ,thoughts & creates anxiety. Controlling your emotions is key in any field.
Discipline is also very important, in a nutshell discipline is doing the things you need to do even when you don’t want to do them. Motivation is fleeting, while discipline is always there. Most aren’t willing to do what’s needed to be successful. The more you put into something the more you get out of it.
I only do things that lead me to
my goal. It’s a huge sacrifice & it can be a lonely path. It all comes down to how much you truly want something & what you are willing to sacrifice.
Success doesn’t come easy!!!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
There are many elements that go into becoming successful in your chosen field.
How you deal with failure is a huge indicator, if you will succeed or not. No matter who you are, failure is something you will experience much more than you realize.
I follow a stoic way of thought.
My motto is, the Obstacle is the way. Every time I face an obstacle or failure, I tell myself, “good”, as they allow you to take another path & if you are smart enough you learn so much from each failure. I have failed in so many ways in my life & each provides a lesson if you look for it. Getting emotional doesn’t help in any way, it clouds your judgements ,thoughts & creates anxiety. Controlling your emotions is key in any field.
Discipline is also very important, in a nutshell discipline is doing the things you need to do even when you don’t want to do them. Motivation is fleeting, while discipline is always there. Most aren’t willing to do what’s needed to be successful. The more you put into something the more you get out of it.
I only do things that lead me to
my goal. It’s a huge sacrifice & it can be a lonely path. It all comes down to how much you truly want something & what you are willing to sacrifice.
Success doesn’t come easy!!!
About Yourself
I was Born in a small town called Penrith, just outside of Sydney in Australia, I had a rough childhood growing up. I’m from a broken home & was raised at some point by evey family member as my mother passed me around like football. She was not a good person or mother. In fact she is the closest thing to the Devil i have ever met.
I suffered from Malnutrition growing & a severe skin condition known as Psoriasis as a youth & what the doctors termed HORRENDOUS acne as a temnager. I didn’t look at myself in the mirror for four years. It was so bad as well as dealing with depression & anxiety. As I said , it was a rough childhood & it would only get tougher.
I first met my father when I was 9, The second time I met him was on New Year’s eve 1980, He beat, picked me up by the throat, threw me in the car & kidnapped me. Sadly, he was an alcoholic & suffered from schizophrenia. He would never be a father to me sadly.
At 13 I was unable to read or write & was sent to special school for slow learners. I literally rode the short bus.
At 16 I was kicked out of home by my mother & had to fend for myself.
Thankfully I was good at sports & representing at the state & national level in athletics, swimming & Rugby. This gave me something to look toward in life.
I started training with training/exercising as best I could at 9 years of age. This was what kept me out of your trouble & off the streets & lead to me becoming a
2 x Mr. Australia & 2 x Runner up at the World Championships in Bodybuilding.
I came to the US in March of 98 to fulfill a lifelong dream of training at the Mecca of Bodybuilding Gold’s gym, Venice & competing against the world’s best bodybuilders & appearing in all the major bodybuilding magazines.
I would retire from Bodybuilding at 31 due to injuries & soon to become a father & marrying my wife Kiyoko who I have been with for 24 years. I had 3 years of surgeries & rehab to look forward to after my retirement.
I traveled the world doing guest posing & seminars. I would then become a published writer with over 100 articles published world wide & have my own monthly column in Musclemag international. I would take over the column I had read as a kid back in Australia, dreaming of the day I would be living in the US.
I would achieve my greatest achievement when I was awarded my US citizenship as a person of extraordinary ability.
Ever since I saw Rocky & The Terminator I knew I wanted to be an action hero & actor.
I would go on to have 32 credits as an actor along with filming 15 national commercials. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0344567/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
I loved being on set & had found a new home. I never intended to become a producer, writer & director. I just wanted to be an actor.
I was doing well with my acting career, but I wasn’t getting the roles I wanted. So I decided to make my own movies. I learnt a lot being on set as I always paid attention.
I worked as a bodyguard for fours years 7 days a week to save up the money to start my own production company www.GuyGrundyProductions.com
My first feature film was The Wanker which I starred in, wrote, produced, directed, cast, was stunt coordinator, assistant editor & many other jobs that were required to make it happen. It was so much work, way more than I thought, & I loved EVERY SECOND OF IT.
The Wanker has had 13 Nominations, won 8 awards as well as 6 special selections. It’s truly been a dream come true. I truly believe America is the land of opportunity.
I have since shot my second movie!”Agent Smith” which is now in the editing process, I am currently shooting my third film “Loose Ends”. & I have written two more scripts, The Wanker 2 & “Like a Dog on a bone”
One of my favorite parts is that I make movies with my Mates, the atmosphere we all create together is very special. I am truly blessed & grateful for everything thst has happened.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
To make my first film “The Wanker” I worked 7 days a week, eight to twelve hours a day. I would shoot every Sunday for a year non-stop. I would go straight from work without any sleep, drive 2 hours to Bakersfield which was our main shooting location, then shoot for 8-12 hours. I would use wet wipes to clean myself, change, and then drive for a further two hours back to work without sleep.
I dealt with extreme fatigue as well as bouts of depression. The issue was I needed the money to continue shooting, so having a day off was not an option.
My health was suffering day by day, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. It all caught up with when I had the first of three heart attacks. I had just finished training at the gym & all of a sudden I got a pain in my chest which continued to worsen as I drove home. After I arrived home, I showered, packed my meals, dressed, then headed to work, I was a bodyguard, I was doing a security detail where I sat in my car outside the clients home. The pain became excruciating while my breathing became extremely shallow. At this point I knew something was very wrong, but I was in denial & wouldn’t call for an ambulance as I knew I would have to stop shooting & I would lose my job which I had worked so hard for. I was willing to die to finish my movie. I talked with God & made a deal that after I finished shooting I would go to the hospital.
I was extremely weak, but for the next three months I filmed my movie as my condition continued to worsen.
God kept our deal & after three months I completed the Wanker & a week later had my second heart attack. I went to the ER & was told I had what they termed a massive heart attack & was currently having another. A third of my heart had died, after several operations, then another heart attack, I would eventually be put on life support & had a few days to live, I then underwent a heart transplant. That was twelve weeks ago today & I have made what the doctors call an amazing recovery as they didn’t think I would make it. I pulled through & the film I was willing to die for has now won eight awards & counting. Most will & have said I am crazy. I don’t look for the approval of others, nor do I care what others think, I was willing to die for my Dream. I make no excuses or apologize for my actions. I live my life my way. I am now healthy & well making my third feature film. It all worked out in the end & for that I am extremely thankful. As Frank Sinarta said, “I did it my way”
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
To make my first film “The Wanker” I worked 7 days a week, eight to twelve hours a day. I would shoot every Sunday for a year non-stop. I would go straight
from work without any sleep, drive 2 hours to Bakersfield which was our main shooting location, then shoot for 8-12 hours. I would use wet wipes to clean myself, change, and then drive for a further two hours back to work without sleep.
I dealt with extreme fatigue as well as bouts of depression. The issue was I needed the money to continue shooting, so having a day off was not an option.
My health was suffering day by day, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. It all caught up with when I had the first of three heart attacks. I had
just finished training at the gym, all of a sudden, I got a pain in my chest which continued to worsen as I drove home. After I arrived home, I showered, packed my meals, dressed, then headed to work, I was a bodyguard, I was doing a security detail where
I sat in my car outside the client’s home. The pain became excruciating while my breathing became extremely shallow. At this point I knew something was very wrong, but I was in denial & wouldn’t call for an ambulance as I knew I would have to stop shooting
& I would lose my job which I had worked so hard for. I was willing to die to finish my movie. I talked with God & made a deal that after I finished shooting, I would go to the hospital.
I was extremely weak, but for the next three months I filmed my movie as my condition continued to worsen.
God kept our deal & after three months I completed the Wanker & a week later had my second heart attack. I went to the ER & was told I had what they termed
a massive heart attack & was currently having another. A third of my heart had died, after several operations, then another heart attack, I would eventually be put on life support & had a few days to live, I then underwent a heart transplant. That was twelve
weeks ago today & I have made what the doctors call an amazing recovery as they didn’t think I would make it. I pulled through & the film I was willing to die for has now won eight awards & counting. Most will & have said I am crazy. I don’t look for the approval
of others, nor do I care what others think, I was willing to die for my Dream. I make no excuses or apologize for my actions. I live my life my way. I am now healthy & well making my third feature film. It all worked out in the end & for that I am extremely
thankful. As Frank Sinatra said, “I did it my way
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.GuyGrundyProductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guygrundy?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/guy.grundy.7/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-grundy-648a9679
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@guygrundyproductions?si=j-3sI2bZuulUa2Pj
- Other: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Grundy
Image Credits
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