We recently connected with Alex Carson and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

When I graduated from college, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. I think I just wanted to make money. One day I was with my parents, searching my school’s website for jobs and I came across something that said sales/roofing. At the time, I told myself I’d do anything, as long as I could put money in my pocket and a roof over my head. Fortunately, the guy who owns the company, was neighbors with a Holy Cross alum, the college I attended. Long story short, I was able to get the job and for a while, I enjoyed traveling and learning a trade. Then one day, I told myself that I hated it. It Sucked! I didn’t want to spend the rest of my lift doing something that I didn’t enjoy. I wanted to be happy. I wanted to do something that I took pride in each day of my life. One day, I was sitting on top of a McDonald’s roof that I had no idea how to patch a leak for, and the weather was 153,000 degrees. I knew I enjoyed lifting weights. I told myself I would love to teach other people how to lift weights. I called my dad and told him I was going to be going from making a very solid living to possible broke to chase my dreams as a fitness professional. His response was, “You have a place to stay if you’re homeless!”. I quit my roofing job and started my journey into the world of fitness. I was “broke” for a very long time. But my spirit never broke on me. I was determined and it eventually landed me where I am today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I am very passionate about what I do. But I’m also a realist. I want people that come to my gym to enjoy their experience while also working to reach their goals. For most, exercising is miserable. It’s easier to just sit down on the couch and watch Netflix. But learning discipline, as I try to convey, is more rewarding. And this discipline permeates through other aspects of our lives.

I got into this industry because I love fitness. I love learning about fitness. I love talking to people about fitness. I love the look on people’s faces when they reach their fitness goals. But I also love the lows of fitness. The failures. The failures are the toughest things to love because no one wants to fail. Failure provides me with the opportunity to learn. I train so many people with so many different backgrounds and I have to learn what works and what doesn’t. In doing so, I’m able to grow constantly. I think that’s what we all should strive to do; grow.

I want people to know that I’m just a guy/person. Just like them. I get grumpy, happy, annoyed and frustrated when things go my way or don’t. I’ve had to learn patience, discipline, and consistency. Things don’t change unless you do, and just talking about it will get you nowhere. Fitness is a world of constant changes. You have to be able to learn and adapt. Accept and forget. I teach my clients that it’s not a one size fits all and I’ve gained a lot of success from this approach.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Consistency. People are dedicating time to you. They choose to subtract an hour from their loved ones or whatever else is important to them to train with you. You have to show up for people on time and be focused. You have to show up for people at their highest points and lowest points in their fitness journey. I’ve been able to be very consistent in that regard. It’s tough. Most people don’t have a passion for what they do like I do. So showing up is an afterthought. It’s going to happen! I’m going to be here unless I’ve made plans to be with my significant other. Implementation of my knowledge, growing my knowledge , learning from my mistakes and admitting that I don’t know everything, has helped people understand, too, that I’m a very honest trainer. These things have helped me in the marketplace. Most people don’t want you to sell them snake oil! This industry can lead you to believe that you’ll be something that you’re not. You are you and no one else. I teach people to be the best they can be.

Any advice for managing a team?

Be funny. Be serious. Be understanding. We all have a life outside of this work. You have to understand that. As a team, you want to stress the end goal all the time. This is a business and the business can’t be successful without the team being successful. So the end goal is there. But people are people. You have to treat them as such. People go through a roller coaster of emotions that might have nothing to do with you or their job. Your job in managing these individual people is to make sure they are in a space that allows them to express themselves without judgment. Allow them to be them within the parameters of respect to others. How is it that you have an issue that you’re afraid to talk to your boss or manager about? If there’s a problem, the environment should be safe enough to speak in. We as owners/managers should respect their voices. Understand their conflicts. Celebrate their successes. Pump them up!

Contact Info:

• Website: Eclipseprivateexercise.com
• Instagram: Juicecarson

Image Credits
Some images provide by Jones Drone Media