We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Archie Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Archie, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Betting on myself has probably been one of the toughest and best decisions I could have ever made. I think its human nature to be a bit scared about all of the things that could possibly go wrong when leaving the security of a steady income to pursue the thing you know that you were placed here to do. Those thoughts can be overwhelming at times, but I had to come to a place in my life where my fear of NOT taking the chance due to wondering “what if this doesn’t work”?, was not louder than my faith.

Before becoming a bodybuilder and full-time trainer, I was a owner/operator regional truck driver earning a decent living, seemingly “doing ok.” However, I believe every entrepreneur faces a moment where they must risk comfort for potential reward. The day I chose to leave my steady job was both terrifying, due to the unknown future, and liberating, because I trusted in my ability to succeed and found security in my faith. It was time to either take the risk or live with the regret.

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 back background and context?

Having always been athletic, participating in sports throughout high school and maintaining an active lifestyle afterward, my core motivation stems from my family’s history of chronic and terminal illnesses. Observing the impact of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, obesity, and other chronic conditions on the mental, physical, and mobile well-being of both my maternal and paternal relatives instilled in me a strong desire to avoid a similar fate. Post-high school, my commitment to physical fitness led me to regular workouts. It was during one of these sessions that I encountered my future bodybuilding coaches, who inspired me to pursue that profession.

Now, at the age of 53, I have special appreciation for the shape I am in. I believe in the old adage “If you don’t use it, you lose it”. The same principle applies to our health. So, I don’t take for granted my ability to get up every morning and move my body. I understand that we were not designed to be sedentary and honor that principle by keeping my body and mind healthy.

The problem I solve is helping people, regardless of their current health status, discover a path away from poor health and reliance on medication. My own fitness at 53 demonstrates that the limitations often associated with aging don’t have to be accepted. Clients are often surprised by the significant improvements in their overall health and well-being they achieve through proper nutrition and exercise. Many experience better sleep, increased mobility, and a reduced need for previous medications.

What distinguishes me in this field is that I embody the fact that aging and declining health are not inevitable. My clientele often consists of individuals whom the mainstream health and fitness world tends to neglect. This industry is largely focused on younger demographics aged 20-30 and is flooded with fleeting trends that can be perplexing and discouraging, leaving people unsure of how to begin. I eliminate this confusion, a quality my clients value.

Entering the bodybuilding industry later in life, I am particularly proud of my achievements. Through dedicated coaching, focused nutrition, unwavering discipline, and diligent effort, I successfully earned my professional bodybuilding title. My accomplishments include 1st place in the Heavyweight Tall Class, Overall, Open Class, Best Male Poser, and Masters Men categories.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The most valuable lesson I’ve unlearned is the notion of what life “should look like” at a certain age. In my younger years, I romanticized my future, a tendency I believe many of us share. However, I failed to consider the inevitable pitfalls, family challenges, and life choices that would ultimately shape me. It never occurred to me in my twenties that my desires and priorities would shift significantly by my fifties. Consequently, I’ve had to unlearn the idea that pivoting when something no longer serves you is a negative act. Many of us, particularly as we age, remain in unhealthy or unfulfilling situations out of habit, insecurity, or fear. We often believe that by certain ages—30, 40, or 50—we should have “succeeded” according to societal or familial expectations.

However, I’ve learned that living by others’ standards would perpetually require me to seek permission for my own fulfillment, especially if my choices deviated from their norms. This is not how I wish to live. While it meant disappointing some people, I reached a point where I prioritized my own fulfillment over others’ expectations. I never want to reach the end of my life and regret what I could have been or done if I had simply “done the thing.”

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met my business partner, the love of my life, when she was a client. Although I’ve never dated a client in my 20 years of business, there was something about her I couldn’t ignore. After two years of training, we went on our first date and have been building our lives and businesses together ever since.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.archiembsfit.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbsfit_atl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traineratl