Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dean Fanning. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Dean thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I started in the industry in late July 2014 as a janitor at a local gym, just to get my foot in the door. I had just been released from federal prison from a 10-year stay. I had nothing, but I knew the fitness industry would be my calling and passion because I’ve worked out my whole life and I love health and fitness. I would ride the metro bus for over an hour to get to work and for an over an hour to get back to the halfway house. It was humbling, but felt really good to get back out into the real world, so I was grateful. My goals and aspirations at the time were simple. I just wanted to become a productive member of society, have a family, kids, money, etc. I am extremely happy and grateful that I started in the position I did, it taught me a lot. It was funny, before I eventually became a trainer at that first gym job, my coworkers thought I was an undercover boss with my work ethic. That was the inside joke going around at the time that they eventually told me about. I love to be on the move all the time, working and getting things done. My downtime is when I’m with my family.

Dean, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Dean Fanning and I am manager at LEGACY in Fort Lauderdale, one of six locations across Broward and Dade counties. I got into this industry in 2014. We are a HITT (High Intensity Interval Training) studio. Mostly, we solve the issue of people trying to get back in shape, lose weight, or stay in shape so they can live long healthy lives. What sets us apart is our PIT (Partner Interval Training) system, where you have a partner with you at every station. This system holds you more accountable, keeps you in good form because it’s like having an assistant coach with you & helps build our community stronger because you get to bond better with people.

I am proud of where I started to where I am today. It proves that you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it, focus and work hard. It’s a very simple recipe that more should people follow.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

First and foremost you gotta love what you do. If you love what you do, success comes a lot easier, but you have to find what your passion is. In my opinion, that goes for anything you want to succeed in. I love being social when I’m in here talking with members. It’s about having a good time while you’re working hard, that is definitely one of the keys to succeeding in this field. Make people work hard but have fun while doing it.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Listen to what people tell you, then respond. Things I’m still working on today. You have to show people around you how hard you work and hopefully that helps them work as hard as you do or try to. Lead by example, and teach them along the way when situations come up. You have to be able to have tough conversations with people when necessary. Even though confrontation sucks, sometimes it is necessary for your team to learn and grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.legacyfit.com
• Instagram: @nodaysoff | @legacyfitfll | @dean_nodaysoff

Image Credits
LEGACY