We were lucky to catch up with Dennis Connor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dennis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission goes beyond my own personal ambitions. Leaving a legacy for my family is the first and foremost mission. To be able to leave a lasting legacy means that I’ve committed the rest of my life to the service of others.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in Ft Worth Texas and raised by my grandmother Gwendolyn Smith. Although there are various components of life that have contributed to my success, my grandmother is the biggest influence in my life and deserves credit for the everything I’ve accomplished.

I established Athletic Zone in 2018 but my fitness journey started many years ago.

As a youth I didn’t have access to top training facility or coaches and because of a lack of resources I had to find innovative ways to train myself. When I was 12 years old I built my own weight set out of milk crates, a broom stick and a few miscellaneous items. Unknowingly that was the beginning of my fitness journey.

While in college I suffered an injury and that sparked my interest in knowing more about anatomy and physiology. From there I begin to study kinesiology with a specialization in health and human performance. So from 2003 til present day I’ve been training myself and others.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

To build a reputation in any market I believe you have to be diligent and genuinely invested in your craft. I’ve dedicated the last 20 years of my life to my craft and I continue to invest so that I can make a lasting impact.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There are several moments in my life’s journey that reflect resilience. One in particular was a few years ago when I got my initial start as a coach at D1 Sports. When I initially started working as a strength and Speed coach I only had 1 to 2 classes per day which was the equivalent of $15-$30 per day. Needless to say I had to find a way to make money and still have a flexible schedule so that I could build my Personal Training clientele. So to supplement income I worked for a private waste company. My job was to collect trash at apartment doors and dispose of the waste. I worked from 9-12am. Those late nights motivated me to continue to work diligently and eventually I became the head coach of that facility.

Contact Info:

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