We recently connected with Jacob Rowell and have shared our conversation below.
Jacob, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you ever had an amazing boss? What did you learn from them? Maybe you can share a story that illustrates the kind of boss they were or maybe you can share your thoughts on what you think made them an awesome person to work for?
Before starting my business, I made it a point to work various jobs and internships to gain as much experience as possible before entering the workforce full-time. Throughout those experiences, I was fortunate to work under several amazing leaders. However, the best boss I ever had was in my first job out of college. Ironically, he was the reason I took the job in the first place. We connected through a mutual friend, and he was gracious enough to meet with me. The meeting was only supposed to last 20-30 minutes, but we connected well, and it ended up lasting over two hours. None of the benefits this job offered on paper were particularly special, but I knew this would be an invaluable learning opportunity, and that was enough for me. I worked directly under him for almost a year, and I can confidently say I gained significant insights into communication and leadership. His core leadership principle was servant leadership, mirroring the example of Jesus. Many bosses prioritize their interests well above those of their employees, which I believe is an unsustainable model for building buy-in and loyalty within a team. He demonstrated a commitment to the well-being of his team and was always willing to mentor employees struggling in their personal lives. Many bosses just care about profitability in the short term, but if a business is not healthy from within, its employees can never go out and truly serve its clients to their full potential. His main priority as general manager was to develop and pour into those working beneath him because he understood that they ultimately move the needle for the business by working with clients each day. His dedication to his employees, both with his time and energy, fostered deep respect and affection for him within the business. He was also a very charismatic and high-energy leader who always had people, whether employees or clients, invested in his vision. I believe that is what great leadership is. Great leaders care about their employees, serve others without expecting anything in return, and have the ability to rally others behind a common goal and shared vision.
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?
I am a dedicated professional with a strong educational background in sports management and kinesiology. I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in May 2022 and my master’s degree in Kinesiology in May 2023. Throughout my diverse roles as a student, business professional, and entrepreneur, I have consistently delivered results and fostered positive growth. In my dual roles as a strength coach and NFL agent, I am dedicated to helping current and former athletes enhance their performance both on and off the field. I am passionate about educating, mentoring, coaching, and representing individuals to help them excel, whether in the classroom, on the field, or in the business arena. To pursue these passions, I founded Refined Athletics LLC.
As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a certified USA Track and Field Level 1 coach, I am committed to optimizing athletic performance and functional fitness for current and former athletes. I offer in-person training, virtual training, and online coaching to meet my clients where they are. My in-person sessions are at a local gym in the heart of Athens: Fitness @ Five. My specialties are centered around strength training and athletic development, but I will gladly accept any client as long as I believe that I can genuinely contribute to their success. My average client can expect to gain 75-125 pounds on their combined squat, bench, and deadlift total within the first 3 months of working with me.
What separates me from traditional strength coaches is my approach, which eliminates unnecessary fluff from my programs. I prioritize mastery of the fundamentals before advancing to more complex exercises. In a landscape where many believe they have the training process figured out through social media, there is a significant amount of misinformation that can be overwhelming. Many individuals jump from program to program, chasing the latest trend. A key part of my role is to refine the information, making it easily digestible for my clients. Once they grasp which inputs truly drive progress, I focus on holding them accountable to ensure they stack daily wins. Additionally, I avoid dealing in absolutes; instead, I adapt my coaching to meet my clients where they are, guiding them effectively along their fitness journey.
I also got certified in 2024 by the NFLPA to be a licensed NFL agent. Currently, I work with Next Generation Sports Agency, where we provide top-tier representation services to elite athletes. While I primarily work as an NFL Agent, I also assist with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for collegiate athletes. My primary role as a sports Agent is to help the athletes with everything off the field, so they can focus all their attention on what they are doing on the field. What separates me from a lot of other agents, and what initially drew me to become an agent, is that I take a vested interest in the player’s life outside of football. Many agents see players as just another paycheck, so they think that getting the player paid is their only responsibility. Of course, I love helping athletes capture as much monetary value from their playing career as possible. Since most professional careers are short, capitalizing on the time they do have is of the utmost importance. However, I recognize that many athletes face challenges after their careers end, and I believe that effective agents should also prepare their clients for life after sports. Arming them with the resources to build and sustain a brand, a portfolio, and a network long after they are done playing is what I consider to be the most important role for an agent. Although I am relatively new to this industry, I am excited to support the next generation of athletes in living happier, healthier, and wealthier lives.
As you can see my interests intersect at the crossroads of agency, NIL, strength and conditioning, coaching, recruiting, scouting, athletics, and sales. I feel very fortunate to be working in the fields that I am truly passionate about. I am eager to continue advancing in these areas and look forward to making a meaningful impact in the fitness and agent communities!
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I take great pride in my commitment to continuous education, consistently seeking out diverse podcasts, videos, and readings to enhance my understanding of management and entrepreneurship. While there are countless resources that have influenced my business perspective, I want to highlight five key ones that I believe can make a significant impact on any business professional. These resources span various formats, ensuring there’s something for everyone to connect with.
Firstly, I frequently engage with Alex Hormozi’s content on YouTube and Instagram, and I’ve read both of his books: “$100 Million Sales” and “$100 Million Leads.” His insights are practical and actionable. I would look into him no matter what mode of content you like to engage with since he puts information out in every way possible on purpose for that reason.
If you like video content, another must-watch YouTube video is “The Strangest Secret.” Despite being released in the 1950s, its messages remain profoundly relevant today. I guarantee it will change the way you view reality.
For those interested in team management and like reading, I highly recommend “The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do” and “The Motive: Why So Many Leaders Abdicate Their Most Important Responsibilities.” Both books are bestsellers for a reason—they provide invaluable lessons on leadership.
Lastly, I want to emphasize the podcast “The Playbook with David Meltzer.” It offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for personal and professional growth. The episode “Mastering Sales with Credibility and Value” from August 21st, 2024 is an absolute masterpiece and I can’t recommend it enough!
These five resources have been instrumental in shaping my thinking over the past few years, and I can’t recommend them enough to anyone looking to advance in their business journey.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Growing your clientele can be one of the most challenging aspects of starting a business, but it is essential for sustaining operations. For many service-based businesses, mine included, word of mouth and referrals have proven to be the most effective strategies for consistently attracting new clients. I often reflect on the saying, “If you think you’re good, you’ll tell others. If you’re truly good, your clients will tell others for you.”
When running digital ads, it can be difficult for potential customers to distinguish your business from others, as similar companies often use similar advertising strategies. However, when satisfied clients share their positive experiences and the results they’ve achieved with your services, you stand out in a prospect’s mind. At that point, they already have a sense of who you are, what you offer, and the results you can deliver, long before they even meet you.
One straightforward strategy I recommend to business owners is to simply ask their clients if they know anyone who could benefit from your products or services. Once they deliver you leads, you can approach those leads and try to convert them into clients. When starting out, focus on consistently delivering excellent results and then work to leverage your existing clients’ networks to attract more business.
Contact Info:
- Website: refinedathletics.com
- Instagram: refined.athletics
- Linkedin: Jacob Rowell
- Other: Personal Instagram is jacoberowell