We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joseph Montgomery. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joseph below.

Joseph, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Despite the many challenges we all experience as business owners, I think at the end of the day we’re in the field of entrepreneurship for a reason. We weren’t cut out for regular jobs, regular schedules or much of the regular framework that comes with it. It’s a perspective I always keep. I’ll find myself in some wonderful moment with my kids and I’ll say to myself without this business I couldn’t be here doing this right now.

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

I’m a 38 year old father of two amazing little girls and husband to a dedicated loving wife. I’m one of many siblings and son of a lifelong Army soldier. Life has never and still isn’t easy. My father being in the military caused a lot of instability and constant change in our lives growing up. I was in a new school every year up until around the 6th grade. A lot of turbulence in a child’s life really sticks with them and creates some interesting character traits as an adult. I always tried to have a positive perspective in life no matter how hard things became and I think that’s what brought me to Jiu-Jitsu. The desire to work hard and grind toward a goal. I wrestled a bit in middle and high school and was always drawn to combat sports. Around 25 I knew it was something I wanted to become more involved in but didn’t know at what capacity. Then at 27 I decided it was going to be a grappling art. I googled MMA/Jiu-Jitsu schools and discovered there was a school 6 minutes from where I lived. And that was it. I never looked back. Jiu-Jitsu consumed my life. I had found an art and discipline that was not only applicable and useful but had an innate comradeship that I had not experienced in all my life. Jiu-Jitsu stripped away all the things that separates us in society and a unified pursuit of growth and overcoming was all that was left. I have to give massive credit to the culture of the individuals that was cultivated in that place as well. But I believe the mat space is a prime breeding ground for it. After training for around 7 years at Gracie Farmington Valley my wife and I ended up in a position to place me into an ownership role. My best friend and founder was looking to phase himself out of the day to day duties but was adamant about maintaining the culture that served our community so well. When I purchased Gracie Farmington Valley we had just a couple years prior moved to a much larger and more visible location in Canton. And it became my focus to expand our reach to all the families now in our immediate community. As a child I knew how tough it was to acclimate at school and in a new town with new kids all the time. Life is hard being a kid. Learning to accept ourselves and desperately wanting to be accepted by others. That’s true no matter what your background. Jiu-Jitsu had given me so many tools as an adult that had made navigating life and its many challenges so much easier. It had shaped my brain to perceive the hard things as something manageable and something I could conquer. I wanted to create an environment where we could give that to not just more and more adults, but especially to young kids. Meet them where they are and give them those tools. Show them that they were capable, powerful and give them a life saving skill. We are a unique environment in that we harbor a deep wealth of skill and knowledge on our mats. Our coaching staff can provide all that you could seek out in a Jiu-Jitsu academy. Competitive prowess, self defense development, physical fitness, confidence, true ability, a hardened mind, and of course true community and friendship. This is what I’m most proud of. No matter where you are on your journey, you’re welcome to journey with us. And we’re honored to have you choose to share that journey with us.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Authenticity. That’s really it in a nutshell. People will buy you before they buy your product or service. I genuinely love Jiu-Jitsu. I can truly say that every good thing in my life has come from Jiu-Jitsu. When you are living as your authentic self and in a truly authentic pursuit to serve others in your life and business, it cannot be denied. People cannot help but feel and embrace that authenticity. And then it’s up to you to systemetize your product or service in a way that makes for an easy and transparent buying experience for your customer/client.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I can’t make a living doing what I love. I have to pursue the money first and make it fit enough that I at least like it. Being the son of a soldier I always saw my father simply following orders whether he liked it or not. We struggled financially being such a large family and so I always thought the best bet was to secure the paycheck and find the happiness where I could. But that’s just not true.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.graciefarmingtonvalley.com
• Instagram: Gfvjiujitsu
• Facebook: Gracie Farmington Valley

Image Credits

One Lense Media