We were lucky to catch up with Matthew Wilson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew , thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Years ago, I was lifting at a Golds Gym in Maryland. The bathroom stalls included small excerpts from famous bodybuilders along with their stories. That inspired me to train myself for my first bodybuilding show and fly out to Venice Beach, California to compete. When I was there, I was mesmerized by the fitness industry and brainstormed for days, weeks, months, and years of ways I could bring that boom of fitness to my hometown in Baltimore.

I ended up winning that show, flew home, and started putting my ideas to work.

My college project started as just that…a project to get a good grade. I formulated the idea of a mobile trailer loaded with all the gym equipment you’d need for a solid workout. Eventually, I actually made that idea a reality. I worked day in and day out to afford enough equipment as well as a trailer to be able to train athletes, moms, dads, kids, and elderly all over the state of Maryland.

So my mission of creating a unique and top notch fitness business in the state of Maryland started as just a small idea that branched off into something huge.

Matthew , 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 vision is truly my passion. Everyone can see the company, team, and services I have built; but not everyone knows why I am passionate about it.

I have struggled with my mental health since I was young; fitness was the thing that saved me. It was my outlet. I have had a lot of amazing coaches teach me different perspectives of fitness, being a team mate, field play, etc, but no one to ever coach show me the proper biomechanics of lifting properly. I have done so much research and travelled so far many times to absorb as much information as I can. I take everything that I have learned and apply it to my own clients and employees to the best of my ability.

I think what sets me aside from others is my persistence. I will never stop. I will always find a way. During Covid, gyms shut down and I knew I needed to step up and find a way to keep the fitness game alive during a global pandemic. My best friend (who is also a trainer) and I loaded the trailer up and set up shop at at least 8 different locations during Covid. We never stopped providing what we are so passionate about, and business soared more than it ever had, setting us up for even more successful post pandemic.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Being personable and taking care of each client you work with is crucial because word of mouth is valuable in this society.

Giving well-earned kudos, effectively providing constructive criticism, understanding a client’s goals, and being able to progress and regress based on individual needs makes someone a great trainer. You have to be great in this field to add value to peoples’ lives. It is too vulnerable of an industry to just be average.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I worked non stop to make this vision come to life. I initially trained people for $20 per hour. I had a barbell and some dumb bells that I stuffed in my Honda Accord and I travelled to clients to train them. After a day of training clients, I bartended until 3 am and repeated that cycle for years. Eventually, I worked inside a gym so people could come to me, and I was able to charge a bit more progressively.

I saved and invested every penny I made. I bought equipment from a Curves that was closing. I travelled out of state to buy specific pieces of equipment. During Covid, I used all of these commercial pieces in my townhome basement. I collected as much as could fit in my house. Once gyms reopened, I was able to sign an agreement with Golds Gym to rent space. My friends and I carried each piece of equipment up the steps at Golds Dundalk, which would eventually be called the Do Work Factory Studio.

I never took out loans or formed any debt. Everything was purchased outright.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.doworkfactory.com
• Instagram: @doworkfactory
• Facebook: Matt Wilson & doworkfactory
• Linkedin: Matthew Wilson
• Youtube: @doworkfactory