Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Scott Baker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Scott thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I owned a pretty successful gym in Connecticut. I sold it to do it all over again in San Diego. I moved out here by myself and I struggled for a long time. It was about 5 years until a could get a steady flow of private clients. I was really just barely keeping my head above water. One of the ways I did it, was taking a small group, 3-5 people in my 800sq ft studio and I created a class around my private client schedule. I was pretty happy with that small group and didn’t think I could fit anymore in here. Then another one came, and then another one, etc. I had to get creative on how to manage all levels in this one little classroom. I was lucky enough to meet a few amazing people and a few years later, I won best trainer and best workout in San Diego Magazine. Then I won best trainer/best class on ClassPass. Then 4 years in a row best gym and best trainer in Ranch & Coast Magazine. I now just opened my new boutique fitness studio in Solana Beach, GFX
Scott, 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?
Back in New York, I worked for a clothing company. My commute to the city was 2 hours each way. I was working a 9-5 job but if you add the commute, I didn’t have time to do what I loved most, which was working out. I got a job on the weekends at a New York Sports Club on Wall St. I now know why they hired me so easily with no experience as a trainer because there was literally no one in the gym there on weekends. I worked 8 days and met no one. So I decided to do it on my own. I remember the day I told my boss, my mentor I was quitting to follow my dream of opening a gym. I was so nervous. He was so proud of me that he paid me for 1 year while I got my business up and running. I’ve been so lucky to have a few guardian angels along the way.
I’m most proud of always believing in myself and no matter how bleak it looked and felt at times, I knew I was creating something special.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I remember putting $3.75 of change in gas in my car. I knew I got 16 miles to the gallon and my studio was 4 miles away so that only gave me 2 trips back and forth to work. I never let anyone know of my struggle. When my clients came to work out, it was their hour. I always gave them what they needed and made it pleasurable for them. I never brought my worries to the session. And I always believed I was about to get a new client.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Before I moved to San Diego, I worked for a clothing company in New York City. After years of commuting and doing something I was no longer enjoying, I knew I had to do something more in my life. I loved working out and wanted to see if I could make a living doing it. I studied hard and became a certified personal trainer and got a job at NYSC on Wall St. Unfortunately for me, it was only on the weekends and literally nobody was at that gym on weekends. I knew this was something I was passionate about, so I quit there and quit my main job and opened my own gym in Connecticut (that’s where I was living at the time). It was an amazing experience. I loved every bit of it. Even the struggle was ok because I was building my own thing. After 5 years, I sold it to do it all over again in San Diego. Gemini Fit has been more than I could have imagined and now I’m really excited for my new venture, GFX, a boutique group fitness studio where art and style meets optimum performance
Contact Info:
- Website: gfxfit.com
- Instagram: gfxfit
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-ducharme-2bb0a213/
Image Credits
Greta_d_photography