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

Alright, Sonny thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?

First, we need to define what is a “successful business.” What defines and/or is a benchmark of “success”? In the beginning, I never got into fitness because I loved or had a “passion” for fitness. I was a jock, played sports and grew up in a weight room, while attending college, did not have any idea what I wanted to do. One of my teachers at Southwestern College was head of the “Fitness Specialist Certification” program, so pretty much followed his advice and enrolled in the program. Learning about the human body came naturally; being raised by a nurse and growing up using my body, there was always that curiosity to learn, the why. Graduated and got my first job at a small part-time job as a floor trainer in a gym in San Ysidro, transferred to SDSU in pursuit of my Bachelor’s. I was all in, was going to take the fitness world by storm and eradicate obesity. The first year was tough, did not know what I got myself into. I thought people wanted to get in shape and they would be yearning to get a personal trainer, yes, I was dead wrong. I remember asking one a manager at the gym that later would become a mentor and a close friend, “what was I doing wrong?” he replied with, “you’re as good as your last sale.” I had not sold anything, “Selling, wtf?” I thought to myself. They never taught us this in school, this was not in the textbooks, I must sell. I thought we were in the business of helping people lose weight and be healthier, not selling. It took time, selling was something completely new to me, did not know where to begin, how to approach someone, what to say. Time goes by, get the hang of the selling part, finally start making money, thought “I made it.” moved up the ranks in a variety of gyms I moved on to; from running training departments to becoming the COO of a fitness company. Something was not right, did not feel that same satisfaction I used to get when I trained somebody. By this time, I had moved one from one-on-one training to a more administrative role, polishing a nice chair with my ass and walking around the gym with an iPad, some slacks, and the expensive loafers. All the money I could have ever dreamed of, and it was not enough. I had lost my way, I had lost (insert cliché) my purpose. After long consideration, I talked to the boss, and turned over the operations and went back to the floor. Granted it was conditional, I had to come down to being the Athletic Director in charge of fitness operations, but I was back on the floor with people.
That is where I discovered it, while helping other achieve their goals, I was also helping other trainers get more clients. I was living a life of service, Helping Others, that is my purpose. By using fitness as a vehicle, I can help others overcome handicaps, mental blockages. Time continues to go by, and the next venture arrives, independence. Never really contemplated being an independent contractor, I sort of just fell into it as the opportunity presented itself. Working for myself independently has not been easy, but I continue to place the focus on offering an elevated level of service and professionalism. The standard has transcended from gym to gym that I have worked in, to finally opening my own gym in 2019, to having to convert my garage into a gym, I still have not veered from maintaining that standard as the forefront of my business. Service and Professionalism are my core values, going out of my way to help others; from a first-time client, my long times, interns, and even other trainers that reach out for advice. My brand, Kre8 Fitness, has a vision statement:
“Create a lifestyle of possibilities, in an Impossible world”
Do I consider myself successful? I would say so. In the monetary or material? My wife and I live comfortably with our two dogs. I say I am successful because I continue to stay busy. Now I am busier than ever, new opportunities are becoming available. Life is very funny, so many was to define success. But if you believe in yourself, trust your instincts, believe in your hard work and do it with a purpose, you already are successful.

Sonny, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

pretty much said it in the past question’s answer

My name is Sonny Nguyen, born and raised here in San Diego as well as Tijuana. I have been a personal trainer for almost 15yrs now. I currently live and operate in East Chula Vista, Eastlake to be exact. I offer personal training services a well as semi-private classes (6 people max) here in my garage that converted into a gym. I offer exercise training, functional training, if you want to elevate your conditioning level, improve your flexibility and mobility, sports specific training, I work with High level/Pro athletes, people with disabilities, pre/post surgery and rehab, children with autism. In my extensive career I’ve had the opportunity to continue to evolve and learn different ways to continue to help and be of service so I never had to turn anyone away. What I’m most proud of? that people in my community continue to put their trust in me and their health in my hands. That even though, with the help of social media, this industry has become very egotistical and narcissistic, people can se past that and give me an opportunity to be part of their lives.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Most recently what affected our industry dramatically; The Pandemic. I found myself not having the opportunity to re-open my gym. recently engaged and planning a wedding. it was very stressful, the uncertainty of not knowing when we were gonna be allowed to convene and be able to work. had to resort to throwing equipment in my wife’s car and go to people’s houses. it was an ordeal, during the summer, it was hot, loading and unloading equipment which was already scarce to find, fitness equipment became gold. Its was a very hard time, but I stayed the course and remained busy. Would reach out to people, my own clients helped spread the word and i was able to continue to provide a service when the world told us not to. I was got the idea of converting my garage into a gym and that has been the best decision I’ve done. People really enjoy the group classes and I’m always getting new people asking about them.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Maintaining a very high standard of service and professionalism. In the past sections of this interview I mentioned how this industry is very egotistical and narcissistic. I’ve had to deal with other trainers, when I ran departments, that they believe or would confuse service with serving. They just couldn’t understand the difference. How you don’t have to use your image or intimidate someone to make a sell and market yourself. Most people don’t care what you do for yourself, they care what you can do for them. Service and Professionalism, people’s needs and experience comes first. If I can make you look forward to come and train with me, for it to not be taxing, for the monthly payment to not be something you dread having to pay, you welcome another month of hearing me blabber. That’s what i want my service to provide you. Do I want you to get abs, sure if that’s what you want. I preferably want you to be happy about yourself, you’re already great, lets just make you a bit better than yesterday.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kre8fitness