131: Lewis Paris - How to Build a Fitness Brand From the Ground Up: Community, Exploration and Leadership

What if you let life’s twists guide you instead of forcing the next step? For Lewis Paris, this mindset turned an ACL injury into the foundation of a thriving fitness empire. From dreams of a football career to spinning records as a DJ in Greece, Lewis’s journey is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of following life’s unexpected opportunities.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• From football to fitness: Lewis shares how an ACL injury derailed his football dreams but set him on a path to discovering his true calling.
• DJing in Greece: Hear how his experience working as a DJ on the island of Kos gave him the freedom to explore his passions and unlocked his potential for a fitness career.
• More than physical fitness: Discover why Lewis believes true transformation is about building mental strength, resilience, and personal growth alongside physical fitness.
• Building a brand: Learn how Lewis transitioned from managing gyms to creating his own fitness community, emphasizing mentorship and holistic wellness.
• Empowering others: Explore how his personalized training programs and corporate wellness initiatives inspire clients to reach their full potential in all areas of life.

🌟 Why This Episode Matters:
This isn’t just a story about fitness—it’s about navigating life’s unexpected turns and finding purpose in the process. Lewis opens up about the setbacks and triumphs that shaped his journey, offering valuable lessons on resilience, mindset, and creating a life that aligns with your passions.

🎧 Key Takeaways:

• How an ACL injury became a catalyst for reinvention and new opportunities.
• Why fitness is about more than physical transformation—it’s about mental resilience and holistic growth.
• The importance of mentorship and building a supportive community to inspire change.
• How to embrace life’s twists and use them to guide you toward your true calling.

🎧 Tune In Now:
This episode dives deep into the mindset and strategies behind Lewis’s journey from football to fitness, offering inspiration and actionable insights for anyone looking to embrace reinvention and turn challenges into opportunities.

Let’s Connect:
Are you looking for career clarity for your next step? For more information or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out www.2ndwind.io.

Chapters

• 0:05 Elite Athlete Career Transition Reflection
• 8:29 Childhood Sports Aspirations and Reflection
• 20:54 Personal Training
• 28:32 Career Transition and Growth in Fitness
• 35:02 Fitness Business Expansion and Accessibility
• 45:07 Fitness Business Long-Term Growth Vision
• 49:06 Evolving Fitness Business and Brand
• 56:43 Entering Personal Training

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:05

Hi, I'm Ryan Gonsalves and welcome to a Second Wind Academy podcast, a show all about career transition through the lens of elite athletes. Each week, I invite a guest to the show who shares their unique sporting story. Please join me to delve into the thoughts and actions of athletes through a series of conversations. Don't worry, there's plenty to learn from those of you that aren't particularly sporty. Elite athletes are still people after all. Let's be inspired by the stories of others.

Speaker 1: 0:38

Lewis, welcome to the Second Wind Academy podcast. Great to have you on here joining me today. Great for having me podcast. Great to have you on here joining me today. Great for having me. Brilliant. Now, one of the bits we were just talking about is how typically I have professional, elite level athletes or performers who are with me on this podcast to try and give that different perspective. And the reason I'm really looking forward to our conversation is because you're going to bring a slightly different angle. As a professional, you know, full-time PT you are actually doing one of the roles that many athletes aspire to do when they look at their life after sport. So I'm really excited to have you join me today and talk a bit about how you've got to where you are today and you know kind of what's next, but I really want the what's and all story. So let's not sugarcoat today. All right, let's dive in let's have a good time.

Speaker 1: 1:29

Good man. Now, lewis, for those not for those who don't know you yet, as they will do as we go through this conversation, please introduce yourself and let us know what you're up to nowadays.

Speaker 2: 1:39

So I'm Lewis Parrish, director and founder of Lewis Parrish Fitness. I've been in the industry for about eight years now the fitness industry, if I give you the full wind of the story starting off as front of house receptionist on an internship. So I was only paid expenses, right, so travel and lunch. And my mindset then was I just wanted to get into the industry after studying sports at college and for me it was diving in and and being like I want to become the best personal trainer that I could be. This seems to be right for me. I enjoy sports, but how can I get involved with fitness? Right? So I started in this private, private, small group personal training studio and just worked my way up, you know, front of house receptionist, front of house manager, got my level two in fitness instructing, completed level three in personal training, started coaching one-on-one clients and doing classes and, before you know, I'm head of operations of this studio, running it for the last two and a half years, mentoring instructors and managing the gym and managing people, understanding the brand and how to build a business as such and build a team.

Speaker 2: 2:52

And then I left to go to the public sector you know, david Lloyd gym, gym manager.

Speaker 2: 2:59

And then I left there after a few months because I found I was the black sheep of the company and I went to a five-star gym and spa residential gym in central London as a general manager.

Speaker 2: 3:09

And then I left that to build my focus and my drive, my vision, which was Lewis Paris Fitness, and I joined a big entity in the fitness industry, name being Fitness First, but I went in there with the mindset of I'm Lewis Paris Fitness in Fitness First rather than a Fitness First. But I went in there with the mindset of I'm Lewis Parrish Fitness in Fitness First rather than a Fitness First PT, and grew my clientele in under 11 months and left there to go to a private studio and continue my journey as Lewis Parrish Fitness and formed the company in 2019. So I come to you today and now saying Lewis Parrish Fitness director, founder, head trainer and all the above you know, and it's all about evolving and creating that ecosystem to help that individual or group of individuals unlock what's in their mind and that unlimited potential that they have that they seem to lack, right. So that's, that's the focus.

Speaker 1: 4:02

That's an awesome intro and sort of backstory to get us to where you are today, lewis. So thanks for that. And what's fascinating to me already is from college. So you're deciding to study at college and then stepping into this, into this world. Is you know the, the world of you know personal training or gym and health exercise? It seems like you had a determination to become that best PT and now you are where you are. What was the initial inspiration towards wanting to be the best PT?

Speaker 2: 4:38

It stemmed back a little bit prior to sports. So my dad was a DJ and he taught me from a young age. He inspired me in regards to just sitting back, understanding what's happening. So this music's playing, and if you see, this could it work well with that, and then perfecting your craft and seeing him in his element. So, for me, music was big for me and he pushed me into sports with that, you know, and then perfecting your craft and seeing him in these elements, you know. So for me, music was big for me and he pushed me into sports.

Speaker 2: 5:09

Right, and I think it was just an amalgamation of the one and one and the same where, if I can do that and I know how to do it that way, but then I see someone else doing it that way, I see how they might be doing it. But then the way people are reacting to this individual, without stepping on anyone's toes or sounding condescending, but it's like he ain't doing it, right, you know. But people are imploding it, they're enjoying it. So it's like, if he can do it, why can't I do it? You know, and I know I can do it better. So for me, I guess it was. I just have a natural drive in me, right, um, in regards to wanting to become the best version of myself and going back even more, and this laying deeper into the story.

Speaker 2: 5:57

I grew up. He threw me into football, you know, playing at local tee and going in different positions to find what's right for you. And then you hone in your craft, your skill and you're like, oh, I feel right in this position. So, from left back right, that centre back and then centre mid was my game. That was me defensive, and then, before you know it, I developed and became that sort of attacking defensive player, you know, the one that holds the glue. You holds the glue, you know, for the team and for me it was like we've got to win, I want to win, we got it's that leadership right. So for me, it's like I see what they're doing, but I know as individuals and as a team, we can come together and beat these guys.

Speaker 2: 6:33

You know, but not everyone had the same mindset. Sometimes it was individual or, uh, this isn't working, let's give up. But for me it's like every opportunity, there's a chance. So for me, uh, getting into sports or doing sports at college and then being like you know what, I've seen what the world is like as a DJ, but I'm just not patient enough to see that grow and develop. But I have a big passion for sports and health and fitness that's interesting to me. If that guy can do that, I know I can do better. So for me I just wanted to become the best version of myself in that field and it literally just opened up different kind of doors and I think me as an individual is a nice person and people seeing that it inspires people, it attracts the right individuals towards me to want to help network and build. You know so that that that was the the sort of north star, so to speak do you know what's really fascinating?

Speaker 1: 7:28

because actually my dad was a dj um as well. So growing up and and as soon as you say it and the way you describe that, he was pulling pieces of music together, different beats, different sounds, sort of getting this mix this. So it's not just a one track, let it finish, but it was bringing in your own little flavor to that mixing pieces together and it's interesting how that then inspired you or sort of just got you thinking. Well, it doesn't need to be just one thing, but you can bring in this flavor, um, different be at different positions, different influences to try and drive I I guess, in some respects, please the crowd but drive a reaction from those who are listening and sort of, well, I guess they're in the room, man, they're dancing, and you're able to sort of drive their emotion and drive the pace that they're moving right, correct.

Speaker 2: 8:21

Yeah, exactly that. You're providing the energy, you are the party star you're, you give, you entertain the crowd. Right, so it's, it's, it's. I'm sure you can relate when you was playing sports. Right, it's like you're trying to understand the game, but you know your game and then it's your, you're fighting against this opponent. How can we get past them? Right, so it's understanding the, the, the, the sort of patterns you would see and be okay, I see what they're doing here. How can we break that pattern? You know, it's the same thing.

Speaker 2: 8:54

When I work with clients, I tell people it's not a one-size-fits-all. Okay, my background is more so calisthenics, um, going into the cliche of saying functional fitness, moving, well, and then you have the generic fat loss and strength building, bodybuilding type s sort of training, but it's like, okay, that's great, but we could cherry pick from these different bits within the industry and hone it into you because you're individual, that's, it's tailor-made and bespoke for you, because I know that will work for you, but not the whole part of that program, you know. So it's, it's the same thing cherry picking and directing to help that individual and and so for you.

Speaker 1: 9:33

So now I'm interested. So you mentioned there sport, or you know, as you're growing up, getting pushed into sport or, you know, encouraged to to participate in sport. Were you then as a kid you like? Was it just a one sport for you growing up, or did you have a mix of sports there that you were actually good at as a young guy?

Speaker 2: 9:51

Yeah, so growing up there was a lot of Kung Fu in the house. You know Karate, chinese Kung Fu, all of that. You know the dubbed version of. You see a man's lips moving but you don't hear the voiceover coming to us 10 seconds later, right? So my dad encouraged me to get into self-defense classes and karate and stuff like that, and he was like you do this and it'll pick up your reflexes.

Speaker 2: 10:18

For me as a kid I was just like what are you on about, dad, do you know? But I could see what he was getting into because he really loved football. He wanted me to get involved with it and I could see the similarities you know. So if I'm sharp and I'm focusing on eye hand coordination, that's only going to up my game when I get into the football matches and so so on and so forth, right? So I did that for a few years in terms of karate and stuff like that, but football was the main one for me. That was my, my pride and joy. I enjoyed it. That's what gave me happiness. And all the other sports in school and whatnot, like tennis, cross country gymnastics, um, just gymnastics tickled me a little bit. I was. I love gymnastics, to be fair, I think that's why I enjoy calisthenics. But yeah, football was the main one, and then when I touch anything when it comes to sports, I can pick it up very quickly. I just have that kind of intuition, but it came from a young age for sure.

Speaker 1: 11:10

Yeah, yeah, so from from a sport perspective, I have to ask anyway. But what aspirations did you have? Did you want to become professional footballer? Was that something you dreamt of?

Speaker 2: 11:20

yeah, literally that's all I wanted to do. I wanted to become a footballer. You know, if it wasn't football, I didn't know where else I would go. What I would do? You know, that's all it was. It was go to school, learn your books and just play sport. You know, let's just kick that ball around. I just had a love for it. That's all I had in my mind.

Speaker 1: 11:39

So where did you get to? What happened there?

Speaker 2: 11:45

I guess I got to a point where I was doing when you get just before you, you get into college and, um, you're, you're, you're sort of putting your best foot forward in terms of I don't know what you call it now, I can't remember what you call it then, but like a cv and you're like this these are my predicted grades and this and that, and then you go into different um football clubs and you're trying to trial out against all these other kids. You know all these open days or if you get invited to do it. So I went to a few of these sessions and, lo and behold, I did have the opportunity to play with Boreham Woods semi-professionally. Now, my only caveat and I don't like to live life with regrets, but then you think back in hindsight but my only caveat to that was I would have to get up at like 4 30 in the morning each day and travel almost two hours to get there, and at the age of 15, 16, I'm like I ain't doing that. That's, that's too much for me, man, you know what I mean. So I stepped away from that on that sort of opportunity. Don't know where that could have went, but I'm, I'm grateful they saw something in me, um, and then I went to Watford and they were doing, um, not sports.

Speaker 2: 12:56

It wasn't like a BTEC sports, which I ended up doing, but it was like football and you're you're doing something in the lines of um sports and fitness, so to speak. So you're not playing for Watford, but you're just kind of working towards that like an academy kind of thing. Um, and all they needed was my predicted grades and I don't know what took over me. I don't know what the Lord was trying to tell me, but instead of putting what I knew I should be getting, I was doing below that. So some putting C's and stuff. I was doing D's and what it was. Something was going on in my mind. Something took over. So when I got there, they were like, yeah, we thought you weren't gonna, you was gonna get these grades and not better, so we didn't think it was gonna get on the team, so we're not gonna take you on. And I went, my heart just sank. I, I was like what? But I think that was a blessing, because if I track back to what them boys were doing, was because we was almost working alongside them.

Speaker 2: 13:55

I went to the same college that they were using, and I studied sports in college for a couple of years, but we would do sports football, so to speak on the same sort of pitch and have matches against them. Yeah, they were great, but all they were doing was kicking balls. It felt like they were living the dream, but tracking back on it it was like they're only going so far and they're only pushing them so far and they're not sort of directing them, as if they're not going to make it. What are they going to do, sort of thing. So something my nan always used to tell me was every disappointment is a blessing in disguise. So as much as I didn't make that, I was blessed to go that route and it expanded my mind, my horizon, when it comes to everything to do with sports, in sports and surrounding it.

Speaker 1: 14:38

You know, yeah, yeah but you were kind of getting almost the best of both worlds in some respects. You were kind of getting almost the best of both worlds in some respects. You were getting that view as to what might it be like to be a young cadet or professional or a young academy football player, whilst also getting the studies and still being in and around the environment. And that's something I'm certainly learning through more and more of these conversations is the importance of that environment to help you thrive and get, get to your best self. And what you're describing is well, actually you were learning in an environment that you sort of wanted to be in, uh, and then around that world of professional sport and so that. So that's a good thing. So that probably helped you to study and continue to open your eyes to, well, the, the world of work, the world of sport, the world of work in a sporting context at least.

Speaker 2: 15:27

Yeah for sure for sure, for sure.

Speaker 1: 15:30

Well, what I think is also interesting is just one of the points you mentioned about regret, and it's one of those. It's all about that frame of mind that you take with regret. If you take it as, yeah, no regrets, no regrets, it's like, well, there can be a regret, but it's one that you learn from and it's one that you understand. Well. Oh yeah, I wish I did. I wish I would have done that, because that would have changed things. But you know, it's okay, because here's the opportunities that I was able to take from, you know, coming out of that particular situation. So I think you're right. You know you can live without regrets, but you can still look back and reflect.

Speaker 2: 16:07

Oh, 100 because that's it's. It's it's like for you to sort of move forward. Sometimes it's good to track back in terms of where you got to. Okay, so I've learned this. I've learned that. What. What's going to shape me now? What do I want to move where? What direction do I want to move into? What's next for me, you know, and, um, I guess we was going to sort of lean towards it, but I continued to play football, you know, and I played, for I was so invested, still invested with football.

Speaker 2: 16:35

Um, my parents allowed me to go to this football, uh, sort of retreat, so to speak. Speak and you come with all these different individuals, you get picked to do it, basically, yeah, and you get to train and learn and be educated in the world of football and then by the end of this week, you can have the opportunity to play in front of scouts and stuff like that. So it was a week-long sort of academy, sort of stint, like boot camp, and that there really honed my craft, so to speak, even much. So when I got back to playing with my regular team Sadly, I didn't get scouted, but going back to my regular team, the coach was like, yeah, we want to make you, the captain, and this and that, and I was like I'm at a different stage now. Even playing with these local lads, I'm moving different. I learned so much in that week and sometimes it's about being invested in that environment so much so you're going to pick up so many different things because you're doing it day in, day out, whereas we might just do training once or twice a week and then a match on the weekend. Whereas when you're in that and that's what young kids seem to forget that if you really want something, repetition is the key to mastery. You've got to be so invested and you've got to tell yourself if I really want this, I've got to do this right. So it developed me so much in regards to the physical aspect, the mental aspect and just being so engrossed in it.

Speaker 2: 18:04

I was like this is it, but moving forward, I started playing for this adult team and I was doing awesome, went to this competition and then, lo and behold, I injured my knee, ruptured, acl. I thought the world was over. I thought, you know what? I could not play football no more. The drive's gone, the passion's gone, and I remember very vividly. I thought I think I was at the age of like 20, 21.

Speaker 2: 18:28

And I just remember the doctor saying you're going to have surgery, you're not going to be able to play football for a while, x, y and Z, and I'm sitting at the edge of my bed and I thought life was done. I said what am I going to do? This is all I know, this is all I know, this is all I do, you know, and I'm crying, I'm like this is it? What am I going to do now? You know, and I can only think on my level.

Speaker 2: 18:51

But, to take it, if you was playing professional, you're like shit, it's going to hit you even more, but it still, to me, was my life. So it took a while to sort of digest. And you're mulling through life and you're like, okay, what do I want to do? And then, um, fast forward. That's when I said I'm going to dive in, you know, in regards to the music scene, and that's when I took DJing more seriously, you know, and it took me to, um, the Greek island of Cos, where I did two seasons, two summer seasons for four months DJing, and that opened my eyes in terms of the opportunities in life.

Speaker 2: 19:27

You know, in regards to, if you follow your passion, anything can happen. I'm getting paid to play music here. I didn't think that was a thing you know, and I'm. The sun is shining, you know I could do what I want, so to speak. It's not like I have to get up at six or seven o'clock in the morning and go to somewhere I hate and I got to think about bills all day. No, this, this can be something you know. So that expanded my horizons and that's what led me to go back into the real world of I need to follow my passion, and that's when I got into personal training yeah.

Speaker 1: 19:58

So I mean, that's that's. That's fascinating, isn't it? Because you, the football world or the football path you feel stops. But what you had is, well, you had another passion, you had another interest. Like you say something, where you go in and you're energizing a room, be it as captain on the football field, and here now you're seeing yourself as, I'll say, captain in the dance floor. But what you're actually doing is you are, like you say, you're following that passion, you're just following a path. I mean, when football, I mean, what is it then that made you want to go into the DJing side? And I suppose what I'm trying to figure out is was it an escape, was it? Ah, no more sport, boom, boom. Let me just go. I'm doing something completely different, you know, or was it something else that got you into thinking about DJ? This is where I can go next.

Speaker 2: 20:54

I feel, growing up it was I did it. Football was my thing, but I still didn't know what I wanted to do as a career. So I knew I was good at sports, I need to give it a go, I need to push, but I didn't push hard enough. If I did, who knows? But you never know. And what led me down the path to where I am now? It was obviously I had that injury and I was fortunate enough to have my father who was a DJ and he taught me how to DJ and I always feel everything happens for a reason. So one of my best mates he had the same similar story, not football-wise but musically, where his dad, his family were all into music. So we came together and we used to DJ house parties and clubs and stuff like that as a duo, but I took it more seriously. And clubs and stuff like that as a duo, but I took it more seriously.

Speaker 2: 21:48

For so going leaning back on that word it was a form of escapism, because music took me to a place where I didn't have to think about the immediate or the stresses of life. It allowed me to just be my myself, my zone, and and just amplify what was in my head, you know, and just be involved in what was going on, right, because music can hit different senses, so to speak. And I just thought to myself I've got to dive in. And I always leant on what was a big dream. I'm a big dreamer, I envision big right, and just prior to taking DJing seriously, I said to myself I want to become an airline pilot. What can I do to become a commercial airline pilot? You know, I could be in the skies, I could be that guy El Capitan, you know. So I went to this expedition that they're doing for pilots, so to speak, or just being in the air industry, the airline industry, and I did this flying altitude test, which tests your eye handling coordination, and I was in the top three of the amount of people that did it. And I thought, oh okay, I've got something here, now how do I do it? And then, before I know, I'm like I'm hearing medical costs, this amount of money you've got to pay for this. And I was like shit, excuse my friend. I was like yo, I can't afford that, I need to save up. So I said I'm gonna take a back seat, go into the industry, see how far I can get, try and save some money and then come back, revert back to it. So that's why I was so driven, because I had that in the back of my mind. I was like I want to get there, but how can I get there? Right, I've got to save, I've got to do that.

Speaker 2: 23:22

So I was trying to do warehouse jobs, I was doing DJ, I was doing all sorts, but I lent more towards the DJ inside um. And it was after those two seasons. I just had that, that passion of um. I see where it's going, but it's not getting me there fast enough. I need something a bit more immediate. And then I lent into personal training. So that's what led me to it. So it went from escapism going to this island, seeing the sun, thinking it's some form of a reality because you're in your bubble. No matter where you are, you are in a bubble, right. And I got back to the UK and I thought, whoa, people are moving too fast here. Everyone's too serious, you know. But I need to find my passion and I thought I don't want to feel like I'm working for the sake of working, you know. So that's when I led into PT and made that more my reality why, why personal training?

Speaker 2: 24:11

do you remember my space? So it was kind of like the start of social media just before, just before Facebook, so to speak, I believe, and we'll all have these profiles on there and I always laugh at it. Right, my profile was called Dr Domino. I had this background of this black and blue dominoes and this Dr S Phil, where you can ask me anything. You know Anything you want to ask me. We can help solve that question or that dilemma, you know.

Speaker 2: 24:43

So, dr Domino, tender age of 13, 14, I don't know what I was thinking and I think it was just in me. I just like to help people and if you had problems, I was a good listener, you know I'd be like okay, I hear that, but how can you fix that? I love to know how things work. I love to know how things get fixed, how you reverse, engineer, take it apart, if, if something's happening there, how does that work? I can do that. You know I'm hands-on, right.

Speaker 2: 25:13

So I think when it came to personal training, it was I knew that what level I could get to in regards to the mental capacity or sports alone. I just had a natural click and itch and affinity to sports and health and fitness and stuff like that. I just liked being fit and strong, but then the next person or the person standing next to me didn't have that same itch. So I'm like I see where your bag is, but at the same time, like without health, where are you going? Do you know what I mean? And I understood that when you have certain moments where you feel sick or you're injured and you're hopeless or helpless, so to speak, you think the world's over right. So how can I stop myself getting to that point? Or how can I just be fit for life? Because if I'm fit I can do everything I want to do with no issues or little issues. And people complain that they backache or they feel tired or they're not inspired to do this, and I'm like life is short, man, you know. So how can I show someone or encourage someone to be like yeah, I've got this, I want to do more.

Speaker 2: 26:24

So I think, when it came to personal training and then developing and honing in my craft and understanding where I fit in that industry, it was using the physical aspects to tap into the mindset, because everything comes from the mind. The body is resilient, but if the mind's weak, the body is just going to follow and follow suit and become weak, right. So it started with that, so we can get personal best in your deadlifts and your squat and you're losing weight and you're building self-belief and confidence. That's going to translate now outside of the gym. That's going to go into your personal and your career life and then you're going to feel on the high. So for me, that's the core element behind my brand and how and why I think I wanted to get into the industry per se.

Speaker 1: 27:12

I think I wanted to get into the industry per se. See, that's interesting, then, because I mean it's what makes it interesting is your interest in getting into personal training wasn't just the physical aspect of it, it was the desire to help, but then it was this holistic health and fitness, mind and body. That's that's what I'm understanding from from what you're saying. Yeah, correct, yeah, yeah. And so when you're stepping into this, this world then, of personal training, because it's interesting, right, you knew how to control your body because you'd been through. You know sport was so important to you and you know. But I guess there are other aspects in terms of teaching how to do it and bringing you know the philosophy that you've just described there to life. So did you have to do additional training or courses, or was that something that you already had before, you know, whilst you were being a DJ as well?

Speaker 2: 28:09

Studying sports at college really, really helped because it laid the foundation. It opened my eyes to psychology even more so. Nutrition, business within sport, health and safety, working with kids. It literally touched every aspect you could think of. So it laid the foundation and moving forward, that's.

Speaker 2: 28:32

I sort of got thrown into the deep end, but in a good way, because I went for the private sector, working alongside an individual that just started this company. It was literally a startup January 2016,. Doors opened. I just started with this guy. So, like I was saying in the beginning, internship as a front of house receptionist and he saw the passion, the drive and who I was as an individual and it just naturally came. So, yeah, learning from him and then being around experienced person trainers Lewis how did you get that job? Let's say around September. Trainers Lewis how did you get that job? Let's say around September, over September 2015,.

Speaker 2: 29:14

I was like I need to find my passion, because this was the year after DJing, after the second season, and I was saying to myself, okay, I need to find something. And then, before you know it, I left one job, one warehouse job, to go to another which was a little bit more pay, but it was one of those ones where you're kind of following the trend. You're like how, what's my career? What do I do? Do I just go here and try and follow the career path here? So I got into the car industry then and I was. I literally wanted to. I've done management roles before, but the woman that interviewed me was basically saying I'm overqualified, but you're great for this warehouse role, and I'm like you're taking a biscuit here, you know. But I said you know I'll do it, it's good money. So I ended up doing that and I was doing that alongside studying my level two, because I was like I need to get my level two and then I could start diving in into the world of health and fitness.

Speaker 2: 30:08

And I had a friend that worked in as a manager at this gym and I was working alongside him on the days that I wasn't working in regards to just sort of being his shadow right and and getting more in involved in the gym environment. And come end of well, let's say come December I said to myself I'm going to resign from this warehouse job. I bloody hate it. You know. I hate getting up in the morning. I hate being here all day, being in muck and dirt and grime. This ain't me. Come on, lou, I've had enough. And I said you know I'm going to quit this and I'm just going to dive into this world.

Speaker 2: 30:56

And literally about it was probably about five days before Christmas they turned around and said, yeah, the gym's shut, we're not opening up in the new year. I said, whoa, okay, I haven't got a job. What am I going to do? I need to figure out what I need to do. So I just started searching online and I don't know where I found this, but he put on this site internship front of house receptionist for a startup personal training studio. Now, from his standpoint, it was I don't, I need to cut back on costs and find someone who has enough passion to want to get into the industry, to learn, to come in, and that's where I got in, you know, and and the rest is history basically yeah. So I found it on that site and it just went from there.

Speaker 1: 31:35

There are too many stories of bankruptcies, mental health issues and, unfortunately, suicide, and so I think it's time to act. Every year, we see thousands of athletes that reach a point where they need to consider their life after they leave sport. This might be at retirement, injury, or they need to juggle dual careers between sport and a job. As a former English professional footballer, I have somehow managed to transition from sport into banking strategy, innovation and now life coach, career practitioner and founder of the Second Wind Academy. So I want to help those around me find their career.

Speaker 1: 32:12

Second wind Find me on Insta or through my new Facebook group, second Wind Academy, where I'd love to know your thoughts and suggestions. That's good, right, you're doing the study and then you're looking for, I guess, roles that would help get you into the environment. You like you say, under someone who was trying to go somewhere, but then also learning from others coming in and out of that gym. And so how intentional were your moves from there onwards? You know, leaving there, david Lloyd, moving again, were those intentional steps to sort of move you closer to running your own brand? Or, hey, just following what's in front of?

Speaker 2: 32:51

you like. I say, man, everything I am a big believer of everything happens for a reason. If it ain't flowing, don't go against you, just follow the path, man you know. Just follow, be as fluid and as adaptable as you can. Just be a sponge, just understand your environment, right? Not everything's for you, but it'll be laid out to you at the right moment, okay, um, so me going into this job and the way he operated dare I say he he was doing like a zero hours sort of contract. So I got forced to become a sole trader. I wasn't employed by him, I was self-employed, like a zero hours contract.

Speaker 2: 33:32

Once I became front of house manager so he said, yeah, just think of a name and and you'll get paid under this, get your accountant. And I'm like, hey, what's going on here? This is a new world to me because I've always been employed, right. Um, so that's when I was just like, okay, lewis, lewis, paris, fitness, that works, you know. And it just stuck. And then, before you know it, I built this, I got this logo and it was very prominent. It's still this logo now, but we've adapted it as time's gone on, so there's a bit of a fresher look to it, but it started then beginning of 2016. And I couldn't really use that entity, but I still used it on social media sites, right. So it was Lewis Parrish Fitness and I was head of ops for this PT studio and it got to a point where people thought this was my studio, you know, and because I got along with people so well and I'm that individual where, again, I like to know how things work and when I know I'm good at something, I need to be challenged. I hate to be complacent or stagnant or doing the same thing for too long. I've got to diverse, or yeah, or progress, right, yeah. And that's when, obviously, I went to head of operations.

Speaker 2: 34:44

So, there, that, that, that that was happening, that was great, I was learning, doing this and, um, I think it was just more so on his side in terms of ego. He wanted to change the name of the company and he went through this stint where he just wanted to fire everyone and I was the bridge to it all, so everyone was coming to me to go to him, to him to come to me to go to them. It was just wild and, um, there was just a moment in time where I was doing exceptionally well, I was earning more money than I've ever earned before. And he said we need you to dive in, become more managerial in this role, and I'm like I'm already doing it. But he said we need you to get more involved and I was like, okay, got rid of my clients and then, before you know it, nothing really changed and I was like it's getting toxic. Now I need to leave.

Speaker 2: 35:26

So I said I've kind of done the private. I need to see what the public sector is about so I can have an all round approach in terms of where I want to go, if I want to stay in this position or this area or go the career route. You know. But diving in is, unless you're in management, there's not much money in it or unless you know how to work your business within personal training. And that's what led me to David Lloyd's and I just wanted that on my CV, you know. And then I moved on to general management and then I said you know what this ain't for me. I need to get back into what runs my soul, my heart, and I need to do things my way, because people ain't doing it the way I want to do it. So that's how it birthed.

Speaker 1: 36:12

Right, that's how you were born, that's how it then came about to be running your own thing. So I mean, that's a fabulous story just getting to this point, and you know, what I take away already is that mix that you spoke about, from your dad earlier as the DJ and trying little things, bringing in a spice of this, a flavor of that, and what you've described through your journey is it's sort of weaved through each way. You see, you're picking up little bits, you're picking up bits of knowledge, be it from the owners, from the way clients are working with you, from being in a small place to a big place, and all of these things seem to be weaving in whilst you're gathering knowledge about, well, what is lewis paris fitness, but also who is lewis paris himself? Right, and it's a great, winding journey, a good, a fantastic story, in fact, to to listen to.

Speaker 2: 37:06

Uh, so so far, that's, that's fantastic, thank you yeah, there's, there's a lot going on and I guess, um, from me going back into central london and coming in, like I said earlier, as lewis prize fitness, uh, in fitness first building up my clientele driven, I knew what to do at that moment and I just amplified it, you know, amplified it to a bigger audience, and it just grew rapidly and I was like, okay, the, the one goal for me is I want to have my own space.

Speaker 2: 37:39

So how do I get there? And that's when the company was formed in 2019, um, and it just started with this pt right. And then, as you grow and develop and, like I said, I feel like I can, there's, there's more ways to skin a cat and I don't like to throw all my eggs into one basket. So, personal training, yes, but at the same time, I also felt that everyone should be able to afford a personal trainer. I think it should be as accessible as possible, because why shouldn't someone have that as a necessity, should be more a necessity than it is a luxury, you know, so that everyone can afford the, the education, knowledge, the expertise of this individual coach so yeah, I was going to say so.

Speaker 1: 38:18

What is it that makes you think personal training or an individual's health and fitness is, uh, should be affordable and accessible, rather than this elusive thing that only the top sectors of society should be able to afford?

Speaker 2: 38:34

Exposure and education right. So, yeah, you have these classes and you have. It's a totally mixed bag. You know you can get someone who's great at commanding a room, but they don't know how to coach an individual or group of individuals. Or X, y and Z you can have the most charismatic individual, but they're't know how to coach an individual or group of individuals. Or X, y and Z you can have the most charismatic individual, but they're not the greatest PT. Or you can have someone that's a very introvert, silent person, but they're a great coach, but they don't know how to command the room.

Speaker 2: 39:00

It's very rare that you have someone who hits the nail on the head, and I feel I was one of those individuals because my classes were packed, people wanted me this and that, so for me, it opened my eyes in regards to small group PT and you're getting a blend of a class environment that community feel, but you're having the knowledge and experience behind this individual who's showing you the best way to get in shape and empower you right? So growing up, I didn't see that and I didn't think. I didn't really know what personal training to later. Later on, after studying sports and stuff, so to speak, and getting into that environment with the private studio. That's when I realized I was like oh, how come I don't know about this world and people want to take their health seriously at a later stage when, if you educate someone, expose them from a younger age, they're going to be more inclined to look after themselves and then they're not going to pick up these diseases or illnesses and stuff like that because they're more health conscious. And when someone becomes more health conscious, they're going to have more energy to want to do the thing that you would love for them to do. They're going to be more proactive in work. They're going to be go get it. They're going to be a happier person.

Speaker 2: 40:14

I think it's better for the world that people include physical health because it taps into the mindset. People are depressed because of the environment they're in. It's not sunny in the UK, but when it is, everyone's smiling. But when I go abroad, everyone's already smiling, everyone's saying hello.

Speaker 2: 40:31

So if I was to look at this, but I looked at someone yesterday and he looked at me like I killed his cat, I said, mate, I just wanted I was going to say hello to you, but with that look, I ain't going to do it. So it's misery, loves company and I don't, you know. So if I can get someone to feel physically good about themselves, that's going to now be infectious to the next individual. So if it becomes affordable not just in the class setting if someone's like okay, I'm focusing on preventing lower back pain.

Speaker 2: 40:59

I don't feel these aches and pains, you know, and my mind is right because you're empowering me then I'm going to tell the next person or I'm going to encourage that person, you know. So that's what was in my mind, and the best way to do that was to do small group classes or to go into the corporate wellness side, working with employees where the company will pay for it and that individual will come because the company is paying for it and they feel like they're getting what they can get through that expert.

Speaker 1: 41:25

Yeah, so what? What are you doing then now, actively, today, to make your brand more accessible to people?

Speaker 2: 41:35

Yeah. So again, life is a roller coaster. So I started with the personal training. Then I started to do small group PT at the private studio. So I was starting to introduce that because people wanted to work with me and I knew to make a living, to be competitive, competitive, and I knew I was better than the majority. I had to.

Speaker 2: 41:55

I couldn't charge the same PT rate that everyone else was charging. That there's good, there's a reason why this is at this price, but not still out of your reach. It's an investment, but it's an investment for your longevity, right. So that's when I said, okay, we're going to have this as the pinnacle, the PTs you're getting one-to-one time with Lewis. Now you can get in a group setting for a small group PT. Covid hit.

Speaker 2: 42:19

So we had to stop that and revert back to one-to-one. And that's when I started to look at online coaching, which was the third tier. So now that's another entry point to get into this brand, this ecosystem, at a cheaper rate but still very, very knowledgeable information. So you're going to get what I think and how I conduct things in this app that's accessible to you, that you can use anywhere in the world. So it's a free tier system that I was trying to create, you know, um, and and then just to a wider audience.

Speaker 2: 42:51

That's when we started to do more corporate wellness side of things. So doing fitness classes for employees of that company. We was doing it online for different companies, for our coven, and then back to back in person and then doing fitness classes, boot camps, workshops, educational pieces like that to the wider audience. So for me, as a brand, for the company, was inspire the nation. You know ethos, pushing you to greatness. So it's always been about the people rather than, okay, I'm going to get in here and just make money and move on. No, for me, if I could do it for free, I would, because I enjoy helping people and that was the North star Um. So, as we move forward, it's now using social media to hit the wider audiences going into YouTube, building on that online coaching app and then, obviously, the social media side of just educating people and exposing the brands.

Speaker 1: 43:45

Right and look, I was checking out your YouTube channel and it is very comprehensive and I can see you've done some live stream sessions. You've got individual muscle groups to focus on or different sort of techniques that you go through there. So, like you say, you're trying to make it more accessible to people through the through the different tiers. But you know it gets me intrigued then so many people want to move into PT. You just described a whole load of different things there. What's a typical week look like for you?

Speaker 2: 44:19

It's funny. I always tell people I'm not your typical PT, you know, because a typical personal trainer is they will go in at, they'll get up at like five o'clock in the morning, get in for six, half six, seven. I mean I don't miss six o'clock starts. I'll tell you that for free. But they'll come in, they'll do that because it's an antisocial job. So we will come in and we'll do stuff pre-work, maybe in the middle and after work, right. So when everyone finishes work at five o'clock they were going down to the pub or seeing friends, family. I'm in the gym till about eight, nine o'clock at night. That's just me. But as you get more into the industry and you've done your years and you understand what works for you, then you can start playing around with your schedule. But a typical week for me at this very moment in time, which has developed more so in the fact that I know where I'm at, I'm established Now I need to start taking time back for myself and trying to bob and weave between working in the business and on the business.

Speaker 2: 45:22

So Monday to Wednesday are my busiest days where I can start, from which I've now kept 8am to 8pm at a very push, if time or things are happening throughout that month. I might do the odd 7am start or 9pm finish, so it's back to back. I can do like up to eight to ten clients in one day. Back to back, right. And then I'll do a fitness class for Red Bull UK I've been training employees for the last five years and then I'll do the one-to-ones work on the business work with my virtual assistant who helps with email stuff, and then someone I've now employed to do events and partnerships for the brands as we start to get into the retreats market. So it's managing these people.

Speaker 2: 46:08

And then moving on to the other aspects of the business that really need me, which is working with another corporate company with their e-sports drivers Red Bull Racing, which is another unique space, right. Which is I can't spearhead in that because not many PTs or you wouldn't hear of any PTs work with professional gamers, right. But yeah, it's a typical week Monday to Friday, is that? And then the weekend I try not to get too involved with work because I need some downtime, I need to live. You're not getting any younger, so I'll do admin work, but mainly seeing family and friends and just enjoy life.

Speaker 1: 46:45

Yeah, that's good and thanks for sharing that week.

Speaker 1: 46:50

Interesting how, as you become established, you've been able to take more control of how you plan that week and I have noticed throughout this conversation you've used things like North Star and working in the business not, you know, so working on the business, not in the business and things like that. So it sounds like you're also plugged into getting good business advice and guidance as you are moving from strength to strength. Now one of the bits that is again sort of intriguing for me is, as athletes, body movement control is important. That look and feel as a PT. I guess my assumption is most PTs tend to be fit and healthy in order to well work the hours that you've just described, but then also as a bit of a demonstration as to why being mobile and being healthy is good. Where's next longer term for you? Is there a sort of physical limit that you sort of recognize as you get older? That you know starts to determine where you can go and and where do you then think you can take sort of your business?

Speaker 2: 48:03

lewis paris fitness next there there's, there's limitations, but limitations in your mind, you know. So that's that's where the ceiling becomes a lot lower. Now, where I'm taking this company, there's always been that bigger vision of I want to build the legacy, I want to build this thing. How do I get it out to people? What should I do? So the next step for me is I've always told myself I don't want to be 40 years old on the gym floor. That's where I start to sweat because, again, I ain't getting older.

Speaker 2: 48:38

But as you do get older, things are not working the same. You know, you might feel sluggish or you might feel this ache and you're like you know what? Okay, I recognize it. Now, how do I stay at my optimal best for longer? And then that's when you start opening and expanding your mind to the different things. So I was already doing this in regards to mobility work and prehab, rehab stuff because of my injury. That's, that's the exposure to it.

Speaker 2: 49:06

So now you're looking at nutrition recovery even more. So, as much as you've been coaching it to your clients, you're implementing it at another level now. You know, because you're experienced that now you can turn around and say this is working, this is working, we've done that, we've tried that, let's do that. So for me it's it's it's understanding the different points in my own life, what gives me joy, what gives me peace of recovery, what gives me the energy, and making sure I incorporate that every day. So trying to get a good amount of sleep, trying to make sure my nutrition is always good, hydrating, and then training well, because I know if I don't train, if I don't eat well, if I don't recover, I'm not going to be able to work on my business, I'm not going to be able to be as active you know. So these things have to become extremely consistent in my day to day and throughout the week.

Speaker 2: 49:53

So, moving forward, it's like, ok, this is where I'm at, this is where I want to take it Now again. I always wanted to have my own space. I had some reflection and I'm like I think, as much as that may have been good five years ago, it's not going to work now, in this current climate. I work now in this current climate. So if I was to be true to what the real mission was to inspire the nation, the people, the masses it's online I've got to push that to the oomph degree. Now, you know, expose myself a little bit more online in regards to who I am and what I do on a day-to-day basis and what my philosophy is.

Speaker 2: 50:30

So, yes, I've built up this brand in some form of a following, but it hasn't been to the point of where I want it to be, because everything's still in my mind and I see what I, what it can be, but it's not where it should be. So, going back to what the day in the life was, I literally vlogged um last week and we're in the final stage of editing and that will be up and that will give a good insight in terms of what a central london established personal trainer is doing in that day and how he operates throughout his day, which I think will give a lot of exposure to um the industry itself, because there's nothing like that. To some degree, it's just workouts and how you, what you should do for recovery and nutrition, but the day in the life of a person who's got to get up early, day in, day out, and what they do throughout the day and what they're doing, how they interact, what they do with their clients, it's not really out there on a sort of unique and um individualistic basis, you know.

Speaker 1: 51:28

So that's, that's what I'm pushing something that's more unique, that just gives more exposure to the brand and inspires personal trainers to get into these, or how to navigate, you know so yeah, yeah, that's really interesting because I know and I've said really interesting probably too often in this conversation, but you are certainly making me question a few assumptions I had around the personal training world and you're shedding light on some of those bits I know you you mentioned there. Next for you are the retreats and wellness and sort of more events and, moving down that angle, I also note that you know you you've been wearing that branded shirt and you've got your logo and you've got clothing and you know these are types of things that are growing. But is that seen as a way of you know again, having that, expanding that impact and creating that legacy?

Speaker 2: 52:22

yeah, um, again, I just fell into it. Uh, with the sportswear stuff, and this was again during covid. It was like sportswear, I mean, for me it was I. For me, action speaks louder than words, right. So I've always allowed my work to speak for me, which has allowed me to win these awards and be recognized in spaces that a lot of people haven't really been recognized in, right. So another way to get the brand out there was to do this sportswear stuff and I thought, okay, just stick my logo on there. Everyone's going to be wearing it and this and that, but that's a whole nother world, something you've got to understand that. It's got to be extremely relatable. And what is the affiliation to the brand? So it again.

Speaker 2: 53:03

It added another layer of thinking to how to build and grow this company, this brand, so to speak. Right and um, for me, me, it was about community, you know. So, again, where, where the best analogy I can give you? Um, again, without sounding pretentious or condescending or whatever, or brash, but it was more so like, okay, I can be a pt. That is similar to the experience that you'd get in a clothing shop called Primark, or be the Louis Vuitton of PTs, right. So for me it was. I'm going to give you the experience of the Louis Vuitton experience, yeah. So when you come to me, it's okay. Well, I'm going to show you how I work. You're going to be educated on where, where your body, how your body moves mechanically. Okay, this is your goal, but this is what I see and this is what they will go to now drag into you. So you want to be fit, you want to lose weight for your wedding, but then you have hip mobility issues and you've got lower back pain. We're not just going to focus on you losing weight. We're going to make you understand how to operate and contract certain muscles to work to help alleviate that pain and keep you stronger, right? So when you go through that mobility analysis or movement analysis, you'll be like, oh, I'm being educated, he knows what he's doing. I'm going to invest in Lewis Parish Fitness. Now you're invested in me. I'm extremely grateful.

Speaker 2: 54:29

Here's my gift to you. Now you're going to get everything plus the kitchen sink, right? You're going to get a gift from the sportswear store, which means when you walk the street, you're going to have my branding and people are who's that? So when my clients come in, they're wearing my brand. People know they're associated with me and that gets everyone thinking, oh, he's got something going on there, right.

Speaker 2: 54:51

And then when you do sign up, you get it goes an objective sheet. And then you get all this other information. Our partnered professionals osteopaths, sports therapists, nutritionists you've got their number. They're good to go, these who I recommend and because they work with me, they're going to give you a discount because we know your health is important. So if you do well in that area, you're going to do well in that area. Now you've got discount to other uh brands and stuff like your sports supplements and um other bits and bobs to do with health and fitness and then recommended.

Speaker 2: 55:25

That is just a whole list of stuff to get you going. So if you ever needed to track back and research or whatever you don't need to do that you just need to click down this list and find it. So it's like a this is what I'm thinking about actually a health concierge within that, you know. So you get everything you need. It's the creme de la creme because why not? It's not just you're just going to show up for your session and that's it. No, you're here, you're part of the community, we're here to look after you. Now you're going to feel empowered and you're going to want to be consistent in you reaching your goals.

Speaker 1: 55:55

So that's the pinnacle of it and you know what, what I hear there again is that the concierge, the health, wellness concierge, but that ecosystem that you're creating for your community, again just from a business perspective, really thinking about how you can extend your brand beyond that very narrow focus, perhaps that I came in at the start of this conversation around basically setting someone whilst they're doing squats or bench presses and you've, you're taking that to that next level and so, look, I gotta say thanks for sort of sharing the journey. I suppose there's gonna be many people listening to this, thinking how do I get in to become a pt and what are some of the practical steps, or at least thinking of how I might come in, maybe differentiate myself or do that. So, for those who are listening, if someone was coming to you and said, look, lewis, just taking your experience, what guidance would you give to someone saying I want to get into the personal training space?

Speaker 2: 56:55

firstly, how? How passionate are you, um, when it comes to health and fitness or sports alone? Because you, you've gotta have something that just gives you a little kick sometimes when it gets hard, you know. So do you really enjoy this aspect of the industry, so to speak? And then the next step would be you've got to throw yourself into that environment. The more you are into that environment, the more you can understand what it takes to be in that environment and what it really is like within day to day. You know, because when the camera stops rolling, you still got to keep going, you know.

Speaker 2: 57:34

So the next step for that is then studying your craft, researching as much as possible. You know continuous development, get your level two, fitness instructing. Start doing your classes, understanding how to command the presence I would implore people to do classes, because that's the best way to pick up clients, you know. And then do your PT course. You know, understand how to coach individuals and then spend the day. Spend at least a year, I would say, in the commercial setting If you can get a mentor, that's more so within the private setting or at least has built something that you know you want to get to. That's going to get you to where you need to be faster, because they're going to give you the shortcuts, I hope in the right way.

Speaker 2: 58:17

So for me, you've got to immerse yourself in the environment, study as much as you can. You've got to sacrifice a little bit in regards to taking the time out to hone in on what you want to learn and then, as time goes on, you'd understand what you really like. So if you want to get into kettlebell training, you can study kettlebells. If you want to do animal flow, calisthenics, functional movement, um, sport specific training, then you can sort of find your pathway and dive in even more. You know and and and. Then the rest is history.

Speaker 2: 58:48

But I implore people to just immerse themselves into their environment, um, and understand why you're doing it. You know, are you doing it to help people, are you? And then the rest is history. But I implore people to just immerse themselves into their environment and understand why you're doing it. You know, are you doing it to help people? Are you trying to get this person from A to B? What is it that sets the fire in your belly? Do you know? And just hone in on that. But you've got to find what works for you and before you know it, you will find that form of niche and without sort of um over exaggerating and forcing yourself to do it will come natural yeah, yeah, and I think that's been a key, you know.

Speaker 1: 59:21

Thank you for that. It's been a a key component of this conversation has been your desire to follow the flow, to follow your interests, but study it, it be good at it, you know. Try and definitely excel, but don't force, you know. Go with it. So listen, lewis, thank you very much for sharing your story. People are going to want to get in touch. What are the best ways to follow your journey, follow your brand and even reach out for a conversation?

Speaker 2: 59:50

Always open up for a conversation. If you need tips on what you need to do or some form of guidance, I'm happy to help. You can find us on all social media channels Lewis Paris Fitness, lp Fitness on Twitter, linkedin, youtube, google me you will find me Lewis Paris Fitness. Or, if you want to send an email, info at lewisparisfitnesscom and then we can stay in contact from there. But don't be afraid to reach out. I was in your position once and I was even stuck, you know, and that even implored me to be like how can I help people who first get into the industry? So I still I get people reaching out from now asking and I just try and direct them in the right way possible. So don't be afraid and, yeah, just reach out to Lewis Price Fitness.

Speaker 1: 1:00:37

Lewis, thanks very much for joining us on the Second Wind Academy podcast today.

Speaker 2: 1:00:42

Thanks for having me Very fun and exciting speaking to you, mate, so I appreciate it.

Speaker 1: 1:00:48

Thank you for listening to the Second Wind podcast. We hope you enjoyed hearing insights from today's athlete on transitioning out of competitive careers. If you're looking for career clarity for your next step, make sure you check out secondwindio for more information or to book a consultation with me. I'd like to thank Claire from Betty Brook Design, Nancy from Savvy Podcast Solutions and Cerise from Copying Content by Lola for their help in putting this podcast together. That's all from me. Take it easy Until next time.