On July 2, 2012 Joe Ardagna and Austin Brock turned their dreams and passions into reality when they opened Slash Fitness, a boutique style semi private, group, and personal training studio.
Originally from Boston, Joe Ardagna, 40, came to Fla. 16 years ago and joined the National Personal Training Institute where he received honors and best motivator. Austin Brock, 36, from Hilton Head, SC, went to Florida State University for exercise science and physical therapy.
Ardagna and Brock met about 10 years ago at a local gym and shortly thereafter began to share their thoughts as they both had different backgrounds in education, but had one goal in mind. They saw where the fitness industry was headed and that group fitness was on rise. Both of them share the common goal of wanting to help people become the best versions of themselves, in a safe and effective way.
With that, the two built what we now know as Slash Fitness. Their goal is to provide a safe and effective workout, regardless of age, weight, or body restrictions. Their workouts provide HIIT style conditioning along with traditional dumbbell, core, and flexibility training. We provide an incredible motivating, fun, and positive environment with each and every workout. An experience you must truly see to believe.
Slash Fitness has garnered clients, fans and supporters to follow the Slash way of life. Their culture is one that uplifts spirits and creates a healthier and more confident individual. Slash’s dedication to their clients and helping them reach inner and outer perfection, has voted Slash Fitness the #1 Fitness facility in Palm Beach, and one of the most sought after places to workout or train.
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Man do I love gym tours! A gym tour is when I go to another gym and not just to workout but to learn from what they are doing. I do these all the time because I am always looking for ideas to make Journey better.
Recently while visiting our new franchisee Lianne down in Florida, I decided that I should take her on a gym tour to show her a great facility that is operating very successfully in her area.
We went to Slash Fitness in Delray Beach Florida. It was an awesome experience. Afterwards, the owners Joe Ardagna and Austin Brock agreed to be guests on The Overcomers Podcast.
Journey has a special connection with these guys. We share the same energy, GRIT, determination, love for their members and passion for what we do.
In this episode Joe and Austin share that entrepreneurial dreams are made from hard work and sacrifice. They also share a secret ingredient to success which is loving what you do and loving who you do it for.
Joe and Austin take us back to the very beginning of what it took to start their business where they had to be the contractors for their build out while still training clients in their home garage. This brought back memories for Cyndy and I because we were still traveling trainers while we were starting Journey. Both Slash and Journey had to do every job until we could afford to hire some help.
You will hear stories in this episode of starting below a halfway house with pot smoke drifting down from the upstairs. They will tell you how they overcame that and grew to better locations. Joe and Austin also share how creative they have gotten to not just survive but thrive during the pandemic. Finally, they close with advice that is perfect for anyone with any dream.
I can't wait for you to listen to this episode.
Please also share today’s episode with your friends, co-workers, and family on your social media so they can learn the secrets to achieving their dreams.
MORE ON THE EPISODE
5:50 - 9:12 - Austin and Joe of Slash Fitness are great examples that you don't need a million dollars to start a business. You just need a million dollars worth of determination. Austin and Joe went so far as to train people in their garage while doing the build out to open their business. You may not know this but while Cyndy and I were preparing to open Journey we were still traveling trainers. We had to build up a membership at Journey before we stopped traveling to people's homes to train them.
10:15 - 11:14 - In business they say that location can be very important. In this clip Austin and Joe share how they started their first location below a halfway house where pot smoke used to drift down from the upstairs. Such a lesson here. So many people wait for things to be perfect rather than just starting. Start small. Start with what you have and grow from there.
15:25 to 16:22 - Joe talks about having 100% retention with his clients. He says people should do what they love and the rest will come later. He credits their love for their clients and their love for what they do as the reason for their success.
31:44 - 33:47 - Austin shares that he feels life has taught him that the more you give, the more you receive and Cyndy connects the similarities between the heart of Slash Fitness and the heart of Journey.
36:09 - 37:41 - Joe shares that even after they became successful that it hasn't all been easy. He says it is an important lesson to learn that the hard times are going to come. You should expect that. You just also have to believe that there is something better waiting on the other side if you are willing to Overcome.
ARE YOU A TRAINER OR COACH SEEKING TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
ABOUT TRAVIS BARNES
Before Travis Barnes became a best-selling author, international presenter, founder and franchisor of Journey Fitness 333 he spent a decade of his life in prison for a nonviolent drug offense. Upon returning home to his wife and daughter he worked hard to grow himself in the fitness industry so he could buy his family a home of their own. 2 months after buying their home Tropical Storm Lee caused it to be flooded to the second floor. Approximately 1 year after the flood while still rebuilding their home and during the Christmas holiday season Travis was let go from his employment as COO for a local fitness company. After he and his wife spent 6 months as traveling trainers and while still living on an unemployment check and in a FEMA trailer, they began what is now a fitness franchise . Most recently and with the rest of the industry Travis has overcome the obstacles of the pandemic by redesigning his business. Travis has used the pandemic as an opportunity to instead of returning to business as normal, he has returned to business as better than normal. Travis is an Overcomer.
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