Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Samuel.
Hi Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The idea to launch MikeSamFitness originally started back in August of 2020. Seth Feldman, the owner of the gym I now coach at, approached me about possibly being a coach at Frequency Fitness. I had not ever considered coaching plus I was in the midst of studying for my Level 2 CFA exam so I passed on the opportunity. However, over the next couple of months, the idea continued to percolate in my head. I began thinking it would make sense to turn my passion for fitness into a side hustle. So, I had another conversation with Seth, and he agreed to let me shadow and learn more about the business. In January of 2021, I launched MikeSamFitness on Instagram and from there it was off to the races! I have had the privileged to work with clients of all ages and backgrounds both in person and virtually to help them achieve their goals.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been a couple of struggles along the way which I believe just come along with starting a business. I was brand new to IG when I launched my business so marketing and content creation are areas I really had to learn and continue to do. I was naive in thinking it was as simple as posting a video or a picture when in reality it is a very complex process and takes a substantial amount of time. I also did not know the first thing about buying insurance, setting up the right organization filing, accounting, etc. It was several months before I really got my arms around what exactly needed to get done and I still to this day have areas of opportunity for my business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work full time at Truist Bank as commercial portfolio manager. In this role, I work with businesses that make between $50 million and $500 million in revenue and help them finance mergers, acquisitions, real estate purchase, working capital solutions, and other debt facilities.
Through MikeSamFitness I am a personal trainer and CrossFit coach. My focus is one on one or small group training where I get to know the people I train holistically so that we develop a relationship vs me strictly being their coach. I pride myself on showing up for my clients each day with a positive attitude and a listening ear. I also aim to make any time that I am coaching fun for the athletes!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see the industry continuing to incorporate technology as a part of the fitness journey. You can see this already with the explosion of Peleton and similar products over the last 2 years. I would expect more focus on mobility as well becoming an area of focus as people learn more about full-body movement. I think products like Whoop, Fitbit, Apple Watch will continue to improve as we care more about our daily habits and how our body is performing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mikesamfitness
Image Credits
Presley Williams
Ellie White
