The past 12 years have been enlightening from both a progressive perspective for business and then regressive from a family perspective.
We came to acknowledging the reality that our family is indeed far away. With our parents ageing as we all do and our daughter missing out on family time with her grandparents and cousins and other factors, we decided to move closer to family.
Relocating back across the world to Ireland, setting up a new business in Limerick doesn’t put fear in me. I now have new skills I picked up, learned and adopted and adapted to create a successful Brisbane business.
This was not by accident. My time in Brisbane has given me access to education and people that I would never have availed of had I stayed where I was in Northern Ireland. That’s not a criticism of the NI and UK fitness industry but the result of me being too comfortable where I was. Moving was a massive turning point for me.
I tentatively entered the RKC (Russian Kettlebell certification) in 2011 guided by who I consider a good friend and mentor Piers Kwan at Queensland Kettlebells. The confidence boost I earned from passing the RKC, at that time the worlds toughest industry recognised certification, drove me to dig deeper into what else I could learn and achieve as an older student and professional. I never liked wasting time and money on foo-foo, insignificant courses so threw myself into the leading education that I could attend.
Meeting Geoff Neupert and Tim Anderson in 2014 during the Original Strength cert was a game changer too. I now had a tool to help people move better safely. I also discovered I was part a community of people who loved to move, not exercise or burn calories, but move. This was the start of a paradigm shift. We don’t exercise – we are made to move.
Learning further from Pavel Tsatsouline in the newly founded StrongFirst helped to cement in place new models of training that steered programming away from maximal efforts and towards the skill of strength, working at moderate levels of practice. Not easy, but simple.
Coach Dan John figured more and more in my learning as he taught us how to simplify further, how to identify where we start a program to direct us to the goal. The goal is to keep the goal the goal.
As a business owner I accepted the fact I needed a better business model and understanding of what I was doing. I worked with Marsha Boyle business mentor in Brisbane to help me see more clearly. The skills I picked up with Marsha help me every time I work on marketing and speaking to new customers.
The world of moving introduced me to MovNat and Erwan Le Corre, the philosopher of natural fitness. Nature has a lot to offer if you want to minimise your gym time and get back to how we became the alpha species.
And then Ido Portal took me to the exploration of movement – this continues every day. There is no wrong movement. There is lack of preparation and lack of awareness.
Mike Fitchs Animal Flow taught by Andrew Chadwick in Queensland brought a system to ground based movement which ties in nicely to further exploring how the body connects to itself and the ground.
The very smart Paul McIlroy and his Amazing 12 has been the icing on the cake for the business. Becoming a certified A12 coach gave me a very intelligent program to help people transform their mindset in regards to how they eat, how they train for strength and aesthetics. So far I’ve helped dozens of people learn how to safely get really strong, lose body fat and have a better relationship with food. This story shall continue.
My wife and motivator Vivienne continues to keep my head on straight… I love you dearly.
Any business however, no matter how good the qualifications of a proprietor, has nothing without its customers, clients, supporters and friends.
I have worked with many people over the years. Some came, learned and moved on. That’s great. My goal is to make an impact.
Others stayed, and stayed, and became more than just clients; they became life-long friends who I welcome into my new home any time they’re in Limerick of course haha.
In no particular order I want to especially thank the following people for supporting me and walking the path I trod and continue to tread.
James, Stef, Melissa, Dan, Daniel, Bashier, Jill, Melinda, Ian, Robyn, Kay, Denise, Les, Judy, Alyson, Peter, Von, Julie, Leanne, Kelly-Anne, Geoff, Jack, Jo & Bernie, Kadi, Gabi & Jane, Morgan, Esti, Katie, Tony and Sam, Sharyn and Sabrina, Matt, Jane, Nathan, Nathan and Nathan, Annie, Angela, Maree and Mal, Marie and Kerry, Conor, Alex and Kelly, Atish, Manoj, Alexander and Chi, Michael, Courtney, Chloe, Rob, Rachel, Andrew, Levi, Mark, Piers, Mat Aldous and the crew at QKB
…. and I am sure I am leaving many more out.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for making my time in Australia the wonderful experience it has been. You have all got a place in my heart. We shall meet again.
Peace, happiness and strength,
Jamie, Vivienne, Alyssa and Bella the Dog.
