It was 5 years ago.... On April 1st, 2006, I uploaded my first ever video to you tube.
I was running my training from my garage at the time, training ONLY Wrestlers & Football players, kinda like what I do now 🙂
I was rockin' a self made web site and a simple blog because web designers back in the day were charging over $ 200 per hour. OUCH!
My lack of knowledge with web sites never stopped me from trying my best to spread the word about my training methods.
I still remember recording that very first video. I went up stairs & asked my wife if she could record a quick video for me as a favor 🙂 I was using a digital camera back then and as you can tell, my garage was heated, I was sweating bullets during my workout 🙂
Friends AND family thought I was crazy, thinking something was wrong me because I had ideas of teaching people how to get strong on the internet. The BIG joke is that I could barely use a computer, unable to even create a PDF document!
Truth be told, I AM CRAZY, this is probably why I am successful.
My craziness blended with my mental toughness AND my passion for strength and muscle building is unrivaled. It drove me to where I am today, all the way back from age 13 when I dreamed of opening my own gym one day...until finally making it happen, even if the start was in my garage...
It was heaven.... I always wanted my own gym. I used to have my Dad drive me all around NJ so I could visit the gyms and see what type of equipment they had and how they ran things. I saw myself as a gym owner, I KNEW it would happen one day!
Beginning in my garage and training only the athletes I wanted to work with was a dream to me. Others laughed while I kept charging onward & upward.
I remember when my wife and I bought that house, I was hunting for a home with a 2 car garage because I KNEW what I wanted to do 🙂 I knew I would begin my business inside my garage while working as a teacher.
The ceilings were barely high enough for my hands to punch a hole in the ceiling, there might have been 1 inch of clearance, NO kidding!
Before you tube was in existence, I was working with Wrestlers and Football players from my parents back yard and their tiny 1 car garage. Imperfection didn't bother me in the least, on the other hand, lack of action DID bother me. I knew if I just worked my ass off, good things would finally happen.
I TRULY miss those simple days when the internet was still young, where the "noise" was less and everything 
was extremely raw and natural. There were less Bull Shit artists on the internet and certainly less copy cats and cry babies.
There were maybe 4 or 5 web sites that you could truly go to for quality training information compared to nowadays where there is an overabundance of information that confuses everyone to no end.
I would go to wrestling clubs to train wrestlers with bodyweight only, often times selling workouts and training manuals that I self made from Staples with a 3 ring binder that I shoved inside my red Adidas Bag.
I went out and trained with real people in the real world, yet today, so many people only see the outer layer of The Underground.
They see a big following and a popular blog on the internet, a busy warehouse gym.... they think it all happened easily and overnight.
People rarely dig deep to see what REALLY exists and how it ALL came to fruition. The late nights, the early mornings, the work on weekends, the working during my lunches and never listening to the radio for countless years on end as I would only listen to training or business related CDs to gain more knowledge and bring my closer and closer to my dreams.
I did this as a married man with kids, trust me, it would have been WAY easier if I wasn't a family man, BUT, my family motivated me to kick ass, I wanted my kids to always be able to look at me as someone who took charge of life and lived his dreams rather than dreamed his life. I KNEW if I did it, my kids would do the same with their own dreams 🙂
It was a struggle and people often told me to quit. I was told to keep my teaching job with my pension and health benefits safely lined up.
My training days go back further than many dare to imagine. When I was 19 or 20 I got a job as a trainer in a hospital fitness center. I loved it and worked my way through undergrad and still kept some hours when I was a full time teacher. Then, I began grad school while coaching wrestling and teaching full time.
Somehow, someway, I found time to travel to people's homes and train them in their living rooms.
At the end of the night, around 9 PM, I would be found in the gym, training with my walkman on, because that was sooooooo damn long ago there was NO such thing as an I POD!!!
In high school I would stay awake late at night, reading all my bodybuilding magazines until 1, 2 or even 3 AM in the middle of the night. Today, it's NO different. I have vintage training books scattered all around my house so I can read them on a regular basis. I can't put them down, I can't let them go.
As they say, Every overnight success story has a long 12 year history.
For those of you reading my blog and hoping to become a Strength Coach and run your own Warehouse Gym, let me tell you.... it takes WORK, a LOT of damn hard work.
With the internet, people forget about real life human interaction, which is what REALLY counts.
Wanna know when I feel MOST at home & most comfortable? When I'm training athletes or working with other Coaches in my gym, where the music is loud, the weights are rusty and I'm sweating bullets. That is ME. It's where the proving grounds REALLY happen.
One guy told me I could grow my business anywhere because I'm a "Marketing Machine."
ha ha ha
How soon we forget and how quick we are to judge when we do not know the journey of a man. The ability to grow my business comes down to the fact that the athletes I train become Bad Mother F**ers. They become one man wrecking machines and the RESULTS are what count the most. Period.
Want "marketing"? It's called getting AMAZING results and showing your clients you truly & genuinely care for their success in sports AND life.
Those who see the surface think a fancy web site with cool logos will do the trick. Then, they wonder why they haven't made millions of dollars after their first year. Give me, Give me, Give me.... go to Mc Fucking Donalds if you want instant gratification.
In the REAL World, you gotta earn your success, there are NO hand outs.
The weights are my passion and my blood.
It's what has ALWAYS driven me and it's what I live and breathe. I want to lift heavy shit and be around heavy shit. I want to learn about ALL things strength because chasing strength helped me build my mental strength and save my life in the process.
Nothing I have ever came to me easily. There have been MANY struggles and I had to earn everything I've achieved through blood, sweat and tears.
500 videos in 5 years is a small milestone.
A large reason why I am still here is because of my wife and kids, and, a small group of close friends who believed in me and guided me along the way.
And... a HUGE reason as to why I bust my ass so much is because of the feedback I get from YOU. I have gained so much from the world of strength and muscle building and I see what it does for others so this is just the beginning. You can expect MUCH more from me, every time, I'll be giving my ALL, it's the only way I know how to roll!
Thank YOU 🙂
Peace!
--Z--
21 Responses
Wow! Thank you for the inspiration Zach. I know I’m guilty of losing sight of whats important sometimes, “caring 100% for our clients”, and trying to put all the pieces of a ‘business’ together.
When we remember how we got here is when we do our best work.
Thanks for the kick in the ass!
Keep on rockin!
Big Z,
This was an awesome post, been a longtime follower as you know and if it werent for finding your website I would not be were I am today.
Everyday I wake up psyched as hell to start my day.
Keep On Doing what you do,
Ryan
Zach congratulations and thanks for all the kicks in the pants!
Amen brother
Zach,
Simple and true. Congratulations on what you have achieved for yourself so far. It’s because you have taken so many others along for the ride. Abundance baby!
Stay strong,
Nate
Sport Speed Austin
Thanks for showing us the path Zach, your dedication to the people you train, and teach, is an inspiration.
Keep on doing what you do, your making America and the world stronger!
Congrats Z to your work. Every second you invested in training, coaching and exploring is worth the time!
Move on bro,
best from austria,
Dominik
Great posts Zach,
Thanks for the constant reminder that success is available to all those who will just put in the work and pursue excellence. Also, you have help me to understand the principle of moving fast, and stop waiting until everything is perfect. Thanks for everything.
Awesome metting you in ATX.
I love it! I have never found anything in the gym more valuable to my workout as a kettlebell. I have done all of those workouts, but never in that sort of combo! Cant wait to try it!
Please Zack, keep doing what you are doing. I am just your average guy trying to make sense of “fitness”. I went from a bodybuilding type mentality and lifting style to a much more complete training style with a strong emphasis on strength and a functional body. Between you eBooks and Blog you have greatly influence my training style. Thanks.
Zach you are a true inspiration of what hard work and determination truly is. You have a passion and have harnessed that and are spreading the message!!! Great Work!!!
Z,
Awesome post. You are a true inspiration and deserve everything you have worked so hard to get.
You’ve done so much for me personally (and others) without even knowing it. You have helped me become the person I am today, and I sincerely thank you for that!!
Everyday I am fired up and ready to take care of business. Thank you for all that you do, and keep leading from the front, because there is no one better! I look forward to meeting you!
Thanks again,
John
Zach,
This is an awesome post. You are truly an inspiration training, life, and business-wise. Keep on kicking ass dude.
Out of curiosity, what are some of the Cds you used to listen to? I recently just bought “The E Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Dont Work and What to Do About It” after I saw Joe DeFranco recommend it in one of your “Cribs” videos. I’m always looking to become a better in terms of business and training. Thats why I come to this website.
Wow five years already?!? As someone who has watched your rise from behind the scenes, I’m always amazed and inspired by your ability to get into action. Love seeing the first version of the site again. It put a smile on my face. You’ve come a long way. Here’s to another five years and 500 videos. (Looks like I have some catching up to do!)
Deb 🙂
Steve – thnx 4 the honesty brutha, care my man, the biz stuff will happen!
@Ryan Magin – nice brutha, much respect my friend. Same goes 4 u, stick to your heart and soul!
Deb! ha ha, no way I’d be here w/out your expertise!
Bill – I have been a subscriber to all types of monthly business newsletters which come w/CD, newsletters, etc.
I’ve had thousands of CDs – constant education as well as going back 2 re-listen to many of these CDs!
Zach,
You are TOTALLY the man you say you are and all the respect to that. Congrats to you and your family for your great success. True inspiration.
Zach,
First off, CONGRATS ive been a long time reader u and ur website is what got me started liftin and living like a F*CKING MAN!! I dont comment much but im in a situation that i feel u and everyone that actually got thier head on straight needs to hear. I work in the oilfield as a mechanic i LOVE it i swing a sledge, lift heavy shit, carry akward shit 12hrs a day .But the reason for my comment is im at a training school in Abu Dhabi there’s around 400-500 man and women from all around the world from HR reps and engineers all the dwn to me lol. I’ve only been here a week have 3 more to go and im already consider as CRAZI WHITE MAN! and i dont do anything different less then bak home i wake up 5am go running around the desert (not really that hot) id say only 2 miles around the facility then go to there gym if thats what u wanna call it(ill get bak to that) and each day i rotate i do ethier push up, pull ups, dips, handstand pu, bridges or leg raises just 3 or 5 sets of submax. Then shower call wife and lil girl then off the class. On breaks and lunch instead of smokin or gettin a super mocha expresso with extra sugar or piles of cookies and cakes i grab a apple or bannana and a book (convict condiction, minium fat max muscle, never let go, infinite intensity, bruce lee artist of life) i only eat some veggies and yogurt for lunch usally i follow the warrior diet at lunch i hit another set or 2 of whatever im doin that day (push up, pull up,ect) then after class bust out the studies for test and assignments talk to the lil ladies then workout. Now the real shocker hits the so called gym has ofcourse the array of treadmills staionary bike lookin out the big window so u feel like ur f*ckin lance armstrong and all ur super high tech cable assisted proper geomerity f*ckin bullshit sit and be comfy machines. But it gets better they have dumbells 5 to 50lbs u gotta be f*ckin kiddin me i could work my d*ck out with more weight. Hold on it gets better there “power rack” is a cable assisted smith machine with only 225 f*ckin pounds but i still manage to get a solid workout sprints ,plyo ,BW cirucit in despite all the weird and scared looks i get from every corner of the world. Then i hit the cafetria and feast they do have good healthy wholesome food i do enjoy that. But sry for the rant my point is i kno ur aware of the PUSSIFACATION OF AMERICA but its the WORLD!!! and its scary i got a lil girl and another on the way. Well anyways great work keep it up i look foward to ur emails everyday its good to hear from another man with a hold on his balls.
will
“Everything happens for a reason its up to u to make it a good reason”
Zach:
Great post. As you might remember, me being the retired military guy with my own opinions about the fitness industry and all the so called experts. We have even corresponded via email a couple times and I know we don’t agree on everything. I am not a guy that is going to sugar coat shit or tell you what you want to hear all the time even though I pop in on your blog from time to time.
But, I respect you for what you do and who you are from afar. After a 20yr Army career and running my own fitness biz now for almost three years. I realize being a 40+ yr old guy, the hardest thing is staying motivated and passionate each day in and day out.
That is why I love reading your articles that share your little antedotes on not just the biz, but life, family, continually learning, etc… I am just like that and what to improve the fitness industry by being an example for others to follow.
I think you said it in an old blog about INTEGRITY and how those jerkoffs from the fitness magazines pushed you away for whatever reason.
Dealing with people’s lives and helping them become better people all around, with health, fitness, and just living a well balanced life is what it’s all about.
You are a true man of integrity and I’m not just saying that, but I see it in folks I respect in the business like you. Even though you surround yourself around the “wannabe” fitness marketing or so-called fitness experts sometimes and we can agree to disagree on this, you are one of the guys that stands out bro.
It’s nice to see after all your hard work and years in the game or fitness industry, you are staying true you are a man of INTEGRITY and at the end of the day, I believe being true to yourself, family, and your God is what it’s all about.
Keep doing you bro and I will continue to follow you from afar. Take it easy.
Regards,
Tom