This Might Hurt Now, But You'll Thank Me Later

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“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” ― G. Michael Hopf, Those Who Remain

Shooting the bull with my buddy recently, he asked how the business was doing.

I told him that we were steady now after the last couple years of turmoil.

He asked for specifics about my career.

I told him about graduating from college in 1991 during a recession, and becoming a trainer shortly thereafter.

Then opening our first gym in 2002, opening 3 more between 2008 and 2010, and where we are now.

“So what you’re telling me is that you made major pivotal moves in your professional life during the worst economic downturns in the last century.”

I think I just stared at him, because it felt like he was either blaming me for something, or making a point about what an idiot I’d been.

“I guess. I never really thought about it.”

“TJ, I think you have a recession business.”

A recession business is blog is for another day.

THIS blog is about how people behave when things get tough.

Obviously I can only speak as an expert in my area, so that’s what I will try to do.

I’ve started looking into the behaviors of people during stressful economic times.

What we see is a turn towards asking ourselves existential questions:

Who am I? Why am i here? What is my purpose?

When trying to answer these questions, we feel a pull towards the quest of fulfillment in our lives.

Dr. Jamie Aten wrote about the psychology behind the Great Resignation.

He’s studied behavioral responses to disasters, from the 2008 Recession, to Katrina, to the Pandemic.

With regards to disasters like Katrina, he talks about how humans are driven to coexist.

The Great Resignation has shown that people want to have meaning in what they do, far more than being driven by what they get paid.

This has absolutely proven to be true during my career.

After the 1991 Recession, I had two types of clients: HIV-positive men who were following strict medical orders to gain lean body mass and strength, and random humans who were looking to get fitter.

In 2008, there was the search for community and capturing a level of fitness that people had never achieved before.

Now we are seeing the desire to grow as a holistic human.

Physical, mental, and existential growth allow us to have a better understanding of ourselves, so that we can achieve quality of longevity, not just longevity, itself.

The Playbook is my offer to help.

To take my 30 years and apply what I’ve learned to help people find the best versions of themselves.

I’m driven to investigate, compile data, and challenge people to do more in all of the areas that matter.

I’d love to go on that journey with you.

~TJ