Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Wells.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sure — Career-wise, would say I was a bit of a Late Bloomer. Was actually an English Major and Philosophy Minor in college…the only indication of what my real future was going to be was my taking tons of Science, Biology, and Physiology-based courses — way more than an English Major usually wants or needs. Probably should have paid more attention to that, but hey — hindsight is always 20/20!
Had worked in restaurants through college, and actually just kept doing that for awhile. Despite being interested in Training – continuing to read books and experiment with stuff on my own — I guess it just took me awhile to give myself the permission to go ahead and go for it…
After spending some time Training friends and co-workers informally through my 20s, finally got my first actual certification through the American Council on Exercise in 2008. From there the momentum picked up, and I had the good fortune to start off Training at a couple of smaller, hands-on Fitness Studios right away. In contrast to a typical “Globo-Gym”, these places definitely provided me with some additional apprenticeship and education — their owners were Master Trainers, and they provided plenty of further information and insight about all aspects of Personal Training.
Interestingly, though, after a brief sideways push that took me out of the Fitness Business for a couple years, I actually went back to work for a time at one of those “Globo-Gyms” to kick the rust off, and even there I ended up learning a thing or two. Finally, though, I founded Solid State Fitness in May of 2016, and have been able to promote and popularize my particular style of Training ever since!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, as they say, it ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. In my case, there was that “sideways push” I mentioned a moment ago…
So: after a very promising start at those Fitness Studios, the shockwave of the 2008 Financial Crisis hit us pretty hard. The majority of my Clients had to leave, and any prospective Clients became few and far between. Nonetheless, I persisted and stuck it out through about 2010, while living as hand-to-mouth as possible. Eventually, though, the situation became unworkable, so a hard choice had to be made — I ended up stepping down from the Personal Training industry in January of 2011.
Luckily, I was actually able to use that English Major to (eventually) secure a writing job for a Health and Nutrition company, which carried the bonus of allowing me to partially stay in my field. Along with using and honing those skills, there were some other learning opportunities along the way, and to this day it’s the best evidence I’ve seen that you really can make lemonade out of lemons…
By the beginning of 2014 things had improved, and I found Training was still very much what I wanted to do. So I got up, dusted myself off and got back in the Training game. It took a little while, of course, but those couple steps sideways did ultimately help make it possible to do what I’m doing now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Yes, absolutely..as a company, Solid State Fitness is fundamentally in the business of improving Public Health. The focus is on neither Athletics nor Aesthetics, specifically – though our Clients definitely end up with those benefits – but rather on developing physical capacity and strength for the general population. Through that, we aim to improve the overall health, fitness and longevity of all our Clientele.
In other words, we work with professional people who are not professional athletes, and have no wish to be – instead, we help them to find and become the best version of themselves. This has been our philosophy since the beginning, and it remains our founding principle and practice.
To extend this practice and respond effectively to the events of 2020 — which has been another “sideways push” for all of us — our newest and most exciting development is the introduction of our Online Training platform, where we’re able to deliver the same comprehensive instruction, consultation, and care from anywhere. A new-and-improved version of this style of Training is set for release for January 1st — just in time for the New Year!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Well…at the risk of sounding like a feel-good Pollyanna, what I’d actually like to share with anyone reading this is some good old-fashioned hope. Despite a lot of confusion, conflicting information and competition, there really are those of us out here in Personal Training and the Fitness Industry who genuinely wish to help you, who know how to do it, and who will never give up on you.
Even beyond that, though, I want them to have some self-hope and self-belief, so that they never give up on themselves either. It really doesn’t matter if you work with one of us, join a gym on your own, or even just pick up a piece of equipment or two and get to work at home. Positive change is always — always — possible, and it’s never too late to become your best You.
Contact Info:
- Website: solidstatefitness.us or soldstatefitness.online
