Right About Now with Ryan Alford - Radical Podcast - Ryan sits down with Kory Keefer
Episode Date: January 15, 2019A lot of inspiration and value from this episode as Ryan sits down with CORE24 gym creator and owner, Kory Keefer. Ryan and Kory talk about brand building, the impact of culture on gyms, and some of t...he ups and downs of growing a business. Learn more at Radical.Company or follow @radical_results on Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, join Ryan’s newsletter https://ryanalford.com/newsletter/ to get Ferrari level advice daily for FREE. Learn how to build a 7 figure business from your personal brand by signing up for a FREE introduction to personal branding https://ryanalford.com/personalbranding. Learn more by visiting our website at www.ryanisright.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@RightAboutNowwithRyanAlford.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Hey guys, it's Ryan Alford, host of the Radical Company podcast.
It is podcast Friday here at Radical.
You don't know what Friday it is though, because depending on when you're listening to this,
you never know what Friday that might be. So we'll keep the suspense there but I'm really excited to be joined today by Corey Kiefer, a local gym owner here in Greenville.
Have a couple gyms in their family that they run and Corey's someone I've really been watching
in the Greenville market doing a lot of things culturally with both
music, the gym, art, a lot of things. But Corey, man, really excited to have you on the podcast.
Yeah, awesome to be here. I love coming in and let's disrupt some stuff and have some fun.
Exactly, yeah. So yeah, I'm a member at CORE. It's easily, and I don't mind saying this even with clients and other people listening, the best gym in Greenville that really kind of captured the spirit that I was looking for in a gym.
So kudos to you.
I know you've worked hard on that, but really excited about the gym culture there.
Yeah, and that was like, you know, the biggest thing is when you walk down the stairs,
we want to punch in the face with that like different.
You just were like, it's something different automatically,
like where it just looks and feels like you know it's not a standard corporate gym
and that was like the biggest thing I was like walking down the stairs you just welcome to our
world where it's not gonna be anything that you're used to and uh yeah that's kind of where it started
well you definitely got that going but let's start man I'd love to you know for our listeners to kind
of give your background you know like the history with the gym, like what led you.
I know you guys started in Seneca, I think, at first gym.
But maybe just do a little synopsis of kind of your background
and what led to today.
Yeah, yeah.
So a quick rundown.
I went to College of Charleston, which is a fun,
too much of a fun school sometimes.
Party school.
Excuse me. So I graduated with a major, but, I mean fun school sometimes. Party school. Excuse me.
So I graduated with a major, but, I mean,
I didn't know what the hell I was doing there.
I mean, I was just partying and keeping a good enough grade to stay in school,
you know.
So I graduated there, and I was like, I don't know what the hell I want to do.
So I just booked a trip to London and, like,
backpacked to Europe for, like, six months.
I was like, I just, like, got to get out of this bubble because it's easy to get
stuck in that bubble and, like, the bev and just like whatever um and kind of was just like finding
myself slash just like let me just see what i can do about myself and i always had that like
entrepreneurial spirit and then my parents my dad's a pilot my mom's the entrepreneur behind
everything started the original gym probably like 14 years ago i guess yeah and my dad just wanted
a 24-hour gym because
he has weird hours flying so they started a small one and my mom pretty much did the whole thing
ran it and it grew from like just a small thing to like an actual gym like business and then that
was for a handful of years like when i was in high school and i messed around with it but it wasn't
anything that i was like want to do because you know i want to do my own thing you know anti whatever if my dad says anything no matter what it
is even if it's right I'm just like fuck you I want to do my own thing yeah and then I'll come
back to it when it's my own thought or my own thing they're like okay yeah um so they uh they
ran it awesome and then they just they had some management that just kind of plateaued for a while
and then they were you know talking about selling it and just like you know too much like it's more than what they wanted because my dad's you know still
doing a pilot mom was like i want to do something else i'm tired of this shit that she's doing all
the time because it wasn't really like growing at that time and that was kind of when i was coming
back from europe and i was like all right i have this you know desiring to me to start something
let me figure out if i can just jump into it worst case scenario i just like fuck
it up and like you sell it anyways yeah so i just like kind of like started just like cleaning the
gym i was like i'm just gonna make this gym look fucking immaculate and just like clean it and then
it was just like all right let me see if i can start working with like the management and see
if i can get people just like excited to come to work so i was just like doing small things and was
able to kind of grow the gym the first year. Like it was like 25 percent.
Then it was like 50 and then 70.
It was just like a startup.
So we grew within like the first like year.
It was almost like 300 percent.
And then was able to expand that in three locations in the scenic area.
And then we're in the one that we're in now, which is a 14,000 square foot gym.
We bought the building.
It's awesome.
we're in now, which is a 14,000 square foot gym. We bought the building. It's awesome. And came to a point where like, okay, I don't need to be there every day to like run this show. So let's like
look at an actual city. And Greenville, you know, made the most sense from, you know, Seneca,
Clemson area. And happening somewhere across this, the building we're in now, which was a shithole
when we got it. I was like, when was like, when the landlord first showed it,
I was like, there's no way I'm ever touching this gym.
Like, it's horrible.
And then kind of like, you know, I was like, okay,
maybe this is something that, you know,
if we just strip it down to like the bare minimum walls.
Make it your canvas.
Yeah, exactly.
Maybe we can work with this.
And so that kind of came up.
And then I had like, I guess some of these ideas
that I was trying in Seneca.
And Seneca is an interesting market.
I love Seneca.
But you have like an older demographic.
You have like high schools.
And you have Clemson College, but it's not necessarily in Seneca.
So I was trying all these like marketing things.
And some of them were working.
And I was like, I really feel like there's like something that could be bigger.
So I want to try it in like a city where there is the population is a little more dense and let me figure out
something with it and so that's you know when Greenville came about and then yeah
kind of started with with this idea and I guess the brainchild behind it was
sitting around with some my friends like look where do we hang out with people
outside of the bars or where do we meet people outside the bars?
And no one can come up with an answer.
It's like we watch the football games.
When we go out, it's all like sitting around like bars or clubs.
Like, I don't really hang out with like people or meet people outside of that.
And I was like, okay, so if we move to a new city, how do you meet someone?
And, you know, like you can do these like lame-ass meet-up groups and shit like that
and maybe go to the bar by yourself. But that's kind of weird. So I was likeup groups and shit like that and maybe go to the bar by yourself.
But that's kind of weird.
So I was like, OK, it's not weird to go to the gym by yourself.
And if the atmosphere is, I guess, more energetic, it's easy to meet people.
And if there's a lot of younger people in there or just like cool entrepreneurs, young professionals,
young professionals, they can be a place where you can like meet and interact and have an environment that you enjoy going to that you wake up sore instead of waking up with a hangover.
But it kind of that same like idea behind going out because you go out to like meet people to
dance, to have a good time and like drinking is a byproduct of that. Well, why can't we just do
that in a gym setting where everyone knows that working out and eating healthy is good for
you yet so little people do it and everyone knows that like drinking and going out it's bad for you
but like no one misses going out like on a big night or a saturday night with your boys or your
girls so it's like instead of preaching to everyone of like you should work out because it's good for
you i was like let me just create an environment that is more enjoyable to come to,
and then it makes working out easier.
If you just come to the environment
and it's just more of an atmosphere and a vibe,
then it's easier to work out
because you're just coming to the space in general,
and it's a place to hang out, a place to meet people.
At the end of the day, obviously a place to work out,
but everyone knows that.
Everyone knows working out.
I could ask a homeless guy on the street,
I'd be like, yo, have you worked out? Is that good for you? And he'd be like, yeah. everyone knows that. Like, everyone knows working out. It's just like, I could ask a homeless guy on the street, I'd be like, yo, if you worked out, is that good for you?
And he'd be like, yeah.
You know, I mean, he knows that.
Like, is just drinking this beer every day bad for you?
He'd be like, yeah, I know.
But it's like, so everyone knows it.
It's just like, no one wants to do it, you know?
So instead of, I would say, I guess,
take the psychology behind it a little bit
and just create a space that, you know,
I guess brought that out.
Yeah, I love that.
And, you know, go figure.
It's like, I think, of course, there's people like,
once it becomes a lifestyle, you enjoy going to the gym.
But there's always somewhat of the chore of doing it.
And if you can bring it and make it somewhere that's more in line
with the things that people are interested in whether it's the music whether
it's the look whether it's the vibe the people the culture i mean what a concept i mean you know
it's in some ways like what i'm sure maybe and you know even i lived in new york for five years
i didn't walk into a gym ever that looked and felt like core. Yeah. And, I mean, it was like, yeah, there were like some –
there's some energetic music going on here,
but it still felt very corporate.
Yeah.
You know, it was still like – and I think there's something there.
But I'd love for you to talk maybe about your cultural inspirations.
And, you know, there's tons of art, you know,
your own art that you've done in the gym,
but maybe talk about the inspirations for,
for the culture vibe that is it's at core. Yeah. Yeah.
So I guess one is I just kind of grew up, I guess, being a rebel, like,
you know, just always played in the, in the gray area.
So I never was like a hardcore, like troublemaker, but always if there's rules,
I'm going to try to play around them. So like, I'm a rebel at, you know, at heart. So if you tell me,
don't press that button, probably going to, you know, I'm going to like figure out a way around,
you know, that somehow. So, you know, I was just going, like you said, everything felt so corporate
and they're afraid to be edgy and they're afraid to like rebel against that.
And, you know, rebel, I guess maybe it gets a bad word, but like kind of just rebel to be like
yourself, like not afraid to like show your true self. And I guess the culture behind is like,
you know, music and the art and, you know, tying into fitnesses, those things, you don't have to
speak the same language as someone to be able to connect over a song or music. You don't have to speak the same language as someone to be able to connect over a song or music you don't have to speak or even be in the same like cultural barrier as like an art piece
and you can you know it kind of transcends cultural barriers those things and like fitness as well you
can see someone that has cool style you can connect with them and not even know who they are
and that I wanted to bring into like the fitness world And I was like, a big thing of the music, of just being edgiest.
I feel like there was a burning desire for people to be like,
okay, yeah, this music's going to cuss.
We're going to have beer on tap.
If that offends you, then we're not for you.
And too many gyms or just too many places
that we're just trying to appeal to everyone.
And you're just trying to bring the prom queen or whatever,
and just be like,
everyone's going to like you.
And that sounds good at first and on paper,
but then no one really likes you.
You know,
everyone's just kind of like,
well,
I don't really like him.
I don't really like hate him,
but I want to like,
okay,
it's okay if I piss people off.
I don't want to have everyone here,
but I want to have like the select group of people that like truly believe in
like our style. And like, if we have that, then we'll be able to like breed a better culture and act
like true fans, true customers, true, like people that are like, are a part of it. And like more of
less than like, just, you know, members, I guess. Uh, but yeah, the art, I mean, I'm not an artist,
but that's kind of something I did in middle school Maybe and then like never did it besides that then started throwing paint on the walls and my buddy's like I was kind of cool
and kind of a release of
Doing business at like 4 in the morning. I can do some like artwork
But I guess it's bringing some like LA vibes some Miami New York style kind of all together some underground
Miami, New York style kind of all together, some underground music culture.
And I grew up just listening to hip-hop.
That was all my shit was ever, just hip-hop stuff.
My mom used to find the CDs with the printable advisory and throw them away.
She's like, you can't be listening to this trash.
And still my dad's Dr. Dre albums and stuff like that.
So that's part of the – it's's like some hip hop culture into it and just like hype stuff.
And just, I guess, not necessarily mainstream
is what we're at, you know,
more of that underground vibe.
But yeah, just like, I guess,
not afraid to be authentic.
And when you walk in there,
you're getting a piece of me.
And I was like, just like, that's it.
So you're able to like see inside my mind a little bit
and like I guess connect with me in a real way
that I'm not afraid to show, I guess.
Yeah, I love that transparency.
And I think, you know, I think it's moving towards that gradually
where people are getting more comfortable kind of being their authentic self.
But at the same time, it's still such a rarity i think with everyone's kind
of following the herd and you know and especially with corporate businesses and things like that
they are i understand the pc side of things and like you know having to tow that line especially
if you want to have you know 500 locations and like locations and have the 999 model.
But I think you're really on to something with really carving out a look,
a feel, and a culture that matches the energy.
And it almost creates community.
And I think if that's the word I kind of come back to
when I think about what Core's doing versus other gyms.
And I've I'm gonna
I've been a fitness guy my whole adult life you know and like I've been members probably even
living in Greenville in New York whatever probably 50 gyms you know but there's a community with core
that I think that you've really struck a nerve with that's just growing yeah and so i i um commend you for that is um you know you talked
about your parents uh i think interesting but thinking about you know pleasing your parents
like how often do they come into core and like do they what do they think of like where it's landed
so my mom my mom's a saint by the way and so she's such a sweetheart so she's always like this music's too loud she's
like did they just say the f word i'm like yeah mom but like that's okay like she always like you
need to turn this down i'm like all right what do you want to play she like puts my country on or
something like that so you know they at first they like were anti everything they're like i don't get
this this doesn't make sense and then they kind of like started seeing i guess the true like the
path behind it.
And it was like working and they're like,
okay.
So they're,
you know,
gradually coming on board with,
uh,
I guess the ideas behind it,
but you know,
they don't,
they don't interject on too many things.
I mean,
they,
they,
let's say they're two cents and you know,
it's,
it,
it,
it grounds me in some sense of just like seeing that perspective.
But you know,
we're not,
I'm not targeting that age
demographic necessarily you know like if if i was then it would kind of make us you know every gym
and that's what it goes back to it's like we have to have a competitive advantage on these corporate
gyms i mean you got these giants out there golds or these anytimes these planet fitnesses and if
i'm not going to beat them at being gold i'm not going to beat them at being goals. I'm not going to beat Planet Fitness at being Planet Fitness.
So it's like, okay, where do I have a competitive advantage at?
They're like a 747 Boeing jet.
They can't just make a U-turn really quick.
If they want to change their corporate structure,
it's going to be a slow process.
I can move very quickly,
and I can make something that has edge to it that they can't.
They can't play music like that.
Their corporate would have a heyday.
HR would be getting calls left and right.
I can do that, though.
So it's like, okay, I can have something that can appeal to that younger demographic.
When I say younger demographic, it's more of a mindset.
It's not an age, necessarily.
You have to be 18 and up to get in the gym.
But other than that, it's like, I don't care how old you are. It's more of the mindset that you, you know, you can be,
you know, an 80 year old, but if you are cool with that and you just want to have that environment,
then yeah, that's awesome. You know, our ages are younger or in that, you know, 25 to 35 year old
demographic, but you know, it doesn't have to be, you know, it's more of just a mindset that we're
going after. Um, but yeah, I mean, that's like where we can grow more is just like creating a niche um and it's hard because everyone's you
know at first you're looking at you know pnls and everything you're like okay if i do classes if i
do this i can have so much broader network of people that we can appeal to and maybe at first
you can get them as customers but then you'll start losing you know the true people of like okay well the music's too loud so we'll
turn it down and then people like well that's what I came here for then you
lose them and then you try to you know so it's you wouldn't have a core group
of people and then and then you try to like brand loyalty off price and that
never where you can never brand loyalty on price then you're a gas station you
know like no one does that so you know? Like, no one does that.
So, you know, trying to have, like, true customers that,
you know, like Apple.
Apple could come up with an iPhone generation, whatever,
that nothing changes, which they pretty much do,
and a million people are going to buy it.
It could be $3,000 the next one,
and the camera's going to be one pixel better,
and everyone's going to buy it. Because it doesn't matter what Apple does.
They have branded that. And it's okay if you don't like apple products they're not for you you know
it's that but it's that mindset behind it you're like soul cycle you don't go to soul cycle for a
power lifter they don't try to appeal to power lifters but they appealed you know to that certain
demographic and they exploded and you know they did amazing so it's you know it's just that which is almost like
reverse engineering of what you want to you know have from there originally so i love that and
where does your you know you're a young guy i mean compared to this old man across the table
uh i don't feel but you know you've got a business acumen that I really respect.
And where does that, you know, you strike me like me.
I wasn't a straight-A student by far.
I never was.
I was not in Clemson.
I wasn't in high school.
Like, you know, I don't even know what my GPA is.
I'm not going to announce that on the podcast.
But, you know, but I always had a business. But what I really respect about what you've done and, like, listening to you talk more and as we've gotten to know each other, there's a business acumen about you and an understanding of branding and business.
And, you know, I hear you talk.
Where does that – is that just innate?
I mean, like, where does that come from?
Yeah, so I didn't really take that many business courses in college.
I was a communication major because all the hot chicks were in communication classes literally that's
literally sorry mom and dad that's pretty much what it was like just calling it straight up i
mean i took a couple like entrepreneur classes but i like said my mom's the entrepreneur she's
like built businesses and stuff and i think like that wasn't like subconsciously and still when i
was younger and i guess yeah it just comes from that and just
I'm good at taking myself out of a situation and the emotions out of a situation and being able to
look at it from like a customer's scenario and I think that helps of like I'm I'm attached
obviously to the gym but I can see if it's not working properly or if there's something that like
it's just my perspective,
you know? So I think that helps a lot where I'm like, okay, if I was to walk in here, if I was
someone off the street or if I was, you know, just a random person, how would I feel? How would it
look? How would I like this? And I try to do that more often so that I don't get caught up in just
like this narrow minded, it's all emotion stuff you know where i i think my
i guess it's my upbringing maybe you know i honestly don't know and and i'm not gonna claim
that i know shit honestly because i just kind of shoot from the hip and you know at halftime i
review the playbook and see what's what's working and what's not like okay well this really didn't
work let's try this i'm not the most structured person either it's kind's working and what's not. And like, okay, well this really didn't work. Let's try this. I'm not the most structured person either.
It's kind of controlled chaos.
And,
and,
and I,
I know that.
And I probably need to hire someone that's a little more structured to help
me in that aspect.
But I,
I don't try to,
you know,
be something I'm not,
or try to act like I know things that I don't.
And I'm always trying to learn too.
I,
I think a point in college,
it's probably like my senior year when I really was like, what the hell am I going to do after this? Because I just thought
like, I'm really good at like meeting people and like just having connections with people. But
I met, it was Tommy Baker, I believe his name. He's a big, big name down in Charleston. And I
met with him for brunch. I got a meeting with him and he was
like, what he just like straight up, he was like, what value are you going to add to me? And this
was like a senior year. And I was, cause I was trying to like work for him. And at the time
I had nothing to say. I was like, shit, that's a tough one. And I literally, that conversation
pretty much ended. Like literally it was just like nothing. And he was like, cause I mean,
that's pretty, and I was like, Oh shit. So like when it hit me, I was like, okay, what value could
I, I mean, at that point I had nothing. I was like, I'm willing to learn. Like, I mean, that's pretty, and I was like, oh shit. So like when it hit me, I was like, okay, what value could I, I mean, at that point I had nothing. I was like, I'm willing to learn. Like, I mean,
but I didn't really have anything. So I, I was like, all right, let me just start reading books
or just, I listen, I'm a slow reader. So I started listening to books more, more or less,
and I could like do other things. So I think that kind of just jumpstarted a mindset of like,
kind of piss me off for, for greatness or success if you want to because i was around affluent people
but i was on their like coattails you know like yeah and then i was like meeting these people and
i was like okay you're not smarter than me necessarily you just were able to do it and
you're not like a esoteric figure that you know no one can touch and i was like all right like
i guess it's like something switched i was like all right i'm gonna figure this out like yeah it's just a process like systems and processes it's just
let me just do it i don't want to look back at myself and be like damn like what what the fuck
was i doing you know like or like go to my kids like you know elementary school thing and was like
oh my dad's a loser you know like you know i want to be like the
fucking man you know so i was like all right so i think that maybe just like helped me like okay
and not afraid to like fuck up i think that's a big thing too and that's what my my parents they
were they allowed me to try so many things i was a skateboarder all this stuff like did dj stuff in
college and i like wasn't afraid to try things and see what i liked and like fail on
some things too you know because yeah you just got to hit one home run with it you know and just
making that like next thing okay all right it's a failure but not necessarily you know it could be
a money failure but it was expensive failure expensive lesson you learn from it it's not a
failure exactly you know so i think i was just like, okay, fuck it. Like if I lose all my money, if I do this or whatever, worst case scenario, like I can
call mom and dad and sleep on their couch.
Like worst case scenario.
I mean, I wouldn't be, my pride would definitely take, you know, a hit, but whatever, you know,
like if that happens, I think that I was just like, okay, I'm going to figure this out.
And I think that's just kind of where it like led me to do it and not playing by the books honestly I was like I didn't read business books because I didn't want to play like
how businesses are doing I was like you know I want to kind of set my own like I guess parameters
of what we're doing so yeah you didn't read them and I haven't read that many but I've been in it
long enough to know though that you've got a sense about you that you know i think you
have kind of adjusted but i see what you're doing with the marketing and like your vision with like
some of the content and all that like and the understanding branding like even the concept
you know i talk with a lot of people clients and been at this marketing a long time yeah and not
everyone it's not a just, it's an acquired,
either acquired
or an innate ability
to kind of understand
the power of brand.
Yeah.
You know,
because a lot of people,
you know,
they want to sell,
sell,
sell more stuff,
but they don't understand
what gives something
its worth,
its value.
Yeah.
I know this water bottle
is worth whatever,
but,
you know,
it's a Fiji water bottle
and I pay $3 for it instead of 99 cents for the, you know it's a fiji water bottle and i pay three dollars for it
instead of 99 cents for the you know like yeah and and that's not just a given yeah you know so i've
really respected that from you and that was something that i was like when i was younger
i always had like i don't know a sense of a cool or like i was always trying to be on the trends
of stuff and yeah my sister was older so i was taking styles that her and her friends were doing it you know i was always trying to be on like the i guess the front end of what
was wearing that was cool and i'm afraid to be a little different and you know it was like i i think
it was like when the first time i like found out like louis vuitton was and i was like shit that's
like or no it was it was louis vuitton and then air mess i was at like a shop we were traveling
younger and i picked up a shirt and it was like $1,400. And I was like, this shirt looks, I didn't know the brand at the time. I mean, I was like 12. I
was like, I was like, mom, like, why is this like $1,400? It looked like a regular shirt to me.
And she like pointed to the logo and I was like, and I was like, what? So you just literally,
it'd be a regular, pretty much the same shirt, same shit, maybe, maybe a little better, you know,
but you know, put the Lv or you put the air mass
something on it and it's you know a thousand percent profit margin on that you know like
that and that goes back to the brand that brand is like what has made that you know more something
where is the feeling and that's what i want i want people when they think about core when they
come in there's a feeling you know it's not just like a logo it's something that they like they can relate to and they're like i want to put that on my back like i see that and
i relate to that there's a that's a part of me in there too you know where you know people get
harley davidson tattoos on them like it's a corporate logo you're getting tattooed on your
chest or whatever but you know it's like they have something to that like i'm a you know i'm a
writer die or type of deal you know so it's like that's where to that like i'm a you know i'm a ride or die or type
of deal you know so it's like that's where i want to invoke a feeling when you look at our page i
want there to be a feeling behind it rather than just like oh it's a gym you know the gym thing's
almost like secondary to like what i want that community and that like culture to be and it just
happens to be a dope ass gym you know i love. Yeah, I love it. So what's the future hold?
You know, like, what's in your crystal ball and or plans, you know,
for other gyms or for core here?
I mean, you know, I imagine you've thought about expansion.
I think we've even talked about that a little bit.
I'm sure you're being careful just to do it the right way.
But talk about, you know know where things are headed yeah so um atlanta charlotte's kind of
piquing our interest a little bit i mean it makes sense for semi-local keeping it in the area you
still can drive there it's not that um i have a really good feeling about atlanta i love the
culture there there's a bunch of sports teams there's a bunch of sports teams. There's a bunch of movies going on. There's a bunch of like hip-hop culture there.
Just overall, I think that's a great spot to be at.
So expansion is obviously like, you know, on the forefront.
But I don't want to, you know, run before, you know, I'm walking right now or whatever.
So, I mean, here's just, you know, I'm trying to incorporate technology a little bit more into what we're going to be doing so i have some i'm playing around some ideas of uh what we
can i guess have with technology embedded into the gym whether you know it's automated front desk
stuff where we have like pre-workout on tap and a different style and just have everything a little
bit more like tech friendly and just like integrating that in somehow. So, you know,
obviously I want to innovate with the gym every, every day, every month.
Like I want you to walk in there and be something a little different or,
or feel different and build that brand itself. So, I mean,
obviously I need to build the brand more before I really like can take it
nationwide or anything. But yeah, I want to expand cause I, you know,
I feel like, you know, why not? I mean, it's just like, you know, we're, we're, we're doing good here. You
know, obviously we can be doing better and we are going to keep growing, but like, you know,
really just like, I want to, you know, hit it when I can, cause we're seeing these places and cities
that people are coming to Greenville and like, man, I wish there was a gym like this in Houston
or, and you know, Tampa where I live or in Atlanta. And I'm like, is, I wish there was a gym like this in Houston or in, you know,
Tampa where I live or in Atlanta. And I'm like, is it really not? And then I'll like travel to
some of these places and I'm not really seeing anything that like has exactly what we're, you
know, like, you know, doing. They're either like class-based boutique gyms or these massive
lifetime fitness clubs that are a hundred thousand square foot and people were kind of missing the true gym that's not afraid to be actual gym you know yeah um so you know i definitely you know if we
can get capital right and you know the funds then i guess and the people right too that's the big
thing is you know having people in place at all these gyms so that i'm not having to be there
you know 18 hours a day sometimes hiring people is the hardest thing you do.
Yeah.
I mean, all the people at all my gyms, that's the only reason why I'm here.
I have amazing staff from the Green Bull and Seneca.
That's the only reason that I'm able to, you know, grow.
I mean, I give it all to them.
And, you know, just being able to keep those guys and girls in place
and just be able to have that where, you know, the trust is there.
And,
you know,
it's,
it,
as you know,
that's the biggest question mark with businesses is the people behind it.
Cause that technically they're representing the business there.
You know,
if you,
if you get an asshole where,
where they look good when you're around,
but when you're not around,
you know,
they're a dickhead to everyone.
They're like,
well,
of course sucks.
Or,
you know,
radical suck just because of one person that could, you know, ruin it when you're not around, they're a dickhead to everyone. They're like, well, that course sucks or radical sucks
just because of one person that could ruin it
for that group of people or whatever.
I'm sure you're learning this already.
I've hired and I guess fired, I hate that word,
but had discussions with probably dozens of people,
unfortunately, in my career,
but it's hard to get it right every time.
I'm blessed to have a great team here, Radical too,
but you just, you are, they represent you at all times.
And so that's definitely one of the hardest things.
As we close out, I'd love for people listening
and we definitely have maybe,
whether young or old really, but any
advice that you, that you've learned, you know, now running your own business or for, you know,
maybe someone young or like, you know, that are like, I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to
grow. Like, I mean, you've, you've accomplished a lot of things and I know you're still growing
and you know, you're humble about it, but you know, any advice that you would throw out there
for anyone listening,'s thinking about it,
not necessarily just the gym thing,
but just business in general?
Yeah.
Just like the advice I try to tell myself
and anything in general is just action.
That's what makes the difference
between winners and losers.
And recognize there are losers in the world.
There's winners and there's losers,
and don't be a fucking loser.
And the difference is people that take action.
Whether if you're fit or not, you're taking action by going to the gym and working out.
Whether you're showing up to work, you're taking – it's literally just that.
That to me is like the biggest difference maker in the winners and losers and the people that are successful and the people that do well.
It's like action by calling your mom.
Just like taking those – just doing it.
And so many people will like do things on paper or like research, research, research. And then that paper goes in
a binder and never gets open enough. You know, it's like, okay, well if you did half less research
and then more action, it could have, you know, flipped, you know, the other way around. So I,
I guess that's like the biggest thing. I wish that would have been advice to myself that, uh,
you know, I would have done, you know know in college would have been taking more of those action steps to maybe I
could have been in a better position than I am now or you know further ahead but I think that's just
really honestly what makes it I mean there's no special formula obviously like hard work and all
that shit but action that's literally it's just like they've taken that first step just towards
it and then you know everything else will will happen or not and then
you know that's that's on you after that i love it well i'm definitely going to hold you to uh
speaking at one of the greenville hustle yeah i know matt's talked to you about that yeah yeah
but um i um and you know that's and that's been an interesting venture for us you know trying to
bring those like-minded people together and you know there's invariably the doers and the non-doers you know and so you kind of got to
shake through that but i'd love for you to come speak at one of those events yeah you know tell
this story you know that's that's one thing that i've slacked on is like my networking i'm always
really good at that but like with openness gym i have not been as good as reaching out and networking or just talking to people and stuff.
So I definitely love to be involved and speak or whatever.
Like I said, I don't act like I know everything because I definitely don't.
I don't know shit, but I'll speak from my own experience, and that's what I can do.
No, man.
You've got a great story to tell.
You should be proud of everything you've done with CORE.
I'm proud to be a member, proud to support you,
and I really appreciate you coming on today.
I appreciate you having me.
It was awesome.
All right, brother.
Thanks so much.
All right.
Take care.
Hey, guys, really enjoyed today's podcast with Corey Kiefer.
If you're in Greenville, you need to get to CORE24,
best gym in Greenville bar none.
Check out Corey.
You can find him on Instagram all the regional regular channels core 24 gvl i believe that's it isn't it cory and uh on instagram and
uh get in there and i hope to see you and uh we'll talk to you next time here on the radical podcast The Fever Burns