Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Soriano.
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?
After a 14 year career in corporate America in the Logistics field, I decided to pursue my passion of helping people through fitness, as a metric driven individual in my past life, I saw a need/opportunity to translate that to the fitness industry to hold people accountable and for them to see results, so was Forge Strength Austin born. I love to help people and I love working out, since I was 14, lifting has been my passion and my escape, I found out that I am the most happy when I connect with people and help them achieve something they did not think they could do, more importantly, see results. I am proud of my unique fitness background too, a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach, and around 14 years of bootcamp, personal training and small group class experience. Having taken coaching and strength courses at Austin Simply Fit, Atomic Athlete, Pure Austin Fitness. I previously co owned and coached at Austin Titan Evolution for 4 years, before taking this exciting step and venture on my own around 2018. The driving force was to have complete control and vision of my business, space and programming. One of my favorite things is to develop strong relationships with everyone in the gym, understand their needs and help them get results. I would say that my specialty is personal training, I enjoy customizing programs to the specific needs and goals of my personal training clients and now with our Fit-match body scan technology, I get even more detailed insights.
I also LOVE working out!.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I learned the hard way about co ownership w someone with a different priority and vision, my first partnership was humbling and a big learning experience of not compromising your value or your vision. Once on my own. Definitely not a smooth road either. As a minority owned business and no real funding other than my own, that is a constant challenge but also a constant gift, since you have complete control of what you want to buy and the direction you want to take your business. Along with rising costs from day to day expenses and astronomical Austin rent in the South Austin area, sketchy landlords, a very competitive market and client retention fluctuations, it’s always a learning experience and reality check to be better, not compromise and ADAPT. Luckily, I have also retained a core group of clients that keeps growing every year and in parallel, I have build very gratifying relationships. One thing I would tell any business owner, is don’t compromise on the value of the service you provide, every time I have done so, I regret it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I hinted in the previous section. I would say a personal training space that has been curated by a passionate fitness goer, owner, coach, a.k.a me :).. I customize 12 week programs based on your fitness background, current fitness level and a body scan. I am know for body transformations and a great service at a personal level with each client.
One big big differentiator is that my space is 100% dedicated to my client, no other gym offers that, usually personal training happens at a gym w at least two, three other training sessions going on at the same time.
As far as my brand, I am proud of my 57 five star reviews by actual members. I am proud that I am locally owned and owned by a minority, a Mexican American. My motto is pretty simple but if you step back and think about it, very powerful… Consistency, repetition and intentional in everything you do.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am a big geek but also a hard worker. I LOVE movies and frequently go to Alamo Drafthouse. Also, no one knows I recently started working in corporate America again. A one year contract w Apple and now at FedEx Logistics. Another thing most people don’t know is I have a Masters in Industrial Engineering.
Pricing:
- 8 personal training sessions for $849
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.forgestrengthaustin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgestrength?igsh=MTc2eHNwbzdwejZ1aA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/cosatx?igsh=MXN2bTg2bTZ6aDhueA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
