Today we’d like to introduce you to James Quigley.
Hi James, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. One of my earliest failures is actually what lead to me working in the fitness industry. By the time I was 23, I opened a few cell phones stores. At 25, I knew the ride was over. The larger retail stories were opening left and right and my small stores could not compete. I was miserable as well, unfulfilled and knew this wasn’t the path I wanted to stay on. Never the less instead of seeing the potential for a fresh start, I actually felt like the biggest failure. I remember having to go back to live with my mother. There I was night one sleeping on her sofa, tears in my eyes and in complete despair. I think back at how I really thought my life was over from this one set back at only 25. Your greatest failures or setbacks will often lead you to your greatest opportunities.
That’s exactly what happened next. A friend of mine offered me the opportunity to work the summer bartending in the Hamptons and live in a summer house with friends. It was time for a change and a fresh start. I was ready for a new circle of friends and a new environment. It was during a night at the house where one of the roommates and I struck up a deep conversation. He was a manager at a high end corporate fitness gym in Garden city NY. At the time I was extremely passionate about fitness and working out daily. That conversation would lead to an interview and ultimate my first job in fitness. I call this the change of rain. “When you are not living your purpose, life will give you a little rain to alter your path.” I have spent 18 years working in the fitness industry.
I’ve had the opportunity to operate over 20 luxury gyms, mentor and manage thousands of passionate fitness professionals, train and coach thousands of amazing people, open and lead my own gyms, organizing and hosting elite CF Competitions all over the world. I’ve worked as a fitness coach in NYC and even went as far as to live and work in Kuwait where we brought fitness to the Middle East region. After years of working in the service side of fitness I decided to make a change. over the past four years I have decimated myself to personal and spiritual development. Through that journey it gave me the clarity to discover that was next. Today, I am now the founder of Amplify Online Business Coaching. We help fitness coaches learn to get online, create an irresistible offer and make more money in less time. I now live in Austin, Texas with my best bud Cooper who is a four year old border collie, pit bull mix.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been anything but a smooth ride. My dad struggled with his own demons of addiction and organized crime. That led to a challenging childhood and many adult hidden traumas which I recently learned to heal from. I had my own daughter at the young age of 20. My best friend died when I was 16 of an accidental drug overdose. My career would be no different. I closed my first business at 25. I walked away from my second business at 31 and had my third venture had to sadly close due to Hurricane Sandy. In 2014, at the height of my career in NY I took an opportunity to live and work in Kuwait. It was an incredible experience where I learned so much and had my eyes opened to other cultures. However there was also a lot of guilt, tremendous anxiety and I even fell into a depression which I hid very well. It was an incredible experience but I also missed my family and friends tremendously.
On my return to NY, I knew I was ready for a different life experience. I moved away from NY again in 2017 and without a job picked up and moved to Austin. My goal was to open a luxury strength and conditioning gym. That change of rain happened again and I was met with so much resistance. It was in that process where I realized I wasn’t progressing as a man. I wasn’t learning anymore, my habits were terrible, I was unhealthy. I was completely out of alignment with my values. With each failure of trying to find space or raise capital, I was once again falling into a depression. Again another great failure led to another great opportunity. I’ve had so many pivots in my life and career, too many to list. However each failure, roadblock or set back gave me the fuel and lessons I would need to continue to write my story.
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 am a business coach and consultant for fitness and health professionals. I teach them how to take their business online, create an irresistible offer and make more money in less time. Our mission is to strengthen the foundations of the entire coaching industry by creating consistent growth and development opportunities for the inspired professional. Our goal is to help 500,000 coaches and online entrepreneurs build profitable online businesses by learning how to leverage their expertise through simple marketing solutions, powerful sales strategies and the most comprehensive leaderships practices. I am known as someone who has been in the trenches and has gone through many of the same obstacles as most coaches have experienced today. I truly love the industry. I grew up in it. I feel a huge sense of responsibility to teach what I have learned so that others don’t have to struggle as much as I did. I am really proud of the coaches who are investing in themselves to become better leaders. They are not just learning to operate and build a business; they are also learning to contribute something greater to their own communities. We have coaches all over the world who are building completely new skills sets, such as marketing, sales, business operations, social media etc.. They are ultimately learning not just to be better coaches but also small business owners. That’s so cool to me.
We’re in it for the long run. Every time a new coach joins our program, they learn how to make a greater impact in the lives of their customers. Those customers go on to live better lives and then create their own impact I their respective lives. That ripple all begins with the coach betting on themselves and allowing us to join them on their journey. That’s impact money can’t buy. Although I am online, Austin is my home. I plan on really creating strong bonds with the fitness and health community here. As a community we can all work together to help those in need. I am huge advocate for contributing back and for great charity work. I want to encourage the new generation of professionals that it’s not passion we should be chasing. Its purpose.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Favorite Podcast : Ed Mylett Joe Rogan Experience JockoPodcast Favorite Books: 7 Habits of Highly Effective people Steven Convey Mastery by Robert Greene “Rich Dad Poor dad by Robert Kisoski Think and Grow Rich Napolean Hill Greenlights Matthew Mchonnegy Extreme Ownership Jocko Willink Favorite Practices Journaling Meditation/ Breathwork Sauna and Icebaths Praying Exercise is a must Hiking and playing with my dog.
Contact Info:
- Email: jpquigley02@gmail.com
- Website: thejamesquigley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamespquigley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.quigley.33865
Image Credits
Taylor Prinsen
