Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Boyd.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My Story! I believe our “Story” is what we use to influence and allow others to heal. I often say that even though I own Fitness Studios, it just happens to be a vehicle to heal the hurting or broken. When you strip it down, gyms or studios are places where people are looking to better themselves. Either from being overweight, fighting an eating disorder, fighting abuse from their spouse, fixing a broken heart or trying to find the self-confidence to navigate through their daily lives.
A gym should NEVER be about someone wanting to get a six pack because that fades and doesn’t provide any value to a person’s soul. I know this because I tried and it only showed on the outside what I felt everyone else wanted to see. Being healthy starts on the inside with the Mind, the Heart and the Soul! My journey started with growing up on welfare. My father left our family never to return when I was 7 Years old. I moved around over 20 different times over the next 11 years. My mother dated so many men when I was young, with a majority of them being alcoholic and abusive.
I spent the next four years being physically and sexually assaulted. My mother finally cracked when I was 14 and abandoned me to be left on my own. I was forced to go live with my father whom I never knew or had spoken to since I was 7. He passed away nine months after and I was emancipated by the Wisconsin Court. I have lived on my own as an adult since I was 15 years old. All through the hardest times in my life, it taught me how NEVER to give up, have unbreakable work ethic and determination. I spent 16 years in the Mortgage Industry as a Loan Officer, Sales Manager, Executive and eventually, the owner of my own Mortgage Bank.
Over those 16 years, I chased the paycheck and completely put my health to the side. In the summer of 2010, I decided to do a 12 Week Fitness Challenge because I couldn’t give blood. The reason is that I was Pre-Diabetic, with high blood pressure and I had hypertension. I started on August 9th, 2010 weighing in at 195 lbs and 28.7% body fat -ending on October 31st at 155 lbs and 3.2% body fat. My life, career, and purpose had been changed forever. I left my position at my company and started a Nutrition and Coaching company called 12 Week Fitness Challenge with my business partner, Derek Graham, in March of 2011.
Over those next two years, we coached over 10,000 people with over 90% of the people reaching their goals! In March of 2013, The 12 was born with our first studio in Irvine, and by the end of 1st quarter of 2019, we will have six studios open and operating! Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Tustin and Dallas, Texas!
Great, 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?
It is never a smooth road when owning a business in our industry. The facts are that over 80% of the 2.1 million businesses in our industry go out of business in 18 months.
I started this venture with just $55K to sign a lease, purchase equipment and hire employees. Looking back, I’m not sure how we even accomplished that! We’ve had struggles such as not being able to make payroll due to 3rd party partners going bankrupt and having to take a HELOC out to pay bills.
Business partners are going behind our backs, stealing money and clients to start their own gym. Competitors ruthlessly trying to steal employees and clients. We have funded this entire project from the profits of our company so that we can be self-sustained. That requires 18 hour work days, seven days a week for the past five years.
There are struggles each and every day when you own/operate a business.
The 12 – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The 12 offers experience driven group training classes across the USA. Combining the latest innovations in technology with scientifically designed, circuit-style, high-intensity interval workouts developed for maximum caloric burn in under 60 minutes, members of The 12 discover unparalleled results.
Fueled by their community-centric philosophy, The 12’s signature group classes, complete with heart rate training, are available at three Orange County, California locations including two in Costa Mesa and one in Huntington Beach. Franchise opportunities are now available nationwide.
The Plano/Legacy location in Plano, Texas is set to launch later this year and will serve as a secondary corporate headquarters. Premium grade supplements and nutritional coaching are also available.
Pricing:
- All NEW Clients Receive 2 FREE Sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: www.The12.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @the12movement
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-12-costa-mesa-2
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
