I was born, in 1968, right smack in the middle of the heartland in Hays, Kansas. I grew up just a stones throw north in a small, mid-western town called Belleville.

 

Belleville is a small town with a population of 2,000 or so (give or take a few hundred) and like a lot of small towns in the heartland, almost everything revolves around church and school. For me it was ever simpler. For me life revolved around weights and football. I was consumed by both. I had two objectives in high school: get bigger and get stronger. And I did. Over the course of my high school years, I gained almost 100 pounds and ultimately earned all-state, high school, football honors.

 

I spent my first year of college at Highland Community College but eventually completed my degrees at the University of Kansas, where I graduated in 1992.

 

It was during college that I began competing in body building. My first contest was the Mr. Kansas in 1989 where I placed second in the novice, heavy weight class. Over the next few years I competed several more times before retiring out of frustration. I was unhappy with the direction of the sport and also wanted to concentrate on a career.

 

In 1993, with two college chums, I opened my first health club, Hardwear Gym and Fitness. Hardwear eventually evolved into Total Fitness Athletic Center, a club that I owned and operated until spring of 2001. That spring a fire burned my health club to the ground. Ten, long years of work gone in hours.

 

I rebuilt my club, but in the spring of 2003, I shut it down and I have never looked back. I now realize the fire was a blessing. It saved me. My only regret is that it took a fire to show me what I already knew. My passion is helping others discover fitness, and fitness isn't about bricks and mortar. It isn't about fancy machines and tanning beds. It's about people. It's about a lifestyle.

 

Welcome to Get Off Your Ass!

 

ROLE MODELS? Over the years my role models have changed as I've changed. I went straight from college to the world of self-employment. In the beginning, I idolized the "mover and shakers" of the business world. Guys and gals who started with very little and built business empires. That was then and this is now. I don't regret those years, it was necessary for me in my personal journey of life. But I have come to understand that chasing the "coin" is an exhausting and unfulfilling quest. These days, the people I most admire are right in front of me. in my family.

 

TRAITS YOU MOST ADMIRE IN OTHERS? Unselfishness and empathy.

 

TRAITS YOU MOST ADMIRE IN YOURSELF? Discipline and dedication.

 

FAVORITE TV SHOW? The Daily Show.

 

FAVORITE MOVIE? Sliding Doors. An independent film from the mid-90's that will give you cause to think about every single step in your life. Also love The Natural, Rocky I, Cinderella Man and The Sandlot.

 

FAVORITE ACTORS? Johnny Depp is a fabulous actor. Angelina Jolie is the hottest thing ever!

 

FAVORITE MUSIC? Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, Kid Rock, Toby Keith and Dwight Yoakam. Lovin' the sound of a new group the Zac Brown Band. I'm a sucker for good fiddle.

 

LONG TERM CAREER GOAL? Have no less than twenty books (on multiple subjects) published in my lifetime. Fitness is my bedrock (I have a couple more books in the works) but I'm also working on a movie script, a children's book series and maybe even some song writing.

 

LONG TERM PERSONAL GOAL? To continue learning and spiritually growing.

 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE HEALTH AND FITNESS INDUSTRY? It can and does change people's lives for the positive.

 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE LEAST ABOUT THE HEALTH AND FITNESS INDUSTRY? It's full of sleaze, lies, egos and idiots.