Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrance Tyrrell Turner
Hi Terrance Tyrrell, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my pursuit into entrepreneurship in Pittsburgh, PA. I graduated with my master’s degree in Exercise Science & Physiology and was deciding on moving to either California or Florida to enroll back into school to receive my doctorate in physical therapy. Unfortunately, the decision was predestined and predetermined. I moved to South Florida in January of 2015. In 2015, a devastating traumatic event happened to my family, and I decided to sell all my belongings, pack up my SUV and drive to South Florida to do what seemed impossible. I always had a childhood dream of opening my own personal gym but that’s all it was prior to this event. At the same time. I just didn’t know how I would make it happen being that I didn’t have a place to live, I didn’t have a paying job, I never owned a business, and I didn’t know anyone in Florida besides my old college roommate who was enjoying life a little too much on the Florida party scene.
When I first arrived in South Florida, I had 5k saved up and a possible job that wouldn’t pay me for 2-3 months until I could prove my value as a trainer, but that just made me more eager to be successful and prove myself.
I thought the move to South Florida would help me deal with the traumatic event that happened to my family, but I found myself in an unhealthy pattern of drinking and partying to deal with the pain. Thankfully the pain was short lived, I would say in about 3 to 4 months my vision, purpose, passion, and mission overpowered my lust to party and hangout. After all, I had just graduated and I wasn’t willing to waste the time spent in college earning a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Psychology, Associates degree in Business and Masters in Exercise Physiology.
January 2015 was a new chapter, and my journey began.
I was focused on my purpose, goals, dreams and desires and I wasn’t going to let nothing stop me from achieving my goals. I lived in Miami and drove to Boca Raton daily. The drive most days took 2 hours, and the hours were long. My passion was still physical therapy, and I was searching to get more experience in the field to become a traveling physical therapist This landed me in a job on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida as an exercise physiologist. After about 11 months (July 2015 to May 2016) of working with the company I was laid off due to the notorious slow season in Florida. With that happening, I lost everything: my apartment car, and my credit score dropped from a 770 to a 480. I had to file for unemployment and food stamps. The weird thing is that I worked my whole life but didn’t qualify for unemployment. Taco Bell’s $.99 menu became my daily go to because the bean burrito was the cheapest healthiest option. At this point, I wanted to quit, and I wanted to leave and go back to Pittsburgh. Nothing was going right for me and I was still pretty depressed from the situation that brought me to Florida. However, something deep down inside of me did not let me quit and give up on myself. It made me want to work harder and sacrifice more to be the person I knew I could be and dreamed of daily. One thing I was sure of was that I was highly educated and willing to do whatever it took to make my vision come true. At this point I was working 3 jobs. I worked as a car salesman to learn the psychology of sales, as a swimming instructor to hone in on my ability to adapt to different coaching and training techniques and skills and a personal trainer at a local 24 hour gym.
Finally, things started to move in a positive direction. I got a job with LA fitness, as I mentioned earlier, I had two bachelor’s degrees and a masters, so I was able to start the position as a personal trainer director. The first month I was the top sales director, then they moved me to my own location. After a couple months, I was invited to a top performer’s dinner at the Orlando Magic game. While attending the game, the supervisors pointed out everyone that made top sales for their “club” and in the room together we all made over $500,000 for the company in a month. At that moment, I knew I had to set out and attack my vision.
In 2017 I took the $2k I had saved up and purchased a car then I moved back to South Florida. Unfortunately, the home in Miami that I moved into was an abandoned home similar to the one I lived in when I first moved to South Florida, except this time the home was infested with rats, roaches, giant spiders, no water or electricity. I had to frequent check cashing stores to borrow money to eat and manage the car. I was able to purchase a membership at LA Fitness so I could shower before and after work. Coming home to the dark waterless house every night, motivated me even more to get myself out of this situation. After 3-4 months of living there and traveling 2 hours daily to Boca Raton to work, I finally was able to move to Boca Raton and be closer to my job. I worked hard, arrived early, and stayed late. I met many people and started talking to CEOs and entrepreneurs about my dreams, passion, and goals. I would listen and get great business advice. While gathering information and learning from all the clients I trained, I learned the basics of opening and running a business I started creating multiple business and action plans for what is now 5X Fitness Lounge & Wellness Spa. At one of my training job’s the new owner of the gym didn’t like that I had a vision of ownership and that eventually I could become a possible competitor, so he kicked me out of his gym. This left me with nowhere to train those clients, so I started training them outdoors in the summer for 3 months.
After those 3 months, I signed my lease to my new location and my clients stayed with me during those 3 months and supported the vision. It was a real testament to the strong bond I had built in the industry thus far. I am grateful for the relationships because they sustained me through this very trying time and encouraged me to make the leap of faith to do my own thing.
I had been kicked out, laid off, homeless, left for dead multiple times so this was just energy to help motivate me more to become a successful entrepreneur. Finally, in April 2021, I opened my first 5X Fitness Lounge LLC and there will be many more to come.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road.
– I moved to South Florida with 5k
– I Did not have any business or work connections
– I didn’t get a pay check for 2-3 months after I arrived to South Florida
– I had to live in abandoned homes
– I had to break a race barrier
– I left South Florida in 2016 for a job opportunity in Orlando
– I was laid off from a job in Orlando
– I lost my apartment, car, credit
– I was in financial debt 15-20k
– I moved back to South Florida in 2017 with 2k
– I have beautiful healthy children I could not provide for
– I was arrested for children support for a late payment that had been paid but the system wasn’t up to date.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
5X Fitness Lounge & Wellness Spa: Your Ultimate Luxury Wellness Destination
Discover the epitome of luxury and wellness at 5X Fitness Lounge & Wellness Spa in Boca Raton.
Our state-of-the-art facility offers a holistic approach to health and fitness, providing private personal training, open gym memberships, and an array of rejuvenating spa services.
Indulge in our massage therapy, IV hydration therapy. Experience our recovery room for optimal relaxation and rejuvenation with infrared sauna, and cold plunge. Top everything off with our luxury barbershop, all designed to elevate your well-being.
Whether you seek a rigorous workout, relaxation, or revitalization, 5X Fitness Lounge & Wellness Spa is your premier destination for a comprehensive and luxurious wellness experience. Join us and transform your health journey today!
5X FITNESS offers private personal and small group training, private gym rental by the hour, private open gym. Clean and safe environment. Open 24 hours.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Family holiday parties
Pricing:
- One on One personal training $85-$125
- Massage therapy $100 – $160
- IV therapy $100-$280
- Infrared Sauna – Cold Plunge $18-$45
- Luz Barbershop $45-$65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.5xfitnesslounge.com
- Instagram: 5xfitnessandwellnessspa
- Facebook: 5x fitness lounge and wellness spa
- Twitter: 5X Fitness lounge
- Youtube: 5X fitness lounge
- Yelp: 5X Fitness lounge
Image Credits
Valerie
