Today we’d like to introduce you to George Pagan 3rd
George, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2012, I embarked on a transformative journey that would reshape my career and life. Fresh from ACL surgery rehab, I made the bold move from New York to Miami with my girlfriend (now wife), armed with nothing but determination and a passion for fitness. As a personal trainer seeking new opportunities, I faced the dual challenge of establishing myself in a new city while recovering from injury.
Undeterred by physical limitations, I channeled my energy into learning to code, recognizing the internet’s growing importance. This decision proved pivotal when I encountered difficulties finding continuing education opportunities to maintain my NSCA-CSCS certification. Frustrated by the inefficient search process, I saw an opportunity to innovate.
This challenge sparked the creation of FITLETE in 2013, a platform that has since become the go-to resource for personal trainers seeking education opportunities. What began as a solution to my own problem has grown into the largest collection of in-person and online continuing education in the fitness industry.
My journey wasn’t without obstacles. A college professor once discouraged me from pursuing a career in fitness, but I persevered. Over a decade of successful personal training and growing FITLETE has proven that with dedication and innovation, one can thrive in this industry.
FITLETE’s mission extends beyond education. It’s about elevating the entire fitness profession, helping coaches find quality mentors, and promoting the message that one can make a great living as a coach without resorting to questionable practices.
From working with diverse populations to overcoming the high turnover rate in the industry, my experience has taught me the importance of sustainable business practices in helping others. FITLETE embodies this philosophy, supporting both fitness enthusiasts and personal trainers in their growth journeys.
As a one-man show behind FITLETE, I’ve poured my passion for efficiency and thriftiness into every aspect of the business. It’s not just about fitness; it’s about continuous learning, innovation, and perseverance in the face of challenges.
Today, as a full-time self-employed personal trainer in Miami and the driving force behind FITLETE, I’m proud to have created a platform that’s changing the landscape of fitness education and professional development
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Obstacles have been ubiquitous, but my growing pragmatism has been an invaluable asset, even if I didn’t always recognize it. Henry Kaiser’s quote, “Problems are only opportunities in work clothes,” resonates deeply with me. I discovered this wisdom through David Senra’s Founders Podcast, and it has profoundly influenced my perspective.
While I never actively sought the entrepreneurial path, retrospection reveals latent entrepreneurial tendencies. My most significant hurdles were my self-perception and inner dialogue. External challenges, such as relocating without job security or network, paled compared to this internal struggle. As my self-awareness grew, obstacles became more manageable.
This newfound resilience empowered me to make bold decisions, like transitioning to self-employment despite temporarily halving my income. Even when my business faced threats from abrupt facility closures, I viewed these setbacks as growth opportunities. Though undeniably stressful, these events allowed me to reinforce my commitment to my mission and personal development.
We’ve been impressed with FITLETE, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
FITLETE is my professional outlet for creativity. While it is not the same type of creativity that I practice with my hobbies as an artist, it does allow me to keep that same creative frame of mind every day. At my roots, I am a personal trainer living and working in Miami, Florida, but owning FITLETE allows me to be much more than that to the clients I work with. I have an exclusive private training studio in The Magic City Innovation District, Little Haiti, where I help clients both in person and online. It has become more than a place to simply reach fitness goals; it’s the Headquarters to everything that Is me.
Over the past 15 years as a personal trainer, I understand how impactful a personal trainer can be in someone’s life, and that’s why I added a component to FITLETE that allows my colleagues in the fitness industry better access to hone their skills and help more people. As one person, there is a limit to the number of people I can help as their coach. So, being able to help my colleagues gain experience and access to education helps them better solve problems for their clients; that is how I can help more people realize their potential through a fitness journey. When you visit fitletes.com you can find every single in-person education conference, seminar or workshop around the world, and their only focus is helping personal trainers build their toolbox and hone their skills as a coach.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Honestly, I try not to think about luck as a component of my life or business. Maybe that’s a bit naive, unimaginative, or an exposure to my stubbornness and logical thought process, I don’t know. In my opinion, being “lucky,” whether it’s good luck or bad luck, is the end result of choices and decisions. Sometimes, we are blinded by the impact of a choice, the magnitude of a decision, or choosing to do or not to do something with an incomplete set of information, and the result can seem like it was a stroke of luck when, in reality, it was simply the result of something we couldn’t see the full picture of. I am a believer in being open-minded, making friends with strangers, and building honest relationships because you never know who will be the next impactful person in your story. While I don’t think we can “create our own luck,” I understand that phrase’s more profound meaning: what we do now will influence the opportunities that will soon cross our paths in a future we can not see.
Pricing:
- Full-time In-person Personal Training: as low as $80.25 per session
- Online Training in an exclusive App: As low as $11.25 per week!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fitletes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitletenation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fitletes/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fitletes
- Yelp: https://g.co/kgs/9qfeo4g
