The Origins of Momentum… Started at Failure
Momentum … it started at failure
Momentum is fortunate to be where we are right now, we have our own studio and our team is now growing with increasing amounts of services. But it’s moments like this that I’ll realise that it’s not about where we are, but also where we have come from. This might be a new story for many that don’t know, and it all begins back in 2011 so strap yourself in and hear my story!
In the summer of 2011, I had a big change in mentality - and it probably came from the fact I had failed 5 out of my 8 units in University. It was my Biomedical Science degree where I was not enjoying the times of 3 hour labs with the smell of formaldehyde when working with cadavers. I kept asking myself, “where will these skills take me?”
If I wanted to help people, I needed to be in front of them and use my personal skills, I didn’t want to be behind the scenes.
At the time (and still) I loved the gym, I trained and kept going for a consistent 6 days a week in 2010 and 2011. This was my escape from the world, it helped me mentally and physically - things I wanted to share what exercise did for me to everyone else. It was a no brainer from there. I jumped ship from my Biomedical Science degree at UWA and enrolled at Curtin for my Bachelors in Exercise Science and also a Certificate III & IV in Fitness at the Australian Institute of Fitness - I went all in.
I didn’t work through 2012 as a personal trainer even though I was qualified, I thought that I just needed some time to develop more. So instead, I started in 2013 at Fitness First Cannington, which was during the second year of my Exercise Science degree. Finally! I was able to learn something in Uni that I could apply into the real world as soon as possible and I was hooked. Straight off the bat I was able to help people and train them with their personal goals - I was booked out for 6 days a week and had more than 30 appointments working part time while at Uni. I was on a high!
But when it rains - it pours. As I was working so much in the business, I wasn’t able to work on the business. I was trying to balance my training, my work, my studies and also my personal life. You could say that this is also a situation for many people out there with their work, who don’t prioritise their own health. Ultimately, I had to do what I thought was the worst thing ever, and call it quits since my life was in shambles and I felt as if the industry was unforgiving and just chewed me up and spat me out.
I focused on my studies and finished my Bachelors in Exercise Science - and it led me to work as a health coach on mining sites. This was just what I needed, not worrying about how many clients, appointments and bookings but just straight shifts and working on something that I loved. Trying to make a difference in health, mentally and physically in remote sites where people might be struggling. But I was wrong - I realised that the people on these sites were far and few when it came to people who aligned themselves with my core values.
“Make time for your health or you’ll be forced to make time in sickness”
I had then changed into working a Perth based role as a Manager of a 24/7 franchise gym. I can’t quite say where I was - but I can say that I had the time of my life here working for people that made me feel appreciated. Not only that - I was able to see what people had done differently, where I had failed and what I wanted to do. Being in this position meant I could meet more people, and I had spoken to a person who was helping worker’s compensation cases as an Exercise Physiologist. I got talking to him and found out that I was just one step away from what he was doing and just needed 1 more year at Uni!
I committed to this idea and enrolled at Fremantle’s Notre Dame University in Exercise Physiology! It provided me with the extra value and service I could provide in personal training. 2016 was a blast of a year, even though I was waking up at most times at 6:00am and home by 8:00pm I couldn’t have asked for a better time. I was training people out of my car, I was learning practicals and it got me thinking if I wanted to get back into owning a business. If there was a time to do it, it was 2017.
2017 was the time to make that jump. Instead of aiming for a private clinic that helped people in their methods, I wanted to help the people who were aligned with my values and methods. Preventative sports prescription, strength & conditioning and sports science consulting. I went with the last option - I was ready to write my own story. So back to Goodlife Cannington it was, my old stomping ground which was formerly known as Fitness First Cannington.
I worked and worked from the start of 2017 to 2018 at Goodlife, getting booked out and trying to build an empire! But that did not happen - I burnt out much before I could even grasp the concept of what I wanted to do. But I loved what I did, I was working with strength & conditioning clients and preventive injuries from sports with strength training. I couldn’t give up.
But I did - I had settled for a full time job which was just working in something that was just remotely related to my field. I wasn’t satisfied, I wasn’t fulfilled and I definitely was not waking up with a “kick” in my morning. I looked around and saw that I wasn’t going to help people long term like I had used to when I first worked my businesses in 2013 and 2017. Should I just be settling to do something but security and slightly related to my degree? No - I need to work what I need to do. I quit that job. It wasn’t easy - but I rather try to do something in what love then something that I might like in the future.. just because it was remotely related.
So I packed it up and went to the gym that I trained in and loved. Genesis Fitness in Bentley was the place where I operated as an Exercise Physiologist and provided both rehabilitation and personal training services. This time was different though, I had the support of my now fiancé and future wife, Nancy who helped me battle through certain difficulties that I hadn’t been able to get through in 2013 and 2017. We had difficulties and I had insecurities if people wanted to be part of Momentum, and she had kept me level headed and stopped me from quitting.. many.. many.. many times! I am forever thankful for her and helping me til the end of time.
It’s now 2020 and we have moved from a 49 square metre office to a 79 square metre studio with a team. My passion is as high as ever and I cannot wait to see how else we can help people with the methods that we have mastered and lived by. I can now confidently say that we provide the best service which we will also aim to develop further when it comes to personal training and strength & conditioning programmes for anyone.
So now I plead you to think beyond where you are now and where you want to be. I failed many times but people might just see Momentum as a lucky first draw. I started with failing in 2013 as a 20 year old and once again in 2017 as a 25 year old. I trained people from multiple gyms to also get out of my car, online and in parks. But one thing I can say is just don’t give up and you’ll thank yourself in 5 years time.
Checklist for those who want to succeed:
Fail and fail often. Just make sure you learn from your failures and develop a plan around it.
Get Support. I was fortunate enough to have Nancy and I now have business mentors and coaches. If you want to succeed in something, you need to surround yourself with people who are seeking to complete that goal too.
Be proud of what you want to achieve and don’t ever hide your goals. That above community that I mentioned about? This is where you need to connect and who you need to share with.
Get out there guys, and if I’ve just helped motivate one person out there in the world, then I’m glad my story could help you. For anyone else who may not even be in the same situation as I put above, just be aware, people around you are fighting an invisible war within themself and just maybe, you might be the reach out that they need.
Sean Koh
Exercise Physiologist, Exercise Scientist, Personal Trainer & Strength Coach
Post Graduate Diploma (Exercise Physiology) & B.Sc. (Exercise, Sports & Rehabilitation)