Ever wondered what it’s really like to run a gym beyond the sweaty workouts and Instagram selfies? In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky sits down with Matt Pack, founder of Primal Fit Miami and a fitness pro with 25 years under his belt, to get the unfiltered scoop on fitness entrepreneurship.

Matt shares the wild ride of starting his own gym, from jumping off the college basketball court into exercise science, to facing the scary leap of launching a business. They talk about why building friendships with clients is key, how word-of-mouth can make or break you, and the art of hiring coaches who not only know their stuff but fit the vibe. Plus, Matt weighs in on whether work-life balance in fitness is a myth or a must, and how to find your emotional “why” to keep going.

If you’re dreaming of a career in fitness, thinking about starting your own business or just want to survive the weirdest parts of work life, this episode is packed with real talk and tough lessons you don’t want to miss.

Key Takeaways

• How setbacks (like a double knee injury) can become launchpads for reinvention.

• The importance of hiring for personality first, skill second in people-focused businesses.

• Why trainers are performers—and how knowing a client’s name can make or break retention.

• The real cost of scaling too fast—and what Matt would do differently.

• How to deal with trainers who poach clients—and the limits of non-competes.

• Tips for instructors handling inappropriate client comments while protecting their income.

• Why your “why” needs to make you cry—and how that emotional connection drives fitness success.

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction to Matt Pack

• [03:28] Taking the leap to entrepreneurship

• [04:42] Building relationships & gym culture

• [07:23] Leadership challenges in gyms

• [09:33] Lessons from early mistakes

• [11:17] The dangers of overexpansion

• [14:43] Weirdest workplace moment: Hygiene email

• [19:36] A week in work: Work-life balance in fitness

• [23:25] Finding your emotional “why”

• [26:03] Listener Question #1: Networking for new instructors

• [32:30] Listener Question #2: Client poaching by trainers

• [38:43] Cringeworthy Question: Inappropriate client comments

• [43:24] Closing thoughts & episode wrap-up

Notable Quotes

• [22:40] “Consistency is everything. Consistency over perfection. And that’s really what we’re after with people.” — Matt Pack

• [23:19] “Most people need a why that is going to make them cry. And if it doesn’t make you cry, you need to think of another why.” — Matt Pack

• [07:48] “I always try to hire personality first, and then I make them a good coach second.” — Matt Pack

• [10:37] “Sometimes bad things lead to really good things.” — Matt Pack

• [43:13] “All money is not good money. Some money’s not worth it, right?” — Matt Pack

Resources and Links

Matt Pack

• Primal Fit Miami – https://www.primalfit360miami.com/

• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-pack-077ab9123

• Books by Matt Pack on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BSS6QQXD

Maya Kadar Kovalsky

• Website – https://www.mayakadar.com/

• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/

Workplace Weirdness

• Email: [email protected]

• SpeakPipe – http://speakpipe.com/workplaceweirdness

• Website – http://workplace-weirdness.com

• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.