From the Garage to the Platform
The title isn’t fancy and neither is the answer to the question. I started Parabellum in a garage in Charlotte, NC and moved it to a garage in Southeast Texas. Doesn’t sound like success, does it?
Having an online fitness business is probably the trickiest business that I could have picked and to be honest it isn’t my final goal, but I want to make it as much of a community as possible along the way. The only way that I thought (and still do think) that is possible is by setting the example for clients and prospective clients. That’s what this email is about.
My wife encouraged me to start this business in 2019 and I had no clue what I was doing on the business side, but I knew how to coach people and had a pretty good knowledge base as well (that knowledge has grown greatly since focusing full time on Parabellum).
I wanted to do something that set me apart from other coaches. Since I was 18 years into an Army career, being a professional athlete wasn’t going to happen, and the odds of people flocking to me based off of my Hollywood good looks and tech genius were even slimmer, I did what every good leader does, set the example that I expect others to follow.
I had the bright idea of beginning to compete in powerlifting and strongman competitions (strongman comps are really hard to find, btw), in 2019. I didn’t belong to a gym, I didn’t need one, I had a full gym in my garage, and I was convinced that I could do it on my own. So, I started Jim Wendler’s “5,31” and then I my lower back started to hurt, so I started dissecting why, turns out, I had no clue about muscle engagement. I realized that I needed some more equipment and to totally revamp my program to fit my needs (Wendler’s program is timeless and great, but not for an infantryman). That took about six weeks of research and tweaking my program to train with success, all in the garage for two hours a day with no one there other than my newborn son in a highchair, being super judgmental, unless he had food. I knew that I needed to gain absolute strength. power and maintain conditioning. Enter the conjugate method with a twist, I added running as active recovery.
I trained this way for 12 weeks, Max effort lower body day, max effort upper day, active recovery/ run day, dynamic lower day, dynamic upper day and then an active recovery/run day to finish the week. I added sled pulling and pushing, and an Assault bike to protect my knees, hips and back from running too much and seriously busted my butt for those 12 weeks.
At the end of the 12 weeks, I went to Hickory NC to compete in the United States Powerlifting Coalition NC State Championship meet. Right out of the gate, I went up against the big boys! That was an interesting experience, I watched some YouTube videos and read the rule book, but very quickly realized each powerlifting organization does their own thing. I felt like a day one private without a Drill Sergeant, lost. Thankfully, there was this massive dude that started giving some tips after my opening squat, which I went super light on to make sure that I got the points (that was a mistake, I made it look too easy). As I was taken aback by this guy and somewhat like “who the heck are you?” (hey, I’m still an infantryman, big don’t scare me,lol), someone walked up to me and asked if I knew the guy, to which I said no, and then was informed that it was Pete Rubish, world record powerlifter. Apparently, he saw potential in me and wanted to make sure that I did well. I did, I set state records in all three lifts. Pete asked about my coach and team, to which I replied, it’s just me. I showed him my program and he said it was great, but too much running. The following Monday, I ran the fastest five mile my life at 38:56. The program worked.
The following year, I broke my all of my records at the state meet and then tried my hand at strongman. I got a lot of the same questions about my team and my coach, again everyone seemed so shocked that I was doing it by myself in a garage. I placed 5th in that event, the picture above is the Atlas Stone event, that was the first time I had ever picked one up. I placed 2nd in that event.
I tell you all of this to yes, market myself, but also display that one doesn’t need state of the art equipment, a juice bar and definitely doesn’t need a bunch of broccoli headed teenagers to not only improve but break records. All one needs is the drive and education. All you need to do is provide half the drive, I’m the coach, I’ll provide the other half, and I’ll provide the education. I’m nothing special, if I could break state records twice from the comfort of my garage, then I know I get can you to your goals in your garage with a bar and some plates, your living room with a band and a chair or the hotel gym. All you have to do show and get after it with intensity!
Sign up at www.parabellumsaf.com or call 682-326-7242 and schedule your consultation for free today! Let me help you like I helped myself and others! You won’t regret it!
Stay tuned for this week’s podcast where I will speak more in-depth about my powerlifting and strongman experience and how my garage gym has become a place of contemplation and peace. You can find the Parabellum Podcast on the PodBean and it’s free to download. Thanks for your support.
Coach Sean
“Be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for the Lord shall reward the work of your hands” 2 Chronicles 15:7