Meet Jon Gunn

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Gunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jon, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Respect. Respect is most important because it can come from different places: how you speak to and treat people, the quality of your service, how you maintain your facility, and how you maintain and treat yourself to name a few. Respect given is respect earned. I truly believe this concept and apply it to every part of my life. Being the owner, I feel a responsibility and a duty to exhibit this every day so that it passes on to everyone. Lead by example.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a personal training studio. Each trainer uses the facility at their convenience. We are different in that there are no membership fees or contracts. Clients receive a specific program designed for them and are able to build a strong relationship with their trainer. It has been quite the journey, and there have definitely been obstacles along the way. I began my career at a big gym but quickly learned that it was not possible to get where I wanted to go staying in that position. I have been at this current facility 16 years and had to start at the bottom rung of the ladder in terms of building my clientele. I have found that it takes a lot of patience, discipline and persistence to gain a clientele base that trusts you and wants to follow you. There were times when I was not sure if I was going to be able to continue personal training as a career. I even went so far as to inquire about other job opportunities. The one thing I always fell back on was my passion for this industry and for helping people through fitness at that honestly has, and continues to fuel me. I think the most valuable lesson to learn is that if you truly have a passion for something, you will find a way around any obstacle to pursue that dream. I would like the world to know that fitness really is life and it’s never too late to start improving your health and wellness. Fitness Frontier was born out of a passion and love for health and wellness and that sentiment is echoed throughout our staff, our facility, and in our quality of service.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the things that I love most about Atlanta is the cultural diversity. It is seen in the food, the dress, and the music assuring there is something for everyone. My favorite place in the city of Atlanta to go is Ponce City Market. They have great restaurants and shops and you can access the beltline as well, which is a walking, biking, running track that in circles the city. It was a former railroad that the city converted and Ponce city market was the former station. I would also bring them to the battery, which is where the Atlanta Braves play. Not only is it a wonderful baseball venue, the shops and restaurants there are top-notch. For historical preferences, I would bring them to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial and civil rights museum. For a laid back fun experience, we would see the National College Football Hall of Fame, the World of Coke, and the Georgia Aquarium. Of course I would take them to the mini walking trails and parks that are around the city and also to the Mercedes-Benz football stadium and State Farm Arena basketball stadium.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Two people:

Steve Naturman-

Without Steve I simply would not be where I am today. I purchased the gym from Steve and have watched him run a successful business for the past 15 years. I can’t explain how much I have learned from him and how important a role he played in helping me acquire this facility.

Jeff Cole-

Jeff introduced me to martial arts and acting. Both of which I love. Martial arts teaches discipline and respect, which are two values I cherish. Acting has really allowed me to come out out of my shell and converse with many different types of people and not feel overwhelmed or terrified. He has worked with me both in the gym and outside of the gym and the advice he has given me over the years is priceless.

Website: https://www.thefitnessfrontier.com

Instagram: m.i.s.t.a._gunn

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-gunn-867636

Facebook: https://facebook.com/jon.gunn.58

Image Credits
Keegan Cuen Films