This is a conversation with a special group of young professionals that I really enjoyed working with. This week on The IMPACT SHOW, I sat down with the very FIRST class of interns at IMPACT-X Performance—Briseyda, Ernesto, and Jacob—and let them fire away with whatever questions they had. And MAN… they brought the heat! From building a world-class culture and creating exceptional customer experiences, to finding your purpose, learning from mistakes, balancing family and business, pursuing a career in athletic performance, and even navigating AI and the future of coaching, this conversation went DEEP. These 3 interns have been part of history at IMPACT-X Performance as they've been with me almost since the
beginning. I was fired-up to answer their questions and share some of the lessons and wisdom that came out of this experience.
In This Episode, You'll Hear:
- Why culture is everything — and how you build a culture that people can FEEL the moment they walk through the doors.
- The truth about work-life balance — why I don't necessarily believe in "balance" and instead think about life as an orchestra that requires constant adjustment.
- The biggest mistakes I've made in nearly 30 years in the fitness industry — including trusting your gut, making decisions based solely on money, trying to do too much, and failing to surround yourself with the right people.
- Why your passion and purpose matter — and why financial success should be an outcome of doing meaningful work, not the only reason you do it.
- The power of mentorship — why you NEVER outgrow having a mentor and how the right people can help guide your path and accelerate your growth.
- Creating an exceptional customer experience — why it's never about you, your accolades, or your credentials… it's about THEM.
- What it takes to become a great athletic performance coach — from starting with youth athletes to mastering communication, building experience, and learning to speak the language of the sport.
- Why communication may be your most important coaching skill — and how learning to communicate with a 10-year-old can make you a better coach at every level.
- The difference between being a "life coach" and actually BEING a coach — and why experience, education, emotional intelligence, and a deep commitment to helping people matter.
- How physical training can evolve into life coaching — and why changing the body and changing the mind are so deeply connected.
- What I look for when building a team — credentials matter, but HEART, character, people skills, work ethic, and a genuine desire to change lives matter even more.
- Why you need to build a CAREER, not just get a job — and the vision behind creating opportunities that can take someone from intern to trainer, leader, business owner, and beyond.
- How I recharge and stay grounded — including "mellow yellow time," getting outside, breathwork, prayer, and remembering WHY I'm doing what I'm doing.
- The role of technology and AI in the fitness industry — and why technology should enhance the human experience, never replace the heart and soul behind it.
- The one word I want to be remembered for — IMPACT.
- What my younger self would tell me today — and why believing, serving, and continuing to be a difference-maker matters through every season of life.
This episode is a reminder that success isn't built overnight. It's built through experience, mistakes, mentors, relationships, relentless learning, and a commitment to serving people at the highest level possible. Whether you're a young trainer just getting started, a seasoned entrepreneur, a coach, a parent, or simply someone trying to figure out your next chapter,
there's something in this conversation for YOU.
My challenge is simple: get your mind right, find your purpose, surround yourself with great people, keep learning, and never stop looking for ways to make an IMPACT.
If this episode speaks to you, don't keep it to yourself! Share it with a coach, trainer, entrepreneur, friend, or someone who needs to hear these lessons. LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a REVIEW wherever you listen to podcasts, and let me know your biggest takeaway from the episode. And if you've got a question you want me to answer on a future Q&A episode, DM
me and send it my way!
Please tag me on IG at:
@ToddDurkin
Don't forget to subscribe to my TEXT COMMUNITY so that you can receive on-going motivational texts from Todd Durkin.
You can sign-up for free by texting him at 619.304.2216.
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