Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Selders, Jr.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Where to begin? I was born in Tacoma, WA. My dad served in the military, so our family moved around quite a bit — from California to Texas to Tennessee to Louisiana. I spent most of my youth in Lake Charles, LA and my folks still live there, so I consider it my hometown. I now live in Rowlett, TX, with my amazing wife Keila and our three beautiful daughters: Myah, Nina, and Ava. My family is my foundation, my inspiration, and the motivation for all I do.
Speaking of what I do: I came to my current calling through a bit of a circuitous route. My chosen career was as an Electrical Design Engineer — I loved my job and the people I worked with. Realizing that my path had a different purpose, I left the confines of the corporate world in 2009 to focus on my fitness business full-time. It was the best decision I made (after marrying my wife, of course).
Today, my business — 3Q Fitness CrossFit Garland — serves a diverse group of clients from everyday folks to competitive athletes in Garland, TX, who share a common desire to be healthy, fit, and perform better in life. We provide a wide range group fitness classes, personal training, nutritional and life coaching, as well as specialized training for competitive high school, college, and professional athletes and teams.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road; however, I must say I’ve been blessed to have discovered my purpose: helping people live healthier, fuller, fitter, happier, and higher quality lives. But it did take me a while — and a few detours — to discover my true path.
I was somewhat of a jock and nerd in high school – I competed in football, basketball, and baseball and was one of four valedictorians of my graduating class. I received a full scholarship to play football at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA — where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
My athletic career hit the first roadblock my freshman year of college, when — during the first game of the season with just 4:35 minutes left on the clock — I tore my left ACL. Sidelined for the season, I rehabbed round the clock to get back on the field for the next season —only to tear my right ACL in my third game.
Clearly God was trying to tell me something, and that something did not include a football career. My surgeon confirmed that conclusion, warning me that another big hit to my legs could leave me walking crooked for the rest of my life. Point well taken. But after being active my whole life, I knew I couldn’t just sit around, doing nothing and feeling sorry for myself. So I walked onto the baseball team from football and earned time on the field as an outfielder and eventual starter; and maintained my full athletic scholarship status.
Realizing that I probably was not Major League material, I created a contingency plan and applied to the engineering programs at a number of graduate schools. While no offer came from the Cubs or the Rangers, I did get accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA (long way from Louisiana). In 1996, I graduated from MIT with my Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and worked as a designer in an Advanced Automotive Engineering group before being recruited away to join Lucent Technologies as a Power Electronics Design Engineer. Not bad for a jock, right?
Here’s where I encountered life’s second big obstacle: Myself. As you can imagine, graduate school and an engineering career are not all that conducive to physical activity. The more time I spent sitting at my desk, the more weight I gained. I came out of the shower one morning, caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and knew I had to make a change — for my yet to be born daughter, my wife, as well as myself.
After getting myself back in shape, I realized that the path I was heading down was not really the right one for me. I felt God guiding me toward a different direction, helping other people overcome the obstacles in their health and fitness. I’d transformed my body. Now I needed the courage to transform my life.
When I considered leaving my engineering career, I heard a voice inside me whispering, “What if you fail?” A quote from Apple CEO Steve Jobs helped me get over my fear, and myself. Jobs said., “… almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” I followed my heart and God’s plan. And neither led me astray.
While helping my clients overcome their challenges, I still face some of my own. I definitely struggle to find the right life-work balance while juggling all my roles and responsibilities as a husband, father, business owner, personal trainer, athlete, and active community leader. I’m still working to find the right balance, and my family definitely helps me on that front.
I’m also trying to learn the challenging art of letting go — and let me tell you, in ain’t easy. When I first started in this business, I assumed that anyone who contacted me was as committed to reaching their goals as I was in helping them get there. So I’d give them 110% of my time, attention, and effort. It was exhausting, and sometimes frustrating.
I still give 110% effort for those clients who have shown a true commitment to making changes. But I’ve also learned that people have to be ready and willing to show up and do the work before they see results. It doesn’t matter how much I want it for them; they have to want it for themselves and be willing to put in the time and hard work, or they won’t get anywhere. I’ve come to accept that I can’t force or will someone to get to that mind set. I can only be there for them when they’ve made that choice for themselves. It’s an important lesson I’m still learning.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the 3Q Fitness CrossFit Garland story. Tell us more about the business.
At the risk of revealing my age, I’ve been involved in some aspect of the fitness industry for nearly 30 years — either competing as an athlete or transforming lives as a coach, trainer, and gym owner. Yet even after three decades, I wake up every morning energized and excited by what I do and who I do it for.
Over the course of my fitness journey, I’ve tried many different training methods – some more effective at achieving functional fitness than others. In my experience, CrossFit’s methodology of constantly varied functional movements performed at a relatively high level of intensity (and with the proper emphasis and focus) proved to be one of the most efficient and effective ways to see results. CrossFit also offers many different avenues for programming that keeps it interesting and engaging for clients, but also for coaches. As a bonus, CrossFit’s functional training not only helps you look great, it also translates into movements you do in your everyday life.
I own and operate 3Q Fitness CrossFit Garland where we offer a number of fitness solutions to help people achieve the level of health and fitness they want in the time they’ve got. We are an official CrossFit affiliate, and adopt many of CrossFit’s training methodologies and programming in our small group training program. We also offer a more comprehensive solution, Metabolic Precision, for those who need or are interested in a more personal fitness solution. My team and I work with the majority of our small group and private training clients at our gym. But we also train sports teams and young athletes in our facility, as well as on their field or court of play.
Each client comes with his or her unique set of challenges, and I thoroughly enjoy working with my clients to create effective and efficient strategies for overcoming those challenges. I also get a tremendous sense of satisfaction seeing our client’s progress, do things they never thought they could, and reaching their health, fitness, and performance goals.
I think what sets us apart from other gyms is our commitment to our clients and the level of care we put into each session or class. We make sure our clients know that we genuinely care about their long-term success and that creates a level of trust not just in our expertise but in our intentions.
Personally, I take a different approach to my work as a coach and trainer as well. I’m more interested in empowering and educating my clients so they can continue their health and fitness journeys — with or without me, instead of having them rely solely on me. I see my role not just as a trainer but as a teacher, imparting the skills my clients need to unlock healthier, fitter versions of themselves.
I also approach fitness from a unique perspective. Many personal trainers and their clients are so focused on seeing physical changes — losing the weight, shedding the inches, looking good in the mirror. And while that’s definitely part of it, I’m also interested in helping my clients achieve a true transformation beyond the superficial and physical. I believe better health and fitness are more than just about how you look, but how you feel, perform, and live your life. It goes deeper than getting a six-pack or rocking yoga pants. It touches the mind, the soul, and permeates your entire being.
If you’re interested in learning more about us, I encourage you to visit www.3QFitness.com or www.CrossFitGarland.com.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Ok, so here’s all the nerdy geek stuff. Globally, Statista.com reports that “Health and fitness clubs provide their customers with the infrastructure for their workouts and physical activity in exchange for a membership fee. The global fitness and health club industry generates more than 80 billion U.S. dollars in revenue per year. The North American market had an estimated size of more than 28 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, of which 90 percent, around 25.8 billion U.S. dollars, was attributable to the United States. The U.S. is the single biggest market worldwide not only in terms of revenue but in regards to the number of members in health & fitness clubs as well.
The global market is fragmented with no particular chain taking a large share of the worldwide market. Market leaders are rather limited to more local (countries, geographical region) ranks. Among the health & fitness club companies with revenues in excess of one billion U.S. dollars in 2015 are Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness and ClubCorp. In 2015, a total of more than 186 thousand fitness & health clubs were in operation worldwide, of which about 36 thousand are located in the United States. These clubs in the U.S. had about 55 million members. Globally more than 150 million people were members of a health/fitness club.”
On the national level, Statista.com reports that “About 25 percent of people in the United States, who workout at least once a month, say that exercise, workout or sports in general is part of their daily routine. Almost two thirds of people who regularly exercise are, or have been at some point, a member health club or gym. The main reasons for exercising are – to stay healthy, weight reduction, optimizing strength and/or endurance and to get a better looking body and improving overall appearance.”
Our local market for health and fitness training reflects the demographics and standard/quality of life in much the same way that the major gyms and personal training facilities are stratified. In general, 3Q Fitness attracts wide range of clients: male and female business professionals and owners, students, and stay at home parents in the 25 to 65 year old range, who either live or work in the area. The City of Garland has nearly 240,000 people and about half of them that fall into that age range.
So there are no shortages of people to work with or who need/want assistance reaching their health and fitness goals. In fact, as the life expectancy of our population increases, trends show a decline in the quality of life due to inactivity and the effects of aging. Our program has proven to turn back the hands of time and seemingly reverse that effect. In fact, I just received a text message from one of my female clients, who loves being active and will be 70 years old this year, that all of her vitals are in great shape and that her bone density test showed improvement.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3Q Fitness CrossFit Garland
109 S. 6th Street
Garland, TX 75040 - Website: www.CrossFitGarland.com
- Phone: 972-494-2545
- Email: Robert@3QFitness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossfit_garland/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossfit.garland
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/crossfit-garland-garland-4
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