Today we’d like to introduce you to Harrison Lewis.
Hi harrison, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In May of 2019, I was on a mountain in southern Afghanistan. I was an Army Ranger on an operation, part of the most lethal organization in the world. Looking out over an open plain, I could see the Alps on the other side of a ridge. In that moment, all I could think about was what my friends were doing back home.
We completed the mission and got off the mountain. When we returned to base, I decided to call a friend from back home. We were checking in, and I asked, “Man, what have you been up to out there?”
He said, “Bro, I’m just on the GRND.”
A few weeks passed, and I flew to northern Afghanistan. At the time, one of my homeboys was in the league, so I called to check in. I asked him, “Dee, what’s been going on?”
He responded, “Man, I’m just on the GRND.”
Another two months passed. I was wrapping up the deployment when I called one of my close friends from college, who had gone on to law school. I asked him, “Dawg, what’s good?”
He said, “Bro, I’m out here on the GRND.”
This word just kept popping up.
I continued my service for several more years. When the GWOT ended, I made the decision to leave special operations and pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. What I didn’t anticipate was the sheer loss of purpose and mission I would experience after leaving a team and a high-performing community. I spiraled into a depression.
The only thing I knew was the GRND.
I spent night after night studying for exams and training in my garage gym. One night, on November 26th, 2023, I finished a training session and wrote the word “grind” on my dry-erase board. But something didn’t settle with me—the word lacked meaning.
Then I removed the “i.”
When I erased the letter “i,” I experienced a profound moment of inflection.
We are all on the GRND.
Each day, we rise and make a conscious decision to go further. More often than not, that decision is catalyzed by a “why” much greater than ourselves. We GRND daily to support our families, our communities, our people, and our way of life.
I believe we’ve all erased the “I,” taking the center of our purpose away from self.
My goal with GRND is to build a global community of people who give 100%—and then some—in sport, fitness, and life. I want to find the people doing the work, who go further daily, and stand on what they believe.
The GRND Continues.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe each entrepreneur faces challenges when embarking on a passion journey. Challenges that are physical, emotional, psychological, and economical. When i founded GRND, I was also completing my Doctorate in Physical Therapy, another passion journey that I was called to pursue to provide tangible value to my community. Building a company while in graduate school offered it’s own slew of external factors and challenges, I looked at it as opportunity to grow, and challenge my resolve while balancing priorities. As a now veteran, and entrepreneur/student, I faced financial strain and lack of network in understanding how to properly establish a business or execute basic business practices. Not coming from a business family or background, I also lacked the financial tools or resources to fund the start-up process efficiently and still struggle with source funding and raising capital to scale. All problems I feel each business owner faces, the largest challenge was losing my first business partner, who walked away with his partnership buy-in, during our first major collection production, which forced me to sell stocks to cover the cost to push the brand forward.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Born out of the relentless pursuit of purpose and forged through years of discipline in elite military and sport environments, GRND represents the everyday hustle that fuels personal growth, transformation, and community.
At GRND, we specialize in performance-driven apparel designed for those who live with intention—athletes, entrepreneurs, professionals, parents, and warriors alike. Our products are built to support high-output lives, combining technical functionality with minimalist design to keep the focus on the mission, not the outfit.
But what truly sets us apart isn’t just what we make—it’s what we stand for.
GRND is rooted in a belief that greatness comes from showing up, again and again, especially when no one is watching. We’re not here to sell hype or shortcuts. We’re here for the ones who train in silence, who sacrifice for their families, who work before the sun rises and long after it sets.
What makes us proud isn’t just the gear we produce, it’s the community that wears it. Veterans. Single moms. Collegiate athletes. Blue-collar workers. Doctors. Dreamers. Every one of them shares one thing: they’ve erased the “I” and chosen to Go Further.
We want your readers to know this:
When you wear GRND, you’re wearing a story of resilience. You’re aligning with a brand that sees you—not just as a customer, but as a reflection of the mission. We’re building more than a company; we’re building a global movement fueled by effort, discipline, and purpose.
Our Mission
Our goal is to inspire others to give 100% and then some through Sport, Fitness, and Life.
Our Values
Our values stem from the experiences of life and the light we hope to shed on our community. These values sit at the core of our team and act as a guide in our goal to leave an impact.
GRND Value #1 – Catch the Sun
Life is short, fast, and unexpecting. Have fun each day
GRND Value #2 – Embrace that sh*t
Times will get hard, but you will grow harder
GRND Value #3 – Stand on it
If you say you will do something, do it and do it well
GRND Value #4 – Sweep the sheds
There is no I in GRND, support and serve our community.
GRND Value #5 – Move further, faster, and fight harder
Move the needle every day, whether backward as a lesson or forward as a win
Our Taglines:
Go Further: means to push beyond what’s expected, comfortable, or convenient. It’s about choosing effort over ease, discipline over distraction, and growth over stagnation.
Give 100% and then some – Means to go beyond the call, beyond the goal line, and beyond the expectations you set for yourself. It means to give everything you can to those you serve, and to remain consistent in your current endeavor.
How do you think about happiness?
Creating makes me happy, and this ranges from creating apparel, creating content, creating better lives, and creating a better version of myself. I feel happiest when I am actively working towards a goal, and that goal is aligned with my greater mission. Training and fitness sit at my core of quality of life and happiness so anything I am moving, lifting, running I am at my happiest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.thegrndcollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grnd.u
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-lewis-9358ba94
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@harrisonleelewis
Image Credits
Heisman Studio LLP
