Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Smith.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, my older brother Steven introduced me to the gym when I was about 19 years old. He did it in such a way that it was fun for me, not a homework assignment. I fell in love with working out. I had gotten into quite a bit of trouble when I was younger so the gym became my release. I would go work out to burn off stress or at times I was tempted to break the law again. I was 23 when I entered my first bodybuilding competition, I trained myself, I walked on stage and took 1st place, I was in love. I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. So I started saving my pennies and by the time I was 25 I had enough to open my gym 🙂 my first location was much smaller than where I am today but it got the job done. We mainly focused on the boot camp programs I run. The town loved them and the classes fill up very quickly. So within a year of opening my first gym, I was already looking to expand. After some searching, I found the 10,000 sq foot building that south side iron now calls home. We have a total open gym alongside the boot camps and boxing/kickboxing we now run as well. I love what I do, I’m very blessed, I found out at a young age why I am here and now I get to spend my life doing it!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Almost Everyone doubted me. I had the support of very few people, my mother, and two brothers, that’s about it. I kept the idea to myself while it was in its infancy stages. I’m a big believer in letting your results speak for themselves, don’t talk about something, do it! I did not speak to my father for a very long time throughout this process because he did not believe in it, he thought I was going to fail and I could not have that kind of negativity around myself while I was working on making my dream a reality. He and I are now very good friends and have smooth our relationship back over which is awesome 🙂
South Side Iron – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
South Side Iron is unique in the sense that the programs that I have built cater to all level of athlete. A 15-year-old three-sport athlete can be working out next to a 65-year-old woman that has very little experience in the gym and they will both be getting fantastic workouts at the same time. Our Boot Camp classes or HIIT classes are a riot! We have a great group of people that love to sweat and have fun doing it. I do not allow negativity in my gym, I have literally throwing people out and canceled their memberships for being ignorant towards other members. Negativity is a poison and I have no room for it in my life.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me simply is happiness. People think that he who dies with the most stuff wins and that’s not true. wealth should not be measured by the amount in your bank account that should be measured by the effect that you have on others.
Pricing:
- 1 year bootcamp membership 100.00 a month
- 6 month bootcamp memebership 120.00 a month
- Open gym membership 35.00 a month
- Personal training as low as 45.00 a session
- Right now boot camps are 50% offfor grand opening sale! Unlimited access to all classes
Contact Info:
- Address: 932 E 9th street Lockport Il
- Website: www.southsideiron.com
- Phone: 1-815-524-7572
- Email: southsideiron@gmail.com
- Instagram: South.side.iron
- Facebook: Therealsouthsideiron
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
