For years, I’ve been following Crossfit Hype in Florida, immersing myself in their work and becoming part of a training program I truly believe in. Somehow, despite being thousands of miles away, I felt a connection. I could feel the energy and culture, even through a screen. I’ve always looked up to Rob, the owner—since the beginning, his leadership and the way he leads by example, has been something I continue to aspire to. It’s an energy I need in my life, and it’s something I aim to replicate in Pursuit Fitness.
I’ve been reflecting a lot on the meaning of a coach, and one conversation with Rob from a few years ago keeps coming to mind. He may not remember it, but it was pivotal for me.
At the time I had just quit my job at the hospital and was transitioning to coaching full-time. I was struggling to bring my vision to life—bridging the gap between fitness and healthcare. My fiance Taia and I were even ready to pack up and move to Florida, hoping to immerse myself in an environment that would help me grow. I wanted to learn from Rob and all the other coaches at Hype.
In 2022, I reached out to Rob, asking about the process of potentially coaching down there. He immediately responded back, offering to give me a call. I remember sitting in a coffee shop, unsure of my next move, in awe that someone I barely knew would take the time to speak with me.
During that call, Rob shared his story—how he got started and why he opened Hype in Florida. I shared my vision, telling him everything I was working toward, and he told me that down the road, once I proved myself, there may be a coaching role available. But then he asked me something important: *What do you really want?*
To be honest, I struggled to answer.
Rob told me that if I truly wanted to bridge the gap between fitness and healthcare, I needed to go do shit. I needed to be in it. Go to hospitals, talk to doctors, and engage with people who are in that world. I had to make things happen. We ended the conversation with things up in the air, and Rob told me to really think about what I wanted.
A little while later, I texted him this exact message…..
“A while back, you asked me what I really wanted…
I want my own gym.
A gym that changes the way we perceive health and embodies everything you’re working for.
I want to continue growing as a coach.
I want to train with people who want to be better. And I want to better myself. The only way I see that happening is to be in it, not miles away.”
That conversation gave me the direction I needed.
For so long, I was searching for someone or something to give me a reason to take action. I’d quit my hospital job for myself, but I still felt like I needed to live up to other people’s standards, seeking approval from others.
The bottom line is, I started laying the groundwork to everything I had told him I wanted. It led me to 4 Elements Direct Primary Care, where I began coaching patients in my micro gym. I’d have people doing air squats and PVC deadlifts, shaking the upstairs floorboards. On nice days, I’d take them outside for exercises. I’d learn from the most educated Docs and healthcare leaders. I coached people on foundational movements with PVC pipes, bands, and whatever tools I had available. I drove back to the gym to coach some more. I expanded my role as a nurse, I trained, I took certifications, and I created exercise programs for others (This is actually where me and Coach Lindsay started working together as I started doing programming for her and she trusted me to be her coach) . I reached out to people I respected, asking if I could learn from them. I’ve had incredible mentors to help push me to where I need to go and I’ve had unwavering support from family and those closest to me.
The moral of the story? I dove head first to find what I wanted. Little did I know what I always needed to get there was courage. I wasn’t miles away from what I wanted. What I was searching for, I already had. I just had to go get it.
Without something like this conversation, I may never have had the courage to face my fears and go after what I truly wanted.
I hope that I can inspire others the way Rob has inspired me. I’m writing this as a service to others as I believe our stories and the conversations we have with the people that help define who we are can be the most powerful things we hold in this lifetime.
It is for this reason that Pursuit Fitness is for anyone, but not everyone. It’s a place where people can embrace who they are and find the courage to do the things they love. A Place where a coach will be there to support you through life’s Highs, Lows and the In Betweens. The Place you come to improve your health & fitness!
,Coach Paul
