FMM had the pleasure of sitting down with celebrity fitness instructor and trainer, Leamon Hood III to discuss his journey to success and we see clearly what it is that makes him so formidable. Have a look for yourself!
FMM: Please introduce yourself to our audience.
LH: I am Leamon Hood III, a Georgia native who happily proclaims everywhere I go, “Atlanta made me but Clayco (Clayton County) raised me!” It was at Riverdale High School where I discovered my passion and laid the foundation for a large part of who I am today. It was there that I found my life’s love that most people know as “fitness”.
Fitness was my hobby, my salvation, and eventually what would become, in large scale, my career. As a fitness instructor, more commonly referred to as a personal trainer, my job consists mainly of helping individuals reach various personal goals, safely and in a timely manner, while also trying to educate them on how we got the job done.
BUSINESS
FMM: People tend to see the glory but rarely know the story. Tell us about some of your pains and challenges along the way.
LH: Growth in almost all areas of life required some degree of discomfort and sacrifice. Often times I heard the words “no” or “not interested”. It’s very difficult to make a name for yourself or your brand with no one to vouch for you because the journey is technically new. I could never forget being a janitor at a gym just to get my foot in the door and show my work ethic, trying to convince people to “let” me train them to show what I was all about, and reshaping my perception in the eyes of the masses. A humble yet necessary experience.
Most crafts require some degree of “sales” and I was trying to sell myself as much as what I aimed to offer. I trained for free for nearly three months just to create a portfolio and build a little hype and interest. Free labor is usually difficult labor, even when you enjoy it and the backend payout was/is truly priceless.
Results build trust, create both repeat and new clients…
FMM: In your industry, what do you feel has been the hardest hurdle to jump?
LH: The fitness industry is saturated. Trying to stand out from the crowd, for all the right reasons, is a difficult task. Considering that there is a new trend in dieting, exercise, ebooks, video trainers… The competition is ever-evolving and growing.
Why me? That is the largest hurdle in my eyes. I more often than not I overcame it with a solid combination of passion and knowledge. Learn your craft. When you know what you’re talking about it shows. Results build trust, create both repeat and new clients, and vastly expands marketing. Because of all the ways to market nothing works better than word of mouth.
Word of mouth is also usually free. Basically, people will talk about you in this field one way or the other. Proper navigation and direction of that conversation has the power to be lucrative and create longevity.
For roughly the last three years I have helped either hosting or teaching in various strength and conditioning camps held in the summer for the youth of both Henry and Clayton counties.
FMM: You are successful and wear many hats. What is your advice on balancing personal life and business?
LH: In this life you have to plan or plan to fail. Those are the choices. List your priorities, delegate time and dates to address them, then execute. Most of us are creatures of habit. The same way it’s difficult to follow a new exercise program in the beginning but one day your former max lift becomes a warm-up is how planning and balance work for me. It’s easier with clear goals and timelines to see things through.
FMM: What can young men looking to enter your field work on now to prepare for the landscape?
LH: Learn all you can while you’re still young, motivated, and likely have more leisure time for trial and error. A lot of learning in this field is hands on. The textbooks can lay solid groundwork but learn by doing as well. I’m a huge fan of interning. Follow a proven blueprint then tweak it to make it your own. The best teachers are “forever students”. Always try to learn more then apply it in real time. Never be afraid to ask questions or admit when you don’t have an answer. “I don’t know, but I will find out!” – that is the golden mentality.
FUN
The perfect date is quality time with someone who genuinely cares about you.
FMM: If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
Egypt. I’ve always been fascinated with the things I’ve learned about its rich and magnificent past, seen pictures that inspired that trip to be added to my list of things that would be a life fully-lived for me, and have to see the pyramids with my own eyes.
FMM: Describe the perfect date night.
LH: I remember on my third date with my current girlfriend we went to a park and flew a kite. I had never done it and neither had she. With low wind and high hopes we made a whole lot out of a little bit of nothing and wandered into a random restaurant for dinner after. My point? The perfect date is quality time with someone who genuinely cares about you. I usually choose the food, she chooses the fun/activity, and we choose each other. It works perfectly for my life.
FMM: Who’s your favorite artist?
LH: J. Cole. In the humble beginnings he provided the music that I would get me through the late nights and early mornings. When things evolved and stabilization was present he gave me the music I could vibe to, to reflect. Now as I look over it all with a heart filled with gratitude, he provides the music that is the soundtrack to [my] latest dreams.
FMM: Your very first car?
LH: 2002 Midnight Blue Lexus GS 300. I call it “Yoda” because it has been around forever and probably will be. Still have it to this day and it runs.
BACK TO BUSINESS
FMM: What tools and/or strategic partnerships have you put in place to help or give back to the community?
LH: For roughly the last three years I have helped either hosting or teaching in various strength and conditioning camps held in the summer for the youth of both Henry and Clayton counties. The goal being to plant seeds in the children and educate them on the value of staying physically active, having something fun to do, and minimizing idol time. It’s also fun to incorporate things that allow parents and children to bond through competition. Those “Dash versus Dads” and “More Muscle Than Mom” foot races and push-up competitions, respectively, are always great.
FMM: What is next in the life of Leamon Hood?
LH: A family affair… As of last year, my girlfriend is also a certified personal trainer. We have been quietly collaborating to create our own unified coalition. We have been teaching, learning, growing, and recruiting for what will be the foundational members of our team. There are also pieces in motion for a “training of trainers” course where we help new trainers earn their certifications and assist them in minimizing some of the initial growing pains. That and changing my girlfriend to more than just a girlfriend. That’s what’s next.
FMM: How can our readers connect with you outside of this interview?
LH: I’m on most social media platforms but easiest to reach through Instagram (@leamonlifts), Facebook (Leamon Trey Hood III), Linkedin, or a simple email (leamonh3@gmail.com).
