We recently connected with Cristos Birbilis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cristos, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
Generosity is a unique thing that I have learned. It was taught to me by my recent employers. These employers were my former coaches. They taught me the fundamentals of the sport of swimming. How to become a better athlete and a better person at the same time. John McGlynn is the head coach and founder of Renegade Aquatics here in Escondido, CA. He was the first club coach that took me under his wing and had great patience for working with a struggling swimmer such as myself. I never was a Division I swimmer on my first day of swim practice. My dives were a bit unpleasant, causing belly flops and hard slaps upon the water. John was the type of coach to always keep an eye on me and do his best to help me each time.
John gave the senior swimmers an affordable rate each month. For a monthly price of $85, we received 2 hour practices each day from Monday through Friday. At the time, I did not have a lot of money to enroll in a sports club. The common rate for any sports club had the monthly cost of $120 or more. John’s rate was affordable and reasonable. It allowed for someone like myself in a lower-income status to join a sports club and attend competitions. It gave myself an outlet to become an athlete and focus on bettering myself through the sport of swimming. It started off just as a regular sport to train. Yet, in Renegades, it became more of a passion. It was an activity that gave me a sense of patience and hard work. There was no better way of becoming stronger through swimming, it was one of the hardest activities to learn but there was great satisfaction from it.
John’s foundation and philosophy pushed my idea to create an affordable swim lesson program here in Escondido. From my experience, I have seen some outrageous prices for swim lessons in San Diego. To learn a necessary life-saving skill through thousands of dollars did not appeal to me. I believed that swim lessons especially in the Escondido area needed to be more affordable and reasonable for the community. Starting in 2024, I opened up the Polar Bear Swim Club with the goal of helping the community. Along with the major goal of preparing kids for Renegade Aquatics when the time was right. Year-round, we provide 30 minute private sessions for the cost of $25 total. There are no additional fees, down payments, or reservation costs. Our program allows families to pay per lesson rather than committing to bundles or prepaid packages. We prioritize flexibility by providing the lesson first, with payment made afterward—just like a barbershop. We hope to reach out to all families this year and focus on making swim lessons affordable for all families from all backgrounds. Just as my former coach, Coach John had done for me and countless other kids as well.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As a swim instructor, I have the privilege of helping people of all ages build confidence in the water, develop essential swimming skills, and even overcome fears. What makes this work so exciting is seeing the progress in my students—whether it’s a child swimming for the first time or an adult mastering a new stroke. There’s something incredibly rewarding about knowing that I’m not just teaching a skill but also fostering a lifelong love for swimming and water safety.
One of the most special aspects of my job is witnessing the joy and empowerment that comes with learning to swim. Water can be both exhilarating and intimidating, and being able to guide someone through that journey is truly fulfilling. I also love the sense of connection it brings—whether it’s bonding with students, helping families feel safer around water, or even training aspiring competitive swimmers.
If you’re looking to start swimming or improve your skills, I’d love to be part of your journey. Whether it’s for fitness, fun, or safety, swimming is a skill that lasts a lifetime, and I’m here to make it a positive, enjoyable experience! Our new rate for private swim lessons is $25 for a 30 minute private session!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1, Patience
2. Communication
3. Adaptability
For any business, especially in a service-based industry like swim instruction, the key is to make clients feel comfortable, valued, and motivated. This means: Offering personalized attention, Creating a welcoming atmosphere and Ensuring consistent, high-quality service
By focusing on patience, communication, and adaptability, I’ve built strong relationships with my clients and helped them gain confidence in the water. For new swim instructors or business owners, putting people first is the secret to long-term success!
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
One of the biggest challenges I’m currently facing is managing a high volume of clients in a short period of time. It’s definitely a good challenge, not a bad one—it means that more people are eager to learn how to swim, which is truly exciting! However, balancing schedules, ensuring each student gets the attention they need, and maintaining the quality of instruction requires careful planning.
To overcome this challenge, I’m focusing on:
Efficient scheduling – Organizing lessons strategically to maximize time while keeping sessions effective and personalized.
Maintaining quality – Even with a high demand, I ensure each client receives the same level of care and instruction.
Prioritizing self-care – Managing a busy schedule can be exhausting, so I make sure to take breaks and stay energized to give my best to my students.
At the end of the day, having so many people interested in learning to swim is a blessing. It pushes me to grow, improve my organization skills, and expand my impact in the swimming community. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://polarbearswimclub.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polarbearswimclubsd?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554738227216&sk=about
Image Credits
Trinity Quindo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
