We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Quentin “Coach Q” Pullen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Quentin “Coach Q” below.
Hi Quentin “Coach Q”, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
From as far back as I can remember, I’ve carried a deep sense of curiosity. As a kid, I was the one who accepted every dare, not for the thrill, but because I genuinely wanted to understand what might happen on the other side of fear. That same curiosity pushed me to join the military. I wanted to see the world, and even though it meant leaving my home, my family, and everything familiar, I took the risk. I’m grateful I did. Those experiences shaped the man I would become: disciplined, resilient, and driven by purpose.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve adopted a mindset that guides nearly every decision I make: “You never know what might happen if you don’t try.” This simple truth has carried me through setbacks, challenges, and moments when most people would have walked away. I’ve learned to welcome failure as a teacher, each lesson an invitation to grow, adapt, and rise again.
Right now, I’m taking another big risk: choosing to be open, vulnerable, and ready to serve my community by running for elected office. This is my third time stepping into the arena, and every attempt has taught me something meaningful. The greatest lesson, the one that keeps me moving forward, is this:
“We are more connected the more we connect.”
I believe that deeply. It’s what fuels my commitment to bringing people together, listening with intention, and building a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and heard. These experiences, these risks, and these lessons have prepared me for the position I’m seeking, and for the responsibility of serving the people of our district with integrity, courage, and heart.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve come to understand that I am many things, and no single title could ever fully define me. Professionally, I am a Fitness Coach and Movement Therapist. My work is about helping people realize their fullest potential, guiding them toward becoming the strongest, healthiest, and most confident versions of themselves. That passion for helping others didn’t come from nowhere; it was passed down through generations in my family. I grew up in a Christian home where service was not just encouraged, it was expected. We were active in our community, and those values became the foundation of who I am.
My military service strengthened this foundation. Serving in the Marine Corps and Navy Reserve taught me discipline, resilience, and commitment at the highest level. In business, people quickly see the combination of traits I bring: the drive and determination forged in the military, and the compassion and patience needed to meet people exactly where they are. Whether I’m coaching an elite athlete, a cancer survivor rebuilding strength, or a young person just finding their confidence, my goal is always the same: to bring out the best in them.
Today, I’m working to balance my professional career with what feels like a calling: my duty to serve my community. I’ve felt a growing responsibility to step up and lead, especially as people’s faith in one another, and in their government, has been shaken. My first campaign was in 2020, and with every election cycle since, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the importance of the office I’m seeking. Each experience has reaffirmed something I believe deep in my core:
People are connected, and the more connected we are, the more we can accomplish.
That belief is at the heart of my leadership. It’s why I show up. It’s why I run. And it’s why I continue to offer myself for service.
My professional work has prepared me well for elected office. Coaching is about more than fitness; it’s about motivation, accountability, teamwork, and bringing out the best in people, even when they don’t see it in themselves. In the world we’re living in today, our community needs exactly that kind of leadership. We need someone who can unite people, rebuild trust, inspire hope, and coach us toward a future that works for all of us.
And that’s the work I’m ready to do.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The skills that have served me best throughout my life and career are patience, consistency, and honesty. After 30 years in my profession, I’ve experienced my share of ups and downs. What has sustained me through every challenge is my passion for what I do and the belief that meaningful work, work rooted in service, never goes in vain. Patience has allowed me to trust the process, even when the path wasn’t easy, and even when the rewards were slow to come.
I’ve had to reinvent myself many times, most recently when I relocated my business and rebuilt it from the ground up with nothing but my experience, my knowledge, and my willingness to start again. Consistency made that possible. I have stayed committed to improving myself, developing my business, and staying connected to my community, three pillars that have allowed my work to thrive in an incredibly competitive industry.
But the skill that has shaped me the most is honesty. I am committed to being honest with myself about where I stand, what I need to learn, and who I need to become in order to continue serving at a high level. That self-honesty keeps me grounded, adaptable, and ready for what’s next.
My best advice to anyone, regardless of the industry they’re in, is simple:
Be patient. Be consistent. Be honest.
Patience teaches us to slow down and truly see what life is trying to show us. Consistency keeps us focused on the mission while working toward something greater than ourselves. And honesty allows us to grow, evolve, and stay aligned with our purpose. I’ve seen many people fall short because they rushed, because they couldn’t stay focused, or because they weren’t willing to acknowledge where they truly were on their journey.
For me, one lesson has stood the test of time: stay the course. It’s the foundation of everything I’ve accomplished and everything I continue to build.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
There are many things my parents did to shape me into the person I am today, but the greatest gift they gave me was independence. I didn’t grow up in a rough neighborhood, nor did I grow up with great wealth. What I did have were parents who believed in teaching responsibility, work ethic, and self-reliance.
My first lesson in earning my own money came at the age of twelve. My father loved to tell the story of how, at twelve years old, he had his first job delivering newspapers for the Atlanta Daily World. Those lessons from his childhood became the lessons of mine. So at twelve, inspired by his example, I started my own neighborhood landscaping business, a business I maintained all the way until I left home for the military at eighteen.
My mother wasn’t thrilled when I enlisted. She feared losing me, as any mother would. But my father encouraged her to let me go, trusting that the world had lessons to teach me and that I was ready for them. He was right. Serving in the military gave me the chance to explore, to connect with people from every walk of life, and to develop a rock-solid sense of character. Every value I learned in a home built on service found life in communities across the globe.
Though my father is no longer here, my mother often tells me that I remind her of him. He was a preacher, a friend, and a sounding board to many. He offered guidance, comfort, and strength wherever he went. When she says she sees those same traits in me, I take it as one of the greatest honors of my life.
His legacy of service lives in me. It’s what guides my work, my leadership, and my commitment to serving this community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Q4thepeople.com
- Instagram: @Q_4_thepeople
- Facebook: Quentin Pullen for Georgia
- Linkedin: @QtheCoach
- Youtube: @Q_4_thepeople
- Other: https://www.QtheCoach.com
Image Credits
Images by Leticia Andrade Photography
Images by Robert Mance Jr.
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