Meet Angelo Gingerelli

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angelo Gingerelli a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Angelo , so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

I’ve found the overwhelming majority of “haters” to be people that are not doing anything themselves. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines or in the crowd and critique the people on the stage, field, etc. Most people I deal with that are actually in the game have been either supportive or so wrapped up in accomplishing their own goals that they had no time/energy to hate on anything I was doing.

There is a difference between “hate” and “constructive criticism” and if the criticism is coming from somebody that you respect and has actually done what you are trying to do, it might be good to take it into account and implement the advice, but if it’s coming from somebody that’s never been in your shoes, will never be a customer or has never accomplished a similar goal, I would ignore it and try to stay as far away from that person as possible.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve been a Division 1 College Strength & Conditioning Coach for over 20 years and started doing stand-up comedy 12 years ago because a lot of the players thought I was funny. I was lucky to be working right outside of New York City and was able to start going to open mics and shows in a city with a thriving comedy community. A few years after that I got married and moved to the Jersey Shore right when Asbury Park was having a resurgence into the arts/entertainment city it is today. This created a cool opportunity where I could book shows, host open mics and really be a part of that artistic community as a stand-up comic.

Over the last decade the two careers have intertwined quite a bit. For example I’ve written two books related to health/wellness and I’ve used the skills I developed as a comic (getting booked on podcasts, speaking engagements, etc.) to promote those books. I’ve also become very active in youth sports in my community through my daughter and I’ve done comedy fundraiser shows for various leagues and organizations.

Training and comedy don’t seem to have much in common, but I’ve found a way to make both careers serve each other.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First, I didn’t fully understand how to capitalize on my natural talents. When I was a young coach I tried to be much more serious because that was the image of a strength coach I though I should pursue. As I matured I realized that humor is a great way to connect with people and build relationships. This lead to being a better coach and opening up a second career.

Secondly, you have to put the reps in. I really believe anything you want to do takes practice and trial & error. The best way to get good at anything is to start doing it, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and keep making progress.

Third, be a great connector. Getting in the same rooms as people that are “movers and shakers” in whatever space you want to be in is invaluable and always try to bring something to the table. Nobody wants to collaborate with a person that always has their hand out. You have to bring something of value to any relationship (artistic, business, etc.).

For anybody just starting out I would say get really good at your craft, make as many connections as possible and say “yes” to every opportunity you can. Driving 100 miles away for a gig that doesn’t pay a lot of money might seem like a waste of time, but if you hit it off with the promotor and they book you on 10 more gigs, then that was time well spent.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Well, I would say these two books greatly impacted my life:

Finish Strong: Resistance Training for Endurance Athletes
and
The Next four Years: Compete, Win & Thrive in College Sports

I can say my own books impacted my life the most…right?

Haha

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fifthroundmovement.com
• Instagram: Mr5thRound
• Facebook: Angelo Gingerelli
• Linkedin: Angelo Gingerelli
• Youtube: Mr5thRound
• Other: Ugly Pancake Productions on Facebook

Image Credits

Main Picture (green turf): Beth Berardi
All Others are by me.