Meet Mo Borders

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mo Borders. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Mo, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Finding my purpose didn’t come easy or quickly, like it might seem for some people. I always had a passion for working out and training myself, but I didn’t see it as anything more than that.

In high school, I was a pretty good athlete. My junior year, different colleges were flying me out to football camps and I’d go out there and kill it. But the feedback was always the same: ‘You’re too small.’ I was maybe 125 pounds with boots on, but I played like I was 200. Still, back then in 2003, 2004, colleges weren’t taking that kind of risk.

Then came my senior year. I broke my collarbone in a seven-on-seven passing league before we even put pads on. I tried to heal up and rush back for homecoming and ended up breaking it again, even worse. That moment crushed me. I was in tears. The schools that were interested? Gone. Overnight, the calls stopped. To them, I was too small and now too fragile.

After graduation, I went the junior college route, but mentally, I wasn’t there. I was depressed thinking about what could’ve been. I didn’t have anyone in my corner telling me to keep going, so I fell into a rough spiral, made some bad choices, and had to make a decision: either keep going down that road or change my life. That’s when I chose the military.

Fast-forward a bit. One day, my granny called me while I was on my way to the gym. She said, ‘You should really consider being a personal trainer.’ Laughingly I told her, ‘Granny, there’s no money in training. I need to focus on something else.’ But that conversation stuck with me.

Months, maybe a year later, I circled back to it. Around that time, I had gone through my own fitness transformation, and friends started reaching out. Athletes were hitting me up like, ‘Yo Mo, we see you. Can you show us what you’re doing?’

So I started training them, and that’s when everything clicked. It didn’t feel like work. Time just flew by. Watching their growth, seeing their results, and being part of their journey, it filled me up in a way I can’t describe. It was bigger than reps or routines, it was about helping them believe in themselves again.

That’s when I knew this was more than fitness. This was purpose. God was showing me that everything I went through, the injuries, the setbacks, the doubt, it was all preparing me to help others rebuild their confidence, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

So I went back to my granny and told her, ‘You were right.’ I stepped into that calling, to train, to inspire, to guide people who once felt like their goals were out of reach. And from that moment on, I knew: this is what God created me to do, to use my story, my strength, and my faith to help others rise up and keep moving forward.

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?

I’m Maurice “Mo” Borders, a husband, a father, and I’m from 619 born and raised. My journey into health and fitness came from a place of growth, faith, and rediscovering purpose through life’s challenges. I’ve always had an athletic background, but after experiencing setbacks and rebuilding both physically and mentally, I found my calling in helping others do the same.

I’m the founder of Project Mo’tion, a community movement built around health, unity, and service, and NATIVE Placements, an organization focused on connecting passionate healthcare professionals with meaningful opportunities to serve. Both represent what I value most, people, purpose, and impact.

What excites me most about the work I do is seeing transformation happen, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. I love helping others rediscover their strength, confidence, and faith through movement and mindset. For me, fitness and wellness aren’t just about appearances, they’re about creating lasting change and empowering people to walk in their purpose.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding Project Mo’tion and growing our community outreach through events that blend fitness, faith, and connection. Our next Project Mo’tion Beach Workout Backpack Drive will be held on July 11th at 9 a.m., bringing the community together to move with purpose while giving back. It’s all about using movement to inspire positive change and remind people that no matter where they are in life, they can always keep moving forward.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey are resilience, discipline, and faith.

Resilience taught me how to keep showing up, even when life didn’t go as planned. From injuries that changed my athletic path to rebuilding my mindset, resilience helped me understand that setbacks aren’t the end, they’re opportunities to grow stronger.

Discipline gave me structure and consistency. Whether in the gym, at work, or at home as a husband and father, I’ve learned that success isn’t built on motivation alone, it’s built on doing what needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like it.

And faith, that’s been the foundation. It reminded me that everything I’ve gone through has a purpose, even when I couldn’t see it. God kept me grounded and helped me recognize that my calling was bigger than me.

For anyone just starting out, my advice is simple: don’t rush the process. Focus on being consistent, stay humble enough to learn, and trust that every challenge is preparing you for something greater. Growth doesn’t happen overnight, it happens through daily choices that align with who you want to become.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely. I’m always looking to collaborate with passionate people who share a heart for health, wellness, and community. Through Project Mo’tion, I partner with trainers, coaches, and fitness professionals who want to make an impact beyond the gym. Through NATIVE Placements, I connect with healthcare professionals and organizations committed to compassionate care and creating real change.

I’m also launching a podcast to share the raw stories of growth, faith, and service.

Anyone interested in collaborating can reach out or follow me on Instagram at @mogainzz and @projectmo.tion, and check out my website at www.MoGainzAcademy.com. I’m always open to building with like-minded people who want to move with purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MoGainzAcademy.com
• Instagram: @mogainzz

Image Credits

David Tapia, Michelle Tapia and Erick Martinez