We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zach Petrone a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zach, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic is something I pride myself on, and was taught at an early age on the importance of it. My parents instilled a strong work ethic into me by reinforcing hard work to get what you want. Whether it was practicing free throws in my front yard basketball court, or selling snow cones at a young age at the neighborhood pool, its what has gotten me to where I’am today. Its something I hope shines through to others on what a strong work ethic can do for you in todays world. I believe it never goes unnoticed, and can pay off today or at a later time in life.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I founded and own Rocky Mountain Strength, a small group class and personal training gym in Centennial, CO. I opened RMS in the midst of a world pandemic in 2020, and with the support of an amazing staff and membership base, we are have now been in business for over 3 years. Our gym is very unique in the sense that we specialize in mountain fitness training, which is very much the Colorado lifestyle. We focus on strength & conditioning and offer over 30 small group classes a week and have the top certified personal trainers in south Denver. Our community is unmatched, and it shows with the community events, mountain adventures and friendships that have been created over the years.
Whats unique to what I specifically focus on, is backcountry hunting training. We offer classes that involve shooting your bow while training, mimicking an elevated heart rate scenario that you might see in the mountains during your hunt. Our goal is to create an all around athlete that has strength, endurance, mental fortitude and so much more. With no other training facilities like this in the state, we believe in our product and innovation that has come from it.
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?
Looking back, I think THE top quality was having an entrepreneurial mindset. Having an openness for ideas, creativity and the willing to take a risk goes a long way in business and life in general. Being an entrepreneur or at least having those qualities has been a major factor in my successes. A few other things that have been impactful in my journey is being transparent to both clients and staff. It is my goal to make sure everyone knows where I stand and what they need to know. From past experiences, it has always been a drag “wondering” what your boss is thinking instead of knowing the facts and having it presented upfront and on the daily. This helps to have a clear and concise vision and management style. The last thing that comes to mind is having patience. I will be the first to say that this has been a work in progress for my personally, and its something that is a challenge everyday. When I’ am patient, good things seem to come and life seems to flow better. Patience will always be something to work on for me, but if its an attribute already for you, then keep that at the top of your list.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Being a business owner. its very easy to feel overwhelmed or stressed out. It has been a work in progress, and its common to sweat the small stuff as you are just starting out. To where I’am now, my best advice is to really think deep down and realize “does it really matter”? This is something my Uncle who was a business owner has always said, and when I really put that idea to each situation that arises, it clears up what it means to me. Sure, some things DO REALLY MATTER, but most of what overwhelms me on the daily truly shouldn’t. Life is short, and the stress of the business isn’t worth dragging you down. Yes it is my livelihood, but so many other things in this world really mean more and matter that much more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rockymtnstrength.com/
- Instagram: @rockymountainstrength
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/zach-petrone-131a80111
