We were lucky to catch up with Jimmy Clare recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jimmy , so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
From the very beginning of my childhood, I went through 9 ear surgeries, people telling me I wouldn’t amount to anything because I am Autistic. I was also bullied for 8 brutal years of my life. One could say I grew up with naysayers around me. I could have given in easily. But I was born a fighter but at the time the world didn’t know that. In 1997 1 in 2500 kids was diagnosed with Autism.
Doctors, teachers, and other experts didn’t know why I was so difficult growing up. I was put into a school that was for deaf people. I did not know how to talk right away which made my parents nervous for me. Now they can’t get me to shut up haha. To make a long story short I knew in my mind somewhere that I was unique and one of a kind. I knew one day I would prove them all wrong. Proving people wrong has been a part of me for years and to be honest I kind of enjoy it!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I created my business called CrazyFitnessGuy. It first started out as a self-improvement writing project just for me so I could continue the writing skills that I learned in college. But then it turned into something bigger than that. When I first enrolled in college I was going to be the next top personal trainer.
I realized soon that math and science are not my strong suits. This is a common stereotype that I hear a lot regarding people on the Autism Spectrum. Not everyone on the Autism Spectrum is great at math and science. So I went a different route.
I decided to study media studies in college which led me to my motivational career today. This is ironic because when I was growing up my parents were worried I would never talk. Now they can’t get me to shut up haha. I always tell them that I gave them a few years, I am just playing catch up!
I created CrazyFitnessGuy for three very important missions. The first mission is to help motivate people with or without extra challenges to live healthier lives.
The second mission is to educate people about Autism and how it should be looked at as a gift and not a disease that needs to be cured.
Finally, our third mission is to help the autism community and other people with extra challenges with the right healthcare that they need. For example, growing up I used to go to the Children’s Hospital of Philadephia. All my specialty care doctors were in one place and everyone was on the same page.
Unfortunately, as we grow up we age out of the system and then we are thrown into the regular system. This does not benefit us with Autism or other extra challenges because health insurance does not understand our individual unique needs. Two things need to change a place where all of our doctors can be on board with the same portal system. And there needs to be a health insurance provider for those with extra challenges for adults that is affordable at any stage in life and understands what we need.
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?
The first skill that I would recommend to anyone who wants to start their own business or side hustle is mastering time management. When I first started CrazyFitnessGuy I thought I could watch TV and stay focused at the same time. I quickly learned that didn’t work. I have seen many entrepreneurs fail because they can’t keep a schedule. Remember that it’s okay to adjust your schedule if it’s not working. I have adjusted my content creation schedule at least 100 times since starting my business.
The second skill that I would recommend everyone to master is budgeting money. Budgeting does not need to be hard anymore. There are apps for a reason like PocketGuard. Connect all your accounts and start tracking your spending. I know what I am spending on my business and I am always willing to adjust when needed.
The third skill I recommend to people is to be persistent and have self-discipline. Your business rises or fails with you. If you are not persistent and you do not have the self-discipline then you are going to fail as an entrepreneur. I have built up my self-discipline since the day that I was born.
Since people told my parents I would never amount to anything. I was persistent and I was disciplined to prove those naysayers wrong. Karate training has helped me maintain that discipline over the years. Whatever you are starting be persistent and keep going!
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
When the pandemic hit in 2020 and stayed for a second year. CrazyFitnessGuy income grinded to a halt. In 2024 I am focusing on ways how to grow that income again because it is still dried up right now. But I have different plans in place. I am hoping people who like crazyfitnessguy mission to help support an independent small business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crazyfitnessguy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyclarespeaker/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JimmyClareSpeaker/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-clare-speaker
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JimmyClareSpeak
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrazyFitnessGuy
- Other: https://www.crazyfitnessguy.com/p/speaking/ https://mall.crazyfitnessguy.com/
Image Credits
jimmy clare crazyfitnessguy
