Thank You to all who make Zingler Strength what it is.
“I was 14 when I knew I wanted to become a strength coach.
I wanted nothing more than to share my passion with others.
I wanted to develop a culture of strength within my community that traveled beyond my eventual gym walls.
That 14 year old is living it today, thanks to you.”
-Ray Zingler on Twitter
I remember in the 8th grade, I was in the dungeon weight room of the high school I would attend the next year, training with a few of my teammates.
Having been trained up by my father, I was a bit “ahead” of most kids my age for no other reason than earlier exposure.
I remember we we’re bench pressing one day and I was feeling pretty strong. I worked my way up to 2 plates and I remember Coach Nix (who I love) telling me, “Come on Ray, knock it off, your 150-pound ass isn’t going to bench 225.”
I laid down. Smoked it. And the room erupted. I sat up and Coach Nix grinned at me.
I didn’t know it at the time, but this was my first taste of gym culture.
You’ve might have heard the term before, but admittedly it’s hard to put your finger on exactly what it means.
I describe it as camaraderie within a growth-oriented group, working cohesively towards a common goal. In this case, the common goal of self-improvement.
Back to that day in the weight room.
When I felt that rush of emotion after crushing that lift, it did something to me. And it had nothing to do with 225 pounds or a PR.
That feeling I got from the group was something special.
It was from that point on, I knew I wanted to harness that feeling and share it with others.
Then I found out “strength coach” was an actual job.
“Wait a minute, I can do this for a living!?” 14-year-old Ray was blown away.
I wanted to be a strength coach who could create a place for people to feel what I felt on that day.
While we are proudly concluding our 12th year in business @zingler_strength, not a day goes by in my life that I am not eternally grateful for every single person, past and present who allows that 14-year-old boy to live his dream.
I am consistently overwhelmed with gratitude, recognizing that a kid who fell in love with an inanimate object (barbell) at a young age, daily gets to share that passion he has for it with others.
And I call it “my job”.
I have been thanked by many for my work over the years, but truthfully you are the ones who deserve the thanks.
That boy is living his dream because of you.
Thank you.
