I talk to Chris Marsh of Marsh Fitness on carrying the family name, the spark that led to setting up a fitness business, using business as a tool to serve the community. He also shares his top tips for those wanting to start up their own business or project. Chris was also the very first person I interviewed. He made it so easy.
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[00:00:01] For South London fitness trainer Chris Marsh, what was that spark that started it all? Stay tuned.
Catherine: [00:00:15] My guest today, Chris Marsh, came into our restaurant a few months before we had to close as a result of Corona. And as we were closing, I saw him post free fitness classes, virtual fitness classes online.
Catherine: [00:00:30] And it just got me thinking about how many businesses and local projects that were out there that actually even though we were closed, it would be really fun to make connections and to talk about them. And so that's how the connection came about with Chris. I literally woke up one day and went I am going to do a podcast, I've been thinking about it, I'm going to do it now. And Chris was actually the first person I reached out to. And he agreed. And that day, in fact, it was about a couple of hours later I was doing my best podcast interview. So we do you have a few issues with the sound. So I apologize. It gets a little bit glitchy in places. But do - I think you'll you'll catch the spirit of Chris.
Catherine: [00:01:20] He was the nicest possible person I could have possibly imagined for my first guest, because it was quite nerve wracking to begin with. It just kind of prior to him coming on the Zoom call, which is where I recorded him but as you can hear he's amazingly friendly. I loved his story and just erm the story with the kids and the school. And now we'll hear about how he ran the London Marathon and raised money for a school that they built in Tanzania. And I just love what business can do. I love how it can connect people and inspire people. And I really hope you enjoy this conversation with Chris. We join it right at the beginning where he is just about to introduce himself.
Chris: [00:02:07] My name's Chris Marsh. I am the founder of Marsh Fit Ltd, which is a company which I decided to start off. And what really interests me is I had this thing for fitness and wanted to branch out into school a bit more and help more of my community. So that Marsh Fit came along being part of my surname. And fitness has always, always instilled in me by my Dad - he was in the army. Yeah, very regimental [glitch in track]. Had started me off that way, he incorporated a very regimental way. I wouldn't say he was overly strict, but he he had a certain way of doing things, fitness wise, that helped him with his daily planning. Just having that structure in life, I've just carried it on for him. So I thought, no other Dad has carried a Marsh Fit name as in Marsh as in fitness as I want now to help kids. I do community fitness outside; I did the Permeter Festival, which is something that was held on Old Kent Road, did a festival there and I've worked with other organisations and National Theatre, I work with UFC I've worked with the community. I do a community project on Saturdays as much as I want to engross myself and help my community - I think that that's what really what Marsh Fit's about it's about is helping others that really want that same kind of lifestyle, same kind of level of fitness that just want to lift their day to day ...
Catherine: [00:03:31] So what was it? What was your job at school? Were you a PE teacher?
Chris: [00:03:36] I was an admin officer. Funny story because I wanted to be, I wanted to be a teacher and I had my degree and I thought ahh I want to go do my PGCE and something happended. I didn't successfully make it but I had an opportunity to go and work in a school as an admin officer. I was like, OK,I still get to be an educator, which I was happy about and through that I kind of saw that day to day struggle with teachers, what they go through in and out, how tough it is. I saw, I started doing fitness stuff with PE teacher.
Chris: [00:04:03] I did a marathon, I did the London Marathon and the school was so supportive behind me in raising the funds. It went to build a school in Tanzania, which didn't have much education so we are money to build a school in Tanzania with the money I raised in the London Marathon. They were helping. Parents were getting involved. Teachers were getting involved to help raise the funds to build a school in Africa. It was amazing. And that sparked a little note thinking. I thought to myself, I've always done fitness that. I've always been very, quite involved with it. Why not give it back now? They've giving you something for you to motivate you, now why don't you give some of that motivation back?
[00:04:40] And that's what we started sparking. That's really the start of when I started giving back to the people started doing fitness workshop with them. They really loved it. Then I started doing mum and kids workouts after school and then that blew off. And then I started working with erm often at other community centres around Southwark. So I worked with youth centre. Oh, yeah I worked in there so I did a couple of class sessions in there.
[00:05:04] Can we go back to that moment, because I meet a lot of people and you possibly do, and the conversation goes. You talk about what you were doing. And I said, oh, I've always wanted to do X, Y, Z. And I feel like I always kind of want to get out some pompoms and cheer people along. And but I really get like that sometimes the biggest gap is that gap between 0 and 1. I'm kind of going from this idea and all that kind of fears. And then the reasons we tell ourselves why it's a silly idea. So can you talk a little bit about... I mean, amazing. You wanted to be in education, but you've accepted the admin job. You'd seen how well that works. You just kind of still very own your goal. Like, I'm just I don't mind pivoting. I'm going to just find us find another way. And then you have that spark of connecting what you loved - your fitness with... So tell us, what was that moment or kind of that zero to one moment when you ... What was your first session or what was that moment when you first stepped out as Marsh Fit or as a as a fitness instructor?
Chris: [00:06:16] It was it really, really dawned on to me. I mean, it hit me really hard when I was asked to do - I think I've actually got something on my Instagram about it, but one of the parents spoke to me and said how about doing um something like the community fitness where, within a Fun Day thing.. You know what, why don't you just come along and do some stuff with it? OK. So alright. OK. Different. Took some, what I knew, I had some punching pads, but that for me and the energy. And well, you know what? I'm going to have a pair of gloves, a punching bag and I'm just gonna see how it goes and I applied - I was so nervous I was there 10 o clock.
Chris: [00:06:54] I was like a little kid I was like it what if I get this ..... So I over prepared for it. So when I actually got there I thought, you know what,these kids just want to have fun. This is way too serious for them. These kids just want to have fun. And I was just myself and I went there and the kids absolutely loved it. And I remember one of the parents said to me, they said, you're really good at what you do. Not knowing that that was absolute first time I did it - I was like I was like, oh, yeah right thanks. Yeah it's what I do you know.
Chris: [00:07:26] It really didn't dawn on me. When I walked out I thought. You know, you know what, I could actually give back. And and really do something with this. And. I started doing little workshops, so there was the Perimeter Festival where a good friend of mine ? that works works for a company that works a lot with mentoring and mentoring young adults, especially young kids as adults. He eventually said why don't you do a fitness workshop at the Perimeter Festival. You know, just get the kids involved get the parents involved. OK. All right. Yeah it's a challenge. Why not? So I set up my little stall and I was advertising Marsh Fit at the time. Then he said - Right - do you want to do a workout at the stage? Bearing in mind it's really hot
Chris: [00:08:10] and I thought oooooh ok. Alright then .... But when I go on that state. And I saw everyone's face lit up everyone was like oh my days what is he going to do? By jogging in the spot,people stop getting involved. It was almost like slowly creeping and halfway into it I started realizing, wow. I saw everyone up even at the school joining along with me.
Chris: [00:08:31] And I thought - I really love this don't. And at the end, I'm was in my element. People were clapping me, it blew my mind because at the end of it I didn't want a round of applause. I just want to have a good time. Skip this, ..... Yeah. Ten minutes of excercise in a day. And that was it. And I didn't expect what people gave me. And I'm so humbled by it. I really started pushing and pushing and pushing it. Yeah.
Chris: [00:08:57] It's literally being persistent and breaking through that because that first step is always hard
Chris: [00:09:03] It is isn't it.
Chris: [00:09:06] It's always, always hard, but if you have this unrelenting desire to be what you want to be and give to the world, I always believe you've got to give something to the world. If you're given a gift, do something. Give it to the world. Let the people see. Everything else will come - that's what I can believe.
Catherine: [00:09:31] Well, that's beautiful. And you can see how that's unfolded for you. And just that, you're just starting. Just that one step. Just creates all the momentums there. Right. You know, it's like it is scary starting that but there's nothing... So it is so energizing and so enriching when you I guess you kind of collide with your thing and, as you said, you were up on that stage and you saw those faces and you kind of had that amazing kind of sense of being fed back by the people that you were serving and connecting with. And I I love that. I love that. So we're obviously in the middle of a very wierd time globally.
Chris: [00:10:17] Very wierd.
Catherine: [00:10:17] Pandemic. So tell me a bit about how you're pivoting and what that's meaning for your business. Like, how are you? How are you? How are you managing? What are you doing?
Chris: [00:10:30] I'm I'm I'm getting there gradually. I mean, making people aware of what you can do now. I don't think it's so much a great deal of trying to breakeven, you know, or have some sort of financial gain. Massive kinf of gain. I don't think that the best in society. I genuinely believe the main aim is to try and reach out to as much people as you can and offer them what you can do. And that's genuinely more important that kind of making money, because if you're just out there ready to make the money out of it - you're not really going to survive. But if you're genuiely out there to say - You know what? This has happened, it's just another bump in the road. Let's go this way and you'll come back to that road eventually. That's the way I see it.
Catherine: [00:11:11] Well, it's interesting, isn't it, how even from an entrepreneur's standpoint, when your very heart connected with what you're doing, that and you're less in love with your product and more in love with your who you are there to serve then there's an automatic like What else? What else can I do? So us arriving at this, podcast is, we were just closing, I think and I saw you posting about your free online classes.. Because I was thinking, OK, how can we as a restaurant like support the community when we're having to close right now? And I like, you know, I can champion.... There are so many great individuals and businesses. And how can that how can that work? And I wasn't expecting to do a podcast. But here we are. I saw your online class..
Catherine: [00:12:01] Tell me how that is going, because that's just so great.
Chris: [00:12:05] So it's taken off really well, because I mean, I designed my apps. I've got an app out - The Marsh Fit app and there are loads of workout on it for this. And at the moment I'm offering it free to the 31st July, anyone can make use of it - efficient resources, workout, there's community on there aswell.. [glitchy]
Chris: [00:12:32] I said to myself, you know, I'm not exactly going to be training anyone anytime soon. People just want a ray of hope so to speak. They want to feel energised. They want to feel positive. I mean, there's is so much negativity pouring in and out, social media in our face. It feels like he's been shoved down our throats, this negative energy. I thought you know what - if I can do something to give back. And I just thought, you know. Sod it. Lets do free workouts three times a week. Join me. I'm doing workouts in my app. I you like how it looks what I'm doing it. I genuinely believe in never giving someone something you can't do yourself. I'm running the app. I'm doing it myself.Live for whoever wants to be there.
Catherine: [00:13:18] They're live? so they're - ok - that's brave.
Chris: [00:13:24] If there's any bloopers we're taking it and we're rolling with it. But I mean, the other day my cat just walked in, I picked up my cat and did hey everybody this is my cat [glitch] So it's literally - it's just being yourself. And I think that people want to see that.
Catherine: [00:13:40] Yeah.
Chris: [00:13:41] They know the realness of. I mean, OK, we're putting out this brand, we're putting out this product, we're doing all these workouts but there's nothing better than to see what you're really like. You know.
Catherine: [00:13:53] Because there's also I guess, for people that are thinking about starting something to see the everyday kind of almost behind the scenes stuff warts and all is often more encouraging, I think, than even necessarily what you putting out. It's just seeing but just seeing other people do it and do it imperfectly. But just doing it thats the point right?
Chris: [00:14:15] Just to show that you're human - that is the relatable thing here because alot of the time you've think got this kind of mechanical image that you workout, you've got set reps, numbers, this that no - it's a bit of a laugh really. Cmon here my cat's on - hello cat.
Chris: [00:14:29] All right. Let's crack on. Oh no I did one two too many reps..
Catherine: [00:14:30] What's your cat's name?
Chris: [00:14:30] Pepsi.
Catherine: [00:14:34] Popsi? I need to get a picture of your cat in the show notes.
Chris: [00:14:41] Absolutely I'll definately get that over to you.
Catherine: [00:14:43] For the cat lovers out there. So. So tell me if if anyone is listening, who is inspired by what you are saying? And it's just like, oh, just feeling a little bit closer to having me having the bravery to kind of just start. What would you say? What would be your words of encouragement?
Chris: [00:15:04] I would say that just let the world know how passionate you are about. Don't necessarily worry about the negative remarks you may get. Just be yourself. Tell the world about what you can offer. I think that is a lot more important than just worrying about oh my days what does this group of people think. Do they like me not like me? Regardless of that - if you put out to the world, you will have people that will not acquire your taste. There'll be other people that might do. Regardless of that, let the world know who you are. What you can offer.
Catherine: [00:15:40] What does that look like for you like, if someone's thinking I hear that. but what, what does that mean? Is that conversation, is that going on Instagram? What's working for you in terms of being able to talk about, to show your gifts and and what you're how are you showing up?
Chris: [00:16:01] I think for me, going on Instagram and offering more, I mean, I don't have the world's greatest amount of followers. I understand loads of other teachers out there and I'm not going to compete with them because obviously they were well established. They're tall and big. They're much more handsome that me. I mean they might have bigger arms than me.. Why? My whole aspect of this is like I just want to say, hey, I'm over here. This is what I could do. I'm an everyday normal person that's just inspired to be fit and healthy and just come along and join me and take this trip with me and see how you feel about the end of it. I guarantee you that you're going to have a big smile on your face. And that's what I'm about.
Catherine: [00:16:43] Fantastic.
Chris: [00:16:45] If you can make people happy in what you're doing, then you definitely nailed it.
Catherine: [00:16:49] Are you doing any personal, any one to one fitness training online during this time, or is it just you free workouts that people can access?
Chris: [00:16:58] Free workouts at the moment, I am looking to go online very, very soon I'm going to advertise. I'm open to do group workouts, live group workouts with my whole buzzing energy self... So yeah definitely group works and one to ones. So I want to offer that out to my community and everyone else around the world obviously who's listening. I am here. I'm here to help. No matter what situation we are, we guarantee that we will get you to your fitness goals.
Catherine: [00:17:31] And what would you say to someone that's sitting there as maybe been sitting for too long on the sofa, particularly for the last last week or so during lockdown and just like, woah, I really, really want to put the pies down and get started on a fitness thing that I just really like pies. What would you - how would you. Yes. How do people start on a fitness journey in a way that doesn't feel awful?
Chris: [00:18:01] I can get you started. I mean, just get up and do something. I mean, there is going to always be that voice in you that's going to be like, hey, I want to do something? Listen to that voice.
Catherine: [00:18:12] Yes.
Chris: [00:18:13] Even if you getting up off the chair and marching on the spot for a minute, you've done something. Build on that. Right. It's a little pocket. Now I'm going to try to get my steps up for five minutes every day. Build on it. Or every week - build on it. It just start somewhere. Don't just lost hope. Get up and go.
Catherine: [00:18:33] Amazing. Just start. I mean, that's that's the whole message, isn't it? Your ideas, your fitness or anything. Don't listen to their little voice in your head. Going, just telling you it's a silly idea. Just just start. Just do it. Oh, Chris, thank you. Thank you so much. This has been so wonderful connecting and we'll put for all of all of listeners - because at the moment there are no listeners. Right. So I always giggle when you hear early podcasters going for all you listeners out there. But when we do listeners all Chris's details on how to connect with them, how to download the app, how to access your amazing fitness classes, which I'm going to turn up for and try as well. I've started imperfectly. I've started. So you have been just the perfect, perfect guest to start with as well. So thank you for being so great and just such and such an easy person to talk to.
Chris: [00:19:34] Absolutely. Thank you so much. And for supporting as always. Thank you so much.
Catherine: [00:19:39] Oh, look forward to seeing you soon. Take care. Thank you. Goodbye. And you, too. Bye.
Catherine: [00:19:48] Well, I really hope you enjoy that interview as much as I enjoyed interviewing Chris. What a great guy. Really, really in to this community and serving and providing incredible value. Highly recommend trying out one of his online classes, free classes, absolutely get ready to sweat. Yeah, you work from the start to finish its brilliant, brilliant, fun. Really good if you need to start a fitness habit or if you're already have breaken through that pain barrier and just want to switch things up a bit. Something for everyone. Check him out. Instagram marsh underscore fit and send him a DM direct message and he will get you a link for his brilliant app. Don't if you caught it, but it's free till July. So many other classes in there. It's a really great gift.
Catherine: [00:20:47] And if you love this, please share it with your friends. Please leave this a review or a like below. It really, really helps. And look forward to seeing you on the next podcast. Thank you. This is Catherine the Giant Pause.