Folks,

Two of the kids I worked with for a number of years have had a stellar week. Darcy Harry won her first European Golf Tour Event, and Joel Makin had his first win on the Professional Squash Association Tour. 

Both were underdogs, neither fancied as professional athletes, and yet here we are. 

I built Elite Fitness on the idea of elite performance and winning, after all, the tagline in bold across a wall in the gym was

“It’s not the taking part that counts.”

But, now what I wish it said: Don’t look for success, look for commitment. 

Have a great week, 

Simon

P.S. Your Story in My Book: A Request for Testimonials 

I had an interesting experience this week at a Maribou State gig with my girls. I ran into two people I know from the old Elite Fitness days. We chatted, and both of them mentioned how much they miss the place.

That’s a tough one for me, because, on the one hand, I know there were things I messed up that contributed to its end. On the other hand, I poured my heart into it and helped create something truly special – a place where so many of us found connection, pushed our limits, and felt a real sense of belonging. That tension is something I explore in my book Good Coach Bad Coach, due for release in October, pending the final stages with editors and production.

I'd be incredibly grateful to include those of you who were part of my story in the book. If you were a member of Elite Fitness, and you have a quote about how belonging to Elite Fitness made you feel – the community, the spirit, the impact it had on you beyond just the workouts – I would genuinely love to hear it.

Your words would help illustrate one of the key themes of the book: build a place where you belong. If you're willing to share a few sentences, please just reply to this email.

Thank you for being a part of that journey.