Meet Jim Sheppard and Phillipe Gentry of Straight Blast Gym Buford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Sheppard, Phillipe Gentry.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jim and Phillipe. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Phillipe: I had an opportunity to coach at a gym I was training at after my coach left and found that I loved it. Unfortunately, I had to step away for financial reasons. Years later when the opportunity presented itself to partner in a gym, I jumped on it. Within two years I bought out my partners, moved the gym and partnered with Jim. Together we’ve made Straight Blast Gym Buford the number one gym of its kind in our area. Our mission is pretty simple, make it better. Every day we work towards improving the way we coach and operate as a business. So far it’s worked pretty well so we’re going to keep making it better.

Jim: That’s the key…always working to be better. There is never a point where we are satisfied with what we are doing. I’ve seen way to many business killed by complacency.

Has it been a smooth road?
Jim: Is opening and running a business ever a smooth road? Look, every business will encounter problems and obstacles; it’s how you respond that really counts. One of the things Phillipe and I pride ourselves on is being very self-reflective. The majority of the time that there is a problem it’s because of something that we failed to do, or failed to recognize. The key is recognizing these problems and creating the systems within our business to prevent them from happening again.

Phillipe: I don’t view anything as a roadblock. There are only opportunities for us to get better. Managing people and building the business on shoestring budget are some opportunities we have had.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Straight Blast Gym Buford – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Phillipe: We are the only gym that offers a wide array of functional martial arts and fitness programs for men, women and children taught by the top coaches in the field.

Jim: I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find many gyms with the same kind of positive, up-beat, energy that we have at SBG. If my team isn’t excited to be here, than why should our members be excited to be here? Our coaches love what they do, and it shows. So many coaches and trainers out there make it painfully obvious that they are just going through the motions; the old “fake it till you make it”. We do a good job of letting our members know that we are not only excited, but appreciative, that they have put their faith in us to help them reach their health, fitness, or martial arts goals.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Phillipe: There aren’t many cities that have as much to offer as Atlanta while still being an affordable places to live. I love all the food and entertainment options. Atlanta has more trees than most other cities isn’t far from the mountains or ocean. The people are great too. The only thing that I’d like to see changed is the amount of people interested in health and fitness. We’ve improved but are still typically one of the top 25 metro cities for obesity. It makes dating more difficult.

Jim: Lol! Yea, the abundance of awesome food in Atlanta is one of my favorite things about this city, but it definitely doesn’t help that obesity rate Phillipe is talking about. Atlanta is my home, born and raised. I love it here. The weather, the people, the hospitality. There is always something to do in Atlanta, no matter what kind of activities you are in to.

Contact Info:

• Address: 3616 South Bogan Road
  Ste 204
  Buford, GA 30519
• Website: www.straightblastgymbuford.com
• Phone: 7702778741
• Email: jim@sbgatlanta.com
• Instagram: sbg_buford
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StraightBlastGymBuford/
• Twitter: @SBG_Buford
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/straight-blast-gym-buford-buford-4

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