Listen "E71: Will Bartholomew | What It Takes to Scale a Fitness Business"
Episode Synopsis
In this compelling episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, host Kyle Matthews sits down with Will Bartholomew, the founder and CEO of D1 Training. From his early days as a three-sport high school athlete to playing football alongside Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee, Will shares his incredible journey. After a series of knee injuries ended his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, Will channeled his passion and drive into creating D1 Training, a leading fitness franchise now with over 152 locations and an additional 250 in development. Listen as Will discusses his entrepreneurial spirit, the importance of passion, and the disciplined mindset that has led him to where he is today. Will also delves into balancing family life while building multiple businesses, the impact of NIL on youth sports, and the invaluable lessons learned from both successes and setbacks. Don't miss this inspiring conversation on achieving dreams, overcoming adversity, and the pivotal role of perseverance. Like, share, and subscribe for more insightful episodes.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Find Will:Twitter: x.com/d1sportsLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-bartholomew-35b60789/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d1sports/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willbartholomew/Website: https://www.d1training.com/Youtube: @D1training––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Find Kyle: https://www.matthews.comhttps://www.thematthewsmentalitypodcast.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylematthewsceoTwitter: https://x.com/kylematthewsceoLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-matthews-ceo/––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:58 Meet Will Bartholomew: From Athlete to Entrepreneur01:42 The Birth of D1 Training02:08 Early Challenges and Growth04:06 Building a Lifestyle Company05:56 The Importance of Passion and Persistence10:26 Expanding the Vision17:53 Lessons from Adversity24:46 Franchising and Future Plans28:08 The Real Estate Journey28:25 Franchising the Concept28:56 Exiting the Therapy Business30:02 Rebuilding the D1 Model31:15 The Impact of NIL on Business33:43 Teaching Character Through Sports35:58 The Growth Mindset43:09 Advice for Entrepreneurs45:54 Balancing Business and Family51:13 Intentionality and Success56:33 Final Thoughts and Reflections
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.