Jake's Story

What do you do now, and what does your current work involve?

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I’m currently self-employed as a fitness coach, supporting people on their fitness journeys from physical fitness to mental health and wellbeing. It’s not just training that’s involved, it’s about keeping people determined and motivated, and having care and duty for them. Fitness isn’t just about the gym or having short-term goals. It’s a lifestyle choice, incorporating fun and exciting activities from workouts at home to outdoor activities. It’s a passion of mine.

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What do you regard as your first career or the path you originally started out in?

 

My first ever proper job was working in hospitality at the age of 15. I did have a paper round before then to get my pens and pencils for secondary school. I’ve always been a hard worker, as I should say.

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Have there been any other careers, roles or industries you’ve worked in along the way, including any detours, pivots or unexpected chapters in your career journey?

 

I did progress in a corporate job at a hospitality company, where I worked for 8 years, from glass collector to HR & Learning Development Trainer. I travelled all over the UK opening bars and clubs, and training teams on theory and practical knowledge from cocktails, food, wines and more.

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Looking back across your career so far, what prompted some of those changes in direction?

 

I’ve always been a hard worker, but I went on a BBC reality TV show called I Kissed A Boy that pretty much showed me a lot about myself. I used to feel really knocked down at work from different situations, but I tried to just shrug it off. I Kissed A Boy showed me a lot about the person that I am today, and I wanted to change and help people.

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Were there particular moments, opportunities or realisations that encouraged you to try something different?

 

Well, at a young age all my activities and hobbies were a way to escape from reality or to manage my insecurities. After the I Kissed A Boy experience, talking about my feelings and insecurities allowed me to appreciate everything that I did. I wanted to show people that it’s ok not to be ok and to express yourself, because it makes you 10x stronger, and when I started back up at The Gym Group Swansea, I decided that I wanted to make people feel confident and strong like me. I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life.

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What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when changing path?

 

Not knowing what was happening day by day. Quitting my job and not having security was really scary and had a knock-on effect financially. It was, and is, scary, but it’s worth it just to make a small difference in the world.

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What helped you most in navigating those career transitions?

 

Being determined not to give up and continuing to push myself for success.

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What has surprised you most about where your career has taken you?

 

Well, it’s nuts that I worked all over training people on alcohol and food, and then went the complete opposite direction and moved into the fitness industry.

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What practical advice would you give to someone who is considering a career change but isn’t sure where to begin?

 

Just find something you love and are passionate about, and never give up on yourself. Keep being consistent even when you’re tired, because it will pay off. You can sacrifice your time for a short time, but not for a long time.

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Looking back now, what key lessons or reflections would you share with others thinking about changing careers?

 

Just give it a leap of faith and don’t give up.

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To follow Jake’s fitness coaching journey, connect with him on Instagram at @jd_divinescoaching