EP 13 - "Is Your Safe Job REALLY That Safe? And Why You Should (Probably) Start a Business "

In this episode of the Freedom Kickstarter Podcast, I sit down with Mark Council, co-owner of Platform Personal Training Gym and co-founder of Relentless Business Mentoring. We dive deep into his journey from working construction jobs to launching a thriving gym and business mentoring company. Mark shares the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way, including the pivotal moments that shaped his career.This episode is a must-listen if you're looking for insights into entrepreneurship, marketing, and building a resilient business.What We Covered:Mark’s Journey & Business Evolution- How Mark and his business partner started a gym in a derelict building with no money.- The unconventional (and risky) path they took to launching Platform PT Gym.- The early struggles of running a gym while working a full-time job.- How Mark balanced his master’s degree, a full-time job, and renovating a gym.- Mark’s decision to take the leap and go all-in on his business.- The mindset shift that helped him push through doubts and challenges.- Why he believes being self-employed can be less risky than working a corporate job.- The role of copywriting and storytelling in marketing a gym.- How Mark leveraged organic marketing to scale his business before using paid ads.- The power of email marketing and why he sends four emails per week to his audience.- The importance of understanding customer psychology and buying behavior.- How Platform PT Gym grew from a part-time side hustle to a full-time business.- The pivotal moment when Mark and his business partner expanded the gym.- How hiring and team management transformed their business.- The transition from organic marketing to paid advertising to maintain growth.- How Mark unintentionally built a business mentoring service.- The biggest challenges small business owners face and how Relentless helps solve them.- The real reason most businesses struggle (hint: it’s not just a lack of leads).- Why retention and operations are more important than constantly chasing new sales.Final Five Questions:1. Book Recommendation: Influence by Robert Cialdini – Understanding persuasion and influence is key to growing a business.2. Coffee Order: Cappuccino (with a cheeky hazelnut shot if feeling fancy).3. Social Media Platform to Delete: Facebook (despite its marketing power, it needs significant changes).4. Dinner Party Guests: Muhammad Ali, Isaac Newton, and Ricky Gervais – a mix of inspiration, intellect, and humor.5. Best Business Advice: You can fail doing the safe thing, so you might as well fail chasing your dream.Where to Find Mark:- Personal Instagram: [@mark_platform](https://www.instagram.com/mark_platform)- Relentless Business Mentoring: [@relentlessbusinessmentoring](https://www.instagram.com/relentlessbusinessmentoring)Like this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! Got questions for Mark or me? Drop them in the comments or send us a DM.