Fired From David Lloyd to 6-Figures: The Fitness Business Built on Ads

The fitness coaching space is saturated — which means you either niche down or you disappear.In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Chris Wright, an online transformation coach best known for helping men over 30 lose the dad bod, get a six-pack, and stay lean without living like a monk. Chris breaks down the real business behind the results: how getting fired pushed him online, why mentors accelerated his growth, how he hires and scales, and why his client acquisition is now driven mainly by paid ads and Instagram.They also get into the unsexy truth most coaches avoid: how long clients actually stay (Chris says around 7 months on average), what happens after the first transformation, and why retention depends on giving people a new goal once they’ve “arrived.”Timestamps:0:00 - Coming Up0:16 - Intro0:47 - Dubai vs Bali: where’s better for business?7:32 - Getting fired → going online10:59 - Using mentors to grow faster13:45 - Hiring, scaling & paid ads (what actually works) 18:34 - Going all in on Instagram25:05 - Why niching down is non-negotiable27:54 - How long clients really stay (7 months average) 29:59 - What happens after 7 months (maintenance vs new goals) 32:01 - The future of the business33:16 - Final thoughts + where to find ChrisIf you’re a coach, founder, or anyone building a personal brand business, this is a practical breakdown of niching, marketing, ads, retention, and scaling.Follow Chris:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_fitlab/Website: https://fitlabcoaching.co.uk/lean365-programme/========================Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ ▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube ▶ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedi...