EP 13 | From NRL to Hollywood: Luke Milton on Reinventing Success, Discipline & Building a $30M Fitness Empire

In this episode of the Everything Counts Podcast, Jamie Small sits down with former NRL player Luke Milton to unpack an incredible journey from rugby league fields in Australia to building one of the most recognised fitness brands in the United States.Luke shares the real story behind his career—playing for the Sydney Roosters and West Tigers, transitioning into rugby union with the Waratahs and Australian Sevens, and eventually moving to New York where he started running bootcamps in Central Park. What began with a duffel bag and $20 workouts turned into Training Mate, a fitness company now valued at over $30 million with studios across the U.S. The conversation goes deeper than business. Luke opens up about identity, ego, discipline, and the lessons learned from rubbing shoulders with billionaires, celebrities, and mentors along the way. He talks about the pressures of success, the reality of entrepreneurship, and the shift from chasing status to prioritising family, purpose, and meaningful experiences.This episode dives into:The mindset shift from athlete to entrepreneurBuilding a global fitness brand from scratchMentorship and learning from powerful peopleThe dangers of chasing status and external validationWhy discipline, self-reflection, and daily habits matterFatherhood, family, and redefining successA raw and honest conversation about growth, ambition, and becoming a better man.Recorded and Produced at The Grey Creative Caringbah.