Sean-Michael Doty’s remarkable journey from a college athlete to the owner of TrAk Athletics exemplifies the unwavering spirit of resilience and determination. His athletic career was marked by setbacks, including a devastating ankle injury that could have derailed his dreams. However, Sean’s unyielding determination drove him to make a triumphant comeback.
Despite his initial success, subsequent injuries left Sean feeling lost and disheartened during his senior season. Instead of giving up, Sean saw this as an opportunity for growth. So, transitioned into personal training, seeking to share his passion for fitness and knowledge with others. Financial challenges posed significant obstacles, but his unwavering dedication led him to secure teaching and training positions at colleges, where he continued to hone his expertise.
Then, he founded TrAk Athletics to make a lasting impact by providing people with a community of individuals who are passionate about becoming the best version of themselves. Today, we sit down with Sean to learn more about his journey as an entrepreneur and his mission in the fitness field.
Q. Sean, you work with high achievers, parents, and small business owners. That’s a varied client pool! How do you tailor your coaching approach to meet their unique needs and goals?
Sean: You know, tailoring our coaching approach for high achievers, parents, and small business owners is a bit like being a director in a blockbuster movie. Each character has their unique storyline and needs. For high achievers, we focus on setting and achieving ambitious goals, utilizing their drive to reach new heights in fitness and life. We focus on the benefits to their families and understand that needs fluctuate; each day might be different.
Some need to be pushed in their workout because they had a rough day at work and need a win, some need to be pulled back because their ambitions have them at risk of injury, and some need a space to focus on something other than the daily grind and responsibilities. We know they are all rockstars whether it comes in the form of traditional success or not. So, we are there to use the tools of fitness, content, and community to help every client continue to grow and achieve in their life.
Q. Transitioning from an athletic background to a career and family life can be challenging. How do you help retired athletes maintain a healthy lifestyle while balancing their professional and personal responsibilities?
Sean: We offer retired athletes a bridge to maintain their fitness by making workouts part of their daily routine. Most athletes have spent most of their lives following a carefully crafted workout and practice routine. The hardest part for retired athletes is the uncertainty of not knowing what to do next. They used to have a clear reason to train, so they missed that structure.
We help athletes find balance by helping them set new training or life goals, even if they don’t lead to winning trophies. Our main focus is to help them be the best versions of themselves for the long haul. We want retired athletes to be able to have personal goals and ambitions while also keeping that athletic drive that’s embedded in their DNA, just at a smaller scale than before.
Q. In your experience, how does incorporating exercise into a daily routine contribute to productivity and personal growth?
Sean: I think I could go on for days about this, but suffice it to say that incorporating exercise into your daily routine is like having a superpower. It boosts your energy, focus, and creativity, making high achievers and small business owners unstoppable forces. It’s also an effective tool for stress management and reduction, allowing you to show up with a clearer, sharper mind. I think of it as the real-life version of the limitless drug from the film Limitless with Bradley Cooper. Exercise is an investment in yourself and your business, and it pays all day long.
Q. As someone who has trained Olympians, how do you help your clients adopt an athlete’s mindset to excel in their work or personal life?
Sean: We help clients adopt an athlete’s mindset by instilling discipline, perseverance, a growth mindset, and goal-oriented thinking. It’s like training for the Olympics of life, where they compete with the best version of themselves every day. This kind of mindset helps them excel in their careers and personal lives as they take on challenges while perceiving them as opportunities.
We also help instill confidence that each day is a step in the right direction and a commitment to the version of themselves that they want to be. It’s about delaying gratification from the here and now so that they can achieve something greater later. Athletes need to think of the long term to be able to grow over the 4 years of the Olympic cycle, this is what allows them to deal more effectively with setbacks and obstacles. That’s the idea behind our approach.
Q. Can you discuss the importance of developing healthy routines and how they contribute to overall well-being, especially for individuals in their 30s to 60s?
Sean: I believe healthy routines are the foundation for a successful life story because they enhance our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s how people can do and achieve more in the same 24 hours that we all have. By establishing that routine, you’re able to set an environment and habit for yourself that raises the floor of what you’re capable of.
This is something that improves self-confidence and self-esteem more than any outfit or number in your bank account. A healthy routine is essential in your 30s and later life because it doesn’t only benefit you, it also benefits your family. Through your actions and choices, you’re setting the tone for your family’s physical/mental/emotional health long term. In other words, you’re leading by example, which allows you to make a huge impact on the people you love.
Q. What are your thoughts on current weight loss programs and diets?
Sean: Nowadays, people want to achieve a new body quickly. This leads to burnout and really unhealthy choices and habits. Very few people are investing the time and effort to improve their health and fitness in the long term. This need for immediate change is what makes untested supplements and dangerous diets so popular. These things are sold as an instant, one-size-fits-all solution, and nothing could be further from the truth. The only healthy and safe way to achieve your fitness goals is to be in it for the long haul, get the help of a good coach, and rely on science-backed approaches.
Q. How does TrAk Athletics foster a sense of community and connection among its members?
Sean: We build community by hosting events, providing support, and building relationships. For high achievers and parents with busy schedules, TrAk Athletics is a place where they belong, share their journey, and find inspiration in others. They can connect and train together and feel like they belong not to a gym but to a connected network of people who are on similar journeys. This allows high achievers to maximize their time here to ensure they can do more in their life outside of the gym, which is so important.
Q. Could you elaborate on the role of exercise and fitness in promoting personal development, mindset, and leadership skills?
Sean: Exercise allows for a leadership transformation arc. It builds not only physical strength but also mental resilience, leadership skills, and a growth mindset. It’s the secret ingredient in the recipe for personal development. If you want to improve confidence, lift more weight than you thought possible, and feel the impact. This is an effective confidence booster, and that confidence carries out to other aspects of life. Next time you’re in a meeting, you won’t stay quiet about an idea as you used to. You’ll be more assertive because exercise can remind you how capable you are.
Overall, exercise provides the opportunity for every single one of us to become better leaders not only at work but also at home. This is because you become more confident in facing adversity. The more goals you achieve at the gym, the more you learn to embrace challenges elsewhere, thus helping you become a stronger leader.
Q. With TrAk Athletics offering remote programming and coaching, how do you ensure that clients receive effective guidance and support without being physically present in the gym?
Sean: We use calls, personalized plans, apps with videos, emails, and checklists to ensure clients achieve their fitness goals, no matter where they are. We value accountability and take it to another level to make sure everyone is present, even if they’re not physically at the gym. This ensures an effective implementation of our programs so everyone can achieve their goals.
To learn more about TrAk Athletics, visit their website or check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.