We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Willey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, how do you think about risk?
I try to think about risk only relative to the reward. Focusing too much on the risk can risk the risk more than the risk itself. Make sense?

Let me explain. Risk can be defined as exposure to loss or danger. Only thinking about that downside can lead to always deciding not to take the risk, even if that’s not the best decision. It can also lead to poor performance. Let’s say you are overly focused on the risk of failing a test, you may be too stressed to do your best. In both cases, the outcome is impacted by the mere presence of the risk, which has nothing to do with the actual task at hand. Too much focus on potential losses, or the risks, may negatively impact both decision making and performance.

The opposite is true of focusing too much on reward. This can result in riskiness becoming recklessness. I’ve definitely been there before at times in my life, and it’s also not so great. So the appropriate approach is to balance the two. However, in doing so, I would really think about how you define the risks and the rewards.

The biggest risk I have taken in life is opening my own fitness studio concept. The risk was that it would fail and my wife and I would lose all of our savings. Pretty big downside. The reward of course could also be very profitable. My decision to take the leap though turned on a different of type of reward. It was around making a mark on this world and creating something bigger than myself. Even if the studio lost money, I would still have had the chance to pour my identity and love into something. I would still have created a place in our community that people need to lead a happier and healthier life. To manage the stress from the risks in their own lives. To connect with others in a way that is increasingly difficult to do in the digital world. To learn something and do something they never thought they could. To uncover strength and confidence they already had but never knew it.

So I decided to go for it. Then Covid hit. That’s a large risk everyone was exposed to but no one anticipated. And of course, it’s been especially bad financially for group fitness. But it also makes some of the rewards even greater. More than ever, people need a reason to be around other people and break out of isolation. Life has felt like it’s been put on pause in a lot of ways. Fitness and learning a new skill can serve as the spark to restart your life. To pursue real growth and progress. To aspire to more than just holding on to some remnant of our past lives.

So, in spite of suffering great loss due to a great risk, I still feel I made the right decision in opening my studio. It’s made life a lot harder for myself, but the reward can’t be defined. I started it, but the studio isn’t about me. It’s about the people that come in through my doors and find something they need. It’s about my small business being a part of the fabric that holds the neighborhoods around White Rock together and makes it a special place to live.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our brand is about the mental and emotional benefits of working out. We are called Offbeat because we don’t sell calorie burn or weight loss or status or some of the other things the industry typically sells. We want disconnect from technology and connect with ourselves and others… in person!

We foster an inclusive environment and give 5% of our revenue to our non profit partner Trinity Athletics. We have Latin night and Hustle&Flow every week to celebrate Latin and black culture, and we have minority representation at all levels, including ownership, front desk, instructors, and management.

Boxing and Cycling are a surprising maybe but extremely effective combination! And both are super fun in very different ways!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Too many neighborhoods to check out, but I would start at the beginning. Katy trail Icehouse! Haha, then branch out form there. Bishop Arts would have to be included, and then Deep Ellum for late nights. The arboretum is the best spot in Dallas, and then I’d take them to White Rock Lake. Another walk down Turtle Creek and Beverley to see HP. SMU campus would be a stop and then on down to lowest Greenville. There are a few dive bars as well, including karaoke at One Nostalgia, or maybe at Family Karaoke in Korea Town. Of course we’d include a stop by my gym as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shout out to my wife. She has stood by me and supported me. In fact, the studio wouldn’t exist without her. She not only continues to support the venture financially far past expectations, but she has allowed me to pour my time and energy into the project, all while pregnant and delivering our first child. She is the silent backer, and I am so thankful for her unending support.

I also have a few instructors that have been with me since the beginning. Along with our members, you make the studio what it is!

Website: offbeatbcs.com

Instagram: @offbeatbcs

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