Brittle to Unbreakable: Jeff Black

In this episode, Paul sits down with Jeff Black.  Jeff is a coach, mentor, educator, author and gym owner, who somehow has more time in the day than anyone Paul’s ever met.  This was a very deep conversation with way too many topics to list.

They discuss:

• Jeff’s childhood and origin story
• Entrepreneurship
• Owning a gym
• Jeff’s new book
• Philosophies on life and coaching

… and so much more.

Find Jeff:

IG: @jeffunbreakableblack 

Website: www.relentlessforever.com, www.brittletounbreakable.com 

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Born with the brittle bone disease known as Osteogenesis-Imperfecta, Jeff learned to defy the odds and to believe in himself to accomplish something "impossible." Osteogenesis Imperfecta (O.I.) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by bones that break easily, often from little or no apparent cause. The disease affects roughly 25,000 people in the U.S. Depending on the severity of the disease, and those afflicted may have just a few or as many as several hundred fractures in a lifetime. By the time he was fourteen years old, Jeff had endured eighteen surgeries on his legs to allow him to walk. His journey into health and fitness began the moment a physical therapist handed him a weight to help make his upper body stronger to utilize his wheelchair and crutches better. From that moment, he was hooked on the empowerment working out gave him, and he knew his life would never be the same. He knew at a young age that if he gave his all, he could accomplish anything. Walking, without any aids, would be his first accomplishment. 

Since then, Jeff has continued to defy the odds by competing in bodybuilding since 2006. Each year, he steadily improves his physique and conditioning, having placed in the top 5 in all his local and regional shows with his highest placing nationally in 2017 Junior Nationals, having earned 2nd in his weight class. In 2013, Jeff linked up with Jason Theobald, who has remained Jeff's coach and developed into mentoring Jeff. From the mentoring developed, Jeff's understanding that when a person has belief, passion, and grit, anything can be realized and accomplished. When those three collide,  great things happen, and Jeff tries to create this for each of his clients. Passion for their goals. Belief in themselves. Grit to accomplish anything. Jeff prides himself on his top-notch customer communication and care. These two are critical to accomplishing and achieving the best you, no matter your goal.

Currently, Jeff coaches clients full time, both in-person and online, having over 15 years of experience, he has enjoyed working with his clients on their journey as the coach and trainer. Jeff also owns a gym in Hermitage, TN, called Iron House Strength and Conditioning. His goal is to create a facility that is a "fitness factory" appealing to everyone. Diversity is the cornerston