From Painter to Powerhouse: Ben Ilacqua on Building Shadow Fitness Club

Jun 25, 2025

Ben Ilacqua, founder of Shadow Fitness Club, has transformed from a house painter to a fitness entrepreneur in Western Sydney. He discusses his journey of creating a thriving fitness community from a tiny space and the importance of mentorship and patience in achieving business growth. Ben shares valuable lessons on resilience and scaling, emphasizing collaboration over competition. He reflects on balancing family life with professional ambitions and how a painter's eye for transformation translates into guiding others in martial arts and fitness.

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ANECDOTE

From Painter to Fitness Leader

Ben transitioned from painting houses to running Shadow Fitness Club inspired by his love for transformation.
He views fitness as a way to transform lives much like he transformed homes in his painting career.

ADVICE

Value of Mentorship

Seek mentorship to overcome business plateaus and bottlenecks.
Don't hesitate to learn from others' experiences and be willing to rebuild foundations for growth.

ADVICE

Set Realistic Growth Goals

Define a clear North Star goal and break it down realistically over time.
Align revenue streams and resources to reach that goal without moving the target prematurely.

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What does it take to go from painting houses to painting the vision of a thriving fitness empire? In this episode of Profit Made Simple, Coach Dan Henderson is joined by Ben Ilacqua, founder of Shadow Fitness Club, to unpack a story of transformation - both personal and professional. Ben opens up about his journey from the trades into fitness, building a world-class facility from scratch while navigating business, fatherhood, and self-development.

From starting in a tiny 100m² space to purchasing his dream building and leading a high-performing team, Ben shares the lessons, mistakes and mindset shifts that helped him evolve from “doing everything” to building a true ecosystem of impact. With a deep commitment to community, mentorship and growth, Ben reveals how a painter’s eye for transformation turned into a passion for transforming lives through martial arts, fitness and leadership.

If you're a business owner who’s hit a ceiling or craving more clarity, this episode is packed with insights on resilience, scaling sustainably, and the power of collaboration over competition.

Our favourite quotable moments:

“Freedom is the ability to choose.” – Ben Ben Ilacqua

“Every coach needs a coach.” – Ben Ilacqua

“You don’t do this on your own… we grow together.” – Ben Ilacqua

“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Ben Ilacqua

Resources:

Ben Ilacqua - Instagram

Dan Henderson - ⁠Website Instagram Facebook YouTube

About Guest:

Ben Ilacqua is the founder of Shadow Fitness Club, a leading fitness and martial arts facility in Western Sydney. With a background in painting and martial arts, Ben brings a unique lens to transformation, leadership and community-building. His gym is renowned for its strong culture, holistic coaching, and unwavering focus on impact.

About Dan:

Dan Henderson, founder of Fitness Profit, is a coach and business consultant who helps fitness owners achieve more freedom, impact, and income. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Dan is a well-respected leader, owning two successful businesses within the space: Fitness Profit and Australia's largest fitness conference, Filex. As a published author and entrepreneur, Dan shares his knowledge on the Profit Made Simple podcast, where he interviews industry experts and offers practical advice for growing your fitness business, building your brand, and achieving your goals. Join Dan each week and take your fitness business to new heights with Profit Made Simple.

Related: business growth, leadership, fitness business, community, transformation, mentorship, martial arts, gym ownership, mindset, entrepreneurship