Meet Ari Grossman

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

Hi Ari, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance is a struggle for everyone, especially when you have more than one business. In my family, we break it down to three pillars of life: personal, people, and prosperity. On any given day I rate my pillars on a scale of one to ten, with one being unsuccessful and ten being absolutely perfect in that pillar. Any area in my life that has an 8 or below, I examine what I can be doing better for that, or the, next day. I find that the prosperity pillar is the easiest to adjust, as this pillar covers all things business and finances. If I give myself say a six or seven in my prosperity pillar, I look at my business funnel. How many leads am I bringing in, what is my conversion rate, are my services fulfilling the needs of my community, and lastly, what actions can I take today to convert into more business tomorrow. Often times it’s as simple as a follow up phone call, a dialogue with my current happy clients, or sometimes my business simply needs more visibility. To find balance between work life, and everything else, us human beings encounter, I simply look at my other pillars in a similar way. A lot of people struggle most on the personal pillar, as this is all things you personally need to manage. This includes mental and physical wellbeing, mindfulness, and personal time. Though writing these out it seems so simple, when we have family depending, and work demanding of us, it feels really difficult to prioritize one’s self. For this reason, I utilize therapy, personal training, and my life mentor for coaching on the path to personal fulfillment. A great quote for self happiness, from author Byron Katie, “The only time we suffer, is when we believe a thought that argues with what is.” In other words, what is reality? What is the reality of my business, my personal life, and the people around me? With the pillar system we get rid of the noise that clouds a clear path to success. Lastly, the people pillar is the single most challenging pillar to work as a busy, hardworking entrepreneur. What is your relationship like with the people you work with, live with, choose to be around, and forced to be around? At the end of the day, all the blood sweat and tears we put into our work, we do for the ones we love so we can live a life of abundance and ease. When examining my three pillars, I view it as spokes on a bicycle. Without integrity in my spokes, my life is bound to collapse. Over the last decade, I’ve made serious changes in how I prioritize my pillars as I approach my third decade in life. I used to be focused on the personal pillar, with little to no regard to how my others scored, but with an amazing girlfriend, a loving family, and a great work environment, I find myself dedicated to having balance in all three major areas of my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey has been about overcoming personal challenges and using those experiences to fuel my passions. I’ve dealt with a seizure disorder and the fear of death, which pushed me to embrace life more fully. I’ve always been drawn to acting, and alongside that, I built a personal training business and life coaching business. What sets me apart is how I’ve integrated these paths—acting, coaching, and fitness—into a holistic approach to inspiring others. I’ve learned that resilience, mindset, and embracing fear are key to success. I’m very proud of making my first feature film where I was the lead actor. It wasn’t just a career milestone—it gave me the chance to work with an amazing crew and start a production company, and hopefully a long, successful acting career. I can’t wait on Hollywood to notice me to start making a difference, so utilizing the skills and resources I do have, I teamed up with Homeless Not Toothless, and the Vic James Center to help homeless veterans, and at risk teens to live a long, healthy, and meaningful life. It was definitely not easy. Balancing a seizure disorder with acting and running a business meant learning how to manage my health and time carefully. I had to push through a lot of self-doubt, rejection, and burnout, but I kept moving forward, focusing on the bigger picture. The key was persistence—staying true to my vision even when it felt like I was stretched too thin. The biggest lesson has been resilience. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and there will always be challenges. But if you keep going and stay authentic to your vision, you’ll get there. I’ve also learned that empathy and compassion are powerful tools in both business and life. When you connect with people and lift them up, it creates real change. I want people to know that my work isn’t just about acting or coaching—it’s about helping others overcome their own fears and live fully. Whether through film, fitness, or coaching, my mission is to inspire resilience and empower others to step into their purpose. No matter where you’re starting from, you have the power to create positive change in your life.

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?
If my best friend were visiting Los Angeles for a week, I’d make sure we got a taste of everything this incredible city has to offer. We’d kick things off with a morning hike at Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park to get a good sweat in and enjoy some iconic views of the city. Afterward, we’d grab breakfast at a local spot like The Griddle Cafe or Republique. For lunch, I’d take them to Grand Central Market in Downtown LA, where we could sample everything from tacos to ramen, then we’d wander through the nearby The Broad Museum for some modern art. In the afternoon, we’d hit the beach—Venice Beach for the vibe or Santa Monica for the pier and fun boardwalk activities. Evenings would be packed with great food—dinner at Bestia or Providence for a fancy meal, then drinks at a rooftop bar like The Highlight Room or Perch. I’d make sure we catch a comedy show at The Comedy Store or The Laugh Factory to get some laughs, and if we’re in the mood for some LA nightlife, we’d hit up spots like The Nice Guy or Sunset Marquis. To wrap up the trip, we’d spend a day exploring LA’s cultural side with a visit to LACMA or The Getty, followed by a sunset at Griffith Observatory for panoramic views of the city. Los Angeles has it all—fitness, food, art, and entertainment—so there’s never a dull moment when you’re exploring this city!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost I need to recognize my parents for creating the pillar system that I now use to navigate all things in life. My parents are two of my biggest role models who not only love each other after 30 years of marriage, but inspire me to live healthier and to really take on accountability for all things in my control. I now need to credit my amazing girlfriend, Kate Muffet, who has reminded me that even after a long day of work, we must prioritize connecting and finding time to be present for each other. Lastly, my life and acting mentors, Michelle Tomlinson and William H. Macy, who have always been there for me with sage wisdom. Learning to take action in an area that feels impossible to move forward with, having a coach that holds me accountable for doing impossible tasks. Thank you to my family of support, without this group of support and love, I could not attain this level of integrity in my three pillars of life.

Website: https://www.arigrossman.fitness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arig.fitness/

Image Credits
Getty images