Meet Manny | Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing Instructor

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

Hi Manny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Are you good at what you do? Yes.

Do you like being told what to do? No.

Do you think you can do what you’re doing for your current employer on your own? Yes

What should our readers know about your business?
Once I realized coaching was what I wanted to do, I set out to look for jobs teaching at gyms around Miami. When I noticed no one wanted to hire a new coach I expanded my search to south Florida. Eventually finding an opportunity an hour and a half away from where I lived.

So, I would work my full-time catering and delivery Job 7am to 4pm. Then hop on the expressway and drive north to train myself for competition ( I was fighting at the time). And in that same facility I would teach one class, and maybe a personal training session before heading home for dinner, sleep, and repeating the next day.

I remember calculating how much I was getting paid at the time and realizing the time, and drive were killing any profits I was making. Living paycheck to paycheck at the time, it didn’t matter to me. Gaining experience to build up a resume while developing my skills as a coach was the goal. So I chugged along until my car broke down one day half way to my second job. Took .e so long to repair, I ended up losing I that gig. Then the catering business closed down shortly after.

That’s when I began working at a large corporate gym nearby that focuses on martial arts and conditioning. It was a heavily sales oriented job. I hated sales, always thought it was sleazy. For the first few months I would take any clients they would hand me, and classes other coaches didn’t want. All to make myself useful enough for the. To want to keep me around. I wasn’t producing enough. Coaches like that get fired. Leadership would threaten me with getting canned monthly if not weekly. I was always on edge, drinking too much caffeine, trying to learn the ropes, and build up my clientele. The first 9 months were rough. I was digging myself into debt because I didn’t make enough to sustain myself. Reading sales books, and roleplaying with other coaches lead to hitting my personal training quota one month just barely. That lead to the second month increasing. By the 6th month I was top 3. Soon after I hit number 1 in the building. That lead to a competitive drive that had me pushing redline every day, week, month for nearly 5 years. I was regularly top 3 in the nation.

Learning the sales aspect, managing clients, retaining them, drawing up business plans month to month. All while coaching, and improving the methods used to teach said clients lead to the ability to manage a business. My business.

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?
For food, we’d have to hit up a cuban bakery I grab some cuban coffee and treats. These types of foods are deeply embedded in the culture down here.
Maybe grab a large portion of Cuban food by the pound in a cafeteria inside of a Tropical Grocery store. Show them what Arros, Frijoles, Maduros, y Ropa vieja is all about. The beach is going to be somewhere on that list considering we’re in Miami, but not South Beach. The more relaxed, less crowded, more natural feeling of Crandon Park is the spot. If there is an event this weekend, Homestead Miami Speedway for a race. Then take things into our own hands at K1 Speed in Ft Lauderdale for some karting action. Finally, they’d have to take a class with us out our gym, Institinct Muay Thai.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Too many people to mention, but a few that stand out:

My partner Grace. My friends and family who supported me during the entire process, even when I neglected our relationships in those difficult formative years of my career and the beginning of the business. Jose, one of my first students ever, who’s been with us for over a decade. The rest of our student base who believe in what we do, and support the gym. Thank you so much.

Website: https://instinctmuaythai.com

Instagram: Instinctmuaythaimiami

Facebook: Manny Molina

Youtube: @instinctmuaythai

Image Credits
Jon Olin
Seafoam Creative