“My interest in health and fitness was on the rise—I was studying a lot, listening to podcasts, and attending events in London to learn more.”
Embarking on a journey fueled by ambition and an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Rudy Mawer’s path to success unfolds as a compelling tale of tenacity and adaptability.
Rooted in his entrepreneurial ventures in England as a child, Rudy’s narrative is characterized by relentless innovation. Resilience stands out as a recurring theme in Rudy’s career, evident in his ability to overcome challenges.
But how did he seamlessly transition from a fitness authority to a marketing mogul? The answer lies in his entrepreneurial acumen. Equipped with knowledge and an unwavering work ethic, he catapulted his business from ground zero to an impressive multi-million-dollar success.
Can you share with us your journey to success? What were some pivotal moments that shaped your career and led you to where you are today?
Rudy Mawer: I began my entrepreneurial journey in England when I was just 7 or 8 years old. Back then, I used to buy and sell items, dealing with wholesale goods like sweets and candies. I would break them down into smaller portions, and sell them at school.
As I grew older, I shifted to buying and selling on eBay, especially when it first launched 20 years ago. I’d scout for trending items from China, like mini stackables, toys, and even DIY bracelet kits. I’d buy them in bulk, segment them, and resell them.
That’s when things started picking up for me. During my teenage years, I ventured into website building. I created one of the largest gaming communities globally, offering forums and services. People paid to join the community and participate in various gaming activities. Although the earnings weren’t substantial, I managed to make a few thousand dollars as a teenager.
At the age of 17, I shifted gears and became a personal trainer. Creating my personal training website, I hustled to get it ranked number one in SEO. It transformed into a hub for personal training, generating a stream of leads. I even took it further by wrapping my car with the logo, phone number, benefits, and services offered.
Driving around, I would personally train clients at their homes or in parks. This routine continued for a couple of years, alongside my work in a gym. Soon enough, I was offered the role of a gym manager, potentially becoming the youngest gym manager in the entire country. However, faced with the choice of managing a gym or pursuing university, I opted for the latter, envisioning a memorable social experience.
While attending university, I continued running a personal training center in my hometown, making a three-hour round trip three times a week. Inspired by a friend’s success, I ventured into organizing nightclub events in Nottingham. With guidance, we hit a high point, making 20 grand on one of our big launch nights after a month of intense promotion.
Despite the hustle, I stayed committed to personal training, balancing it with the late-night club scene. In my university days, I wasn’t big on classes—maybe attended around six per year. Feeling a bit incomplete after the first year, I decided to hit the restart button.
Lucky for me, every year brought a new student loan, and I’d use that, along with my personal training and nightclub earnings, to dive into the real estate market. I started buying houses and renting them out to friends and classmates.
Some of these properties generated a solid grand a-month profit – not much nowadays, but it was a considerable amount back then. My 18-year-old self, working 40 hours a week in personal training and at the gym, was making a grand a month too. It seems crazy looking back.
My interest in health and fitness was on the rise—I was studying a lot, listening to podcasts, and attending events in London to learn more. However, all the big shots in the field were in the US. Given my adventurous nature and fond memories of a few visits during my teenage years when my mom’s cousin lived there, I thought, why not move to America? I’d been all over Europe, and America felt like the right move – more energy, more entrepreneurial spirit.
At the age of 23, I made a life-changing decision to move to the States. Carrying five years of experience in social media and marketing, along with running ads for my personal training business, I played a crucial role in growing a professor’s business. During my student years, I worked as a researcher in the lab, supporting science research while pursuing my master’s degree.
I also contributed to the business side of the lab, promoting studies and working with professional bodybuilders, including those from bodybuilding.com and major magazines. Upon graduating with my master’s degree, I leveraged my knowledge to grow my fitness business into a million-dollar venture within 18 months.
Over the next few years, we expanded to about 5 million dollars, employing a team of 20. We successfully organized sold-out events worldwide, with a Facebook group boasting 70,000 members and 50,000 to 100,000 paid members.
With a million followers, I gained recognition in the industry and sold out events globally in just 48 hours. Despite the success, my focus shifted to marketing and business. Attending various marketing events made me realize that I needed to broaden my knowledge beyond fitness to keep growing. Initially, I combined fitness and marketing for friends, gradually evolving into a fullfledged agency.
Eventually, I decided to close my fitness business when my ad accounts were randomly banned. Surprisingly, turning this setback into an opportunity worked well. Running a mini-ad agency was more profitable than a larger fitness business. This shift allowed me to focus on one client rather than selling hundreds of fitness products. Consequently, I enjoyed the financial benefits and even traveled the world for free for two years, speaking at events on ads, Facebook ads, and social media.
Building on this success, I expanded the agency to a few million in revenue with about 40 staff. I appointed a CEO to oversee the agency while I planned to return to building my brands. As COVID-19 hit, I took advantage of the lockdown period to launch marketing courses which generated over a million dollars in just a couple of months, contributing to our rapid growth.
Within less than three years, we transformed from a $5,000 investment into one of the fastest-growing companies in America, reaching a revenue of $10 million. Today, my company serves as a holding entity for various brands and courses, in recent years, we’ve shifted towards building brands with celebrities due to their leverage and speed.
For instance, we helped one celebrity achieve over a million in sales in just three months. Our clientele now includes pro athletes, NFL players, A-list movie stars, motivational speakers like Les Brown, and even iconic figures like Floyd Mayweather.
You’ve worked with a remarkable list of celebrity clients. Could you share some insights or memorable experiences from these collaborations?
Rudy Mawer: I won’t mention everyone, but one highlight was helping organize major events, such as filming the Rocky Day in Philadelphia. We also captured behind-the-scenes moments with notable figures like Floyd Mayweather.
Spending a day with him, moving between studios, and his home, and even a late-night visit to his nightclub at 3 AM was quite an experience. Then there are encounters with billionaires like Richard Branson. While he’s not a client, spending time on his island, playing chess, snorkeling, and witnessing his approach to business decisions for his billion-dollar company have been truly memorable.
Les Brown, a renowned motivational speaker, has significantly impacted over 50 years. Seeing the positive changes he’s brought to people’s lives, helping them overcome challenges like suicide and depression, is inspiring daily. Filming with Hulk Hogan, especially when he interacted with a child in a wheelchair, was touching.
Hogan’s influence reaches millions, and it’s fascinating to observe how these characters, created for entertainment on TV and in wrestling, can positively impact everyday people living in small towns, struggling with financial hardships, and lacking hope or big goals.
Many celebrities become pivotal figures, akin to father figures or real-life superheroes, inspiring and motivating individuals who don’t lead a celebrity lifestyle. These experiences show how entertainment figures can profoundly affect and uplift those facing ordinary challenges in life.
How do you define success in your industry, and what do you think sets you apart from others in your field?
Rudy Mawer: What distinguishes me is a proven track record with thousands of clients, generating tens of millions of dollars. I’ve successfully scaled companies to a million in daily revenue, led teams of over 300 staff, and assisted both billion-dollar brands and professional athletes.
Beyond the big names, I’ve also steered numerous startups to success. In an industry where the average success rate is a mere 5% for reaching the million-dollar milestone, I’ve achieved that over 10 times for my brands by the age of 32.
Additionally, I’ve mentored hundreds of students, guiding them to success across various niches. While excelling in one niche is commendable, replicating success across diverse areas showcases a broader skill set.
In the marketing landscape, often clouded by smoke and mirrors, being listed on the 2023 Inc. 5000 adds credibility. This isn’t just a casual inclusion; it’s a result of serious vetting and a proven track record.
Every success story has its challenges. Can you talk about a significant obstacle you’ve overcome in your career?
Rudy Mawer: We’ve been through a lot— from executives and someone within my company embezzling funds, resulting in the demise of a multi-million dollar business, to dealing with money laundering allegations.
Despite these hurdles, we’ve successfully navigated through lawsuits. Once, while I was away, a faction within my office lured away several of our staff to launch a competing business, using deceptive tactics and attempting to abscond with our intellectual property and trade secrets.
Adding to the complexity, all our advertising accounts were suddenly banned in my fitness business. Overnight, our monthly revenue plummeted from $400,000 to $80,000 with no clear explanation or recourse.
In my late twenties, I invested nearly all my liquid assets in a significant business merger and lost everything – the culmination of 7 years’ worth of hard-earned money. Despite these setbacks, we persevered and emerged stronger.
Who or what has been your biggest inspiration or influence in shaping your career and approach to your work?
Rudy Mawer: There isn’t a single person; it’s more of a blend of various marketers who have inspired me. I used to look up to individuals featured on shows like Shark Tank and well-known figures like Les Brown.
Their motivational content, whether on TV, podcasts, or videos, always resonated with me. Additionally, I draw inspiration from our friends, clients, and business partners on my board— individuals regarded as top-notch marketers.
Motivational speakers, billionaires, and personalities like Richard Branson, whom I’ve had the privilege of spending time with on his island, have been influential too.
I’m a fan of learning, and experience is something you can’t just buy, right? So, I invest my time and gain knowledge from these people. Sadly, there’s no time machine, but time and knowledge from these experiences are so valuable; that it’s hard to put a price on them.
Looking ahead, what are some goals or aspirations you have for the future? How do you plan to evolve and grow in your career?
Rudy Mawer: In terms of my career goals, I aim to transition into the mainstream. Currently, our team comprises around 100 staff, and we have all the necessary business infrastructure in place. Continuous learning is key for me.
I’ve built a strong foundation in business, marketing, and growth, and now the focus is on expanding our brand and reach. The larger the audience, the greater the potential for success to snowball. Currently, I’m involved in a major TV show, soon to be featured on a top streaming platform. More TV projects are in the pipeline for this year, including collaborations with Netflix and HBO.
Shifting from the entrepreneurial landscape to mainstream platforms and connecting with established celebrities aligns with becoming a business and money guru. This not only allows me to influence millions but also opens up new avenues for deals and partnerships.
Tell us about your new TV show. What can viewers expect, and how does it reflect your brand and expertise?
Rudy Mawer: I’m thrilled about the new TV show—it’s currently in the recording phase and set to premiere in a few months. It’s a distinctive blend of popular business shows, offering more than just pitches or highlights.
The show takes you on a journey, chronicling the growth of a relatively new company. It aims to be both inspirational and educational, giving a real-life perspective on the highs and lows of business.
Many people aspire to be entrepreneurs, but they often underestimate what it truly takes. When a small percentage does achieve success and become millionaires – less than 5%, as I mentioned – most people don’t witness the struggles they faced along the way.
The show documents this journey, presenting it in an engaging format with elements of a game show, making it both entertaining and informative.
It’s a mix of everything, and I hope that it inspires a new generation of entrepreneurs and helps the general public understand the realities of entrepreneurship – that it’s possible, but it demands dedication and hard work.
What advice would you give to someone just starting in your industry, especially those who aspire to reach the level of success you’ve achieved?
Rudy Mawer: When you’re starting, the key is to learn from someone who’s been there, and done that. I spent 4 or 5 years playing small, stumbling around, not doing as well as I could have if I had a mentor.
Moving to America brought me more mentors and people to learn from, and that’s how I developed my skill set, passion, and hustle.
Once I had the success framework, I achieved success much quicker, and that journey never really stopped. A new piece of advice for beginners is to find resilience.
It’s crucial. Often, we limit ourselves and later regret not thinking bigger. Always aim higher than your current aspirations. Not everyone may agree, but I firmly believe in going all in, hustling, and tuning out the noise.
What kind of legacy do you hope to leave in your industry? How do you want to impact your audience or community through your work?
Rudy Mawer: Entrepreneurship holds a special place in life and humanity, fostering innovation, creating jobs, and propelling societal progress. My goal is to kindle an understanding, ignite passion, and inspire individuals to delve into this world, cultivate remarkable companies, and take charge of their lives and income.
Undoubtedly, it’s not a path for everyone; we need a diverse workforce. Yet, entrepreneurship is an incredible journey, albeit a challenging and solitary one at times.
I aspire to motivate millions to seize control of their lives and pursue their dreams—many of whom find fulfillment in entrepreneurship. Money, though often a significant motivator, serves as a means to empower people with the mindset and permission to turn their aspirations into reality.
This interview was originally published on ValiantCEO.
Other Articles
Corporate Identity Development: Building Your Brand
