Doug Staley is the owner of Competitive Wellness, a private gym in St. Paul that helps athletes and the general population achieve their fitness goals.
Despite being from Sturgis, South Dakota, Staley exhibits zero evidence that he is into motorcycles as we walk through his modest gym in St. Paul, located across the street from the renowned sandwich shop, Nelson’s.
While there is no homage being paid to Harleys, there are a smattering of football jerseys displayed on the wall, which is unsurprising when one considers that Staley played football ever since he was a kid.
“In high school, we had an 81 game losing streak for football,” says the burly and gregarious Staley, who in his heyday played center, and helped engineer a football renaissance in his hometown.
“My junior year we won two games, and then in my senior year we won six games and beat a Sioux Falls school in the playoffs.”
An imposing presence on the offensive line, Staley went on to play college football in Dickinson, North Dakota, earning a spot on the roster after the Dickinson Blue Hawks coaching staff was impressed by Staley’s work ethic.
“Ever since I was a kid, I was working. We were a blue-collar family, so I’d help my dad at his auto shop, and when it came to the weight room, that’s where I excelled. I wasn’t the fastest guy or the most athletic, but when it came to putting up weights, I outperformed my peers,” Staley explains.
“In that sense, I liked to lift and I liked to train, so college was good, and that experience also further reinforced that personal fitness and health is what I’m passionate about.”
While on campus, Staley attained a degree in exercise science, and shortly after he and his now-wife ventured to the Twin Cities to begin anew.
Right away, Staley got a job as a personal trainer at the LA Fitness over on Midway in St. Paul.
Later, he transferred to the Edina location, but it didn’t take long for the ambitious Staley to realize that there was more he wanted to do in the fitness space.
Shortly after landing several of his own clients, Staley found himself in his car one afternoon, a podcast streaming through the speakers, when inspiration suddenly trumped his present reality.
“I looked at myself in the rearview mirror, and was like, `what am I doing?’” Staley recalls.
”The next day I put in my two weeks notice and went out on my own.”
Ten years later, Staley has not only survived; he’s thrived, and much of that can be linked to his intense devotion to his craft and helping people reach their fitness goals.
“There is a mental transformation that goes on when you commit to a fitness program,” Staley mentions.
“For me, when I was younger, and being a bigger kid, I struggled with my confidence, but as I got older, there was a shift, and a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that I took weight training seriously.”
That mental revolution is part of what Staley offers his clients, and his decade-long stint in the industry is proof that the Sturgis native has a deep understanding of what it takes to revamp one’s body and health.
“Things happen for a reason, and I believe that people ultimately land where they’re supposed to land,” Staley says.
“Meaning, I’m here positively impacting my clients and their health because that’s what I’m called to do.”
With so many options available to consumers, choosing a gym can be just as challenging as hitting a max bench press.
For his part, Staley has done intensive research on what his ideal clientele want, which is why he has structured his gym to attract those looking for a personalized environment that’s devoid of all the conventional trappings offered by corporate entities.
“You usually can’t find the kind of privacy we offer anywhere else,” he says.
“Here, you can come in, be who you are, and not feel intimidated.”
At present, roughly half of Staley’s clientele are athletes, and the other half are everyday people like you and I who want to improve their fitness, but they don’t quite know how, and so they’re looking for a trusted resource to guide them to their goal.
“I’ve cultivated a really good atmosphere that’s designed to allow people to feel comfortable,” Staley confidently asserts.
“There are no ancillary factors that will prevent my clients from succeeding when they step foot in my gym. For example, there is no hostility among the people who come to my gym. Nobody is going to stare at you or kick you off a machine or set of weights because everyone understands that they’re here to get better, and they don’t entertain needless distractions.”
Adds Staley, showcasing the seamless, workmanlike nature of his sessions and overall value proposition:
“Time is not wasted here. Each client is getting a fitness plan uniquely designed around their goals. I also have an app that allows clients to track and monitor their progress. The overall aim is to give people a very comprehensive service and personalized experience.”
For context, Staley is not charging exorbitant rates for his thoroughness.
At Competitive Wellness, pricing is transparent.
For a 30-minute workout, the cost is $50.
An hourlong session runs clients $100.
“Our prices are about market average,” Staley says.
“I’ve noticed that at some of the bigger gyms, they creep into the $140 per hour range, and so in that sense we’re a little bit less than what big companies offer, and in my opinion, we offer a whole lot more.”
Looking ahead, Staley is seeking to expand his operation.
“My goal would be to acquire more space and potentially onboard other trainers who can help our clients in the same way, and at the same level that I can,” he explains.
At the same time, Staley isn’t interested in sacrificing premier quality for rapid ascension.
“And that’s because I don’t want to dilute the product,” he emphasizes.
“Anytime you add something to a gym, whether that’s more square feet or another trainer, things change, and my biggest fear is not being able to replicate the high-level training that is also done in a private and personalized manner.
Adds Staley:
“This is something I’m definitely being meticulous about because I want to make sure that any moves that are made ultimately benefit the customer as well as the business. Thinking ahead and preparing for the next evolution is stressful, but I’m excited to figure out new ways to continue to serve people and enhance the customer service experience.” QS
**
Today’s post is sponsored by Tiffany Daly of WIIN Insurance Agency!
On the personal side, Tiffany writes policies for home, auto, and umbrella insurance.
For commercial insurance, WIIN writes policies for general liability, worker’s comp, commercial auto, umbrella, and cybersecurity.
Tiffany and WIIN are currently licensed in six states, including: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.
To receive your free insurance estimate, call Tiffany today at (612)505-3329!
quentinsuper.com 
Leave a comment