Building Community and Connection in Business with Will Bartholomew

**SPEAKER_1** (0:03)
The Bliss Business Podcast, the show about empathy, connection and consciousness in business. Today's episode is brought to you by Zero Company, your paid search, social media, and programmatic ad experts.

**Tullio Siragusa** (0:15)
Now, it's actually one of our guys who came up with the theme of this show.

**Mike Liwski** (0:18)
That's right. I love that theme music. It gets me hyped up every time.

**Tullio Siragusa** (0:22)
Absolutely. And it's nice that we created it, the Zero Company created it. So anyway, welcome back to The Bliss Business Podcast. I'm covering for Stephen Sikach today. And here we explore how empathy, connection, and purpose transform businesses from the inside out. I'm Tullio co-hosting with Mike today. Research shows that 79% of consumers prefer to engage with brands that foster a sense of community. Building strong connections is no longer nice to have.
It is a driver for loyalty, engagement, and growth. And today's guest is no exception to the quality of creating that kind of community. Let's get to know him. Mike, please introduce our guest today.

**Mike Liwski** (1:07)
And I'm super pumped to introduce Will Bartholomew. He's the founder and the CEO of D1 Training, and one of the fastest growing fitness franchises in the US right now. And with over 150 facilities open and actually 250 more in development, D1 has redefined how athletes are training by really bringing that Division 1 level performance training to people of all ages and of all skill levels, which we know is so needed. Now, Will's journey began as a three sport all-state athlete in Nashville before earning a football scholarship of the University of Tennessee, where he played fullback alongside Peyton Manning. He was part of the 1998 National Championship Team. He captained the 2001 squad and later signed with the Denver Broncos, unfortunately before a career ending injury shifted his path to entrepreneurship, which I think from what we'll hear on the show today, we're glad that he has been on this path. In fact, in 2003 is when Will launched the first D1 facility in Nashville, really rooted in the belief that anyone can benefit from the rigor, the structure, and really what we're going to talk about today, the camaraderie of that Division 1 style training. Under his leadership, D1 has earned recognition on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500, the Inc 5000 list, and was named a Top 30 Gym in America by Men's Health. So, Will, wow, you have accomplished so much. We can't wait for our conversation today. Welcome to our show.

**Will Bartholomew** (2:56)
Man, thanks so much for having me, Michael Tullio. You guys are great. I just want to say this before we jump into it. This message that you are preaching and delivering is so right up my alley. I get so excited about this because I've seen it the other way. And I've also seen it when you lead with love and empathy and you're caring and building these great communities.
I'm fired up to talk about this. So thank you.

**Mike Liwski** (3:26)
Awesome. We're being proud for being part of our community too.

**Tullio Siragusa** (3:29)
Absolutely. We got an all-star with us today. All right. So, Will, you went from playing alongside Peyton Manning to building one of the fastest growing fitness franchise in the country. So, first of all, I would like to learn what got you there? Like, what prompted you to go in this direction? And what lessons from your athletic career carried over into this entrepreneurial journey?

**Will Bartholomew** (3:54)
Yeah. You know, it's, as you mentioned, I founded the company in 2003 It's 2025
I'm an overnight success, right?

**Tullio Siragusa** (4:03)
That's how it works.

**Will Bartholomew** (4:05)
Yeah.

**Tullio Siragusa** (4:05)
Only you're overnight.

**Will Bartholomew** (4:07)
Yeah. Overnight success. Hey, I just, I want to say, you know, when I had some pivotal moments that defined me and shaped me, and the one thing that has been consistent about this is, man, I have had the heart to serve athletes the entire way. And I use that word serve because that's the way I really view coaching. I think coaching is the greatest servants out there. They're giving knowledge and time and commitment to help someone else realize their dream. And to me, that is just so important. I've always led with that. Maybe it's the full back nature in me. I didn't want the glory. I wanted the other, you know, I wanted to hit somebody. So, yeah, somebody else has pushed down. And I just... Lead the way. Yeah, lead the way. I feel real fortunate to be able to lead this business for so many years. But, hey, I got into this from a knee injury, as you said, and that was a really low moment. It was a pivotal moment. And I was able to take, you know, that adversity and turn it into opportunity. But it was, I want to say, I always, I talk about, you know, most people that go through and do great things, they have a lonely chapter where they don't know who they are. There's fear that creeps in. And for those of you who were in that moment, maybe as a CEO or a business owner out there, man, I was there. And I was like, who am I now? I had built my whole life to become the greatest full back that I wanted to be. I mean, I wanted to be Mike Allstom, right? And all of a sudden, I was taken away from me. And all I knew what to do is to support all that energy and passion and excitement into something. And what I fell in love with was the weight room at the University of Tennessee. And so I wanted to replicate that. I always saw those middle school kids and I reminded myself like, hey, when I was in middle school, I wish I had a coach that would breathe light into me, inspire me and motivate me, get more out of me. That's what I wanted.