All Pride Fitness, Washougal, Abraham Gerving
Abraham hit a wall with the daily grind in his professional corporate career and was looking for an opportunity to impact his community and fulfill his financial needs. “I was tired of the corporate structure,” Abraham shared, “and always wanted to be self-employed.” Quickly after moving to Washougal, Abraham spotted a small community gym that was near its last leg. With the encouragement of his wife, he approached the owner and asked if he would be interested in selling his business to him. He was! All Pride Fitness became the new gym in town.
The business grew quickly as new members took to the new ownership and improvements made by Abraham, but in 2019 the business hit a low point. “We lost track of our core values,” he explained, “and because of that, I had to go back into the workforce.” This decision ended up being a blessing in disguise because a few months later his gym had to temporarily shut down in 2020. “It gave me time to realign my focus and build the business back up.”
While balancing his 9-5 and All Pride Fitness, Abraham realized he had tough decisions ahead. “I knew I needed help,” revealed Abraham, “when I hit a fork in the road. I had an option for expansion and needed some mentorship.” While browsing the SBA website he noticed a familiar organization: SCORE. Prior to this moment, Abraham had actually utilized the services of SCORE to help him write his business plan eleven years ago. Knowing how they had helped him then, he immediately reached out and partnered with SW Washington Mentor, Tigue Howe.
“Tigue was fantastic.” Abraham shared, “My first meeting with him was inspirational. He took the time to ask me who I was, what I had experienced, and how long I had been in business.” Every couple of months Abraham would meet with Tigue to review his business needs, but more importantly, his business plan. “Writing a business plan,” shared Tigue, “and reviewing it frequently keeps your eye on the long game. No different than a workout regimen at the gym.”
Tigue not only helped refocus Abraham’s goals, but he also equipped him with helpful resources and tools. “His business Performa,” continued Abraham, “gave me a lot of clarity and direction. Tigue was inspiring and uplifting. He gave me the confidence to want to continue.”
All Pride Fitness rebounded enough that Abraham was able to quit working outside the Company and dedicate all his time to the business. “By adding a lot more space, we added a lot more cost,” said Abraham. He plans to continue the relationship with SCORE as he continues to increase revenue and work towards his membership goals. “My relationship with SCORE will continue,” continued Abraham, “as long as Tigue will have me! “
I purchased and grew PPI Group to more than $28 million in revenue, and as an owner, I wore nearly...
