About Joe Petri
“SPARTANS! The greatest warriors the world has ever known.”
I have never fought in a real life battle but I have fought my own share of personal battles and wars ranging from weight gain, injuries and depression. I have struggled over the course of my life but every struggle and obstacle I faced taught me to be better. Every setback was an opportunity to challenge myself, to grow, to over come and, most importantly, to never give up.
Spartans never retreat, they never surrender.
In ancient Sparta, the Spartan women would tell their men to either return home with their shield or on it. This meant you died in battle serving Sparta or you returned victorious. Returning from battle without your shield was the biggest form of disgrace and cowardice a Spartan could bestow upon their family.
SPARTAN RESURGENCE
We will find strength from one another, to join together against odds that seem too big. And together we will fight and we will win. We will help each other to unlock the greatest warrior the world has ever known. Together, we will become Spartans.
In battle, Spartans fought side by side, linked shield to shield. They would cry out “Earn these Shields!” as a reminder to fight and protect their brothers on their left and their right as well as the Spartan citizens back home. The shield was the most important piece of equipment they carried into battle because the shield was there to protect and serve one another, not just the individual. This is one of many reasons why I relate to the Spartan Warrior culture and why I created this blog.
This blog is for those warriors who want to help serve, protect, and inspire others to take action, to pick up arms and fight for their health, their fitness as well as their finances. It’s about improving your life and those around you by leading by example. “Earn Your Shield” refers to doing what is best for you, your family and for those who trust you to help achieve success and overcome odds that seem too big.
This blog is for the Spartan Warrior, man or woman, who believe they were created to be more, to do more, and to help serve others.
Retreat is not an option.
Together, we will fight.
Together, we will win.
Together…we will be Spartans!!!
If you are still here reading let me tell you more about Joe Petri.
- Husband
- Father
- Married 4 Years
- Two Boys
- Business Owner
- Full Time Independent Team Beachbody Coach for 6 years
- Became a Coach part time in 2007
I have always had a warrior mindset. This stems from my father who served 20+ years in the military as well as being a member of sports teams from a very young age through my college lacrosse years. I thrive during competition. I love facing challenges and odds greater than myself. When someone tells me that I can’t do something, watch out because here I come.
I spent my first 5 years out of college in the career of a pharmaceutical sales rep. I loved the profession, the travel, the freedom of being an outside sales rep but what I loved the most was adding value to physicians. I brought information to them so they could better serve their patients.
During my time in the pharmaceutical industry, I learned many hard truths of corporate America. The first being that you are only needed to serve the companies bottom line and, at any moment, you can be let go. During that 5 Year period, I was laid off twice and worked for 3 different pharma companies. When you are young, we are taught to go to college, get a good job, work hard and you will retire with the same company. Well, times have changed in this global market. Companies downsize and outsource positions everyday and at any time you can be called into a meeting and told you are no longer needed. That feeling of being let go is one I hope no one as to share but the reality is that many of us do. And when we get that call that you will no longer be employed, do you have a plan B?
Prior to being laid off a third and final time, I experienced a weight loss transformation. I lost 31 lbs in 90 days which helped to reignite my passion for physical activity and fitness. I never dreamed that I would pursue a path in Network Marketing and sort of fell into it simply because he loved the company that helped me get back into shape. I loved it all from the programs and the products to helping others online. When I started to see my position as a Pharma Rep become less and less valuable as industry standards changed, access to doctors become more restrictive and I began to feel like a glorified caterer / UPS man in a suit delivering samples and food to doctors offices. It was in 2007 that I decided I wanted more and wanted a profession with more stability as well.
After being laid off for that final time, I listened to God’s call for me to pursue a different career but needed a different degree in order to do so. I tapped into my love of fitness and decided to go back to school for a degree in Physical Education. By becoming a Phys Ed teacher, I believe would be in a field that allowed for more security, it would feed my passion of fitness as well as adding value to people. The downside, however, was that P.E. jobs in NY are hard to come by and they don’t pay very well. Plus, a new degree meant more money that I’d have to spend. I asked my friend if the Beachbody Coaching opportunity was real? Could I actually make money with it? I shared with her that I hated my job, hated the uncertainity and wanted to go back to school. I needed to pursue a new degree but I didn’t want to take out student loans and go into debt to do it. Simply was the opportunity real and could it generate enough money to pay for school?
My friend replied:
That’s all I needed to hear and with that I became seriouc with turning my discount hobby into a serious income earning potential. This opportunity allowed me time to go to school, get a new degree, and land a job that was more secure and stable than my previous career.
I spent the next 2 and a half years going to school full time while I built his business part time, maybe 30 minutes to an hour a day. I did not takeout a single student loans, go into debt or have to move out of my 2-bedroom apartment and live back home with my parents. By the time I finished my second degree, I was earning twice as much as a full time teacher with my part time business. During those two years, I awoke to the full potential of the business opportunity I was a part of and what it could mean for my future. I pursued a degree to provide myself with an opportunity to land a job with more security but, during that time, I discovered the true potential of network marketing. Working for yourself, setting your own schedule, being your own boss, and being free from restraints.
I went full time with my business in 2009 and I have been full time ever since. I bring 10+ years of experience since signing up in 2007 as an independent Coach for Team Beachbody. In those 10 years, I have had my fair share of ups and downs, successes and failures. I have gained and lost weight, gone through a variety of different injuries from Pec Major Tendon Repair to Spinal Fusion of the C6/C7 vertebrae. I have also seen the peaks and valleys in my business. Through all his ups and downs, I have never lost that warrior mindset. I am a Spartan at heart even though there were days and even months where he didn’t feel much like a warrior.
