IAM272- Strength and Conditioning Coach Helps Fix Bodies and Relief Pain

Christopher J. Kidawski has been a strength and conditioning coach for the last 20 years training everyone from Navy SEALs, to Pro athletes and even your modern day housewives. Dubbed “The Body Architect”, he has a master’s in Kinesiology from the University of Hawai’i but has educated himself and become proficient in all aspects of health and wellness. He lives and runs his business Influential Health Solutions in South Florida.

• CEO Hack: Book- Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing the Uncommon
• CEO Nugget: Focus on what you need to do, go out and do it
• CEO Defined: Being open and caring. Being a servant leader

Website: http://www.influentialhealthsolutions.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriskidawski/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriskidawski/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chriskidawski

Books: 

The Back Pain Bible: A Breakthrough Step-By-Step Self-Treatment Process To End Chronic Back Pain Forever

The Knee Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide to Eliminating Knee Pain and Returning to the Movements You Love! Kindle Edition

The Head, Neck, and Shoulder Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide To Eliminating Upper Body Pain

The Foot & Ankle Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide to Eliminating the Source of Your Foot Pain

The Death Of Dieting: Lose Weight, Banish Allergies, and Feed Your Body What It Needs To Thrive!

The Everspace: Utilizing the Power Of God and Neuroscience To Create Stillness Within

Not Your Average Ketogenic Diet Cookbook:100 Delicious & (Mostly) Healthy Lectin-Free Keto Recipes! (Volume 1)

Not Your Average Paleo Diet Cookbook: 100 Delicious & Healthy (Mostly) Lectin-Free Recipes!

Full Interview

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Transcription

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Intro 0:02

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview?

If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of.

This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 0:27

Hello, hello, hello, this is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show today, Chris Kidawski of Influential Health Solutions. Chris, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Chris Kidawski 0:37

Thank you very much. It's awesome to be here.

Gresham Harkless 0:39

No problem. Super excited to have you on and what I wanted to do was just read a little bit more about Chris so you can hear about all the awesome things that he's doing. And Chris has been a strength and conditioning coach for the last 20 years training everyone from Navy SEALs to Pro athletes and even your modern-day housewives. Dubbed “The Body Architect”, he has a master’s in Kinesiology from the University of Hawai’i but has educated himself and become proficient in all aspects of health and wellness. He lives and runs his business Influential Health Solutions in South Florida. Chris, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO Community?

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Chris Kidawski 1:13

I'm ready, man.

Gresham Harkless 1:17

Let's do it. Well, the first thing that I want to do to kick everything off and want to hear what I call your CEO story. And what you do start your business.

Chris Kidawski 1:27

Okay, well, I started my business. I think about some somewhere around 2000-3000 years ago, that's how long I feel like I've been doing this stuff. And really, I mean, it all started when I quit football when I quit playing football in college and I got a job as a personal trainer. I was called a programmer at the Buffalo Athletic Club. And my boss Mica sat me down after a couple of months. And he said, Chris, you're doing a really great job, man. Have you thought about actually making this a career? And I was like, Nah, man, I just I love being in the gym.

I was always an athlete. I love lifting weights, like this is what I want to do. So he sat me down and he goes, if you're interested in making this a career, you really have to get a CSC certification Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist. I was like, okay, so he lent me his book. And I read this textbook, it was about 500-600 pages at a time. It's probably bigger now. I read this textbook in a week.

And it was the first textbook that could ever hold my attention. And I was like a sponge. When I started off from that point, I was 19 years old. And the joke was that I would meet a girl and she would take me home to her mom and dad and she introduced me as this is the guy who already knows what he wants to do with his life. And I'm like, I was like, This is so strange. Like it kept on happening consistently.

So I started off as a strength conditioning coach, a student assistant, and a graduate assistant. And then from there, I went on my own, but I was still working for high schools here. I was working for gyms there. I was never my own boss. But I was never really my own boss when I really became a CEO, was when I was kind of forced to I was the head strength conditioning coach of a Cross Fit gym here in South Florida.

And I woke up on Friday with a job and I went to bed Friday night without a job. So they sold the gym and didn't tell any of the members didn't decide to tell the coaches or anybody else. So they were like, I don't think the new owners are keeping any of the coaches so you're out of a job.

So that was the point right there where I became the CEO of my own company where I said I've been working for people for 16-17 years now. I've run facilities. I've run Jim's as head coach, and I'm like now it's time for me to never ever get one of those calls again. I was just too deep in the game. I don't want to say that it was a fear-based decision. Because I didn't know everything that was going to entail being the CEO of a gym of a small company. I wore many hats. I was the accountant. I was also sweeping the floors. I was doing the programming, answering the phone, drumming up other businesses going out handing out flyers, I didn't know if I wanted the lack of freedom that I perceive to come along with being the CEO, especially if something fitness related. So that was my story. And then here I am today.

Gresham Harkless 4:47

Nice, nice nice. It's always great to hear kind of when you get I guess in alignment because you always know you are in line like you mentioned 2000 to 3000 years ago. Sometimes it feels like that but like when you pick up that textbook, you mentioned that you just ran through that textbook like it was nothing because it kind of sounds like you were right in line with what was exactly what you should be doing. And it just kind of progressed from there. So I wanted to hear more about what you're doing. Tell us a little bit more about what you're doing to kind of help and support your clients.

Chris Kidawski 5:19

Okay, well, over the past 12 years, I've started to realize that I had more of a passion for fashion and muscle. And then I actually did for coaching now, don't get me wrong, if somebody called me tomorrow, and they actually quoted the right price and the right framework and everything for me to come back. And Coach, I would absolutely love to do it, once a coach always a coach when you're a coach or a teacher as well.

So when I started to realize that I had a better understanding and a better grasp of the mile skeletal system, than I did actually have programming, which obviously wasn't too shabby, either, I started to get really interested in fixing people's pain and the reason that came up is that I had pain in both of my knees for about 16 years at that point.

So I broke down one day, and I started crying after riding a 100-mile bike ride, and because my knees hurt so bad, and I was like, why couldn't I like work on Wall Street or be a gap cashier or something like that? Like, why do my knees hurt? And I have to be a strength conditioning coach, why do I have to love fitness and just always be moving? And I've gone to every person under the sun to try and get my knees fixed. And nobody understood what was going on.

And then I ended up purchasing a book from Claire Davies, it was all about trigger points and whatnot. I'm starting to learn what he's talking about. I'm pressing into my quadriceps. And I started to realize that I did not have knee pain, I had quadricep pain, and I just got I like, my mind got completely blown. And I was like, Why doesn't anybody know about it?

So as I started to iron out these inconsistencies in my muscle tissue, my knee pain started to go away. And I've been to like some of the top doctors at the University of Buffalo. I mean when I was little, I went to three doctors in a row. And every single one of them took an x-ray and said if you have the perfect bone structure for a healthy young boy, there's no reason why your knee should hurt. My mom's looking at me like I'm crazy. The doctors looking at me, like I'm trying to fake something. And I'm like, I swear like my knees, they hurt. Anytime I play basketball, run, jump, go upstairs, go downstairs, sit in a car for too long, you name it, I started to mash both of those together, I was a strength coach working with athletes. And then I went from the collegiate level to the high school level to the professional level.

So I kind of went not the normal route. Typically you would go high school collegiate professional. And that's because when I graduated with my master's, Hawaii was such a smaller place that there really weren't any other universities that I could go work at. And there weren't any positions available at the one that I was working at.

So I had to go out on my own. And the high schools out there are colleges, and then the University at Hawaii is kind of your professional team. Right? So I went back for a second, I was working in a bunch of high schools helping out kids in there. And then when I was working at the University of Hawaii, I met Von Bess, and when he came out of jail in California, I helped him while he was at the University of Hawaii, so when he got a job with the Miami Dolphins, he brought me over to South Florida, three years later to work for him.

So that's how I went from college to high school to the pros. And then I started to realize what if I keep the body healthy, like if he never gets injured, he's going to be able to play more games and make more money. So that's when I really started to focus on this soft tissue issue.

And just made sure that his body was constantly functioning at an optimal level. Then I went traveling for three months in Europe, and it was absolutely rejuvenating. It was wonderful. I came back and I was like, we'll see where my career goes being here. Within two, or three days. I started getting text messages like hey, do you do those sessions still? Are you still working on people? And I was like, yeah I am.

So eventually, after a couple of months, I mean, it just turned into a full-scale business. You fix one person that's had pain for eight years. And they go and tell every single person they see for the next 12 days and then those people are calling me Hey, I got the shoulder problem that can't be fixed. Okay, come on I'll fix that person. And they go into telling 12 people.

So now, I'm two and a half, almost three years into my full-time structural therapy business. And I probably work with between 30 and 40 people per week, depending on how busy I am. And yeah that's every single week. And these are people that are either being fixed, or they're on their way to being fixed. So I keep on getting clients via word of mouth, and everything's organic and doing fairly well these days.

Gresham Harkless 10:35

Nice. I want to ask you for what I call your secret sauce. And this could be what you feel kind of distinguishes you or your organization and makes you unique.

Chris Kidawski 10:42

Oh man, this is a tough question. Because when you say something like that, it always feels like I'm gonna be bragging about something. But it really isn't so I would probably say, honestly, Gresh, I'd probably say my intuition. That's what makes my business unique. And when I talk about my intuition, there are a lot of times when I don't know what I know about the human body. There are a lot of times about how I don't know why somebody's dysfunctioning I just know it, the muscles tell a story.

And you know, you poke and you prod it, you watch somebody walk in, and you're just like, Do you realize that you're limping? No, I didn't know if you realize that you're crooked. No, I never saw that. Well, look at one show that one shoulder like this and the other shoulder like this? Like, is there any wonder why your left shoulder kills any? Because this guy is up here pinned to your ear? No, I didn't know well if we get in there and start reworking the tissue and moving things around, the person has less pain.

And they come up and they say, I've gotten injected six times, I've been the physical therapy for three years, to the chiropractor, I've done this, I've done that, saw that doctor for acupuncture, and nothing fixed me and you just you work on me or with me for two sessions. And all of a sudden, I'm 100%, pain-free.

So it's probably two things, intuition, and results, man. Whenever I'm working on somebody, even if I work down to 10 times, I'm working on you like, it's the first time I never let any preconceived notions take my direction, because your body's gonna be different every single day I work on, you're gonna be a different person tomorrow as you will the next day and the next day. So I try not to work on preconceived notions, just let my intuition rule when I'm working with people and get the best results possible for them.

Okay, and then one of my mentors said, you fix back pain, you're never going to be broke, you're never going to have a slow business. And that's what I do. My primary specialty is just fixing people that have the worst back pain the world has ever seen. The toughest cases the world has ever seen people come to me, I've been trying to get worked on my back better for 12 years now. And letting my intuition be my guide and treating people the best possible way for them to get the best results for them, has kept me more busy than I could ever imagine.

Gresham Harkless 13:14

That makes perfect sense. And I love that. And I love that perspective. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit and ask you for what I call a CEO hack. And this might be an app, a book, or a habit that you have, but it's something that makes you more effective and efficient. A CEO hack.

Chris Kidawski 13:29

I'm gonna go out there on a bender right now. And I am going to say every CEO that I know should probably become supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza. So what Dr. Joe does in his book is he breaks everything down and helps you understand how to tap into that energy, not only for your life, to help you bring new potentials into your life, but also any of the people that you're working with as well.

Gresham Harkless 13:59

Absolutely. I love that CEO hack. And that's not a book I have heard of. So I'm definitely gonna pick that up as well. So yeah, I definitely will. And now I want to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. And this is a word of wisdom or piece of advice. Or if you can happen to a time machine. What would you tell your younger business self?

Chris Kidawski 14:15

Well, I would tell my younger business self, I would have him look at the definition of ataraxia I believe it is in the dictionary that ataraxia means that somebody has a freedom of concern, a lack of worry. Okay, and that's one of the biggest things right when you know that you can do something better than everybody else, but you're a gainfully paid employee or even if you're not a really good paid employee focused on what you need to do, go out and do it, and the net will start to appear.

Gresham Harkless 14:49

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I want to ask you my absolute favorite question, and I know you kind of touched on this a little bit, but it's the definition of what it means to be a CEO and we're hoping to have different quote-unquote CEOs on this show. So want to ask you? What does being CEO mean to you?

Chris Kidawski 15:02

Being a CEO means a lot more than I think I ever could put into words. But it means being open and caring, it means being a servant leader. It doesn't mean that I'm up here and a year down there. On the contrary, Lao Tzu said, The oceans are the biggest thing on the planet because it's below everything else.

Gresham Harkless 15:27

Nice. I absolutely love that definition from that perspective, as well. So, Chris, I appreciate you, I appreciate your time. I appreciate you giving me a new word of the day as well. I'm gonna pass you the mic to see if there's anything additional, you can let the readers and listeners know. And then of course, how best I can get a hold of you.

Chris Kidawski 15:44

If people want to get in touch with me, Chris at influentialhealthsolutions.com. Or you can go on Amazon and just type in my name, Christopher J Kidawski. All my books will come up and also influentialhealthsolutions.com is my website as well for a little bit more information on me. Some of the products that I believe in, will help create exponential health for you. And also my books are on there as well.

Gresham Harkless 16:10

Awesome, awesome, awesome. We'll have all those links in the show notes as well, just so that everybody can follow up with you. But again, appreciate your time and I hope you have a great rest of the day.

Chris Kidawski 16:18

You too, man. Thank you very much.

Outro 16:20

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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