Meet Billy Jones of Iron Den Gym in League City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Billy Jones.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always been involved in athletics. Soccer, martial arts and football as a youth. My senior year of high school I injured my back and realized football was coming to an end. I was already one of the strongest kids at the school so I naturally fell into bodybuilding. I spent most of my 20’s trying to figure life out as most of us do, but it wasn’t until I met my better half in 2009 that everything started to fall into place. After moving in with Lauren, I began training at a local gym and a gentleman walked up to me and asked if I ever thought about competing. Truth was I had absolutely thought about it, but for nearly a decade I went through the motions and considered myself a part time bodybuilder but never had the discipline to pull it all together. Whatever this gentleman saw in my bulky physique set off a chain of events that would ultimately lead to where I am today. I decided then I was going to compete. Two weeks later I broke my humerus bone playing around arm wrestling. I was devastated but determined to get on stage as soon as I could. I spent months self-rehabilitating my arm starting with 2.5 lb. dumbbell curls but less than a year later I was able to get on stage and win the overall novice title at my first competition. From there I went on to win my second show and qualify for the national level shows where I would compete for pro status. Experiencing all of this showed me that, with proper discipline, we can achieve nearly any objective we set our mind to and this has been to foundation for every success I’ve had thereafter. Business would be my next venture. I was preparing for my first national show in Las Vegas, the U.S.A.’s, when, ill advised, I took a supplement that ended up killing me. It was the day before the Iron Den was set for its grand opening. Lauren was working late finishing a new home sale and hadn’t heard from me in several hours. Fortunately she had decided to go home where she found me unresponsive, dying. My heart stop the first time as she called 911. Luckily she was able to resuscitate me while the ambulance came. My heart would stop 2 more times one of those times for nearly 8 minutes. The Dr.s kept me in a coma and froze my body to preserve it and 4 days later I came to. The Dr found a heart arrhythmia I had had since birth that put me at risk for sudden death that we were able to fix during my stay and I was able to make a full recovery. Perhaps it was this that set me on an entire new perspective. I had always thought everything happens for a reason and now I knew. While I was unconscious Lauren told me “You aren’t finished here.” With a whole new outlook on life I poured everything I had into the Iron Den. It was my goal to share the knowledge I had gained over the 15 plus years I had been using weight resistant training.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
After coming out of the coma and recovering, I had to learn how to run a business from scratch while mitigating the damage the business partner I originally had was doing to the company. Eventually I was able to negotiate full ownership of the business but was now left to my own devices. Scaling the company while self-funding the venture proved to be difficult. I would bring “friends” on board to help grow the business but they only had their own interests in mind and would set the company back on a few occasions.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Iron Den Gym – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Iron Den was founded in 2012. We specialize in accommodating those that take their fitness goals seriously. We are known for working with people of all fitness levels and optimizing their training thereby expediting results. We have some of the most sought after trainers in the area. These trainers actively live the fitness lifestyle and have an abundant amount of practical experience. We also have numerous handpicked pieces of specialized equipment you won’t see at a corporate gym. These two dynamic advantages give us the ability to meet and exceed any members’ fitness goals. With the collective mindset so focused on achieving results, it makes for a truly unique gym floor experience. Maybe you’ve heard “just getting to the gym is half the battle.” This implies that once immersed in the gym’s atmosphere, it should be easier to get focused on actually training. Well the Iron Den coined this adage. Our environment is something you have to experience for yourself. I would say our culture is not only what I am most proud of but the single biggest asset we have. Because we are a family owned and operated facility, we are honored with the luxury to connect with our members on a level that ensures the client’s needs are met. This along with our motivating environment, elite trainers, hand selected equipment and one of a kind culture, makes for an atmosphere unlike any other.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
At the end of 2016 we closed on funding to build and relocate the Iron Den and are still in the pre-construction process. We also have our 5 year anniversary coming up and we are really excited about this as well.

Pricing:

• We have memberships as low as $19.99 a month
• Personal training as low as $45 each
• We also have group training as low as $35

Contact Info:

• Address: 1611 Dakota Ave
• Website: www.theirondengym.com
• Phone: 7138253202
• Email: Theirondengym@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirondengym/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIronDen/
• Twitter: @TheIronDenGym
• Yelp: The Iron Den Gym
• Other: The Iron Den Gym

Image Credit:
Michael Moon

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.