The story behind Ground Up and Neil O’Connell Coaching
The journey so far…
Where it all began..
I set up Ground Up in 2019. I was working as a strength and conditioning coach in a sports club at the time (Ballyboden St. Endas GAA - Dublin, Ireland), when I recognised an opportunity to start my own private coaching business operating out of the club's gym.
Having worked and ‘lived’ in the broader sport, health, wellness, and fitness spaces for a number of years, I was constantly reminded of the 'noise' and misinformation that is often circulated in these spaces.
Whether it be fad diets, fancy (unnecessary) recovery modalities, or 'lose fat quick' workout trends, my approach to coaching any client has always been to try to eliminate these distractions and focus on what matters.
Essentially, my philosophy has always been to take a 'Ground Up' approach so that was what I chose as my business name!
- Neil
2019 - The beginning
My first private clients started to train with me at Ground Up in late 2019. From here, I had two services on offer: Personal Training, or the 'Training Club' (Small group training).
Unfortunately at this time, I had no idea that there was a pandemic coming around the corner a few months later!
2021/22 - Growth
During this period I experienced significant growth both as a business and on a personal level. I gained a lot of knowledge in the field of business management, customer relations, and financial management.
The only problem was that the business was growing faster than I could handle. As the gym I was operating out of was not fully my own, I began to search for my own premises. It was also during this time that I began to offer some online services.
2020 - Setbacks
This was a difficult year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Multiple lockdowns, restrictions, and health scares meant that the majority of training sessions that took place during this time were done online via video call. As certain restrictions were lifted, I began hosting outdoor training sessions, which despite the Irish weather, were quite the success!
2023 - A new approach
Unfortunately, the search for my own premises was unsuccessful. Despite having a solid client base and the right resources available, the aforementioned restraints meant that I could not grow Ground Up any further in its current form, so the decision was made to discontinue in-person training services and move to a fully online service.
2024 to now - The current situation
I quickly learned that making the move from in-person coaching to online is not as simple as it sounds on the surface. However, I’ve learned so much and the journey has been extremely enjoyable. I am so enthusiastic about the new direction my coaching has taken, and the opportunities that lie ahead.
