Episode 37: The Story of APEMAN Strong Apparel

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On today’s episode I speak with Adam Field the co-founder of APEMAN Strong Apparel. Adam shares his story of how he and his brother started a powerlifting company focused on their passion for the sport, inspiring others through powerlifting, and training hard. Adam talks about their approach to design, sponsorship, and he shares the story of APEMAN athlete KC Mitchell. Whether you are a powerlifter or not I am sure you will find this show truly inspiring.

Adam and his brother run APEMAN strong together out of a warehouse in Phoenix Arizona. Adam came from a background in finance and commercial real estate and his brother ran a screen printing business making shirts for local companies.

I started the interview asking Adam what advice he would give people getting started in business or their sport. He says the most important thing is to do something you have a passion for. Chasing money doesn’t always make you happy. Even having money may not bring happiness. He has found the most satisfying part of his job is being a part of something he loves. He loves to write, lifting weights, and pursuing strength. APEMAN Strong doesn’t think about chasing money, they chase their passion, STRENGTH. When you are doing something you are truly passionate about the money will find you. It’s more important to them to find ways to help people with their business than to make a quick buck.

Adam shares that his fascination with strength goes back to when he was a kid and watched The Incredible Hulk with Lou Ferrigno. He always wanted to have big muscles, like the Hulk and characters from the Rocky movies like Sylvester Stallone, Apollo Creed, etc… Also very involved in sports through high school Adam says he has always loved lifting weights. When the real estate market crashed in 2008 Adam explains that he was over stressed, his business partners left, and he had to go through the pains of closing offices, laying people off, and it proved to be too much. On the verge of a breakdown himself he said going on late night runs helped reduce the stress. Unfortunately during a 62 mile race Adam went into kidney failure and put it him in the ICU. Not being able to run and needing some more income Adam’s brother invited him to help print tee shirts and workout in the warehouse gym. That is when Adam fell back in love with weight lifting. He became addicted to letting his angst, aggression, and frustrations of life on the barbell. Lifting became a much needed release.

Adam and his brother then began to talk about the idea of starting a brand around lifting weights. It just made sense to them. They loved lifting weights, they were already printing shirts for other people, why not start something that they had a passion for. The original concept was for a lifestyle brand based on the idea that we need to promote strength, taking care of business, and powerlifting.

The first shirt APEMAN came out with was “Lift Angry“

People outside of lifting sometimes can misconstrue the meaning. What it is about is, taking circumstances that have caused pain, hurt, or rage in your life and unleashing it on the weights in a positive way. Not being a jerk in the gym.

One of the athletes APEMAN sponsors is KC Mitchell. His story is a very inspiring one. KC lost a leg while serving our country. Feeling down and out, he turned to power lifting and completely turned his life around and got off all the pain pills he heavily relied on.

Adam and I talk about how training with people who are better than you makes you better. It is inspiring and can show you that the limits you put on yourself are artificial, you can always do more.

Please share our show with your friends and family, continue to send me your emails, and remember Consistency is KING!

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