An Interview With Fotis Georgiadis
Create extraordinary systems. Are you working on the business or in the business? You must create systems that help your business stay organized and sets you up to scale and grow.
As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Manning Sumner.
Manning Sumner, Founder and CEO of Legacy and No Days Off, has been transforming lives for over 20 years. Throughout his career, Manning has defied odds, overcome adversity and innovated where no one else could see opportunity. His acute sense of purpose, encapsulated in the No Days Off philosophy, has been the foundation of his success. He has inspired everyone from professional athletes to kids and grandparents to never take a day off on themselves and their communities.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
After breaking my back junior year of High School, doctors told me I would never play sports again and I ignored them, rehabilitate myself with the help of my chiropractor. I ended up earning a scholarship to play at Auburn University as a linebacker/fullback. I lettered but ended up breaking my back again my redshirt junior year. I decided to really dive into my major Exercise Science/Health Promotions so I could help prevent others from what I went through.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
From 2005–2007 I traveled all over the United States training a high profile clients. We went to multiple gyms in New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Georgia, Utah, Texas to name a few. I started to notice that almost all the gyms were the same. Front Desk, offices, cardio section, machine section & free weight section and huge locker rooms. Most were not clean & organized, most had a strange energy and almost all of them did not have a system of service to actually help people reach a healthier lifestyle. I wanted to create something that combined my college weight room days, teamwork, energy, community & was results oriented.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
The biggest mistake I made when starting was trying to find employees that were just like me. I went through 19 trainers my first two years because I had an expectation that everyone had to do things the way I did them. I was not easy to work for and had to learn how to pour into my staff, use their strengths and put them in the best position to help the company & themselves.
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
My Dad was my biggest influence. He instilled discipline in me at an early age, attention to detail, never give up attitude and always showing up regardless of how you feel.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
Are you disrupting to spark significance & a positive change or are you disrupting for attention and ego. Disrupting an industry is about building something that goes beyond the business, product or service. You have to create a cause that is bigger than self and that has an impact that can carry over in all aspects of life.
Can you share five of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
Create extraordinary systems. Are you working on the business or in the business? You must create systems that help your business stay organized and sets you up to scale and grow.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
We are currently developing our own NO DAYS OFF beverage line. Starting with Still & Sparkling reverse osmosis water with added electrolytes, then an energy enhanced water and a healthy low ABV beer.
Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. Infinite-minded leaders understand that “best” is not a permanent state. Instead, they strive to be “better.” “Better” suggests a journey of constant improvement and makes us feel like we are being invited to contribute our talents and energies to make progress in that journey. Coming from a sports background I always thought I had to be the best, I had to win, be first… but in business & in life there is no such thing as winning. You go through different seasons, obstacles, setbacks… it’s not about winning it’s about improving constantly, learning and becoming.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen.” Hebrews 11:1
You have to listen to your Intuition and truly believe in your vision for your life and have faith regardless of the position you are in.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 😊
I hope I have started a movement in NO DAYS OFF. No Days Off is never taking a day off on you. It’s a commitment to becoming your best self. It’s never to late to become rather than be.
How can our readers follow you online?
Instagram:
@manningsumner
@nodaysoff
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Meet The Disruptors: Manning Sumner Of LEGACY On The Five Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
