David Carns: 0:00

Welcome to Conversations with Carns, where Curiosity meets connection. Today I'm talking with Bill Maley, longtime Navy veteran physical trainer, and someone I've had the privilege of knowing both as a friend and as my trainer for years. Bill's story spans the military, small business ownership, and the often overlooked emotional support many of us find through physical training. We'll talk about how discipline, setbacks, and deep relationships shape, not just our bodies, lives as well. Bill, welcome to the show.

Bill Maley: 0:32

Hey, glad to be here.

David Carns: 0:33

Well this is the first time for, for both of us first time you've been on a podcast, first time that I've actually been leading a podcast. So let's see how this turns out. But sometimes one of the best ways is just with foundational information. So tell me a little bit about your time in the Navy and what drew you to enlist.

Bill Maley: 0:51

All right, well if you're asking me what drew me, we have to back up a little bit on that let's back up to high school. Actually we have to back up even further. So. Well, so when I was young, I used to play a lot of sports. I was very active. Was good at pretty much everything I played or at least I like to think I was. And this was in my formative years, like when I was, and I actually lived in Australia at that point. My father was a captain in the Navy, so we were over there. He was building some radio towers for them anyway move forward to high school and when we came back. I'm not a really big guy and I had trouble making a lot of the teams. I just couldn't make anything. So I sort of went 180 out and I started partying and, you know, doing things at most young high schoolers shouldn't be doing. And, uh, I came to the

David Carns: 1:51

the father of two boys.

Bill Maley: 1:52

Yeah, to exactly. And I came to the point of, of the realization that, um, and this isn't, you know, my, my conclusion was that if I didn't do something, I was gonna die. I was gonna put myself in the situation where I was just gonna, something bad was gonna happen. So I decided that, um, what I needed to do was enlist. And the only place that I even thought about doing was the Navy.'cause my dad was in the Navy and, and, um, so I thought, yeah, that's where I need to go. So I enlisted and spent five years there. I was a operation specialist, uh, which for layman would be more like a radar man. Yeah. So basically I tracked. Ships and aircraft and submarines actually. And during my career I was, I became what was known as an asac, which is an anti-submarine air controller. So I actually chased submarines using planes. I would vector'em around and have'em drop sono buoys and we'd chase submarines. It was, it was fun.

David Carns: 2:59

Are there things around discipline that you learned in the Navy that have you know, etched something into who you are today?

Bill Maley: 3:07

Oh gosh. Yeah. I mean the Navy, the military is all about discipline. I mean, you don't. There's not an option, you know, I mean, you know, discipline is how it goes. It's either that or you find yourself in a lot of trouble. and I managed to find myself in trouble in the Navy as well. But, but, um, you know, I came through it. When you go in the military, it's, you go from free will. I can do whatever the hell I want to. You can't do anything you want. You're gonna be told what you want. You are gonna be told when you want it, and you're gonna, and you're gonna like it. And that's kind of how the military is. And it takes a while to transition to make that, that change.

David Carns: 3:52

That must be quite a, a shift.

Bill Maley: 3:54

Yeah, that's hard for a lot of people. That's why, that's why you see a lot of people do four years and they're done. You know? I mean, it's, it's, it's a lot. It's a lot. You know, some people like it because, you know, you're basically taken care of, you know, you, your, uh, you know, you, your, your medical's taken care of, your dental's taken care of. You are taken care of, your family's taken care of primarily. So, you know, it's, it's. If you're willing to do 20 and you know, you can, you can really get something out of that. But I couldn't, I could only do five, and that was, it was time for me to move on. So. And that's what I did. But, but the discipline is just part of, that's part of that game. I mean, you just, you have to have it. I mean, you, I mean, you have to be up, you have to be at quarters, at eight o'clock in the morning. You have to, you know, be dressed a certain way. You have to have your hair cut a certain way. Back when I was in, you could have beards. The beard could only be, it could only extend from your face a quarter of an inch. And it, and each individual hair can only be a half an inch long.

David Carns: 5:05

Oh my goodness.

Bill Maley: 5:06

Yeah. So, I mean, that's the kind of stuff that, I mean, that just gives you an idea of how how much they get into you. Right. It's like everything is just super controlled. So, so that's where that discipline kind of comes from.

David Carns: 5:20

So then as your five years were coming to an end what did you think you'd be doing after the Navy? Was fitness always part of the plan?

Bill Maley: 5:29

No. Wasn't even in the plan. No no. I, for a while I was considering reenlisting. I mean, they gave me an option for a, a ship out of Japan, which actually never went anywhere. It's called the Blue Ridge. And I really considered that because for my rate, they would also give me like 12 grand to reenlist. I mean, this is 19, this is 1970, I'm sorry, 19 80, 81. So I mean, 12 grand was, it was some real money. Yeah. So I had to really think about that. And but. The life, I just didn't gimme enough freedom. I just didn't want to, it just didn't gimme enough to do that. I allow me to do what I wanted to do. So I decided to get out and I went to college. I went to George Mason University and got a degree in English with a minor in history. And from there I went to uh, I became a facility manager. And that's where I started thinking about getting into personal training is'cause I, I just, at that point, I was, you know. I was able to do my job, but I was also, you know, I was starting to get to work out actually, like actually for a while there I got outta working out and I started getting a little chubby and, and I was like, yeah, this, this isn't really working here. What, what can I do? So I just started working out and um, I just got, I really got into it and then I got the opportunity to, uh, not really, not technically start my own business, but a, a acquire a business and go from there. So that's kind of what happened there.

David Carns: 7:21

Yeah, so tell me more about that. Like, were you doing any training in a gym before then, or did you

Bill Maley: 7:26

Yes. No. So I, I started, so I, I went to, uh. A personal training school. They actually have those, they have one that was down in Falls Church and when I finished that, I had to do 500 hours and when I did that, yeah, it's not, not, uh, short and sweet. So when I completed that, I got a, a couple of different jobs. One was with, uh, a company called Personal Training Associates. Which is the, the business I actually ended up acquiring. So I, I went there and then I also worked at a couple of other gyms. But once again, you know, I, I started finding that they were limiting what I could do. Or when I could do it. For example, uh, I would work at a gym and now I'm a personal trainer and that's why they've hired me. But they would want me to come in and work my hours or work hours for them just kind of monitoring the gym

David Carns: 8:27

Yeah.

Bill Maley: 8:28

and then if I wanted to train somebody, it was on my own time. So, so, you know, I started like, I was like, well, well, well wait a minute. Why is it on my time when I'm training your clients? So I, I just found that that wasn't really working for me. So it was like, you know, I'm not really digging that. So personal training Associates, uh, was owned by a guy named Mike Mecurio. Great guy, wonderful guy. And I was working for him and then we, you know, I, I told him that I was really interested in getting involved with ownership and, and at one point he came to me and he is like, you know what? I'm, I'm really not wanting to do the gym anymore. I just want to do in-home training. And so he sold me the, the, the. The gym itself. So I, I became, uh, the owner of the, of Personal Training Associates and that was awesome for a while.

David Carns: 9:34

And what was that timeframe? When, when did you, uh, take ownership?

Bill Maley: 9:37

So I took ownership in 2005 right,

David Carns: 9:43

I.

Bill Maley: 9:44

right. After. Uh, I had been married a couple years. I took ownership in 2005 and for about three, three and a half years it was absolutely awesome.

David Carns: 9:58

Right. So now the math is not e not too hard to figure out. 2008 hit a lot of, uh, companies very hard. Um, what was your experience during that time?

Bill Maley: 10:08

So at, at the top of when, when things were really cranking, I had a hundred clients. I had four personal trainers working for me, including myself, and I had a nutritionist all working. And I, I was doing about 350 KA year. In business. In business. And that's not how much I was making myself, but I mean, that's how much I was doing. Then came the housing bubble, 2008, September, 2008. I'll never forget it. So what would happened generally with my business was that, you know, I'd get. Personal training's an interesting thing in the sense that people come and go, you know, they, they, they're all ready to work out. They come in, they start finding out how hard it is, and then they disappear. So I, I would get a lot of people in and then a lot of people out. I mean, I, I would bring 20 people in a, a month and I'd lose 10, you know, or the next month I'd bring in 10 and I'd lose 20. I mean, it's just, it's just kind of flowed like that. But I had around a hundred clients. Consistently. And then 2008, September, I'll never forget it. Call, call stopped coming in. It just stopped and I wasn't getting any more and nobody was calling. And the people that I had were starting to disappear. It was, and, and, um. Because it's disposable income, right? People are starting to feel like, okay, I'm starting to feel like things are getting a little tight. I'm not sure where I can cut costs, but where can you cut costs right off the bat? Well, and you can cut the gym,

David Carns: 11:49

Right, right.

Bill Maley: 11:50

right? So I went from a hundred clients within about, within a few months I was down to just a few. I mean, that's how quick it happened in a few months. So now I've got a studio that I've gotta pay for, you know? Yeah. I got a, a studio I gotta pay for. I got not enough coming in, so I had to zig and zag on that. I had to borrow actually, so I could continue to make payments on my studio until the co, the lease ended in 2010.

David Carns: 12:24

Right.

Bill Maley: 12:25

And so in 2010, I went from there over to a gym over in Reston and, um, was working there. It was a small gym. I'm, I'm actually abbreviating everything. I went down, but more or less I went to the small gym and I was down to about four or five clients, just me, all my, all my trainers. We'll see a thing, some of the, so some of my trainers. As, you know, when you, when you start training with somebody, you get attached to'em. And so, so some of my trainers, when they left, they took their clients with them, and there's nothing I can do about that. I can't, you know, uh, there's nothing I, I, I can't say, Hey, I want that client back because that client's not coming to me. They don't care. I mean, they'll quit before they do anything else. So, so a lot of those guys left and they took, they took some of their clients and then I had what I had left, which was about five clients or so. And I had to, and basically I worked for free for like till I paid off that loan. I had to, yeah, I had to pay off that loan. So that happened.

David Carns: 13:35

so

Bill Maley: 13:35

Go ahead.

David Carns: 13:35

So during that period, a ton changed

Bill Maley: 13:38

Oh yeah.

David Carns: 13:39

But you're still training today. So how did your, you know, I'll call it your business model or philosophy change as your clientele and, and the world evolved. I mean, you're, you're still in this business, but clearly it's in a very different place.

Bill Maley: 13:55

Well, for the first couple months I was, I was really struggling. I, I managed to, um, from word of mouth people were, were training me. I was, I, I are coming with, to me to train.

David Carns: 14:06

Yeah.

Bill Maley: 14:07

So I. I, I only had that because right at the time, I was just trying to make, I was just trying to make ends meet. So I was, I was just training who I could train who, who I, who came to me through word of mouth. And I really had no game plan at that. All I was trying to do was just pay off the loan, right. Let me pay off this loan and then I wasn't sure what I was gonna do. You know, I might have, gone back and gotten a real job, you know, or, you know, done something else. Um, I actually was, I, I was actually sending out resumes to become a, to try and see if I could get back into facilities even.'cause I had experience there and I knew what was going on, but I had been out of it now for. You know, several years and I, I wasn't getting any calls. So anyway, I continued on and, you know, through a little bit of luck. One of my trainers that left knew a CEO that she was actually leaving town. The, the trainer was leaving town. She had gotten married and she was going to San Diego, and, um, she was. Wanted to see if I wanted to train him. And that led into my next phase,

David Carns: 15:25

Got

Bill Maley: 15:25

which, which you know very well. Um, and that,

David Carns: 15:29

Yes, indeed.

Bill Maley: 15:30

so that's how I ended up, um, training for case point for the IT company. And um, I was there for eight years.

David Carns: 15:39

Okay. Unbelievable. Well

Bill Maley: 15:41

I know.

David Carns: 15:41

is a good segue because of us who train with you. Certainly feel like we're getting more than just physical guidance. I mean, when did you notice that clients were leaning on you emotionally as well?

Bill Maley: 15:55

You know, that's, that's a, that's a, that's a very good question. You know, I've always I've always been empathetic, I guess, you know, I always, I've always understood where people were coming from. You know, where wherever they were in their head space, I mean, I could always kind of get it. And I don't know why. No clue. But, but I could always kind of get it and, and I just always kind of could feel what they're feeling in a way, you know, I was just, just understood that things weren't, if things weren't well, or even if they were, well, you know, why were, they were, and, and, and how things were working and, and so when I started training, I mean that this happened almost right away. I mean, I just, I mean, a lot of people, trainers inherently create bonds with their, with their. Clients. It just happens. I mean, it's, I mean, you're spending a lot of time together. Conversations occur and so on and so forth, and it can, and then you develop a, a, a relationship. And so you start to hear some of those things that are on with them. And you know, sometimes they're not that great and, you know, I would, I would just be there to listen and, you know, sometimes I could, you know. Relate from my own experiences, but other times I could just imagine how they, what they were going through and just, you know, speak to that and seemed to work, you know, I mean.

David Carns: 17:23

Do you think there's something about physically training that allows people to open up or almost encourages them to, to share more with you?

Bill Maley: 17:33

I don't know if it's the actual act of physical training, but it's the the, the teamwork sort of that's going on between you and and them on what they're doing and how they're doing it. I mean, look, you're, when, when they come in. They're, they're looking to get healthier. And so they're looking to you for a, you know, experi experience and what to do. And in the course of that, you develop a kind of, like I said before, a bond. You, you kind of find this way that, I mean,'cause look, you're trying to make them help them be better. And so I, I, I don't know if there's a connection in their minds maybe that well this person's here for me.

David Carns: 18:19

Yeah.

Bill Maley: 18:19

You know, so, uh, and I am, I mean, uh, I have been, I, I I develop very close bonds with, with, with people because it, it's, you know, it's part of who I am and, you know, I, I like people. I always have, I get along with them very well and even when I'm not training. So it's just one of those things and, and. You know, it's carried on. As you know, I'm, I'm, I'm semi-retired now. I'm, I'm not a young guy anymore. I wish I were, but I'm not. But I've been Ubering and I've, it's, it's funny that even in Ubering I've found opportunities to help people. You know, just in conversation. Well, you know, people will get in the car almost, you know, we'll have a ways to go or whatever, and they'll just start telling me about their, their issues or, you know, I'll, I'll keep it simple. Uh, you know, man, I need a car, you know, I'm thinking about getting this car that, you know, cost like 10 grand. And it's like, you know, it's, but it, I'm not sure it needs, it, needs work or whatever. And I'll be sitting there and I'll go, you know. I, I'll be like, well, how often do you drive? You know, it's, oh, not that much. Well, if you're not driving that much, why do you wanna pay 10 grand for a car? Then you're gonna pay for insurance, then you're gonna have to pay for gas. And, you're, you're, you're better off probably just using Uber if you don't drive that much. And that's not a, a thing for Uber. I'm not trying to plug Uber, I mean, but that's one of the simpler things I get. I get more complicated. There's, there's people that have, you know, issues and they're telling me about'em. And, and sometimes I can just, and I was, when I was, I was trying to think of some,'cause I've had several. I mean, several opportunities to talk to people, and I've been trying to think of'em and I can't, you know, there's just, none of'em are really just actually popping into my head. But I, I, I have felt that while I'm Ubering, you know, yeah, I'm just driving people around, but in some cases I feel like I may have helped somebody. You know, just, it may, it may be in a little decision or it may be a big decision, but, you know, I feel like there has been times when I felt like, well, I just helped that person out. I just helped them, you know. See something that they couldn't see before. Um, I, I'll, I'll give you an example. I can, I can give you a quick example. Um, just the other day, a woman gets in the car and she starts telling me about how she got her and her roommate fell out and she had to move and, and so on and so forth. And she was telling me that, well, yeah, I was trying to, you know, introduce this friend of mine to my roommate and she blew up. She just, she goes, yeah, she just freaked out and she didn't want anything to do about with it. And, and. And I, she said, and I, I couldn't under, she goes, I, I got, you know, she was, I was just, I couldn't understand it. And I'm like, well, maybe it's because she just, she didn't, she just wanted to be left alone. Maybe she just didn't want your involvement. She didn't want you introducing her to people. She just wanted to be left. She goes, you know, I never thought of that. I am like, well, the next time you run into her, she goes, you know, now I feel kind of bad. You know? It's like, yeah. It's like, well, next time you run into her, you can just say, she goes, I'll never run into her again. I go, well, if you ever do, you can say, Hey, I get it. I see. I see what, what was going on? So.

David Carns: 21:59

well those could have examples for me personally with you have ha happened countless times. And you know, it's funny. Okay, so you mentioned Uber. You mentioned about physical training, but I'm thinking about other people who are like casual therapists for people. So, you know, if you think of a hairstylist for a lot of folks you know, the classic is the bartender,

Bill Maley: 22:20

Yep.

David Carns: 22:21

Each of those roles, you're often not focused on the person. The entire time the bartenders keep, you know, keeping the bar the hairstylist is obviously working on your hair and sometimes has you turned around and blow drying whatever.

Bill Maley: 22:38

Mm-hmm.

David Carns: 22:38

driver's obviously focused on the road. And as a trainer, I mean obviously you're focused on the person, but you're also counting reps and you're making sure their form is right and that sort of thing. I, I kind of wonder as a pet theory, if not being like, just locked in on the person like a friend might be

Bill Maley: 22:56

Mm-hmm.

David Carns: 22:58

If that sometimes helps lowers people's like barrier of willingness to talk or open up.

Bill Maley: 23:05

Yeah, I, I think a hundred percent. Look, I, I often say I'm Uber's or, or, or even cab drivers or bartenders on wheels, right? I mean, I, I think a big part of it is people get into that, that Uber and, you know, they got an issue and here's somebody they can kind of express it to who they don't know. And it has no, you know, has no skin in the game, right? So they can just kind of put it out to them because maybe they just need to get it out. They just need to, you know, this is what's really bothering me and this is what's happening, and I, I just don't understand and whatever. And, and, you know, I'm there sitting there listening and driving and, you know, I, I, because I have no skin in the game, I can see things maybe a little bit clearer than they can. You know, it makes, I mean, it's like the forest for the trees thing, you know? I mean, sometimes it can't, and I also think it's because they don't know me and they'll probably never see me ever again. And so they can, they can share this stuff and, and it's no skin off their nose, right? They'll never see me again. I can tell you that when I've gotten in a people who have gotten back into my Uber, who. I've have shared stuff with me are much quieter the next time.

David Carns: 24:24

Interesting.

Bill Maley: 24:26

they're like, oh yes, I remember him telling this guy all this, this stuff, this personal stuff. You know? It's like, hmm. So yeah, it's kind of that, it's kind of interesting that, that, that aspect of it. But, you know, honestly, I don't really care. I mean, the, the point my. I, if I, if I was able to help them or even just listen to them and let them get it off their chest, I feel like I've done something for them already. So I don't, you know, I'm not there to be their therapist on a weekly basis or every time they get in the car, you know, I'm just there when they needed me at the moment, so. As far as personal training, it's just, I mean, I see people on a regular basis and we build and we build friendships like you and me. I mean, I mean, I consider you a, a good friend of mine and, and that has happened, you know, several times through my career as personal as a personal trainer. I mean, I have several friends that, um, I, I developed through personal training.

David Carns: 25:26

Have there been moments throughout your career when you've realized, wow, this is, this is bigger than just training people physically?

Bill Maley: 25:36

I suppose, I mean, and, and I'm only saying that'cause'cause I don't think I just ever consciously really thought about it. It was just like, it's just part of what I do. You know, I mean, if you're in here training with me and you're, you're telling me some of your issues that are going on with your job or your, or your, your family or your health or whatever. I mean, I'm just, I'm just there to kind of like, I. You know, get you through the training and, you know, if I've got a, you know, a perspective that maybe I can share with you, I'll do that. You know, and I mean, you may like it, you may not, I don't know. I mean, but, but, um, generally because I'm able to kind of feel what they're feeling, I, I, I get it, you know?

David Carns: 26:23

Right. So unlike, I guess, a formerly trained therapist you obviously, you know, you come to the table with your own stresses. Does do these sessions help provide therapy to you In a way I.

Bill Maley: 26:40

That's a great question. Probably, I mean, I, I certainly may make me feel better about myself. I mean, I'm like, I just helped somebody. I. You know, I mean, I just, I just, I just help somebody out, you know? I mean that's, you know, that's, that's a good feeling when you feel like somebody got outta your, your, your Uber or outta your training session and, and they feel a lot better emotionally than they did when they came in. Now a lot of people do that anyway.'cause, I mean, working out kind of generates that. I mean, you come out after working out and you go, man, I feel really good. You know, and you're kinda, you're kind of good for the day, but, but sometimes then you just need a little extra help. And, and I, I lost train my train of thought on this man. I.

David Carns: 27:23

it's all good. I mean, mostly does the training sessions help you in return and, you know, part of it is that you feel like it, it feels great to help someone first of all,

Bill Maley: 27:35

Yep.

David Carns: 27:35

do you feel like your, your clients, your friends, all s provide. Therapy back to you during these sessions? I mean, is there a quid pro quo where

Bill Maley: 27:44

Yeah, I think so because there's things that are going on in my life too, and sometimes, you know maybe you'll share something that I'm going through too. Two.

David Carns: 27:53

right.

Bill Maley: 27:54

Right. And, and then so I get feedback from you as to, you know, what's going on with you. And I'm like, ah, same shit's going on with me. And you know, God, you know, how'd you deal with it? And he's like, you know, you tell me how you, and it's like, ah, that, that's a great idea. I'll, you know, I'll have to try that. You know, so that, yeah. I would say, yeah, it works. It can work both ways.

David Carns: 28:15

Well I owe a lot to you in, in numerous ways, but starting this podcast is actually one of them since

Bill Maley: 28:20

Yeah, that was,

David Carns: 28:21

thoughts and this is your suggestion, so

Bill Maley: 28:24

you know, that was so funny.'cause I mean, you, you said that to me. You're like, yeah, I'm looking for something to do. And I'm like, I mean, it was like a nanosecond for me. I don't know why it took you so long to figure it out. Yeah. Why don't you just become a podcaster, man? You've got such a great voice. You, you know, you're, you. You, you ask great questions. I mean, you always have asked great questions. You have great answers. Whenever there's a, I have a question, so, I mean, just, it just made total sense to me. I mean, I'm, I'm glad you're actually, you know, giving it a shot. I hope it works out. I, I, I'm hoping it, you know, I, I can't wait to start listening on a regular basis, you know, once you become a big hit.

David Carns: 29:05

We'll see how it goes. you mentioned earlier that you're no longer a young man, Although I've rarely met someone, uh, as young, as hard is as you and someone who keeps keeps abreast of, you know, so much about modern life and all of your friends and people you've trained. you know, I'm kind of curious like. Okay. Do you feel like, how do you feel physically, emotionally, compared to when you were 37?

Bill Maley: 29:34

Well,

David Carns: 29:35

you're 67 now. Correct.

Bill Maley: 29:37

no, I'm 69.

David Carns: 29:39

Oh, man, you're kidding me. I got that wrong.

Bill Maley: 29:42

Yeah.

David Carns: 29:42

how does it compare when you're, you're, you're 39? Yeah.

Bill Maley: 29:46

I, well, you know, when you're 39, you, you're closing in on 40 and you're starting to think, well, I'm getting old. You know, I mean, it's just the, the But you don't have any idea that you really, I mean, how old you really are? I mean, I'm gonna be 70 next year and, and I, I don't feel it. I, I mean, sometimes I do. But in general I don't feel old. I. Things have, are, are failing on me. My hearing's getting a little harder. My, um, my eyesight isn't what it used to be and stuff like that, but that's all the natural things, you know, tend to go anyway. But'cause back then I could see perfectly, I could hear perfectly, or at least I thought I could. Uh, may have been selective back then too, but I don't know. But yeah, I mean, it's, it's, you know, it's, I I'm just in a different place. I mean. But I don't feel like it generally, I mean, I, I don't feel like I'm 39 necessarily, but I don't,'cause I've, I've got a lot of baggage isn't the right word. I've just got a lot of life in me. A lot of, you know, from 39 to to 69 is a lot of living.

David Carns: 30:54

It's a lot of living.

Bill Maley: 30:55

So it's, I've learned a lot through that. So I'm, I'm a different person than I was then for sure because of that. But and I don't move as quick. But you know, I'm, I'm still out there plugging away and, you know, I've, I got plans to be around for another 20 or 30 years, which is, is pushing it, you know, if I can get.

David Carns: 31:17

hope so.

Bill Maley: 31:18

I can get 20. Look, I, I've always said 76 is like the national average for life. I think for men, I'm not, I'm not positive. I think it might be a little older for women, but I. Anything over 76 is, is bonus, right? I'm, I'm living, I'm living extra time. I mean,'cause most people, a lot of people die before that, right? So

David Carns: 31:40

Yeah.

Bill Maley: 31:40

getting that extra time, so I'm, I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with that extra time if I can get there. You know,'cause I wanna enjoy the rest of my life as much as I, as I've enjoyed. The past, you know, so we'll see how that goes.

David Carns: 31:58

So I guess speaking of the past, are there moments within your career that you're, you're most proud of or that a, a, a pivot, a change that you made that was most significant for you?

Bill Maley: 32:09

Oh, well there was a few of them. I mean, like going in the Navy, getting out of the Navy, going to college becoming a facility manager. I. Becoming a trainer. I mean, all these things are pivots, you know, every one of'em are a pivot. There's none of them. Were like, I mean, it's not like I became a phy, a facility manager for the next 30 years. I was a facility manager and that's all I did. I mean, I did it for about 10 years maybe. And then, uh, I was off doing personal training. I think for me, the biggest thing is I've never been a big office guy. I. Even when I was a facility manager, that position allowed me to get up and walk around and talk to people and see what's going on and, and and really help people there too. I mean, you know, something's going on in my office, it's not working right. Well, what, what? You know, or I need something. Well, what can I get to help you make it better? You know, even, even those things. But so I've never really been a big, um, I. Like I said, office person, i'd, ra. I'm just, I don't know. I'm not wired that way. I just kinda like to do what I want to do, you know, and, and I, and it, it doesn't pay a lot. I don't make a lot of money. I'm fortunate my wife takes care of me. She's a very good person and she's very good at what she does. But you know, I'm happy doing what I'm doing. Just so, I mean,

David Carns: 33:41

do you have any advice, I guess, for people who would want to get into training or guess anyone who's a, a mentor, which I, I view you as a mentor in many ways, not just a therapist. Like

Bill Maley: 33:54

it's funny, I I view you the same way, by the way.

David Carns: 33:57

Well, maybe it's a virtuous cycle.

Bill Maley: 33:59

Yeah. Maybe

David Carns: 34:00

Maybe so. But what advice would you give to other people?

Bill Maley: 34:04

do what you wanna do. I. I mean, if you wanna be a trainer, be a trainer, you know, you wanna be an Uber driver, be an Uber driver, you want to be, um, CEO of a company, be a CEO of a company, you can, you can find a way. I mean, it's, it's, it's all doable. It's all, you know how, how, how much you want to put into it, how much effort you want to do. I mean, what, what makes you happy? What makes you get up in the morning and go, yay, I'm ready to go, you know? Well, I'm saying I wake up every morning going, Hey, man, I can't wait to get out on the road and deal with all those assholes out there. But, but, you know, but I, I like what I do, you know, I mean, I'm comfortable, I'm comfortable, um, training you, uh, I'm comfortable training, you know, uh, those people that I, I trained. So you know, be happy in what you do, man. I mean, make the most of it out. Don't f around because you know, before you know it, you find out you're 69. You know? And, and listen, there's a time constraint there. I'm, I'm, you know, I just said 20 or 30 years, that is my limit, you know, chances are I'm not gonna be around in 20 or 30 years. I mean, if you're young go after it because that time is fleeting. It goes by fast, you know? I mean, you, you've raised kids. I've raised kids. It that time can be very joyful. It can be very stressful. But when it's gone, it's gone. You know? I mean, there's no getting it back. I can't, I can't make my kids four again, you know?

David Carns: 35:37

I guess a hundred percent, and as far as. Doing what you enjoy or doing what drives you and doing it while you still have the time. I mean, you're a great example of someone who's pivoted numerous times and said, you know what? This is the time to take, make a different choice, and right, wrong or indifferent, this is what I'm doing and I'm gonna make it work. And even when times got tough, you still made it work. And I would argue that you know your time after the 2008 crisis and making that work. Ended up pivoting you into a bunch of people's lives that you probably never could have foreseen

Bill Maley: 36:13

No.

David Carns: 36:14

and has, you know, led you and to us you know, on a trajectory that's different, I think also different for the better, um, than I, than I would've anticipated. I'm sure that you would've anticipated.

Bill Maley: 36:26

Oh yeah. I mean, listen to my time at, at at case point was phenomenal. I mean, the people there were incredible. Everybody there was kind intelligent. Friendly, uh, just, just an amazing time. I'm gonna, that, that may have been my best time for training, honestly,

David Carns: 36:50

Hmm.

Bill Maley: 36:51

because it was just great people, great people,

David Carns: 36:56

Yeah.

Bill Maley: 36:57

you know.

David Carns: 36:59

yeah. Well, I, I don't disagree. It was an

Bill Maley: 37:02

Yeah.

David Carns: 37:02

time for myself as well. So what's, what's motivating, motivating you going forward? You, you, you, you've, you've laid out some time constraints that you see for yourself as we all do'cause, you know, death and taxes.

Bill Maley: 37:16

Well I can tell you I got two boys in college right now, so we're still plugging around along, trying to get that, that paid for. Very proud of my boys. These guys are awesome. Couldn't have, sorry. I don't know why this hit me. Yeah. I just so proud of them.

David Carns: 37:36

Well,

Bill Maley: 37:37

have no idea.

David Carns: 37:39

from what I've heard from you, the investment of you and your wife's time and the development of your boys been nothing short of extraordinary. And this is not just coming from someone who doesn't understand the hockey world.'cause you know, your boys are really into hockey and have, are, you know, both skated at an elite level. But just goes to show like this massive and time commitment to developing young men, and I think that that seems to be something that's going to resonate throughout their lives for very many years to come.

Bill Maley: 38:21

Yeah. Uh. I don't know if they get that yet, but it's okay. I mean, the time I got to spend with them, I mean, honestly you know, having my kids later I think I, I've told you this before. I know. I thought, oh, great. I, I know how to slow time down, you know? I mean, I've, I've lived 50 years. I, I know how to. Make things go slower. Well, that's a bunch of bullshit. I mean, it, it doesn't go slower. I mean, but I was able to spend a lot of time with my kids and that I can take away from it, you know? I mean, I got to spend time with them and I mean, that's something I would tell people right off the bat, spend as much time as you can with your kids because when it's gone, it's gone. I mean, when they're adults. Yeah, you get to see'em at Christmas and Thanksgiving maybe. And I mean, I don't know how that plays out yet'cause I haven't gotten there. But they're, but they're both going off to college and it's like, so I'm not gonna see'em on a daily basis like I have, well, you know, through their formative years now. It's just every once in a while and, yeah, that's not easy,

David Carns: 39:34

Right, right.

Bill Maley: 39:36

you know that. Well, you don't, you know about, well, one, any or two.

David Carns: 39:40

Yes. Yeah,

Bill Maley: 39:41

Yeah.

David Carns: 39:42

And things change and they change quickly. So as you say, like with kids you know, making the most of the time that you have and watching them develop as full adults with the lessons that you've imparted on them. Partly like the lessons you've imparted on me and, you know, I may have inadvertently imparted on you as well

Bill Maley: 40:05

Oh, you definitely have imparted on me.

David Carns: 40:07

so.

Bill Maley: 40:10

Yes, you definitely have imparted some on me. That's for sure. I mean, I, part of my enjoyment of training with you is that I always know I'm gonna learn something. You know, whenever, whenever we, I would always look forward to you coming into the gym.'cause it was like, what, what am I gonna walk outta here knowing about that I didn't know about, you know, an hour ago? You know, it's, you're always, I'm always learning something new from you. And that's uh, that's something I really, really appreciate because, you know, you're. You are sharp and, and you know, it's fun to listen to people that know what the hell they're talking about and, and can carry it and can present it. You know, I mean, some people are smart and can, can't tell you how they, you know, how they get from A to B but you know, you're able to do it and make it, make it entertaining, so thank you.

David Carns: 41:03

Well, pleasure. As you know, my interests are um, broad ranging and uh, sometimes that can be infuriating, especially'cause they tend to last about six months. And I have another very broad interest, but,

Bill Maley: 41:16

yeah, but you know, it's coming, you know, it's like, uh, he's been, you know, he's, he's been on the row machine for about six months now. He's about done. He's gonna be getting into biking. Yeah. It'll be next.

David Carns: 41:32

Yes. Well, and you never know. Sometimes these things, these things come back around, so.

Bill Maley: 41:38

Well, and I think they do, you know, I mean, if you've enjoyed'em once, you know that they're, they're, you know, that you, you, you enjoyed'em, right? It's like, so it's like, well, you know, lemme try that again. See, I know I liked it back then. I mean, lemme see what happens again. So I don't, I can see it happening again.

David Carns: 41:57

Yeah. Well, do you have any, um, parting thoughts or things that are driving you, uh, in the future, reflections you'd like to share?

Bill Maley: 42:06

No, just my, you know, I think I already have pretty much my, my kids are off to college and I'm hoping that you know, my wife and I'll be able to figure out how to navigate that. And then I. You know, hopefully we can get some traveling in, you know, I mean, what old people do,

David Carns: 42:27

A hundred percent.

Bill Maley: 42:28

go places, see things, you know, I mean, one of my dreams is to have an rv, get an rv, and just, you know, travel the country. But I got a lot of convincing to do on. Other side for that. So, um, we'll see how that goes. But yeah, I mean, just like I said, I wanna just make the most of my final years, you know, I mean, it's, it's funny you don't think about life being finite until you till you get to the latter part. And even then you don't think about it much. I mean, who wants to think about dying, right?

David Carns: 43:09

Well, that's true. Well,

Bill Maley: 43:10

So,

David Carns: 43:11

bill hope that I can be part of your, your future travels and journey. And I know we're gonna stay connected. If for nothing else, you're the person who actually keeps me, uh, in line and in shape. So, um, you know, that will go

Bill Maley: 43:25

I,

David Carns: 43:25

a long

Bill Maley: 43:25

I would keep you in shape if you would do it more,

David Carns: 43:30

I can edit that part out of the podcast.

Bill Maley: 43:35

but you know, I mean, honestly, but what you shouldn't. Keep out of this podcast is the fact that you are who you are, and that, that you're, what I've said about you is absolutely true. And, and that should be the draw of your podcast really, is that you have a lot to offer about a lot of different things and, you know, a lot of different people who know a lot of different things. I'm, I'm probably the, the, the stupidest person, you know, I mean, so I mean, it's gonna be fun. It's gonna be a lot of fun, you know, catching your podcast. And, and, and, I mean, I think it's gonna grow. I mean, it's partly because it's so basic. I mean, you're not out to change the world. You're just out to have some conversations with some people and, and, you know, maybe share some stuff that maybe does make somebody smile or, you know, makes their day a little better.

David Carns: 44:26

100%. Well, bill, hopefully the other folks I talked to are gonna be as interesting as you, because as you know, I've, I find your life story fascinating and honestly, thank you. It's been a gift to know you all these years and a privilege to share your story today. I.

Bill Maley: 44:43

Well, it's, it's a privilege to call you, call you my friend, and um, I thank you.

David Carns: 44:53

Thank you. And back at you, bill.

Bill Maley: 44:55

Hi buddy.

David Carns: 44:57

All right, well thank you for tuning in everyone. I'm David Carns and this is Conversations with Carnes. Thank you, bill.