MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Marc Perry, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist from the National Sports & Conditioning Association, and a Certified Personal Trainer from the American Council on Exercise
Marc attended Yale University where he was a 4 year letter on the Varsity Lacrosse team, an Officer of the Yale Entrepreneurial Society, and co-founder of Yale Entrepreneur Magazine. He graduated with a B.A. in History.
Upon graduation from Yale, Marc started his career in finance in New York City as an investment analyst at a hedge fund, focusing on portfolio risk management and manager selection. A few years later, Marc moved to another hedge fund, focusing on research and investment recommendations of stocks in the consumer sector.
Wanting to explore his entrepreneurial ambitions and help others improve the quality of their lives, Marc left the finance world to start a personal training business in New York City. Applying his unique insights into the New York professional lifestyle with his passion for fitness, Marc trained busy New Yorkers who were looking to get leaner physiques and improve their health. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist from the National Sports & Conditioning Association, and a Certified Personal Trainer from the American Council on Exercise.
Since starting his NYC based personal training business Elite Training Partners over two years ago, Marc has become one of the most sought after trainers and coaches in New York City because of his reputation for helping his private clients achieve exceptional results. He has been featured as a fitness expert on NY1 for his expertise in strength training.
In March 2010, Marc launched BuiltLean.com, which provides exercise and nutrition information that helps busy professionals get healthier bodies more efficiently. A large portion of the articles describe tips on how to stay fit with a busy New York lifestyle and feature New Yorkers who stay in shape with busy careers. While the website has already attracted tens of thousands of visitors from over 140 countries, the largest base of visitors are from New York City. We are so pleased to present Marc Perry as our latest Mover and Shaker!
Peachy Deegan interviewed Marc Perry for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: What should most people know about the sport of Lacrosse that most do not know?
Marc Perry: I think most people don't know how fun Lacrosse is to play. Growing up, I was fortunate to play every mainstream sport, and I found lacrosse to be the most fun and dynamic, because every player on the field is essentially playing defense, offense, and must be able to catch and throw. It requires great athleticism and skill.
What inspired you to major in history and how did it impact your career in finance and how does it impact your career in athletics?
I always excelled at history and I enjoyed it, so it was an easy decision to choose it as a major. Because Yale is a liberal arts school, classes on marketing, or business analysis, which I would have enjoyed taking were unavailable.
I enjoy studying history so much because I think it helps us understand more about the present and the world we live in today. I did consider majoring in a science, but the labs conflicted with my lacrosse schedule, making history a better fit for me. Studying history helped me consume a lot of research and make sense of it, and it also helped my writing skills, which were all beneficial when I was an investment research analyst at a hedge fund.
Do you miss your finance career? If so why and if not why not?
The only thing I miss is the financial aspect, in that if you're a half decent performer in finance, you can make a very nice living. I'm a right brained, creative type of guy who always wanted to build businesses and be involved in product development and marketing, which is exactly what I'm doing now as a fitness entrepreneur. While the entrepreneurial path is very bumpy and challenging, I know it's the right path for me.
How do you motivate your clients?
I think it's that I'm extremely passionate about fitness, and it rubs off on other people. It's not any single thing I do, it's just my enthusiasm for getting and staying fit I think that really helps motivate my clients. That's a HUGE reason why I decided to go down this fitness route, because I believed my passion for fitness was the greatest asset I could offer the world.
We advocate Seeing Manhattan on Your Feet and avoid the MTA most of the time. What should people realize about the value of walking a few miles a day in Manhattan?
Walking is an excellent activity and it's also underrated. If you eat well, walk a few miles per day, and strength train 1-2x per week, you can achieve a very healthy and fit body. As a Manhattanite, I feel so lucky that the world is in my backyard and I can walk around and explore it whenever I want. I probably drive a car a few times a year, and I don't miss driving at all!
Tell our audience what strength training is please and why it should be important to them.
By definition of strength training is engaging your muscles with weight that you can lift no more than 20 times. Weights include anything from barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, or bodyweight, to resistance bands.
How are you able to build such an efficient workout with maximum results?
I think it's about manipulating different movement patterns and combining them in a way that requires little rest between exercises. When you are able to rest less between exercises, you increase the "density" of the workout, so you are able to get a lot more done in a lot less time. In addition, you can get cardio and strength training benefits if you rest less between strength training exercises. I wrote an entire article series about efficient strength training on my BuiltLean.com website here: http://bit.ly/auhEBA.
What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?
I would say probably my Dad. He was able to start from nothing and become one of the top Opthalmologists in the world. He provided a great living for my family, and despite his intense career he always made time for family. I really don't know how he did it!
I also have to mention that at the end of the day, I'm my biggest critic and competitor. I'm always trying to improve and I want to reach my potential. I'm striving to reach that higher level of consciousness others have reached in their life and chosen career path.
What are you proudest of and why?
I think I'm proudest of being accepted by and attending Yale University. I worked very hard as a kid and being accepted by Yale was the culmination of all that hard work. Additionally, the quality of the people I've met at Yale has been absolutely unbelievable, and to be a part of that community is a big privilege and honor.
What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do?
Be a drummer in a rock band! I was a drummer in college and even created an album, but doing it a bit more seriously I think would be an absolute blast! It's on my to do list, but it's been on there for about 5 years.
What honors and awards have you received in your profession?
I have not received any honors, or awards as of yet, but I have received some media attention. I'm actually not aware of any awards that are given out in the fitness industry.
What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?
That's a tough one, because I think it may change over time. I have very fond memories of the Union Square area because my first experience in NYC was staying in an NYU dormitory on 12th and 3rd. I just think it's a very vibrant, lively area that encapsulates a lot of the great things New York City has to offer.
What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?
Wow, that's a tough one. I'm not a big shopper to say the least, especially since I've followed the entrepreneurial path, but in my hedge fund days, I used to shop at ZARA and Saks 5th Ave. for clothes all the time.
What is your favorite drink?
Water. Seriously. I'm a fitness professional after all!
What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?
Wolfgangs on 33rd and Park. The steak just melts in your mouth and the salad is amazing. Definitely not the healthiest restaurant, but it's something special.
What is your favorite Manhattan book?
I really don't have one. I do think Sheckys.com is an awesome resource for New York City nightlife and restaurants, with fantastic reviews. If they made a book, I would buy it.
If you could have anything in Manhattan named after you what would it be and why?
I think some type of area, or building downtown that would represent hope and optimism to help with the rebuilding process.
What has been your best Manhattan athletic experience?
I haven't had too many athletic experiences in Manhattan, but I did play in a Zogsports soccer league with a bunch of my friends.
What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?
I think just being able to walk, or take the subway and in 5-10 minutes be doing, or seeing just about anything you could possibly want. Manhattan is like a carnival for adults. You've got the best bars, clubs, restaurants, arts, etc. Manhattan is synonymous with excellence in just about everything!
What has been your best Manhattan art or music experience?
I think going to the Met a few years ago was a great experience, because the last time I was there I was only a kid. I just started going to more rock concerts, so I think my music experience may soon eclipse my art experience. Being able to walk to a cool concert just about any day of the week is an amazing advantage of being in NYC.
What do you think is most underrated and overrated here?
I think the most underrated aspect is how convenient it is to live here. I know sometimes I get impatient waiting an extra 5 minutes for a cab, but everything I need to live is basically within a 2 block radius of my apartment.
I think the most overrated aspect is luxury apartments in general that are super expensive. For the cost of buying a mansion in another city, or state, or putting your kids through college, people will spend a fortune on a relatively small space that happens to have a decent view, or be in some type of "prestigious" building.
Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and what do you like about it?
In general, I like the profiles you write of companies and experiences you have testing services in New York City, which as I understand it spreads across various columns on your site. The articles are succinct, yet comprehensive and are very enjoyable to read.
What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
While I work long hours and I'm very serious about building a successful fitness business, I still recognize what's really important to me, which is relationships and experiences! Buying "stuff" doesn't make me happy, but helping other people, cultivating relationships, and enjoying new experiences is what make me very happy.
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
Leave comments on my BuiltLean.com website under any article. I read over every comment and I respond promptly. I can also be contacted at www.builtlean.com/contact-me.
