Exploring Life & Business with John Hughes

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Hughes.

Hi John, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born and raised in Phoenix, I grew up playing in the streets, desert fields, and surrounding mountains. Kids were always active and whether it was organized sports or impromptu fun with my buddies, I was game (even if it was 115 degrees outside).

My activities evolved as I got older and Phoenix was rapidly growing. It was a great time to be here, whether it was exploring the city as it continued to develop or camping trips with my dad to experience Arizona’s raw but rugged beauty, I was rarely still. Back in the 1960s, the Phoenix Mountains were my private playground, as very few people were into outdoor activity then.

The Phoenix boom also contributed to sports becoming more competitive. In high school, I embraced the opportunity to compete. Fitness and athletics have always been a part of my life, in my DNA if you will, and I was lucky enough to be a state champion football player and wrestler. I went on to wrestle at ASU taking my competition to the next level.

Wrestling at ASU was the last time (for a while), and I consistently was involved with organized sports. I purchased my first Bullworker in the 1960s to stay fit enough to continue to enjoy life around me. The quality and portability of the product allowed me to have it for over 30 years. I was always impressed with how quickly my body responded to Bullworker training and how conveniently Bullworker fit into my lifestyle.

I wondered what was happening with Bullworker after those decades and did some investigating. In 1999, I became the North American distributor. I passionately began to improve the design to make the product more versatile yet challenging for all fitness levels while recognizing the importance of cross-training principles for maximum fitness results.

I designed additional products in keeping with the Bullworker convenience concept but with the intention of being used either separately or combined for maximum fitness results. In 2010, we expanded globally helping people benefit from a practical fitness routine that fits their lifestyle. Powerful transformations around the world continued to inspire me and a couple of years later, I was the international owner of Bullworker.

Gratefully, being an entrepreneur afforded me the opportunity to give back to the community. I always enjoyed working with and inspiring kids. After years of coaching, the student athlete’s competitive energy rubbed off on me (and a photo of me weighing more than I ever have in my life). I decided to use my Bullworker to get into competitive wrestling shape and give it another go.

I continued to compete nationally and internationally over the next eight years with highlights of 3 National Championships and a Bronze Medal in the World Championships. The beauty of this chapter of success in my life was outside of wrestling, all my training was with Bullworker products.

After nearly 20 years of running Bullworker, I have since passed the torch to my son and remain the head of R&D. I still have fun developing products but most of all, the freedom I have to continue to experience my passion for outdoor activity around the Valley and the fitness ability to do so.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth roads are not as fun and being a Phoenician, I never shied away from rugged roads. I embraced them. The most rugged roads took me to some of the most beautiful places. Life and business are no different.

On the business front, I have taken risks that panned out and some that did not. A growing business is exciting but there are plenty of crossroads along the way. Who to hire, how to market, budgets and financial decisions and many other facets make the entrepreneurial journey exciting. I did not always make the best decisions and sometimes those financial consequences were significant.

I remember coming out with a new product and going for the home run, a massive infomercial. Well, that did not go as planned and we were looking at a big loss. It was time to get back to the drawing board, the company depended on it to stay afloat. Finding the right partners and team is tough. But in the end, the mistakes are where we can learn, gather momentum, and keep charging.

Keeping things in perspective and remembering the truth that some of the roughest terrains lead to the most beautiful places is key to a successful journey in life and business.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

The key to seeing results with your health and wellness is sustainability and consistency. There are a million ways to improve yourself but ultimately it only works if you do it. Since 1962 Bullworker sets itself apart from others in the industry because we provide the most practical equipment and combine it with a simple approach to fitness. We use science backed techniques with compact exercise equipment which makes exercise as convenient as pushing or pulling. That is it, no set up, no bulky weights or large equipment.

People are happier and healthier with intentional movement. The world becomes a better place with exercise. For that reason, we listen, pay attention to detail and design high quality, user-friendly products and informational resources. The result is the best health and wellness solutions fit for any lifestyle.

We stay true to our values and strive to provide high quality products that solve the common challenges of “not enough time” and “not enough money”.

We are most proud of the lives we have helped positively transform. We love hearing stories of people finding a new zest for life, experiencing weight loss, muscle and strength gains, mental health improvements, all the way to huge medical wins like no longer being diabetic or needing prescriptions for blood pressure.

The Bullworker Family is an inspirational group building bridges around the globe during a time when it is so easy to separate us through our differences. We embrace our differences and learn from a diverse community to better the world around us!

What were you like growing up?
I was an energetic kid always looking to play.

I had interests across the board from history to sports and have always enjoyed people. No matter the environment, I am curious. As a kid, I enjoyed talking to friends’ parents and other adults, seeking opportunities to meet new people, and playing along the way. Today, well it still looks the same.

The biggest change and addition to my life has been my wife, Leslie. She has always been my harbor, sounding board, and biggest supporter, which many times involved presenting the opposite or downside to my aspirations and goals. It is extremely important to have someone who challenges one’s choices and still is a “team-player.”

Other than that, Peter Pan is still very much alive in me. I am very grateful that the joys of my youth are still with me as I enter my 70th year.

Pricing:

• ISO-BOW – The minimalist for stretching and strength; maybe price sensitive: $24.99
• ISO-FLO – The adventurer, someone who wants to move better and perform at life’s demands: $99.99
• Steel Bow – The most versatile Bullworker: $229.99
• Bow Classic – The person seeking the all in one machine: $249.99
• Power Pack – The person who does not compromise on their health and wellness: $499.99

Contact Info:

• Email: info@bullworker.com
• Website: https://www.bullworker.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bullworkerfit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bullworkerfit
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BullworkerFit
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Bullworker