From Fit Set Pass to Ninja Gyms & Turf Business | Catching Up with Tim Gourlay

From Fit Set Pass to Ninja Gyms & Turf Business | Catching Up with Tim Gourlay

Author: Chris Liddle September 13, 2025 Duration: 54:45

In this episode of Chasing Common Ground, I reconnect with longtime friend and returning guest Tim Gourlay, who last joined me back in 2018. A lot has changed since then—both for Tim and for the businesses he’s built.

We talk about the transition from Fit Set Pass to Fit Set Ninja, the growth of ninja obstacle sports across Canada, and the surprising story of how a turf side hustle during the pandemic grew into a thriving business.

Tim also shares how becoming a father reshaped his priorities, the leadership lessons he’s learned from building a team of over 100 people, and why showing up consistently—even when it’s uncomfortable—is one of the most powerful things you can do in business and in life.

What You’ll Learn

* The turning point when Fit Set Ninja found its permanent home

* How a random Facebook Marketplace post launched a whole new business model

* Lessons from building teams and delegating leadership

* The importance of setting long-term goals and sharing vision with your team

* Why trusting your gut and being patient are essential to success

* The role fitness plays in managing stress and building resilience

Tim’s story is proof that opportunities often show up in disguise—and that consistency and adaptability are the keys to lasting growth.

👉 Listen, reflect, and share this episode with a friend who’s navigating their own business challenges.

Links & Resources🎧 Podcast Hub: podcast.invigoratetraining.com💪 Coaching & Training: invigoratetraining.com🎬 Media Consulting: christianliddle.com🍴 Holiday Meal Guide: Meal Guide🏋️ Follow-Along Workouts: Workout Portal🎥 CapCut Academy: CapCut Course🎙 Podcast Course: How to Build a Podcast You Won’t Quit🛒 Store: store.invigoratetraining.com



Get full access to Insight by Chris Liddle at chrisliddle.substack.com/subscribe

Chasing Common Ground: Lifestyle Conversations with Chris Liddle is a space for thoughtful dialogue that lives between categories. Host Chris Liddle believes meaningful progress comes from connecting ideas across the usual boundaries of education, culture, and self-improvement. Each episode, whether a solo reflection or a conversation with a guest, is built on a simple, powerful question: where can we find shared understanding? This isn't about quick fixes or passive listening. It's a purpose-driven exploration of the habits, philosophies, and societal shifts that shape our daily lives. The aim is to uncover practical insights and nuanced perspectives that resonate, helping you move forward incrementally but intentionally. You'll hear discussions that feel like a good, meandering talk with a curious friend-one that leaves you with something to chew on, not just consume. The podcast deliberately avoids easy labels, weaving together threads from personal development, cultural commentary, and societal observation to examine what a considered life can look like. It’s an ongoing series for anyone tired of echo chambers and interested in the subtle art of building a better year, and a better self, through conversation. Tune in for a consistently engaging mix of voices and topics that all circle back to that essential chase for common ground.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Chasing Common Ground: Lifestyle Conversations with Chris Liddle
Podcast Episodes
Mark Zarate on Flashback to April 2020 and Moving Forward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:15
Mark has made many appearances on the show and in this one we actually did some post production magic.In 2020, some might remember I was doing daily episode of “Real Talk by The Lifestyle Chase”.Every day of the week, I…
Nick Sorrell on Building in Public and Consistency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:23
This is Nick Sorrell's 3rd appearance on The Lifestyle Chase podcast. In this episode we talk about the creative work he's been doing to showcase what he has to offer as a consultant in the fitness space and beyond. You…
Shane Fennessey on The Creative Hustler and NFT's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:51
Shane Fennessey (@shanefen on IG) is a 3rd time guest on The Lifestyle Chase. His podcast was the first podcast I was ever interviewed for. You can find it at City of Champions Podcast on most podcast platforms. Shane wa…
Jake Boly on Having Bad Days and Making it Happen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:44
Today's Episode is with Jake Boly. You may notice, the episode is no longer numbered. It's an evolution of the podcast to encourage you to dig back into old episodes to learn about different people. It's also a great per…
Episode 216 - Dr. Andy Chen on What are we REALLY about in 2022? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:17
The 4th of 4 segments of this episode focuses on what we are REALLY about in 2022 - specifically Andy. We dive into his recent work with Bodybuilding.com and leave some clues for what is to come in the future. Buckle up!…