In this episode of Sourced, we sit down with Steve and Shay Liggett, a husband-and-wife gym owner duo based in Perth, Australia, who have built one of the most values-driven businesses in the Gym Owner Network. They share the story of launching their small group personal training gym while navigating pregnancy, becoming new parents, and signing a five-year lease even after the bank initially said no, backing themselves fully and figuring it out in real time. Shay reflects on her journey from qualifying as a PT at 19, spending 10 years in the corporate world, and eventually leaving everything behind to pursue coaching with nothing but two dumbbells and one client in a park. Steve shares his transition from a successful leadership career in construction into coaching, driven by a desire for deeper purpose and frustration with the lack of quality fitness options in their local market. Together, they unpack the early grind of building a gym from scratch in a new suburb where no one knew them, the importance of documenting the journey, nurturing leads long-term, and staying relentlessly committed to a premium service. The conversation highlights the power of strong values, extreme ownership, and “harmony” between personal life, business leadership, and community culture, showing what’s possible when you build a gym the right way from day one.
