He Was a Health Coach. He Was Burning Himself Out - With James Matolich

James Matolich was helping other people get healthier while running himself into the ground. Personal training in the morning. Working in his café all day. Back to the gym for evening sessions. By the weekend, he was so exhausted he’d tell his now-wife not to speak to him until he’d slept. Later, becoming a dad made the cost of those hours even clearer. He was helping clients reach their goals while missing bedtime with his daughter. In this episode of Founders Fire, Dan sits down with the founder of JM Peak Performance to explore the experiences behind his work with founders and business owners. From long nights in hospitality and losing 34 kilos through Muay Thai, to moving to Thailand, opening a café and pushing himself too hard preparing for a professional fight. James shares why he walked away from the ambition of owning a gym, what burnout did to his relationships, and how a bold Instagram video helped him land Simon Beard as a client. Dan also opens up about his own health journey as one of James’s clients. Together, they discuss the habits that slip when business gets busy, the temptation of a quick fix, and why getting back into training can mean letting go of what you used to be able to do. At the heart of it is a question every founder needs to consider: are you building a business that supports the life you want—or leaving yourself with nothing left to enjoy it? 0:00 When pushing harder takes a toll 0:42 Meet James Matolich 1:51 Why he works with founders and business owners 3:39 Growing up in Western Sydney and moving to the Gold Coast 6:18 His first job: hard work for $100 a week 8:30 Becoming a chef and discovering the hospitality lifestyle 11:26 Finding Muay Thai 12:28 Losing 34 kilos and changing direction 14:04 Becoming a trainer and starting his first business 15:31 Selling up to become a sponsored fighter in Thailand 17:32 Coming home earlier than planned 20:28 Why he decided against owning a gym 21:55 Fatherhood and the bedtimes he was missing 23:28 Running a café alongside personal training 25:13 Exhaustion, burnout and the impact on his relationship 26:14 The fight preparation that pushed him too far 28:15 Winning a client by doing something different 30:17 The backyard video pitch to Simon Beard 32:54 The patterns he sees in founders neglecting their health 34:49 Food, coffee and getting through a busy day 36:11 Why switching off is so difficult 38:41 Looking beyond the quick fix 40:48 Starting when the journey feels overwhelming 42:21 Breaking a big goal into smaller milestones 43:21 How James approaches testing and individual coaching 47:01 Letting go of how you used to train 49:49 Discussing testosterone and lifestyle habits 51:51 His message to founders putting their health last 53:12 Taking the first step towards change Connect with James at JM Peak Performance. See behind the scenes over on Instagram. Or connect with Dan on LinkedIn. And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business, reach out at Thirdway Advisory. Hit follow wherever you’re listening so you don’t miss a single episode.