NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On November 7, 2024, Aaron McGee’s life shifted in a way he didn’t see coming.

He was working at Tennessee State University while pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership, steadily building toward his dissertation season in the spring. At home, he was a husband of nearly 11 years and a father to two young children. Momentum was building in every direction, until it suddenly wasn’t.

He found himself in a company-wide lay-off that made him question, ‘what’s next?’

The loss didn’t just disrupt a paycheck—it disrupted identity, routine, and forward motion.

“This was a huge mental blow to me,” McGee said. “It impacted my entire household.”

For nearly a year, McGee found himself navigating uncertainty. He describes feeling underemployed for nine to ten months before regaining full employment in August 2025.

Over the next 10 months, McGee found himself underemployed and often discouraged. But in the middle of instability, an idea that had quietly been forming during the pandemic came back to the surface. During the Covid-19 pandemic, McGee leaned into his own health and wellness, which led to a larger realization. He learned that his interest not only in fitness was a hobby, but also a potential career path for him too. “I’ve always wanted to be a trainer. I’m at the gym every day. I want to get my certification. I think now is the time,” McGee said.

Within a week, McGee was hired at TrueFit Athletics Club in Antioch under a temporary license and hit the ground running. “They just let me in and they trusted me immediately!” he shared. “They saw me in there every day and I’m a really disciplined person, especially around fitness.”

TrueFit didn’t just give him a shot, they invested in him, helping him pursue his National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certification at a significantly reduced cost. More than income, the opportunity restored direction and belief in himself. “It gave me a new goal and a new focus to kind of distract me from the major blow I had just taken,” he said.

What followed was growth, not just professionally, but personally. Before entering the commercial gym space, McGee primarily trained with former athletes. At TrueFit Athletic Club, he began working with everyday individuals seeking more energy, more mobility, and more longevity. “It allowed me to learn how to work with the person who was just trying to have more energy at work or have more energy when they’re walking up a flight of stairs.”

He found that fitness is a much-needed activity for everybody.

One client preparing for retirement reframed fitness entirely for him.

“Her biggest goal was to be healthy enough to spend the money that she’s made,” he laughed.

His role in education allows him to approach personal training on a deeper level. Currently, he is deep into his dissertation and on track to become Dr. Aaron McGee in 2026. He sees no separation between scholarship and strength training.

This is positioning me to become a stronger researcher and a stronger practitioner,” he shared. “I get to put that in my training practices by developing more in-depth plans for my clients.”

That long-haul approach prioritizes sustainability and hopes to be a part of his client’s journey far into the future.

In a saturated industry, McGee distinguishes himself through accessibility and depth. “I travel to my clients, so I meet them where they are,” he mentioned.

He also priorities keeping his schedule manageable, ensuring every client gets more one-on-one. quality time.

At the core of his coaching philosophy is his faith in God and His calling for McGee’s life.

“I have a clear passion, desire and proclivity to inspire hope in the hopeless,” he shared. “A lot of people are hopeless around their abilities to transform their bodies and their minds, but I believe it’s possible!”

At home, fitness is woven into family life too. He stretches daily, sometimes joined by his children. And when she sees him heading out for a workout? “My daughter says, ‘Are you about to work out?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, big kids need P.E. too,’” he laughed.

Before ending our conversation, McGee expressed his appreciation to Lance Blocker, owner of Block Fitness, who allowed him to conduct a photoshoot, free of charge.

He also offered a final takeaway he hopes you will carry within yourself. “Believe in yourself, have fun and try something new every day. You don’t have to do the same thing. Make fitness fun.”

From unexpected loss to renewed purpose, Aaron McGee’s story is a reminder that sometimes the heaviest lift isn’t on the barbell, it’s choosing to move forward no matter what.

Follow him on Instagram to get started today.

Author: Tala Shatara