About
Ken Okonek
Helping people get the most out of the
things they love
Ken Okonek’s story begins in Alaska
Ken is passionate about turning his interests into viable income streams
Ken is passionate about turning his interests into viable income streams
Ken’s first 9-5 job was in the fitness industry. He started out working at the front desk of a gym and quickly realized that he wanted to become a personal trainer: he wanted to help people, enjoy a flexible lifestyle, and start making money straight away. He knew he could do it, and do it well.
Before long, he was climbing the corporate ladder, leading to a role as Regional Sales Manager, increasing the membership base, creating rapid-growth revenue streams in neglected regions, capturing competing market share, and launching a new location, leading more than 270 employees.
However, he knew he wanted more.
Starting your own business
Taking the leap and going out on your own is exciting and terrifying all at once. Ken and his wife Chelsey opened Raise Your Standards Fitness, a personal training studio based in Anchorage, Alaska.
Ken led the process from conception to execution, including vetting business partners, conducting market analysis and strategic planning, designing the facility, and purchasing the equipment.
The current financial projections are more than $420K annually.
I don’t believe in luck.
The harder you work… the luckier you get.
Ken Okonek
Fun fact about Ken
At the age of 14, he was a sponsored paintballer.
I want to change the narrative around success. Being able to take in new information, change your mind, and make the most of it, that’s a really cool part of any success story.
Ken Okonek
Bouncing back from failure
Ken continued working full-time while his own business was building momentum. He switched companies, working as Network Director of Personal Training Sales at another well-known Alaskan gym, where he helped increase sales by 200% (year on year) while transforming its culture. He also started a successful side hustle, doing nutrition coaching and supplement sales.
However, it all came crashing down in 2019, when his role at the gym was made redundant… and then the supplement company restructured. Out of nowhere, he lost the majority of his income. The very first thing he did was make a list of 25 local people he admired. He called every single one of them and ended up meeting about seven of them for coffee.
Branching out into marketing
One of those people was Jennifer Christensen, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Beacon Media + Marketing. He went to one of the team’s production meetings the very next day… and was fascinated. Christensen and her business partner, Adrienne Wilkerson, offered Ken a job that week. The company is passionate about helping American small businesses grow, scale, and thrive. It specializes in supporting healthcare clinics, education providers, home services, financial institutions, and B2B businesses.
Ken jumped in, read widely, asked questions, tried new things, and figured out how to make it work.
Two years later, he bought into the company and became Chief Revenue Officer.
Investing in real estate
Ken’s other big passion is property. He and Chelsey – who he describes as his “ride or die partner”, have a lot of experience in commercial real estate, with a wealth of knowledge to share with other investors. This includes everything from what makes a good investment property to how to calculate profit and loss, how to attract the right tenants, how to be a good landlord, and how to grow your portfolio.
Something you hadn’t realized
Ken Okonek is a palindrome…
his name reads the same way forward and backward.
K E N O K O N E K
Relationships have been critical
at every stage
The people around you play a huge role in your journey. They help you look through multiple lenses, maximize your strengths, work with your weaknesses, and make an impact in every area of your life.
Strong relationships won’t just help you successfully climb the corporate ladder, boost sales, build a business, or make your next career move. They are essential to achieving the things that matter most, such as being an incredible partner, parent, family member, friend, neighbor, and co-worker.
Starting Kenversations
Kenversations is first and foremost a podcast about relationships. However, it also features lots of conversations with different people who inspire Ken. It’s about connecting with people, setting goals, surviving challenges, finding your passion, and getting what you want out of life and business.
