Happy Accidents #028 - Dan Go

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This week I’m excited to bring you a tale of unexpected turns, personal transformation, and the power of seizing opportunities.

Join me as we delve into the captivating story of Dan Go…

A guy who stumbled upon a path to physical and professional success through a compelling tale of serendipity.

Let's dig in, shall we?

SETTING THE STAGE

This is the part of every Happy Accident story where we see every successful outcome starts with the person putting themselves in a favorable position. They work hard, they try new things, they meet new people. They're not just sitting around 'hoping' to be successful some day.

Born and raised in Toronto, a city filled with endless possibilities, Dan Go found himself surrounded by a family lineage characterized by less-than-optimal physical fitness.

“Me, my Dad, and all by brothers all had bellies”, he told me during our interview.

But as fate would have it, his determination to break free from the confines of his own body set the stage for an extraordinary transformation.

Despite being out of shape and uncertain about his future, a fortuitous invitation to a pick-up basketball game marked the turning point in his life.

After dropping out of high-school to work a corporate job, and not exactly sure what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, Dan was at a bit of a cross roads.

So when one of his friends invited him to play a fun game of basketball, it didn’t seem very significant at the time. But it sure was.

Now, you need to understand. Dan hated his job. He didn’t see a future for himself there, but he was full of ambition. He may have been out of shape physically, but he sure wasn’t lazy.

Back to that invitation to play basketball…not being much of an athlete at the time, but also not one to sit around to do nothing, Dan agreed.

THE HAPPY ACCIDENTS

This is the part of every success story where there's a chance encounter, a serendipitous moment, an unintentional discovery (or Happy Accident) that paves the way for the next steps. In some cases, a Happy Accident can even be disguised as something bad in the moment.

During that fateful game, something happened. He started to feel a lot of “jiggling in his chest” as Dan described it. That’s when it really began to hit home for him how out of shape he was.

It was an eye opener. It was embarrassing. It was a moment of self-awareness.

And it was also when Dan reluctantly decided he needed to hit the gym.

It turns out, he LOVED it.

Dan soon started to get hooked on working out, along with the changes he was beginning to see in his body—something he never thought was possible.

“I just thought we all had bad genetics in my family and I would be stuck with the body I’d grown up with”, explained Dan.

But little did he know, that jiggling in his chest during that pick-up basketball game was leading him down a completely unintentional path of eventual personal and professional success.

As his passion for working out increased, and his hatred for his corporate job grew, something else unexpected happened.

Dan’s mom passed away.

That tragic event opened Dan’s eyes to the reality that life is precious and there’re no guarantees.

It was this that sparked him to go for it and start his own business (against the advice of most of those around him, telling him to hold onto the safety of the corporate job he hated).

CAPITALIZING

Just like Happy Accidents don't just fall into your lap (you need to set the stage first), they also don't turn into anything if you don't recognize them and take action. This is the part of every success story where we see people capitalizing on their Happy Accident.

But in 2007, despite the naysayers, Dan opened Go Fitness Inc in Markham, Ontario.

Fueled by passion and persistence, along with his love for exercise and helping others, Dan (as CEO) put his entrepreneurial cap on.

Over the next 11 years, he would grow Go Fitness Inc into a highly successful brick and mortar gym where they helped tens of thousands of people get into the best shape of their lives.

At the end of 2018, Dan made the decision to sell the gym business and pivot to launch his current venture, High Performance Founder.

He’s now working directly with entrepreneurs, coaching them on weight loss and building muscle, while reducing stress.

Over the past few years, Dan has grown a large following on social media. Those that have come to know of him recently may think he’s an overnight success. But Dan will be quick to remind them there is no such thing.

It’s been 15 years of curiosity, hard work, persistence, and some serendipity that has led Dan to where he is today.

So…are you feeling some jiggling in places you shouldn’t? It might just be the Happy Accident that puts you on a brand new path.

Wishing you boundless discoveries and joy on your own unique journey!

Some fun facts:

• Dan is good friends with Justin Welsh, who just so happens to have a great Happy Accident story of his own!

• Dan has amassed an incredible social media following with over 530K followers on Twitter, 460K+ followers in Instagram, and 180K+ followers in LinkedIn.

• Dan’s newsletter, High Performance Journal, just topped over 100K subscribers earlier this year.

The lessons here:

• Embrace Unexpected Passions: Dan's story reminds us to remain open to the unexpected passions that may emerge in our lives. By embracing these newfound loves, we can tap into hidden potential and unlock uncharted realms of personal and professional growth.

• Trust Your Inner Calling: Dan's journey teaches us the importance of trusting our instincts and following our hearts. Despite the doubts and naysayers, he listened to his inner voice and pursued his entrepreneurial aspirations, ultimately finding success and fulfillment.

• Persevere Through Challenges: Dan's path was not without obstacles, but his unwavering determination and persistence propelled him forward. His story serves as a reminder that challenges are merely stepping stones on the road to greatness, and perseverance is the key to overcoming them.

YOUR Happy Accidents

Check this happy accident story from Aaron Hassen who started the company RentBlurb after the frustrating experience of looking for a home to rent for his wife, kids and pets.

Hey, Dennis Geelen here. Author of the Happy Accidents newsletter.

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