Conversations with Jake Pruyn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Pruyn.

Hi Jake, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Currently, I own a private CrossFit gym, real estate, a frozen yogurt shop, and a clothing company, each starting in that order. I was fresh out of college, with a political science degree from CU Boulder, wondering what the next step would be. I chose to take a summer and live with my parents in La Junta, where my parents owned my great-grandmother’s house, which they moved into in 2007 when my dad was diagnosed with Kidney cancer for the first time. I got my entrepreneurial spirit from my dad, who started his own window and door company after moving to La Junta permanently.

During my time in La Junta, after 2009, I was approached by a local business owner to buy his business. After many different routes of financing (as I was very young), I finally purchased a small workout facility under a sports equipment store in 2011. Four years flew by and I decided to buy my first commercial building. This new move made me the largest gym in La Junta. Fast forward many years later I still have a gym of 13 years (though much different looking and much more private), and two commercial properties housing 6 different businesses. These range from a frozen yogurt shop (which I own and started in 2009) to a hair salon. I even rent to an entire school, which I also work at!

If you are wondering where I find the time to manage all this stuff, I also sometimes wonder that. If I have free time, I spend it working on my newest business I am part owner in called, SUS, which stands for Strength Under Stress. Here is where my true passions and future goals are. We are a clothing company that partners with foundations to help raise money for their cause. We create custom clothing specific to that foundation and then sell that to give proceeds back. We are linked with such foundations as the MS Society, Operation Underground Railroad, Veterans with PTSD, and various animal rescues, and in the process of creating our curriculum to help people understand healthy relationships and boundaries.

My next chapter is helping people and we hope to create a growing team who shares the same passion. The frozen yogurt shop will continue to give something fun to my community and serve as a tribute to my father who passed away from cancer in February 2020. I will continue to buy and sell real estate and train clients to be in the best shape of their lives. Lastly, I will continue to build a business that truly serves the purpose that I feel I am on this earth to do which is empowering people, motivating them to chase their dreams, and having a good time while doing it. Thanks.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ups and downs, yes, but the road you’re on requires perspective. If you learn to only put energy into things that you have control of, the road is never as bumpy as it might seem. Plus, ALWAYS EAT THE FROG FIRST. Do the hardest task first, if possible, because the emotional damage dwelling on a task is usually worse than the task itself.

Some specific troubles I have had to overcome are issues with financing, awful tenants, rude customers, lack of trade work from being in a small community and so much more. If you set up your foundation correctly, then the confidence to tackle said obstacles won’t seem so daunting. Be confident in owning a business and envision what it would like to look like and the steps it will take to get there.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my daytime job, I work for GOAL Academy High School. There I work with employed students and help them earn elective credit for working. This is my 7th school year and I couldn’t be happier with my role.

I get to mingle with business owners, travel, and help support students toward graduation and a healthy work environment. I am only 1 of 14 in the entire state of Colorado and I service 180 students.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Please visit the Strength Under Stress Instagram or email us at strengthunderstress@gmail.com, and tell us about what things you believe in and how we can help alleviate stress in your life.

Whether struggling with addiction, cancer, losing a loved one, to whatever causes stress in your life, please reach out as we are here to help. YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and it could be one conversation that changes your life.

Contact Info:

• Website: strengthunderstress.com
• Instagram: @strength_under_stress