S05E89 - A Closer Look at the New CrossFit Bison Owners Michael Dasilva and Adam Hawkinson
CrossFit has been a transformative journey for many, including our newest co-owners at CrossFit Bison, Adam Hawkinson and Michael Dasilva. Sam Rhee @botoxandburpeespodcast talks to them to find out who are they, and what are their future plans for the gym?
Strong community connections are integral to the ownership journey at CrossFit Bison, where they reflect on their paths and collective vision for the gym. Their commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaged environment drives future growth and wellness for all members.
• Adam's military background shaping his fitness perspective
• Mike's long-term friendship with founder Dave Syvertsen @davesy85
• Investing in CrossFit Bison rooted in community trust
• Plans for adapting to evolving gym demographics
• Emphasis on wellness, longevity, and sustainable fitness practices
• Approachability and open communication as key values
#BotoxAndBurpees @crossfitbison @crossfittraining @crossfit @crossfitgames #crossfit #sports #exercise #health #movement #crossfitcoach #agoq #clean #fitness #ItAllStartsHere #CrossFitOpen #CrossFit #CrossFitCommunity @CrossFitAffiliates #supportyourlocalbox #crossfitaffiliate #personalizedfitness
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S05E89 - A Closer Look at the New CrossFit Bison Owners Michael Dasilva and Adam Hawkinson
TRANSCRIPT
[00:00:00]
Sam Rhee: All right. Welcome to another episode of Botox and Burpees. I have my two, uh, co owners with me. We are all recent, uh, owners of CrossFit Bison along with majority owner, David Syvertsen. And today, I thought it would be a really great opportunity to talk to both. Adam Hawkinson, and Michael Da Silva about their, um, background, uh, their experiences in CrossFit and why they decided to, um, become owners, uh, of a CrossFit gym and what their plans are in the future.
I think a lot of people have seen you around, but don't necessarily know you personally. Um, I've gotten to know you guys well over years and, and I think just knowing who you are will give people. Understanding about where the gym is directed towards, how we're helping Dave and, um, how excited we are about all the [00:01:00] different plans and improvements and growth that I think CrossFit Bison can, uh, undergo.
So, um, before I start, I just wanted to ask both of you what your backgrounds were, how you grew up, you know, a quick summary of where you guys got up to in your adult life. So, Adam.
Adam Hawkinson: Uh, Adam Hawkinson, um, turned 40 years old, had two young boys, um, married to my wife, Stephanie, uh, grew up in Delaware, joined the military, spent, uh, the three tours in Iraq, uh, eight years in.
And after I got out, met my wife down in Delaware, moved to New Jersey. And that's when I would say my fitness journey kind of began. I was looking for. Uh, something to kind of stay in shape after I got out of the military, but started going to the global gyms, just doing the typical, you know, back and thighs, chest and shoulders.
And I, I just, after I had ACL surgery, kind of like was missing my stride on staying in shape. And [00:02:00] then that's when I kind of found out about CrossFit through watching TV, the CrossFit games.
Sam Rhee: You were airborne, weren't you?
Adam Hawkinson: Yes. Uh, did airborne. Roughly about 13 jumps jumping out of airplanes, scared every single time.
Just making sure the chute opened, you know, I had no control over that, so.
Sam Rhee: Wow, that's crazy. And Mike, tell me a little bit about yourself.
Michael Dasilva: Yeah, definitely haven't jumped out of any planes. Me neither. Don't, don't plan on it. Uh, grew up in Millen Park, with Dave. Syvertsen. Uh, known him probably since he moved from Long Island in third grade.
So, you know, that's how I know Dave. Um, now I live in Glenrock with my wife of coming up on 10 years. We have two, uh, daughters, six years old in a couple of weeks. Um, met her. Wow. I've known her my entire life. We, uh, she's my best friend's little sister, so I've known her for a very long time. Um, Living Glenrock.
How I got [00:03:00] into CrossFit was because I heard Dave was opening up in Jim and Mellon Park. And I was like, you know what? I haven't talked seeing Dave in a really long time. Let me just swing by and see what this is all about. And then started working out and, you know, it was probably member number five. I think I'll hang my hat on that one.
And, uh, you know, just started working out and fell in love with everything about CrossFit from, you know, the training, the programming, the people, and really just wanted to, uh, embrace the whole thing and embrace Dave. And, and, uh, I bought in immediately. What's your day job?
Sam Rhee: Do you have a job?
Michael Dasilva: So, some say no.
Some say no. Um, I work in the financial services industry. Um, but, you know, my wife also has a building design business, so I help her out with that. We build homes in the area, [00:04:00] you know, and we invest in other small businesses in and around, um, Bergen County and other locations that, that, that we're in, but we You know, when I say we invest in businesses that, you know, and we'll get into this, we, we invest in people that we love and we know.
Sam Rhee: So you've been there from the beginning. That's 2014. Do you remember your first CrossFit workout or when you first started? Not the
Adam Hawkinson: first CrossFit workout. I joined in March, like 2017. I think it was right after they opened.
Sam Rhee: Yeah.
Adam Hawkinson: Um, but I do recall. It was Karen was like the first thing that stuck out in my mind.
And I probably used the women's 14 pound wall ball. The depth was fine, but I couldn't hit the target. And I just remember. I had a female that was judging me and I was getting no rep. Then I was in my head. I was like, I'm ready to quit. I was like, this is ridiculous. I don't like this. And then I judged her and I watched her hit the target every single time.
And I'm like, [00:05:00] wow, I mean, if she can do this, I need, I had no excuse to not be able to do this. I need to step up my game. So it made me a little hungry to come back for a little bit more.
Sam Rhee: I have done Karen a bunch of times, 150 wall balls for time. And every single time I'm always in the middle of it. Like what?
Do you remember your first workout or a memorable workout when you first started? No.
Michael Dasilva: Honestly, no. No, but I'm also, you know, I like, you guys say Karen, like that's 150. Well, like, until you said what, what Karen was like, I love CrossFit, right? But I'm not one of these CrossFit like purists that like, I know Karen, I know this, I know that.
Like I, I love CrossFit conceptually and you know, and everything around it, but I'm not. We might work on your double honors before we start worrying about names. You tried junking
Sam Rhee: twice and going under once. So what made you decide to invest in CrossFit Bison? What were the circumstances where you said, okay, this is an opportunity that I, I want to, I [00:06:00] want to participate in this.
Michael Dasilva: Yeah. So I'll jump in for you on that one. So I think to answer that question, we kind of have to understand what got us to the opportunity to invest in CrossFit Bison. Right. I think. We can talk freely about that, right? Yeah, of course. So, when was it? It was probably January or February that you came.
Sam Rhee: Of last year?
Or this year? Yeah, yeah, this, just a little while ago.
Michael Dasilva: You came to Hawk First, which I don't know why, the guy doesn't know anything. Um, you came to the Hawk First with an idea about opening up the A gym in another area around here. And then you came to me and we talked about it and Hawk and I didn't, I think we knew that you were coming to us to talk to us about something, but we didn't really know what it was.
Right. And when you left the conversation with Hawk, he had an idea. And when you didn't tell me, and when you left that conversation with me, I had an idea. And both of those ideas led us to, that's a [00:07:00] great idea, Sam, opening up a new CrossFit gym in that area with these guys. But what about finding a way to invest in bison, which, which we love, right?
And, you know, we took it away for a couple of months. We approached Dave about it. And, you know, Dave was, you know, interested in the idea, but Dave didn't really want to go anywhere. And as everyone knows, it was Dave, Dave and Chris who, who owned Bison. And, you know, the natural progression there was if Dave's, you know, if this is Dave's lifelong goal, right, let's see how Chris feels about it.
And timing is everything in life. Um, we approached Chris and you know, the timing wasn't right at that moment when we approached him in March or wherever it was. And then we kind of sat on it for a little bit and, you know, planted the seed and then just kept on having the conversation with him. And organically it came up that, you know, it was the right time for Chris, for things that he had going on in his life, what was [00:08:00] best for him.
And then we came together as a collective and we said, okay. Let's do it, let's, let's value this thing at X amount and X number and let's figure out what percentages each of us want to own and let's figure out our roles. So once we got to the point that the opportunity was present, what made me want to invest in Bison?
Two things. Dave and the community. Believe in Dave. Love Dave. Um. Dave is Bison. Bison is Dave. And then the community, right? Like I started in 2014, took four years off once I had my kids and came back to it. And it was a different bison, but it was the same bison because the community, even though the people were different, the community was still what, what you love and what you remember.
So that's, that's the reason why I invested in bison.
Adam Hawkinson: And to what Mike was saying exactly, [00:09:00] right. Where it's Dave, the community, even though as we're getting older and we've been in. The CrossFit Bison, uh, area for a while now, even though we're getting new members, it's almost like you get to see the same members just like re, you know, reinvent themselves where it's the same group, same vibe, same energy that's coming into it.
So even though you have this doghouse that's coming in now at 6. 15, uh, yeah. It's just nice to have that every single person that you meet, no matter what time of the day it is, you can connect with them on a personal level. Um, and everyone's just, just such a nice person where you have no problem getting to know them, meeting them outside of the gym.
It's not just like, hi, bye within that hour. It's like you get to hang out, you get to, you know, be in each other's weddings. Like I met Brian and Liz and, uh, you know, you get to know this guy a little bit more, which takes a toll on me. Uh, You know, and then I can go get a [00:10:00] facelift, uh, and I saw the Bart doll, but, uh, the community and Dave are the two factors I think that really just drive it home makes it an easy decision.
Sam Rhee: Yeah. I almost forgot that it did spring out of, uh, there was a possible location, like Dave and had been talking about opening up a second place. And so we scouted this place pretty far away. Like I, not. And it just didn't work out, the finances didn't work out, all that. And I remember at the time thinking, well, who would we want to be part of that if we did that?
And you guys came to mind. And then, I'm Remember it never came, like you guys were always saying, well, and also if we could be part of Bison and that never really seemed realistic to me, but like you said, it really was about timing at some point, you know, Dave and Christophero had, founded the place. They had grown it and it had been [00:11:00] doing so fantastically well, but people do move on and do different things.
And, and when Chris felt like that's what he wanted to do, which was a very surprising opportunity, actually, um, We had already been talking about what were we going to do if another place was available. And in North Jersey, or in Jersey in general, like real estate, it's just impossible to find anything.
So, um, but the chance to, like you said, invest in the people here, the community, the ties, like it's, It was a really special opportunity, and the fact that you guys knew that, I think, like, it was in you, that was what made it the right thing. It wasn't just some dude coming from somewhere who knew nothing about it, just throwing some money in.
It was people who understood the fabric and the culture of the community, and Dave, who, as you said, is the driving force.
Michael Dasilva: Yeah, and I think Sam, just to expand upon [00:12:00] that, and I know you have an outline that you want to stick to, and I'm here for you a couple prerolls. Okay.
Um, what made you feel like Hawke and I and Dave were your right partners?
Why did you like, why did you want to get into a partnership with us?
Sam Rhee: Well, I mean, I think Dave is a proven success, right? He took this gym and, and built it. It's now, you know, around 300 or so, which is pretty, one of the bigger gyms in the country, uh, in terms of CrossFit. And then you guys were, you know, Well, first of all, let's be honest, you guys have the financial means and resources.
Uh, there are a lot of people who are great people, but if you can't invest significant capital into something, then you can't succeed. Make things happen. And so that was one of the things, but the other thing was trust, right? Like when you, when you work with somebody, you got to trust them. And, uh, as you know, I know we think divergently on lots of stuff.
We come from [00:13:00] different perspectives. Um, I've never jumped out of an airplane. I've never worked in finance. Uh, but. But that diverse set of experiences brings different perspectives. And that's where I think our owners meetings are so interesting because we actually have a lot of different perspectives.
They, we all actually converge eventually. And we, we come up with, I think is a best solution or approach to whatever it is that we're, we're talking about or, um, dealing with, but, uh, I feel like that trust. Was the reason why it worked and why you want to work with somebody and that that was the number one priority So at this point How do you think the gym is doing?
What plans do you have for the future? What do you think the state of we actually just said that what do you think the state of the gym is? We had just had a meeting where we talked about and and where do you think it's gonna go? [00:14:00]
Adam Hawkinson: I think You know, I love how, you know, when we were thinking about some other things down the road, we decided to focus more on Bison in house, get that, uh, moving forward.
I think we'll never be in a bad situation as long as like we keep our heads. on our shoulders and not like look too far down the road, keep everything focused right up in front of us. Uh, keeping the members first and foremost, making sure that they're happy, their needs are being met. As long as we can keep doing that, I think that Bison will always continue to grow as long as the energy is still there.
Michael Dasilva: Yeah, I'll, I'll, I'll second what Aaron says. You just have to listen to people, right? Like when we go into the gym, I think our biggest attributes as owners is that we. We talk to everyone, right? Talk to someone, ask them, Hey, like, X, Y, and Z. What do you, what do you think the gym needs? What do you think that we can do better?
And asking that question to people in any business from your plastic surgery business [00:15:00] to when you own the UPS store to my, my business, it shows one people that you care what, what they think to that you're invested in the business. If it's something as silly as. You know, one person wants new ropes to climb because the ropes are in not great condition.
You buy new ropes, like that person felt like they were heard or this, this like other little things. So like the most important thing I think for us as owners is listen to people and listen to what the community wants and always have a pulse on what's going on, right? You don't have to be involved in the gossip and the drama and all that.
Actually, preferably you stay out of it. But just listen to what people are saying, respect people's, uh, opinions about things, even though you might be contradictory to what we're trying to do, but also, you know, fulfill some of the things that people want. And, you know, I think for bison now and moving forward, you know, [00:16:00] demographically, we always talk about age demographic in this business.
The age demographic is increasing, right? The want for the workouts and style workouts is still there in a strong demand. But how do we triage for an aging demographic that wants something that maybe they're not fully capable of doing? And I think that's kind of. What we're thinking about.
Sam Rhee: You mean people don't want or can't do ring muscle ups Unbroken like 15 unbroken or squat stach 135 or seat kind.
Michael Dasilva: But not everyone not everyone can do that But then you have the beasts in the gym that that still can and you you know And when I say beasts this doesn't mean the young kids like some of the older people are doing things that you just blow your mind So I think for us it's You know, as an ownership of listening and being progressive with how we approach fitness is, is going to be the secret sauce to bison for the next 10 years and beyond.
Sam Rhee: [00:17:00] I think, um, for me, it's always about fitness and the health of everybody. I always think about what can we do, as you said, to maximize. Everyone who comes to Bison's their health and fitness. Um, I think CrossFit sometimes gets the wrong label that it's about pushing limits and going so hard that it's almost excessive.
And I would say probably the first couple of years, uh, when I got here, like all of CrossFit's philosophy was go unbroken, go hard, like all of that. And I think both CrossFit. As a whole and us in particular at our gym have realized because we're getting older, because of our demographic, and also because we're just, we've learned that there is more to fitness than.
Max [00:18:00] intensity every time. I think, uh, having dealt with sprains, injuries, which you are in every fitness activity, we are now really trying to maximize longevity, wellness, but some of that I realize also has to be intensity, like you have to bring it sometimes. And so finding that right mix of wellness, longevity, uh, health, Uh, focus plus bringing that intensity that is really what you need in order to maintain your capability, uh, is it's tricky, but I think we're starting to figure it out more and more.
Um,
Adam Hawkinson: Yeah, I think everything's moderation, uh, knowing. You know, where to push, like you said, but it's like just making sure that you're happy in what you're doing. And then just knowing at one, at some point that you do want to push yourself, you know, you want to see what you're capable of and then having that, the desire is what makes you, you know, [00:19:00] grow, uh, inside and outside of the gym.
Sam Rhee: Uh, what do you think the biggest challenge or issue remains at our gym that still needs to be addressed?
Adam Hawkinson: I think for me thinking about that, it's. Basically, as far as the size of the gym, uh, as we're getting more members, it's trying to maximize the space, uh, make sure that people don't feel crammed, but getting enough people into the class is that important.
You know, if we can get more people in, you know, no, one's feeling neglected when they can't get in, can't sign up on time. Uh, I think that's going to be the biggest thing in my mind. Um, everything else I think falls in place going off of Dave having trust in him. You know, we invested in him, like you said, uh, we all agree with that.
And, you know, I think as long as we stick together, like we'll have no problem moving forward.
Michael Dasilva: Yeah. I, again, Adam, uh, spot on. I [00:20:00] think. When you, when you think about challenges, you also have to think about, you know, the challenges you have now are, are your future, right? The reason why you have challenges now is because we're growing, right?
And growing is our future. The reason why we're so focused on Dave and, and our coaches, which outside the community, the coaches are. The most important are our most valuable assets. So, you know, I think the challenges are accommodating the community as it grows. What do we have to do with space? Right. And what do you have to do with people that still have the drive and urge to do CrossFit, but maybe just can't physically sustain it.
Right. So we're thinking about that new concept, Jim, you know, and then coaches, right? We're investing in coaches. We want them to come up with different ideas, like what Adam and Kayla just came up with. Absolutely fantastic. I think the whiteboard that they have is a little shabby, but we [00:21:00] got, we got to get a guy against something new.
Um,
Sam Rhee: you're talking about the nutrition, uh, chapter. Yes.
Michael Dasilva: And K wellness that's coming online and a couple other ideas that were floating around for coaches to really embrace what's. What they are interested in and what they excel at and then introduce that to the community in, in a thoughtful manner. So then it makes everyone better.
So I think, you know, I think those are the challenges that we face.
Sam Rhee: What is, uh, what is your favorite CrossFit movement or workout?
Adam Hawkinson: The two to come to mind for me, probably cause I'm somewhat good at it is, uh, I love power cleans and I love bar muscle ups. It's. Those two, they just, it clicked with me, whether it's my anatomy of my body, uh, crawling up, wrestling, we never lifted much weight.
Uh, it was everything was body movement. So we did a lot of pull ups, so then going [00:22:00] into the bar muscle up, it just, when I transitioned, I just liked the easy, uh, the, the, the Ease of judging a movement like that where you're down at the bottom, you're at the top, there's no in between, there's no gray lines.
Good rep or no rep, but those are my two favorite probably.
Sam Rhee: How many unbroken bar muscle ups have you done? What's your max? The most that I Because they're smooth, I'll tell you, they're real, they're like butter. The
Adam Hawkinson: most that I know that I've done? One. What? No, dude, this guy 15. I know I did 12 with Kevin Urchak at the, uh Waldwick competition we did.
Um, I wasn't planning on it, but as I watched the guy next to me just kept going, I was like, all right, I'll just hold on. Um, I remember that, but it's 15. I know I could do more, but I don't want to push myself and get hurt unless it's like, okay, like I need to hold on to 16 to finish and then I'll do 16.
Then next time I'll try 17, but 15 is probably the number that I had.
Sam Rhee: How about you?
Michael Dasilva: It's interesting that you think you're good at those [00:23:00] table.
Sam Rhee: You're pretty good at bar muscle ups too, actually.
Adam Hawkinson: With your chicken
wing?
Sam Rhee: No. Does he? Do you shake? I trickle all day. Oh, really? I was, yeah.
Michael Dasilva: Oh, well, Jake Kelly needs fun of me every time I do and, um, I think my favorite movement is Toaster Bar.
Yeah. I don't, yeah, you are good at this. I feel like I can just get into a flow on Toaster Bar and I can grab out, rep out a bunch. Um, and there's, there's not one movement that I really don't like except for. Um, probably bear crawls. I think those are the
Sam Rhee: words. They are really bad.
Michael Dasilva: Oh yeah. Everyone looks bad. Whoever comes bear crawl should be a moop in that should be in functional fitness. I should leave.
Sam Rhee: What is the, um, hardest workout that you remember doing?
Michael Dasilva: Tell you what, in the one we did the, um, Wednesday, the five rounds. Oh yeah. That
Sam Rhee: was hard. [00:24:00] Wait. So that was, uh, five rounds of, what was it again?
I gotta go back and look real quick.
Michael Dasilva: I gotta go back and look, but I remember getting done with that workout. And I was like, you know what? That was, it was hand cleans. No, it was six touch and goes. Oh, right. It was. And then you went over and you went to, and then you did nine sit ups, right? And then you did, yeah.
Adam Hawkinson: So
Sam Rhee: it was a five sets, two rounds, six touch and go, clean and jerks. You choose your weight, nine sit ups, six toes to bar, nine pushups, rest two minutes. And so you had, right. So it was two rounds of that. Uh, you rest after the second round, two minutes. Yes, that was, that was pretty horrific, actually.
Adam Hawkinson: I didn't mind that one.
I think just cause I told what Dave said, maybe a little too extreme, but, uh, where he said, go lighter than you think. So I probably would have started off 95 and then went 115 right away, but I started off [00:25:00] 75, I did that for the first two rounds and then I increased at 95. Um, but I just remember for me.
Uh, I had to write it down because I didn't want to forget it was 19. 5, whereas the rep schemes 9 of 95 pound thrusters, chest to bar pull ups we did at the old gym. I remember that. And when I heard, You did it with Dallas and they were saying that Dallas did all singles for the Chester bar. I was like, that doesn't make sense.
Like you could do that. Yeah. Do butterflies. But being in one movement for 33 reps or 27 or even 21, those are always for me, my weaknesses. I like to be able to do, you know, five to seven reps or something, move to something else. Let that body, uh, recover and then move to the next thing, be able to hit that next movement and just be able to keep moving like that.
But when I was sitting there for 33 reps, I was like, [00:26:00] I want to quit. I mean, what's up right now? But knowing everyone's doing it. It's like, okay, I can't be that one person. The only person that just decides to stop. I'll pick an injury, say I got a cramp or something.
Sam Rhee: I remember that one. And, uh, I remember Dave Boak was doing singles and I saw him do it.
And I was like. Man, I got at the end, I got, and I remember because Jose was videoing us. He's a videographer, a photographer. And I, he caught me like my last rep of the Chester bar at the very end. And I literally was so pathetic. I collapsed and looked like a rag doll. And he was like, Trying to, you know, give me a fist bump.
And I just, I couldn't even like move. I literally could not move. Like that was, that was probably one of the worst moments of my
Adam Hawkinson: life where I was like, I just started getting the butterfly. So I was like, Oh, like. Get through the thrusters and then just hammer out the butterflies. And when I went to go, it was like, my lats were just numb.
I was like, I don't even know if I can get my chin above the bar right [00:27:00] now.
Sam Rhee: It was rough. And, uh, I think 1905 was probably pretty terrible. Uh, I, I remember probably my worst experience was I went, I did a comp, uh, with, uh, Kathleen Staunton and there were double unders in it. I had been practicing them and I crapped the bed on them.
And I just remember, I was failing like tremendously. I, I couldn't get through the double unders. And it was one of those like nightmare scenarios where you're like, you're like, everyone's watching you and you can't get it done, just breathe, relax. I can't. And I was like, oh my God, this is my worst nightmare.
I'm literally failing and everybody's watching me fail up on stage. And, uh. It felt terrible because one, I, not so much that I fail, cause I fail all the time in, in CrossFit workouts, but that Kathleen was my partner and I let her down and we just missed, um, making podium. Like we couldn't get onto the, um, whatever the top three had one more WOD to compete in, we, we didn't make it.
[00:28:00] And we were like, good. We were comfortable in. Uh, in that top three, and my crap ass jump rope performance, uh, dropped us out. And, you know, that was really, like, probably one of the worst moments I ever had. I felt terrible. I know she does. Of course she doesn't. And she's now competing at Legends and killing it.
So, but, you know, it's that's why I think CrossFit's filled with moments where you have triumphs, you have failures, you have, you put yourself in very, um, Difficult situations, but they're at the gym, so they're relatively safe. It's not like you're going to, um,
Michael Dasilva: But you make yourself vulnerable within a group of people on a daily basis.
It says a lot about people that, that come into your process.
Sam Rhee: I think so. I think just pushing yourself in that capacity, it does something.
Michael Dasilva: And to touch on Kathleen, like that woman is such an inspiration with everything that she's gone through in, in life with her, [00:29:00] with her own story. And she's down in Arizona at a Legends competition, like, you come to a 930 class, you work out next to her, like, whether she knows it or not, like, me as, me as a competitor next to her, like, she's pushing me harder to, to be better at what, whatever movement or whatever WOD is that thing, and that's, that just goes back to community.
Sam Rhee: Well, yeah, both her and Joel Treloar were featured in 23. 2, and their stories were so inspirational, and, and the gym is filled with them. Inspirational stories like that. So I find that very, um, encouraging for me, at least, like you said, when you go and you're working out next to them. Um, all right, so let's close up.
Tell me some, one thing that people wouldn't actually know or expect about you.
Adam Hawkinson: I'm an open book. Uh, I, I probably talk more than that. Uh, but I mean, I would say like when we were talking earlier, like a lot of people didn't know or don't know that I was in the [00:30:00] military. Uh, that was probably my only thing.
Cause I never talk about it unless someone asked me like what I did before. Uh, definitely jumping out of the airplanes, being in the military and then doing the three tours in Iraq were probably, probably the biggest thing. But, uh,
Sam Rhee: How about you?
Adam Hawkinson: That's a good question.
Michael Dasilva: I don't, I feel like people know me pretty well.
Um. I, yeah. There's nothing about me that. I'm very much an open book, like Adam said, and
I don't have a good answer.
I
Sam Rhee: think people would be surprised by the choice of hand soap that you use in your bathroom. Yeah,
Michael Dasilva: I like a nice hand soap.
Sam Rhee: You get that bougie hand soap that's really, really The
Michael Dasilva: same ones that your wife has.
We compare when it's on sale.
Sam Rhee: I was like, wait, there are other people who actually buy this crazy expensive stuff. Uh, so To recap, um, thank you for sharing. I think it's not easy. Uh, especially [00:31:00] when, uh, you guys, I know you guys are both relatively private. You guys aren't like you guys don't sit there and post constantly on social media.
You're not even on social media. And I know Create
Adam Hawkinson: an account for him.
Sam Rhee: Is that right? I The Mike DaSilva ghost account? Yeah. Um, but, uh, if there's one thing that you want to let members sort of close with, like that you want them to sort of finish out this interview with, what would that one thing be for you?
Michael Dasilva: Yeah, I'll take that
one
Sam Rhee: first.
Michael Dasilva: Um, I think that members, and pretty much anyone in life, like, we're approachable guys, Adam and I. Like, we want you to come up to us. We want you to Give us suggestions. We want you to give us feedback and it doesn't always have to be positive. It could be negative. Like we're guys that are are doers, right?
Like we're sitting up on ladders in Bice and hanging stuff, fixing stuff. And like, we don't go on, we know nothing about ladders. Shouldn't be on ladders. You shouldn't be on ladders. So like, I think [00:32:00] that people should know that one we're approachable Two, we want to hear from you and three, like, Your, your opinion matters to us.
Like it's, it's really important for us to make Bison what it is now and what it's going to be in the future. And, um, just start a conversation. That's it.
Adam Hawkinson: Yeah. Uh, when I was in the military, people always said the higher ups that no matter what you're doing, where you're at, someone's always watching you, whether it's your kids, A stranger and everything you do is always judged off of that one moment, whether you like it or not, uh, perception is reality.
And I think, I mean, you do every job as if it's the only job that you have to do. I mean, I'm cleaning the bathrooms at the gym and I don't mind it. I like getting not so much to get my hands dirty, but I don't mind doing any job. Uh, I just wanted everyone to know that no matter what they think, uh, perception The people that are owning the gym or help run the gym, the coaches that [00:33:00] we're here for them.
And, you know, as long as we can make the gym better, it helps them, it helps us. And it just makes the, uh, Day to day activity is that much better.
Michael Dasilva: Sam, thanks for taking a risk on having me and him on. You didn't know which way this was going to go.
Adam Hawkinson: Oh, I, well, he said my face was sagging. That's why he gave me a facelift.
That pulls skin back. That's why he
Michael Dasilva: sends a ripped outline because he wanted us to be on point.
Sam Rhee: Well, I'm going to go through this and cut out all the stuff that, so you, so this might be a highly, no, I'm just kidding, but one minute, right. But, uh, I appreciate you guys taking the time. Um, so
