Four years and 40 kilograms ago, Wayne Burns took a long look in the mirror: he needed a change.
He and his wife Lorelai's younger son had just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and as a long-haul truck driver, Wayne's own health was deteriorating.
"It was one of those mirror moments where you think, this isn't where I want to be, and I had the goal of setting a good example for the kids and the family," Wayne said.
After taking the leap and leaving a full time salaried role behind the wheel, Wayne studied to become a fitness trainer and set up a home business - but he went well beyond four walls.
Wayne Burns says he has "a lot less money" but is extremely happy with his new life. Source: SBS Small Business Secrets
The family's front lawn in Bringelly has since made way for obstacles engineered to mimic those used in events like the Spartan Race Tough Mudder series.
"We originally just built it as an obstacle training facility for adults because we realised there was nothing around, there are all these races but nowhere to actually train for them," Lorelai said.
The obstacle course soon filled another gap: Mums and Dads wanted to come to training - but childcare was an issue.
As a mental health nurse, Lorelai Burns sees the positive impact of exercise on overall wellbeing. Source: SBS Small Business Secrets
"We were listening to the people, the adults who were coming in and training and hearing that they'd like to bring their kids," Wayne said.
"So I sped up my qualifications and did a children's' training course and we started taking them out and running trainings."
What the Burns didn't anticipate was how popular this new side of the business would become; at $20 to $30 each, at least 50 of the 100 or so clients that walk through the gate every week, are children.
"We didn't realise how many uses the course would have. We didn't predict the kids training would be so popular... but as a business you adapt to fit the market and that has been a growing area," Lorelai said.
The largest revenue raiser is school holiday courses, where children can spend up to four hours being instructed on the course, before they are free to roam.
Most of the business' clientele are under 12 years old. Source: SBS Small Business Secrets
"Kids need to play, they need to be outside and doing things like monkey bars, it's a lost skill and it's sad to see them sitting on iPads and screens instead," Wayne said.
A year in, the business is yet to recoup more than 60,000 in set-up costs, but the Burns say they have already achieved what they wanted from the venture.
Burns Outdoor Obstacle Training cost more than $60,000 to launch. Source: SBS Small Business Secrets
"Truck driver Wayne earned more money and it was more stable... but obstacle trainer Wayne is extremely happy with his new life."
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