What would you do if you had a six-figure salary? Maybe you’ll never cook again or indulge in monthly Thai massages and Soho House memberships to relieve the stress that comes with competing at the top level.
In The Good Life, you no longer have to imagine what life at the top is like: get inspired by real life and learn how the most successful people live their lives.
today wealth Meet Colin Waggett, CEO of London’s hottest high-end gym, Third Space, perhaps better known as the home of David Beckham and Prince Harry Harry) exercise place. Britain’s response to the Spring Equinox has taken London’s luxury gym market by storm.
Despite opening its first club in 2001, with monthly fees ranging from £220 to £250, Third Space is quickly developing a loyal fan base among millennials. This is thanks in part to its interior design and classes (hello, hot yoga).
35,000+
Number of third space members.
Waggett also has extensive industry experience: Before launching his own boutique gym, Psycle, he served as CEO of Fitness First for more than seven years, which was acquired in 2014 for an undisclosed amount.
Under his leadership, Third Space has quadrupled its revenue and membership. Last year it received an £88.5m cash injection to help the brand expand, like Equinox, which has more than 40 high-end fitness clubs across the Atlantic. Although Third Space just opened its 11th club, it’s already too crowded for its more than 35,000 members, and some sites now have waiting lists. As high-end gyms become more popular, Waggett Gym is taking it upon itself to find new locations.
Financial status
wealth: What’s the best investment you’ve ever bought?
My investment in the third space. I couldn’t tell you exactly how much – but it’s a great business.
Worst?
I invested in some startups that went bankrupt…
The third space is located in the 23-acre Wood Wharf area:
Third space provided
Third space provided
Third space provided
Do you bring a wallet?
Not since COVID. Apple pays the entire process.
What personal finance advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
Save a little money regularly, but also support yourself. I would rather invest in a business that I know, understand, and participate in than a fund that I know nothing about and pays fees to people I have never met.
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
Strava – Can I have two? And Spotify.
Bridget Bennett—Bloomberg/Getty Images
Where is your preferred viewing location?
Garmin.
What is your work wardrobe?
Paul Smith, Lululemon, Eton, Vulpine.
Stephen Zenner—SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
If you have children, what are your childcare arrangements like?
My kids are 21 and 18, so now they can pick me up from the bar when I need them.
necessity
How do you get to work?
I took the train from Winchester – it provided a very productive hour of reading, writing and thinking.
Save a little money regularly, but also support yourself. I would rather invest in a business that I know, understand, and participate in than a fund that I know nothing about and pays fees to people I have never met.
How do you drink your coffee every day?
I love my Sage espresso machine – homemade coffee makers are the best. One of my colleagues is a total coffee fan, so wherever we are in London he makes sure we pick the best coffee shops. The most popular among offices is the Hideaway Cafe on Bloor Street in Soho.
Joseph Branston – T3 Magazine/Future/Getty Images
Do you eat lunch at your desk?
Usually, yes. We have our own food business called Natural Fitness Food, or NFF for short, which is super healthy, macro-controlled, fresh and delicious. My current favorite is the hot smoked salmon, which has 38 grams of protein.
Just arrived at Canary Wharf for training at the Third Space Gym…pitched in @NaturalFitFood 💪🏼 Very impressive! #NFF #thirdspace pic.twitter.com/zkwvvWENhT
— Jake Mullen (@_JMallen) October 19, 2016
How many times a week do you eat out versus cook at home?
We dined on 5 nights and ate out on 2 of them.
hospitality
How do you unwind from high-level work?
I get a lot of exercise in our club (obviously!) and when I get the chance I’ll cycle through the Hampshire countryside or the mountains of Europe. I also play golf and compete in triathlons. And of course, spending time with family, friends, and wine.
Deejpilot from Getty
What’s the best reward you’ve ever bought yourself?
I always need another bike. My newest one is the Pinarello F12.
Take us on vacation, what’s next on your vacation list?
If I’m lucky, I’ll do 3 or 4 ski trips, some downhill, some touring, and heli-skiing (cross-country skiing, where skiers take a helicopter to the top of the mountain). All my family and friends are ski bums. I also tend to go on a bike ride with friends to the mountains somewhere. We have a house to retreat to on the north Cornwall coast, which backs up to the dunes, sea and surf – I get in the water every day and go for clifftop walks or runs with my family and dogs. Then somewhere interesting or popular. Last year it was Sumba and Komodo Island in Indonesia, and this year it’s Croatia. How much is that? not enough!
In The Good Life, you no longer have to imagine what life at the top is like: get real-life inspiration and learn how the most successful people live. Learn more about our other Good Life profiles.
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