Andy Frisella: No Excuse Mindset that Fueled His Rise to the Top
Andy Frisella has emerged as one of the most influential entrepreneurs and podcasters in recent years. With his no-nonsense attitude and “Real AF” approach, Frisella has built a passionate community of followers. He is the founder and CEO of supplements company 1st Phorm International. Andy is also the host of two hit podcasts — The Real AF Show and The MFCEO Project.
Additionally, he spearheaded the wildly popular 75 Hard physical and mental toughness challenge. Frisella’s gritty personal journey of setbacks and comeback has enabled him to use platforms like his company, podcasts, and books to motivate people to reach their potential.
In this article, we will dive deeper into who Andy Frisella is, his background, businesses, awards for being a business leader, and his impact as a speaker and podcast host.
Who is Andy Frisella?
Andy Frisella is an entrepreneur, bestselling author of children’s books (he has made the Amazon-bestselling list), keynote speaker, and podcaster. He is the founder and CEO of 1st Phorm International, a sports nutrition company. Andy is also the host of The Real AF Show and The MFCEO Project podcasts.
With his gritty, no-nonsense attitude, Andy has built a personal brand and following by sharing his journey and insights on how to achieve success. He is known for his mantra “no excuses” and for challenging people to work hard to reach their goals.
What is the Story and Background of Andy Frisella?
Andy Frisella was born on September 29, 1984, and grew up in the small town of Marissa, Illinois. He was raised in a blue-collar family and describes his upbringing as “pretty rough.” As a child, Frisella struggled with attention and behavioral issues, leading to poor school performance.
In an effort to find direction, he joined the military after high school. But soon after, Andy was medically discharged when he was diagnosed with severe asthma. He felt lost and lacked purpose during this time.
At age 22, Andy became an entrepreneur by starting a supplement company out of his garage. He had no formal business training but was determined to make it work.
His company failed within a year. However, this early failure taught him valuable lessons about work ethic, persistence, and learning from mistakes.
Andy started several other companies, including retail supplement stores, a real estate investment firm, and a consumer products company. While some of these ventures found small measures of success, some failed.
Frisella says these repeated failures gave him the grit to keep trying until he got it right. In 2009, he launched 1st Phorm International, which would finally prove to be his breakthrough into building a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Andy’s Marriage to Emily Frisella
Andy Frisella is married to Emily Frisella, who he has been with since high school, on October 20, 2012, at their Robertsville farm property.
Emily Frisella is also an entrepreneur and business owner. She owns The Paper and Plan Co., is a 3-time published author, Women in Business Workshop founder, COO of Aretes Syndicate, and CMO of 1st Phorm.
Emily has been instrumental in building the 1st Phorm brand and expanding it to female audiences. She and Andy have developed a strong business partnership over the years in addition to their family life together. Her contributions are a valued part of Andy Frisella’s larger success story.
Some of Emily’s books:
The Fresh Farmhouse Kitchen: Clean-Eating Comfort Food
The Saint’s Plate & The Sinner’s Dinner
What Companies Does Andy Frisella Own?
Andy Frisella is no noob when it comes to building businesses. Below are some of the companies that Andy has started and built:
1st Phorm: Founded in 2009, 1st Phorm is Andy’s sports nutrition company that develops its own line of supplements. It has grown into an industry leader, doing over $200 million in annual sales.
75 Hard: This is Andy’s mental toughness program that has become a global phenomenon. It challenges people to follow a rigorous schedule focused on diet, exercise, self-discipline, and personal growth.
44Seven Media: This is Frisella’s digital media company that creates, distributes, and promotes everything associated with Andy Frisella. This includes not only his own brands but also his clients.
Andy Frisella Won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award
In 2019, Andy Frisella was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneur magazine. This prestigious award recognizes the most successful and influential entrepreneurs each year.
Frisella won the Entrepreneur of the Year title in the Health & Wellness category. He was recognized for his remarkable growth and impact at 1st Phorm International.
The company revenue climbed from $22 million to over $200 million under his leadership as CEO over 10 years. Andy had successfully disrupted the sports nutrition industry with 1st Phorm’s innovative branding.
Entrepreneur of the Year winners are chosen based on the entrepreneurial spirit exhibited in their companies. Andy Frisella embodied that spirit in his vision, leadership, innovation, and competitive drive.
Since it began in 1986, many famous business icons have won the Entrepreneur of the Year award, including Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, and Michael Dell of Dell Computers.
Frisella said the honor meant a great deal to him as validation of never giving up despite setbacks. His award encourages others to follow their dreams and turn struggles into strength.
What is 1st Phorm?
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company founded by Andy Frisella in 2009. Located in St. Peters, Missouri, the company develops its own line of supplements focused on building lean muscle, improving performance, and supporting strength.
Some of their best-selling products include:
· Level-1 Protein: Their signature whey protein powder.
· Project-1: Pre-workout supplement to boost energy and performance.
· Level-1 Protein Bars: High protein, low sugar bars.
· 1st Phorm Energy: A light and refreshing energy drink.
A key part of 1st Phorm’s brand is promoting transparency, which creates customer loyalty. They reveal full ingredient profiles so customers know exactly what supplements contain. This builds trust and credibility and is what helped Frisella create world-class health and fitness brands.
Under Andy’s leadership and company culture, 1st Phorm has grown rapidly from $22 million in revenue to over $200 million in annual revenue, making it one of the top-ranked supplement brands in the world. 1st Phorm now has over 150 employees and operates in 7 countries.
Related Article: Another Kid-Friendly Supplement Line — 1st Phorm Kiddo Series
But beyond financial success and insane business growth, 1st Phorm aims to help people improve their lives and achieve their fitness goals. Their motto says it all — “Helping People Transform Their Lives.”
The Growth of the 75 Hard Challenge
75 Hard is a mental toughness program created by Andy Frisella. It exploded in popularity in 2020, especially during the COVID lockdowns.
The 75 Hard challenge sets firm guidelines around diet, exercise, and personal development:
· Follow a specific diet with no cheat meals for 75 days.
· Work out twice daily for 45 minutes — with one being an outdoor workout.
· Take progress pictures every day.
· Drink a gallon of water daily.
· Read 10 pages of a nonfiction book each day.
· No alcohol for 75 days.
75 Hard is meant to test willpower and self-discipline. There are no exceptions or excuses allowed. You either accomplish the challenge or start over.
Andy launched 75 Hard in 2019, but it gained mainstream attention during 2020 as people searched for structure amidst pandemic quarantines.
Hundreds of thousands have now completed the 75-day challenge, sharing their transformations on social media. This viral trend led to Andy co-authoring a bestselling 75 Hard book in 2020 as well.
Related Article: What Your Fitness Excuses Say About You
For many, the program represents overcoming physical, mental, or emotional limitations. It’s about eliminating negativity in your life and all your excuses. It’s about looking at things from a success mindset and holding yourself accountable. Completing 75 Hard builds confidence to conquer life’s other challenges. It captures the essence of Andy Frisella’s no-nonsense philosophy.
You can read my full review of the 75 Hard challenge here.
What is the Real AF Podcast?
The Real AF Show is Andy Frisella’s flagship weekly podcast that has grown to over 2 million downloads per month and covers many trending topics.
On the show, Andy delivers raw, unfiltered rants, sharing his no-nonsense thoughts on entrepreneurship, mindset, health, and lifestyle. He aims to inspire audiences through unconventional wisdom and pushing people to take accountability to reach their full potential.
Some key aspects of The Real AF Show include:
- Launched in 2016 and available on all major podcast platforms
- Blunt, honest, off-the-cuff style authentic to Andy’s brand
- Segments like “Real AF Calls,” where Andy answers listener questions
- Frequent “Truth Bombs” and advice on achieving goals
- Builds Andy’s personal brand and “Real AF” motto
- Over 2 million downloads per month, growing Andy’s community
- Evolved into a podcast network with other shows recently added
The Real AF Show captures Andy Frisella’s unique voice. His rants may be polarizing at times, but they always aim to motivate people to pursue success through hard work and discipline.
What is the MFCEO Project Podcast?
The MFCEO Project is Andy Frisella’s other hit podcast, launched in 2018. Some key details:
- Features long-form interviews with high-profile CEOs, founders, and experts
- Past guests include Mark Cuban, Gary Vaynerchuk, and David Goggins
- Aims to give raw, candid insights into achieving success
- Over 1 million downloads per month currently
- Conversations focus on entrepreneurial journeys, overcoming adversity, leadership
- Provides inspiration and motivation for business and careers
- Frisella engages his guests in lively discussions
- Awards have included being a #1 business podcast on iTunes
With a mix of big names and emerging talent, The MFCEO Project gives listeners an insider’s view into the minds of business icons. Frisella uses the platform to amplify his mission of empowering people to maximize their potential. The podcast adds another dimension to Frisella’s burgeoning media empire.
What is Arete Syndicate?
Arete Syndicate is an exclusive membership community founded by Andy Frisella. It offers:
- Masterminds with Andy Frisella and other high-level entrepreneurs and executive leaders
- Annual multi-day summit hosted by Andy with world-class speakers
- Access to business coaching and mentorship
- Online courses on scaling companies, marketing, sales, etc.
- Networking amongst fellow members – many are 7+ figure CEOs
- Opportunity to promote your company to the Arete audience
- Monthly training focused on mindset, discipline, and leadership
- Lifetime access with continued education
The goal is to help established entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level through high-level training and peer support.
Membership is application-only and costs several thousand dollars per year. The program promises to help members achieve personal and professional growth.
Andy Frisella hand-selected the initial member cohort and guides the Arete Syndicate curriculum based on his entrepreneurial wisdom. It represents his latest education platform geared toward thriving in business and life.
Have Entrepreneur Andy Frisella Be a Speaker at Your Event
Andy Frisella has established himself as an in-demand keynote speaker in recent years. His raw and authentic speeches resonate with audiences, especially in the business, fitness, and wellness communities. Many say that Frisella is an expert when it comes to motivating and inspiring people and is one of the world’s leading speakers in this regard.
Some of the keynote speech topics Andy covers include:
· The keys to developing the mindset & mental toughness to achieve anything you want in life
· How to create a winning culture that attracts fiercely loyal consumers to your business and literally makes you immune to competition
· Building your company’s foundation on strong core values that you can scale with
Event organizers chose Andy as a public speaker because his high-energy delivery and actionable takeaways drive real behavior change. He challenges paradigms through storytelling and wisdom gained from his own experiences.
Related Article: The Power of Mentorship — How A Mentor Can Transform Your Life
Andy customizes speeches for each audience. He’ll work with your team ahead of time to understand event goals and shape the talk.
Booking far in advance is recommended. Frisella’s unique blend of humor, candor, and motivational punch delivers tremendous value.
How Much Does Andy Frisella Charge to Speak?
According to his website, you can have Andy Frisella speak in front of a live audience for $300,000. Also, you can book him for a digital keynote over Zoom for $100,000.
The American Dream Is Alive and Well — Andy Frisella is PROOF!
Andy Frisella embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and tireless drive that defines the American Dream. His journey from a struggling young adult to building a multi-million dollar nutrition empire proves that big success is possible through perseverance.
While he faced setbacks and failures early on, Andy never gave up on his vision. He learned from each misstep, evolving into the motivational CEO and podcast icon he is today.
Beyond financial success, Frisella aims to inspire others to transform their lives by getting “real” and doing the work needed to realize their dreams.
For anyone doubting that lofty goals are still achievable, Andy Frisella’s inspirational story shows the American Dream is alive and well in those bold enough to chase it. With his authentic voice and no-excuses mindset, he represents the endless possibilities this country provides if you’re willing to put in the hard hours, stand by your truths, and never settle.
FAQs
Andy became successful by not giving up after facing multiple business failures early in his entrepreneurial journey. He learned from each setback, continuing to start new companies until 1st Phorm took off. His grit and work ethic ultimately paid off.
Estimates peg Andy Frisella’s net worth at over $100 million. Most of his wealth comes from owning 1st Phorm and other supplement brands. His speaking fees, podcasts, and books also contribute significant income.
The Real AF Show and The MFCEO Project are available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Andy’s website.
Andy grew up in the small town of Marissa, Illinois. He still operates his supplement company, 1st Phorm, in the St. Louis, Missouri area.
Andy believes in hard work, intensity, and consistency when it comes to fitness. His programs emphasize daily discipline more than programs or diets. He lives by the “no excuses” motto.
Andy Frisella is married to Emily Frisella. They were married on October 20, 2012, at their Robertsville farm property.
Andy and Emily Frisella do not have kids. However, they have dogs that they love as if they were their kids.
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