From MMA Fighter to Entrepreneur an Interview with Kurt Mapula

Stepping into an uncharted path

Have you ever thought of starting your own business but have been scared to take that first step? Starting a business is not an easy feat. It takes everything from making sure you have the demand, talent, and capital to get it off the ground. It also requires having a unique or primary service offering, passion for your idea, and willingness to get uncomfortable by venturing into the unknown. 

Before a business is even on the table, it’s important to be aware of all the challenges, issues and risks involved. In this fifth episode of The Process podcast, Preston Guyton and Travis McClure speak with special guest, Kurt Mapula on how he bravely took a leap of faith to start a business and founded the Project Uncharted Nutrition.

Learn how he jumped through a lot of hoops toward his vision and persevered in the face of adversity before becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Get to know Kurt Mapula

Kurt Mapula is an experienced MMA fighter, bodybuilder, personal trainer, nutrition coach and entrepreneur. His family immigrated from the Philippines in 2004 and now he currently lives in Myrtle Beach as a local nutrition coach.

Growing up, he was bullied as a kid for being skinny. He wasn’t eating the right food and was very picky with his meals. But being on the receiving end of the jabs made him determined to be stronger and better. To achieve this, he started doing push-ups, power-lifting, and other various exercises. He continued to work hard and kept the right circle of friends who also encouraged him to be the best version of himself.

He believes that feeling good about yourself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—makes you more confident; thereby, projecting positive energy to others and making them feel good about themselves as well. This mindset has become an important aspect of his business journey and has always made him ahead of the curve.

Going beyond your comfort zone

Starting your own business is a big decision. It’s not something to be taken lightly as there are a lot of factors to consider before taking the plunge. You have to be prepared for the challenges ahead and be comfortable with being uncomfortable, especially when taking risks. 

It’s also important to remember that self-doubt is normal. Everyone has doubts, and those who are successful have learned how to push through them. It’s often about visualization and knowing why you’re doing something. Taking a leap to start a business calls for hard work and perseverance, but most of all, time. You have to be patient with yourself and your goals—you can’t expect overnight success in any endeavor, no matter how passionate you are about it.

If you’re feeling unsure about yourself or your ability to succeed at something, find someone who has already done it; a mentor or someone who has gone through similar challenges as yours, and ask them for advice on how they overcame their fears and doubts.

Yes, there are so many moving parts, so many things that need to be carefully thought about and planned for. But once you’ve done your research and learned what it takes, it can bring with it some amazing rewards. Just keep in mind that there will also be some bumps ahead — some of which will be unexpected — but if you stay positive and keep at it, every hurdle will be conquered with more knowledge and experience under your belt.

Starting a business isn’t easy but it’s worth it

If there’s one thing you can learn from this episode with Kurt, it’s that starting a business isn’t easy but it will help you grow as a person. It takes a lot of time and dedication, and even though you may have doubts along the way, you need to keep going and persevere. Utilize the skills you already have, find your passion, and never stop learning.

The path to becoming an entrepreneur is not a straight line. People can come from all walks of life and go on to lead successful startups. But don’t let self-doubt and fear get in your way. Take that first step! As Kurt has mentioned – “Get your stuff together, do it even if you’re not fully 100%. You can still help people, right? And start off with that.”