In this week’s Freelance Friends Spotlight, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Karim Djidel, a personal trainer whose passion for fitness is as inspiring as his story.
Karim shares his transformative switch from a full-time waiter and psychology student to a successful entrepreneur in the fitness industry. His story is not just about fitness; it’s about finding happiness, pursuing passion, and the power of resilience.
Let’s get motivated with Karim!
Q: Hey Karim! Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Who are you, where do you come from, and what do you do?
I’m Karim, a guy passionate about training! Originally Franco-Algerian from Paris, I moved to London 5 years ago, where I now work as a personal trainer. So, I get to improve people’s quality of life through my passion :)
Q: Can you recall a moment when you suddenly realised, ‘Yes, this is exactly what I should be doing’?
Yes, I can, I think it was 4 years ago. I was just sitting in the living room after getting back home from work. I used to work as a waiter full-time, while studying psychology full-time. I started journaling, then thought about the future and the past. I thought about what I want to do in life? This was a question that was very problematic for me. Because every time I was asked, whether at school or by my family, I had no clue.
I remember then asking myself, when was the last time I was happy? When was I really happy? It was when I used to go to the local gym as a teenager. The dots started connecting, then I realized that I’ve always trained. And always will, I thought I’d be happy teaching people something that’s helped me so much in my life. So, I jumped on a course, and here we are 4 years later with my own company, hahaha.
Q: What do you think your younger self would say about you now? How would they feel meeting you?
I think he’d feel pretty safe and happy meeting me now. They say you end up growing into the person that you needed as a child, and I feel that. He’d probably think I am cool as f and ask whether I’m a giant. To which I’ll reply yes, obviously.
Q: In five years, what’s your dream scenario for yourself and your work? What are you most excited about?
Keep doing what I’m doing, help more people and maybe one day open my own gym. I’d love that. I’ve also always wanted to make training more accessible in the future for everyone. Especially for kids, so maybe one day I hope I can go back to Paris and Algeria and give back to my communities.
Q: If you could sit down with someone just starting out on their own freelance or entrepreneurial path, what one piece of advice would you love to give them?
I’m still pretty new to this, but generally, you’ve got to be all in. Literally all in. Don’t be afraid of trying things; there’s no such thing as failure, just learning lessons. If you make 100 attempts, 1 will go through. Also, stay open-minded and keep on learning!
Q: Picture this: You’re stranded on a desert island, and you can only listen to one song forever. What song would you choose and why?
Victor Deme – Djon’maya (Spotify Link)
This song means a lot to me. Every time I went through a difficult moment, this song was there to calm me down and get me right back on track. The meaning of the song is beautiful, but also the beautiful voice of Victor. I love the fact that I found this song very randomly, and even when I didn’t understand the lyrics, it still meant a lot. It’s amazing what music does.
