Meet Jordan McIlwain | Classic Physique Athlete

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan McIlwain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I got to a point in my life where I decided it’s time to stop running from what God has destined for me. It’s time I stop making the excuse. It was time that i stop telling myself to fully commit later and start echoing God’s voice saying now. I had it in my heart that the time was absolutely now and I cant afford to waste another second stalling on what was destined for me. So I took out a sheet of paper and wrote down my goals, numbering them and pinned it on a wall in my bedroom. Then I started with number one. I took more sheets of paper and pinned them all over my wall until it was covered with each step laid out in front of me. I added a calendar to the wall and assigned daily tasks for myself to get me to my goals. At my starting point I was working a full time sales position with Verizon and bodybuilding at the same time with barely any savings. This is when I met my current manager Alfredo. We put together a plan of gathering the resources to launch myself. I knew that I would have to open up some hours in my schedule to put towards this plan. I enrolled myself into a local community college, quitting my full-time job and went through the entire process of receiving financial aid. Then I registered for all online classes because I knew I could complete the work from anywhere. My next step was to find a part-time job that I could use the income I made from that job towards funding my launch. I drove around from 8am to 5pm for two days in a row going into every store looking for part-time employment. I ended up landing a part-time job as a cashier at Dick’s Sporting Goods. My next step was to invest in finding a cameraman who believed in me. Thankfully, that did not take long for me. The first photographer I contacted wanted to work with me and saw potential in me. Then Alfredo and I put together a marketing team. With all the resources I needed, I completely trusted God through the process and gave God all my faith and attention and I executed the plan successfully launching myself as a marketable athlete for the sport of bodybuilding.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My goal is to bring a mixture of maximum aesthetics, mass and conditioning in the classic form of peak 80s- 90s era athletes . I have given countless hours of research to creating a specimen of a complete body including superior aesthetics, strength, flexibility, and functionality. I don’t think I’m there yet, but that is my goal and I am naturally progressing at a rapid rate. Fear was the number one obstacle in becoming myself. When you’re scared to jump in, that’s when you do it. When you don’t know the outcome, that’s when your faith must show up. When you’re scared of what others might think of your efforts, you must understand they don’t know who you’re about to become. It’s not easy going through uncomfortable changes but you can do it. You can do it through the power of God.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
La Jolla is one of my favorite spots in San Diego. I love the vibe of it. It almost feels like it is its own island. I love Coronado, Ocean Beach. Imperial Beach, and San Carlos.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Alfredo Esquivel, I met Alfredo while I was working a sales job last year. I remember Alfredo being such a charismatic, energetic, and passionate speaker. He would always talk highly of me and held that mentality of setting the standard. He’s a true leader. I always felt when me and him were together we made a great team. One day we were riding in the car together and he says, “Jordan, what are your goals” and I told him I want to win Mr. America and make it to the Mr. Olympia one day. And he told me, “I really think you can do that. You need to focus on that.” It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard that before but it was the way he said it that made it really hit me and made it hard for me to speak. He said, “Your body is your money maker. Forget this job, you need to really focus on that because I really think you can do it and i’ll be your manager.” And you know me at the time, I just laughed it off and said yeah we’ll see, maybe in the future. Then he said, “Okay you’ll come back to me later and after you think about it, you’re going to know i’m right.” And he was right. Alfredo has been that person who believed in me before i truly believed in myself and helped me make that push to take action and really go all in with my passion by pursuing my career in fitness and putting it first. He helped me gather all the resources and helped put the plan together towards launching myself. He was there every step of the way and has been by my side since that sales job. So, big shoutout to my friend and manager. I believe God placed him in my life to bring all my goals and dreams to reality.

Instagram: jordan.mcilwain

Twitter: jorcamtweets

Image Credits
Oscar Degarza