Sam Pfister often has early mornings. On coaching days, he’s out of the house before 5 a.m. to get to the gym for classes and focus on business tasks. He enjoys the mornings and evenings he spends with his wife and son (born in September of 2025), taking care of their 12 chickens, or decompressing with a history book.
As Owner and Head Coach, Pfister knew Rise Strength and Performance was a calling long before its founding in May of 2022. He’d always felt a desire to own a gym, but didn’t think of it as a realistic job opportunity, so he delved into politics—but the desire continued to grow.
“After college, I worked in Washington, DC for ten years, starting out on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide, then at a think tank, and wrapping up with the Illinois Governor. When he lost his re-election in 2018, I had had enough of politics and DC and was ready to pursue what I felt was my gifting and calling—Coaching Weight Training.”
With politics in the rearview, Pfister interned with George Washington University’s Strength and Conditioning Department, assisting with Division I athletics, and then went on to work at a strength and conditioning gym. It took hard work and sacrifice as he worked several side hustles to make ends meet, but he continued to pursue the call on his life.
Just as he was ready to take his coaching career full-time, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and he “went from six jobs to basically no jobs. But I kept on coaching.” He moved to Nashville in December of 2020 and started coaching out of his garage and offering mobile services. As his clientele grew, one mentioned that a space was available in Lebanon. Pfister visited the location, prayed for direction, and signed a lease the next day—the beginning of Rise.
For Pfister, Rise Strength and Performance isn’t simply a place to get fit—it’s a ministry that equips people to show up to their lives with confidence. He’d seen firsthand the impact a gym could have. “I loved what the gym did for people—it helped them have a ‘haven’ from the craziness of life, it helped them reduce anxiety or depression (something I’ve long battled), and is a place to have community where everyone is equal…”
That’s why Rise is unique from other gym or training experiences. Classes are capped at six members per coach, and every program is tailored to the individual with intention. “Our members are like family to us, and we help people move better, feel better, and live a more full life through strength training.”
Pfister’s experience with owning a business has taught him a lot. He says it pushes him to be better and take ownership of decisions and results. And when he hits setbacks? He’s learned to recognize that “Setbacks happen FOR ME, not TO ME. I can either grow or groan.” He stresses that setbacks in life, business, or fitness teach you something valuable.
For client experience, he says, “I want Rise clients to not just feel supported in the gym, but I want them to be confident in their daily lives. Everyone struggles with self-doubt. Doing something physically demanding helps quiet that negative voice in your head, which lets you live life more fully—ready to serve others with your gifts and talents.”
You can visit the Rise website at www.risestrengthperformance.com to learn more and book a free consultation.