Early bird gets the NFL jersey. Being an early riser isn’t something new for Zachary
Olstad, and luckily, it doesn’t take much for him to bounce out of bed. That conditioning began
at age six back on his family’s Armish farm in Harmony, Minnesota, population: 1,000, where
his family still works and (sometimes plays.) Success for a guy from this farm town comes from
making the most of what you have. Growing up with older siblings, Olstad began weight
training in 4 th grade and aspired early on to one day land a gig in the NFL. The weight training
paid off, and the NFL came calling by way of the Buffalo Bills in 2018. While his dream of playing
in the NFL was maybe short-lived, Olstad wasted no time figuring out next steps to catapult his
passion for fitness and zest for hard work into a new career by serving others.
After only two and half years in Nashville, 28 year-old Olstad officially launched 4X4
Mobile Fitness in July of this year, and it has proven to be a major success. Olstad is averaging
about 30 sessions a week throughout the Nashville area with most sessions starting at 6AM
daily. In fact, he only takes Sunday’s off from his very packed scheduled. If a client wants to
train, Olstad makes it happen. Like the name 4X4 Mobile suggests, this training concept travels
by van to you and caters to your individual fitness needs. The success of his company has
mostly come from word of mouth, as most great things tend to do, and continues to grow.
From high school ages to 70 years plus, there’s no age or fitness need that Olstad shies away
from. Given his professional athlete background, he especially takes pride in modifying
exercises to accommodate any possible injuries.
“I begin every client with a phone consultation in order to better understand each
client’s needs. Packages start at a minimum of 6 sessions and are reasonably priced because I
want my clients to understand it’s a process and that it’s all about persistence. I also want every
client to have the same opportunity to succeed,” says Olstad.
With celebrities and stars all around Nashville, it’s only natural to wonder who Olstad’s
dream client might be. When asked, Olstad coyly smiles and says, “It doesn’t really matter
about that stuff. I’m just happy to do what I get to do. I want to work with those who are
persistent and continue to show up. That’s what really matters. Those are the clients I like to
work with.”
Not only has Olstad taken both his success and his setbacks and turned them into good,
he took things one step further and became a self-published author in September of this year.
In his book “Work Horse: From an Amish Farm to the NFL Gridiron,” it was important for Olstad
to share his story and inspire others who might not have all the resources in the world to
pursue their dreams.
To stay motivated, Olstad is no stranger to blocking things out. (After all, he was a full
back in the NFL.) “I don’t listen to the noise, and I don’t compare myself to what other people
are doing. I stay in my lane and show up every day. I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in my life.”
So what’s next down the pipeline for this determined athlete? Olstad states, “I want to
continue to grow 4X4 and serve Nashville and expand to other states. I want to travel the
country and speak about my book and my story.”
Olstad’s ultimate dream is to buy a farm back home in Minnesota near his family. With
his humility, persistence and undeniable work ethic, there’s no doubt that Olstad will one day
make that dream a reality. If his track record proves anything, his story will come full circle, and
chances are that this early bird gets the farm, too.