The Best Investment I Ever Made (And It Wasn’t in Business)

Some of you may know my story, but here it is again—because stories of transformation are worth repeating.

Years ago, I was running my family’s company back in Connecticut. It wasn’t just a job—it was a legacy. When my dad was diagnosed with throat and lung cancer, I took over the business. Ten days before he passed, a rare F3 tornado tore through the Northeast and ripped the roof off our building. I wasn’t just grieving; I was rebuilding—physically and emotionally.

Over the next few years, I lived at work—literally. I slept in the building. I rebuilt. I hustled. I poured everything I had into keeping the business alive. But it came at a cost. I drank more. Ate worse. Slept less. My health started to spiral. I wasn’t living; I was surviving.

Then the wake-up call came: I started peeing blood.

I rarely went to the doctor, but this was different. The stress had caught up with me, and I was told I might be developing an ulcer. It was in that moment I remembered something I had once heard: “No amount of money ever bought a second of time.”

I knew it was time for a change.

At the end of 2019, I sold the business. In June 2020, I moved to Colorado and found Train.

For the first time in my life, I was rich—rich in time. But I didn’t want to lose the grit, drive, and focus that had gotten me through so much. So I decided to treat my body like my next business venture.

I created a vision: run a marathon, do Murph Rx, summit a mountain, cycle through Europe. I enlisted the help of Coach Jim at Train and told him, “I want a plan that helps me hit these goals inside and outside the gym.” He didn’t just train me—he bought stock in my vision. He trained me like it was his mission too.

Then I got serious about nutrition and started working with Coach Jen. With their help, plus the accountability and support of the Train community, I started hitting those goals.

Now, I’m living the life I used to dream about.

The truth? This gym, this community, these coaches—they were the best investment I ever made. Better than any stock or sale. I found health, purpose, and a fire inside me I thought I’d lost.

To Coach Jim, Coach Jen, the Train coaches, the members, my friends and family—thank you for believing in this new company. I hope you’re seeing your return on investment too.

-Anuraag or as many know me, Rugg.