Greg Muller, founder, Pure Athlete bodycare

What is the most unique thing about your business?

We’re the only company in the world that has developed a bodycare range that specifically caters for athletes and active people of all ages. Our products are 100 per cent organic and assist the body’s natural recovery process.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in business?

No single “big” mistake but what business has taught me is to be very careful about who you hire. You will get people who will promise you the sun, moon and stars and don’t deliver.

However, painful experiences provide us with great lessons so I know if I’m not making mistakes then I’m not growing. Every situation, either good or bad, is an opportunity to learn.

What has been your major success to date?

Starting Pure Athlete in our kitchen in Galway and having the courage to step out and take it to the world.

Who do you admire most in business and why?

I admire every single person who has the commitment, passion and persistence to follow their dreams and start their own business.

I also admire entrepreneur Richard Branson and the Canadian life success coach, Bob Proctor.

What piece of advice would you give to the Government to stimulate the economy?

Teach people greater self reliance.

Far too many people are sold on being victims of circumstances which has bred a culture of blame. This erodes many of the basic values in life.

As a consequence many individuals think they are owed something.

Secondly, the Government needs to make some hard decisions and stop all the handouts.

We are in the 21st century and the days of jobs for life and financially rewarding pension schemes are gone. They are not sustainable and bring us back to breeding a lack of responsibility and self reliance.

What would you say has been your biggest challenge?

Educating the marketplace. In today’s world people want bigger, faster and better all done at the drop of a hat.

The consequences are that we often neglect to do the things our ancestors worked hard to learn and pass on to us. For example, bathing has been used by many cultures for centuries as a way to relax and recover. Yet people often forgo a bath for a quick shower with the excuse of expediency.

Bathing as a way to unwind is something many people with stressful lives would gain huge benefit from.

What are the short-term goals of your business?

To provide first class products to athletes. To be honest and fair in all our dealings. To be positive and have a “we can” attitude. To be Earth conscious and treat the Earth in a way that makes it sustainable for generations to come.

What’s your business worth and would you sell it?

It’s a new business so it’s hard to put a figure on it. Right now I wouldn’t sell even if I was offered triple what it’s worth on paper.

To me the real value of the business is not so much the balance sheet but the relationships you create, the service you offer and the legacy it leaves. Nothing in life lasts forever so one day Pure Athlete might be sold but to someone who will maintain the energy and ethos of the business – not necessarily to the person with the biggest cheque book.

Do you think the banks are open for business to SMEs at the moment?

I don’t know as I haven’t borrowed from the banks for the business. So far it has all been completely self-funded.

In conversation with OLIVE KEOGH