Where are They Now? – James Moher of Grit ‘N Wit
This summer, with the help of our fabulous Communications Intern Isabel Thompson, we’ll be maintaining a “Where Are They Now?” blog series. It’ll check in with past winners of our annual Impact Challenge as well as with past participants of our Accelerator Program, and document where they are in their work today. In this edition, we interviewed Grit ‘N Wit Founder, James Moher.
Originally from Glastonbury, Connecticut, James was always passionate about law. He attended Boston College and later went on to attend law school. He practiced law for a few years and he was on the track to become partner, but he walked away from the field last year.
Why you might ask? James realized it was probably the only time in his life that he be able to do something unconventional before taking on the responsibilities of a possible family or monthly mortgage.
With a back-up career as an attorney in place, James created Grit ‘N Wit. Grit ‘N Wit is a Connecticut grown company committed to the development of healthy, engaged communities. It promotes mental and physical fitness with uniquely challenging obstacle course events that aim to support local communities.
“The obstacle course business is a great industry. More people compete in obstacle course races than marathons and half marathons combined. And this huge spur of interest just started recently,” James said.
“I needed a niche, though, because I was up against some big companies and that’s how I came up with the mental segment on the Grit ‘N Wit course,” James added. “That segment allows people to compete in our races who wouldn’t ordinarily do so. And I think that’ll be what eventually distinguishes us.”
Fresh out of the latest edition of our Accelerator, I wanted to know what James thought of the program and how he thought it benefited the progression of his business and network.
“Every entrepreneur has similar issues. Whether it be building a website or marketing a product or service. In this program, there will always be a person with a certain idea about x, y or z, or they’ve done it and know what works and doesn’t, or they know someone who can help. The list goes on and on,” James explained. “And that proved to be true with our cohort. There were a lot of like-minded people in the group, so it was easy to bounce ideas off of each other and I was able to build strong ties.”
With Grit ‘N Wit’s third race approaching in October, I asked James what we can expect out of the updated course.
“We do have a couple of expansion goals for the next year. We’re currently striving to reach 1,ooo participants with our next race. We also plan to expand the size of our venues and to also create bigger obstacles for the courses,” James told me. “However, our major goal is to change the location of our hallmark event. We’re hoping to offer a few in Connecticut, a couple in Massachusetts, and others in New York.”
As we neared the end of our visit, I wanted a get a very important piece of advice from this successful entrepreneur. I asked James what he would say to someone just starting out in this type of industry.
“Ideas are cheap,” he said. “Anyone can come up with any idea, I think, but the implementation phase is really what separates people. So, if you are going to do it, you need to go all in.”
For more information and to sign up for Grit ‘N Wit’s next race in Hartford, please click here.
