Meet Chuck McCarthy, The People Walker - Take a walk around the hood TODAY

Interview with Chuck McCarthy, conducted by local REALTOR® Keith Kurlander

Summary

My name is Chuck McCarthy, and I am The People Walker™.

Describe your business.

I walk people. I give people the motivation and companionship they need to get out and be more active.

What made you decide to open this business?

I needed to make some extra money. I thought about dog walking, but I didn't want to pick up dog poop. I started saying that I was going to walk people instead as almost a joke, but the more I said it, the more I realized people needed this service. Personal training and fitness classes are all about accountability. There are lots of people here in LA that want to be more active, but don't want to get yelled at by a personal trainer or roll around on the ground. Walking is great exercise, and I help people get that exercise.

What was it like when you first started?

When I started, getting attention was easy. Almost right away, people were interested, but many people thought what I was doing was just something funny. Of course a few people saw the value in what I was doing and started walking with me.

What has surprised you most when owning a business?

Nothing has surprised me about owning a business. I have known many small business owners, and they have all said it's a hard, hard, hard thing to do, and it is a hard, hard, hard thing to do.

What would your customers say they love most about your business?

Getting some exercise, fresh air, having somebody fun to talk with.

Do you have any exciting plans for the future that you want customers to know about?

Right now I am working on an app to make my service available to more people

Who are some of your business idols and role models? And why?

Hollywood Actor Jeremy Luke is one of my personal role models, because he is constantly looking for the next possibility, and he never acknowledges impossibilities. If you only ever believe everything is possible, you will always see possibilities that other people miss.

What is something that people don't know about you?

I'm an actor, look me up on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3357750/ and here's a promo for Pete's Dragon that Keith really likes. https://youtu.be/k9Utmn-QIaM

What do you like most about being an entrepreneur?

The title. It definitely sounds better than "Unemployed." Like I said before, everything else is hard, hard, hard work.

Do you have any advice that you want to share with other entrepreneurs?

Never try to solve a problem people don't have, you will only end up creating a problem no one had before.

What do you love about this neighborhood?

I love that you can walk to the park and you can walk to the store. You can walk to the restaurant, and you can walk to the bar.

What are your favorite places to go in the neighborhood?

I enjoy Barnsdall Park and Griffith Park.

What are your favorite things to do in the neighborhood?

Walk around.

Why do you think it's important for people to shop local?

If you don't hire your neighbor, or you don't buy from your neighbor, how long will they be able to afford to be your neighbor? Every time you eat at a locally owned restaurant, or buy something from a locally owned store, you are saying to the owner and the employees, "Won't you be my neighbor?"

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thepeoplewalker

Twitter: http://mobile.twitter.com/ThePeopleWalker

Website/Blog: http://www.chuckmccarthy.com/