German IFBB Pro Dan Hill is one of the youngest pros competing today. He's also one of the most active athletes on the self-promotion bandwagon. Very few people work harder than Big Dan Hill. Continue reading to find out how Dan got into bodybuilding, why he moved to the United States, and what his future goals are.
RxM: How'd you get interested in bodybuilding?
I was always very active as a child. After competitive swimming from the age of 6-12 Ii started playing handball as teenager. Since getting physically stronger is an issue in this sport i joined the local gym at 14 years.
I realized that I am more of an individual athlete than a team player, so bodybuilding became more important to me.
In Chinese horoscope, I am a Tiger and I truly can relate a lot of these characteristics to my behavior.
Furthermore I studied arts in school as a main subject.
Bodybuilding seems like it was meant for me. I can combine my dedication as a lonesome warrior in the gym with the spirit of an artist, working with my heart and sweat, on a single masterpiece which happens to be my own physique
RxM: How old were you when you first competed? What happened at that first competition?
I competed the first time when i was 18 years old. I chose a small show called German Newcomer Nationals which is a novice contest that you can only do in your rookie season.
Unfortunately, or i can also say luckily, there were 10 teens competing in my class and I won.
I didn't know anything about photo shoots yet. I just loved the "sport".
RxM: You're one of the youngest guys in a long time to turn Pro. How did you earn your IFBB Pro Card? Tell us a little about the show you won to earn that accolade
I won the 2007 IFBB Junior World Championship in Hungary.
It was a drug tested show and 36 athletes in my weightclass competed there.
Each and every one of them was the national champion of their respective countries. It was a gathering of almost every nation in the IFBB.
It was a phenomenal experience to win the Overall title and it enabled me to apply for my IFBB Pro Card.
There are mostly no pro qualifying shows in Europe so winning this show was truly a godsend for me.
Following the show, IFBB officials of your particular country decide if they will grant you a Pro Card or not. It didn't feel exactly right at that point since I still looked at bodybuilding from a sports perspective only. However, I was blessed having Ed Connors encouraging me to apply for the Pro Card. I am grateful for this advice he gave me since it changed my life for the better and I am proud I was able to believe in my dream and take the risk to change my life.
RxM: What does your family and friends think about all your accomplishments.
I had a few very important moments in my life where I saw that they supported me without limitations. My parents certainly were the biggest help and guidance. When I tried to combine studying pharmacy at University and my bodybuilding lifestyle, my days turned into 20 hours of work, 7 days a week. I desperately 
tried to do this for 2 semesters to fulfill the expectations of my parents and also follow my passion for the sport that has been the center of my life for 6 years at this point already.
I was close to a nervous breakdown and my parents forced me to make a decision but always encouraged me to do whatever made me happy.
I think this was the biggest blessing I ever had and I want to achieve something great to pass that freedom onto my own children in the future as well. They shall be able to do whatever they want at any point of their life.
Throughout the years i developed a few deep friendships that are based on deep loyalty. My media support Enrico aka ES77-Media became more like a brother and i respect him especially for the family man he is.
Ed Connors always shared his experiences in business with me and I had the chance to listen to this amazing man and benefit from his knowledge. When i was 21 I didn't understand some of his teachings but after seeing his qualities and skills in business, I decided to trust him almost blindly in every word he said. I can truly say that he became like a second father to me.
There are so many more around me and even though bodybuilding is an individual sport, you cannot make it on your own. You need to be willing to share your fortune with other. This will, ultimately, lead you to the biggest achievements in life.
Here at this point i would also like to mention Erika Thompson who you can see in David Paul's photos he 
shot of me. She turned work into pleasure in so many ways and she helps me to find a smile when I am too caught up in business matters that stres me out sometimes. I am too much of a German, sometimes and her Latin spirit balances this out quite well.
RxM: You're very successful in the "business of bodybuilding". Where did you get your marketing savvy and why do you think you're so successful?
I love life and I love what I am doing. I get up in the morning for a reason and I found a meaning in what I do on a daily basis
I came to this point through a lot of suffering and failures and terrible happenings. I just decided that I didn't want to suffer anymore. In this single moment of clarity, my life changed and good things appeared everywhere and in every aspect of my life. It seems like this state of happiness goes hand in hand with your success in business.
Besides the lessons of Ed Connors, I also studied economics in Germany for several semesters until I focused exclusively on pursuing a professional career in bodybuilding.
RxM: What are your bodybuilding goals and aspirations?
I don't like the way the sport is presented right now. The general public looks at us as freaks and simple-minded muscle heads.
I started Bodybuilding after seeing a smiling Arnold, living a great life in sunny California hanging out with beautiful women on the beach.
Right now, you see only hardcore training videos, big "monsters" eating on the strictest meal schedules you can imagine, living a robotic-like existence. That's not really what people in this world desire. Of course there is always a price to pay, but I want to emphasize the good sides of bodybuilding.
I produced a DVD with Body-xtreme.de this year. We focused on this positive message. It is very personal and meaningful to me and i am proud to release it in April at FIBO in Germany.
It will be also available on my website www.bigdanhill.tv Some previews can be seen HERE.
Another personal achievement and goal this year will be an art book called Erocktika which will include photos of Erika and me. The beauty of the human physique can be best portrayed by artists like David Paul who shoots male/female couple shots depicting the perfection and passion of the human form.
RxM: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I hope I will be able to achieve almost everything I dream about. I'd also like to enjoy spending as much time as possible with my (hopefully) many children and wife. I am an only child myself and I always wanted to have a big family in the future.
Short term, I'll just enjoy all the opportunities and experiences bodybuilding brings my way. Traveling around the world, meeting interesting people, making friends and money on the way, and capturing everything on video and picture is something I intend to do.
RxM: Why did you get that tattoo on your shoulder?
My new tattoo symbolizes my attitudes and values I talk about above...
The three words say "Pride Loyalty Love"
Never let anyone touch your PRIDE and live your life in a way you can be proud of everything you ever did...
Be LOYAL to those who were able to touch your heart and be loyal to yourself...
Make LOVE your highest goal. It will complete your life and will give a meaning to everything you do.
To learn more about Dan or to contact him, visit His website www.bigdanhill.tv - the first weekly bodybuilding-based documentary showing the true lifestyle as an IFBB Pro.
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