Fitness Industry Intelligence
The Career Network for Health, Fitness & Performance
Jennifer Halsall has had a stellar twenty five-year career in fitness, and she’s just getting started. Her first job in the industry was as a personal trainer at SportsClub in Canada. Her unique talents and aptitude for leadership were quickly recognized, so she rose to Personal Training Manager, then ran the department for the Canadian market. Remarkably, her personal training career was only the beginning of her journey to top global fitness executive. Jennifer went on to serve as National Director of Personal Training at GoodLife Fitness, amongst other roles, and wherever she went, her teams experienced exponential growth and record-breaking success.
But before she spearheaded high-profile projects and led large teams, she learned fitness acumen and business savvy from her parents after school. Jennifer was born into a family full of fitness entrepreneurs; her mother was a group fitness instructor, and her father was a gym owner. She grew up helping her parents instruct classes with her sister and fell in love with strength training while developing an appreciation for the empowering nature of exercise.
Her passion and dedication are evident in her truly remarkable career, which has included numerous leadership positions, professional memberships, and awards. Jennifer has brought her visionary leadership to the companies she has worked with and given back to the community as the Chief Operating Officer of The Women in Fitness Association and a member of the supervisory board at Morla Moves.
Coach360 had the privilege of speaking with Jennifer about the lessons she’s learned along the way, her advice to new entrepreneurs, and the exciting next chapter she’s embarking on with her innovative consulting agency, launching in late 2024, called The Collective.
In the late 1980s, my parents began working in the fitness industry as a side hustle to supplement their incomes. My mom taught step aerobics back when they used wooden steps, and my dad worked in various bodybuilding gyms before starting his own. I could either be a latchkey kid or get dragged to the gym. For many years, my sister and I demoed the high- and low-intensity options for the choreography in my mom’s classes. Going to the gym with my dad was one of the only ways to spend time with him. I always liked how my body responded to strength training, enjoyed being one of the only girls in the free weight area, and working out became a source of confidence for me during my teenage years.
After graduating, I moved to Toronto and took two short-lived marketing jobs. I got laid off from both, so I took six weeks, got certified, and walked into a SportsClubs of Canada location on Wellington Street in the Toronto financial district. I started as one of the few women on the personal training team.
Personal Trainer turned into Personal Training Manager. I always worked with a talented group of PTs, and the teams I worked with broke records in sales and service. In 2004, I joined the GoodLife Fitness Member Services Department and ran the Personal Training business in many regions across Canada. The Member Services Team was a group of rockstars at the time, and we shifted the focus from selling PT sessions to prescribing PT as part of a lifestyle formula for clients to achieve and sustain their goals. We started a PT advancement program to motivate trainers to raise the bar in their own self-development continually. We paid bonuses on the number of sessions serviced rather than sales commissions. We grew exponentially, broke records, and had a blast doing it.
By 2010, I realized that I wanted to build my own department from the ground up and was searching for an opportunity to do this. I was invited to a Fitness Congress in the Netherlands to give a presentation about Personal Training in Canada. I was introduced to René Moos, founder of the HealthCity and Basic-Fit club chains across Europe, during that visit. We went to dinner the day before my flight home. He took me to this excellent Thai restaurant and ordered the seven-course menu (SEVEN COURSES!!!). We had a good click, and he had terrific ambitions to grow his club chain across Europe; he wanted Personal Training to be a big part of his business. I told him that he needed to hire me as we were getting our appetizers, and by dessert, we had agreed on my position and package. I moved from Toronto to Amsterdam with my family a few months later.
It’s 2011. Professionally, I had everything (I thought) I wanted. The opportunity to craft and launch a fitness concept, to live and work in Europe, and to learn new languages and cultures. It was a big change, and I underestimated how much an international move would impact my personal and professional life. When the opportunity was offered, I was caught up in the excitement and fantasy of it. The first year was so hard. I was the only native English speaker at the office, one of the few women in senior leadership, and I was juggling being a mum of a dazzling daughter and a wife in a crumbling marriage. I washed my clothes in fabric softener for two weeks before knowing the word for laundry detergent. Cate, my daughter, had a full toilet and sleep regression when we moved. I underestimated the impact on her.
My ex-husband and I endured the first strained year, barely hanging on to our marriage, and then decided to split. There were many moments in the first few years of moving to the Netherlands when I felt very alone and doubtful of myself, my strength, and my abilities. I was in the middle of the tunnel, and I just had to keep on going to get to the other side. I found a great group of friends to support me, and the amazing HealthCity team kept me inspired and engaged. Together we started redefining what the Personal Training business could achieve across Europe.
The journey with HealthCity switched gears when the investors saw a stronger business case for budget fitness. The company split into two brands, and the entire head office switched to Basic-Fit. I had a new challenge: how do you provide fitness services when you don’t have staff? I had the fantastic opportunity to pivot and create a new skillset, moving from developing and defining people-driven services to developing and defining content-driven services on different digital platforms to make great fitness programming available to millions. Looking back on it, I feel lucky to have been a part of this team responsible for so much digitalization and innovation.
My last pivot at Basic-Fit was to step out of the Fitness Department completely and start working on understanding fitness customer behaviour and developing the customer journey for more than 2 million (at that time) Basic-Fit members. I had a small incubator team dedicated to developing the journey, testing campaigns, and reporting insights. This initiative eventually rolled into the marketing department and now has at least three teams managing the different journey phases.
That milestone eclipsed my 10-year anniversary at Basic-Fit Health City. I needed a change. We were right in the midst of Covid, Basic-Fit was making cuts, I didn’t want to join the marketing department, so I took a package and left. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but I knew it was time for me to start calling the shots professionally. I started my own business to support companies in the fitness sector with their growth plans.
My initial plan was to take six months, defrag myself, get centered on who/where/how I was right then mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, and make a plan for my next steps. Naturally, the opposite happened. I was two weeks out of Basic-Fit when my first client approached me to step into a fractional role running the Women In Fitness Association as COO. I couldn’t say no; as a feminist, I really wanted the opportunity to make an impact. I was already an ambassador and had co-created a leadership program that we were offering to the WIFA members. I accepted the position and jumped in with both feet.
I lifted my head, and it was 18 months later. The fractional contract had ended, and I still didn’t have a business plan. I had basically treated myself like an employee with my first client rather than really understanding the difference between working for and working with a company. I had another opportunity to hit the reset button and start defining how I wanted to work. I took four months, started working with a coach, and intentionally got to work.
Fast forward to December 2021, and I took on a fractional position with a German Tech company. This time I set clear rules of engagement and milestones: reorganize the department, redefine the key account service strategy, implement both, and pick up the next project.
My second fractional role took nine months, and I rolled right into my third. Each opportunity, I reflected on, got a little sharper with my terms of engagement, scope of practice, working days, and payment terms.
I learned that I really needed to get good at scoping and holding my time boundaries—this is a big challenge for me. As a consultant, if you hire me for two days a week, I need to make sure that is exactly what you get. I am a time optimist, and often the days stretch into each other. This leaves me overextended without enough time to strategically look forward, do my own administration, or conduct new business outreach.
Every time a project or fractional role wrapped, I would find myself feeling a little bit terrified. What next? What if no one wants to work with me? Am I going to be able to earn enough this year? Work is either completely overwhelming or too slow; I can’t deal with the pace change—it’s exhausting. The gremlins were real. In my second year working for myself, I really considered re-entering the job market because I was feeling so insecure. I was able to turn myself around by connecting with a few truths for myself: there is no security even in the job market; I really love the freedom of getting to work with who I choose and on what is meaningful to me; I know that I have delivered great value for my clients and will continue to; I trust in my ability to hustle when I need to. This has turned into my mantra when the gremlins come out. I’m ready for them.
I kept myself out of full-time engagement so that I could pick up smaller projects and start building out my services offered. I wanted to build out frameworks that would be part of my service offerings that I could train other people to work with so I could begin to scale myself. I decided that if I wanted to continue consulting, I needed to build a team. It can be very lonely if you are a company of one.
So here we are in the middle of the next iteration for my company—it started as Duende Solutions. Duende means overwhelming authenticity, which represents my number one value. Duende was a translation of me. At the end of Q3 2024, I will launch The Collective with three powerhouse partners. The concept and the team are growing, and I am really excited and proud of this.
At The Collective, we help health, wellness, and fitness businesses worldwide break free from the grind and focus their growth strategy. We provide a diverse, global perspective and powerful strategies to help you develop a long-term aligned roadmap, accelerate your growth, and optimise your operations. Our expertise empowers you to seize impactful opportunities and drive your business forward with clarity and efficiency. Check us out at https://wearethecollective.world/
Here’s what success looks like for us in the next three months. Our biggest challenge with a great network and experience base is not trying to be all things to all people. Therefore, having a clear and short menu of services is essential for us, but this is still a rumble process. We want to be in a position to grow the core team by the end of 2024. That means having a few big mid/long-term projects on the go.
Nothing is more fulfilling than building a business that aligns with my core values and allows me to work with people I admire and trust. This gift drowns out any voices of insecurity that may come up as we navigate the shifts.
The hardest part of starting as an entrepreneur is doing something alone. My advice to those thinking of taking the leap is to find a partner or a core team. Create a safe collaborative environment where you can inspire each other and hold each other accountable. It’s not easy, but the impact you make on the world is truly your mark to own.
About Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg Lambrych is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
Jennifer Halsall has had a stellar twenty five-year career in fitness, and she’s just getting started. Her first job in the industry was as a personal trainer at SportsClub in Canada. Her unique talents and aptitude for leadership were quickly recognized, so she rose to Personal Training Manager, then ran the department for the Canadian market. Remarkably, her personal training career was only the beginning of her journey to top global fitness executive. Jennifer went on to serve as National Director of Personal Training at GoodLife Fitness, amongst other roles, and wherever she went, her teams experienced exponential growth and record-breaking success.
But before she spearheaded high-profile projects and led large teams, she learned fitness acumen and business savvy from her parents after school. Jennifer was born into a family full of fitness entrepreneurs; her mother was a group fitness instructor, and her father was a gym owner. She grew up helping her parents instruct classes with her sister and fell in love with strength training while developing an appreciation for the empowering nature of exercise.
Her passion and dedication are evident in her truly remarkable career, which has included numerous leadership positions, professional memberships, and awards. Jennifer has brought her visionary leadership to the companies she has worked with and given back to the community as the Chief Operating Officer of The Women in Fitness Association and a member of the supervisory board at Morla Moves.
Coach360 had the privilege of speaking with Jennifer about the lessons she’s learned along the way, her advice to new entrepreneurs, and the exciting next chapter she’s embarking on with her innovative consulting agency, launching in late 2024, called The Collective.
In the late 1980s, my parents began working in the fitness industry as a side hustle to supplement their incomes. My mom taught step aerobics back when they used wooden steps, and my dad worked in various bodybuilding gyms before starting his own. I could either be a latchkey kid or get dragged to the gym. For many years, my sister and I demoed the high- and low-intensity options for the choreography in my mom’s classes. Going to the gym with my dad was one of the only ways to spend time with him. I always liked how my body responded to strength training, enjoyed being one of the only girls in the free weight area, and working out became a source of confidence for me during my teenage years.
After graduating, I moved to Toronto and took two short-lived marketing jobs. I got laid off from both, so I took six weeks, got certified, and walked into a SportsClubs of Canada location on Wellington Street in the Toronto financial district. I started as one of the few women on the personal training team.
Personal Trainer turned into Personal Training Manager. I always worked with a talented group of PTs, and the teams I worked with broke records in sales and service. In 2004, I joined the GoodLife Fitness Member Services Department and ran the Personal Training business in many regions across Canada. The Member Services Team was a group of rockstars at the time, and we shifted the focus from selling PT sessions to prescribing PT as part of a lifestyle formula for clients to achieve and sustain their goals. We started a PT advancement program to motivate trainers to raise the bar in their own self-development continually. We paid bonuses on the number of sessions serviced rather than sales commissions. We grew exponentially, broke records, and had a blast doing it.
By 2010, I realized that I wanted to build my own department from the ground up and was searching for an opportunity to do this. I was invited to a Fitness Congress in the Netherlands to give a presentation about Personal Training in Canada. I was introduced to René Moos, founder of the HealthCity and Basic-Fit club chains across Europe, during that visit. We went to dinner the day before my flight home. He took me to this excellent Thai restaurant and ordered the seven-course menu (SEVEN COURSES!!!). We had a good click, and he had terrific ambitions to grow his club chain across Europe; he wanted Personal Training to be a big part of his business. I told him that he needed to hire me as we were getting our appetizers, and by dessert, we had agreed on my position and package. I moved from Toronto to Amsterdam with my family a few months later.
It’s 2011. Professionally, I had everything (I thought) I wanted. The opportunity to craft and launch a fitness concept, to live and work in Europe, and to learn new languages and cultures. It was a big change, and I underestimated how much an international move would impact my personal and professional life. When the opportunity was offered, I was caught up in the excitement and fantasy of it. The first year was so hard. I was the only native English speaker at the office, one of the few women in senior leadership, and I was juggling being a mum of a dazzling daughter and a wife in a crumbling marriage. I washed my clothes in fabric softener for two weeks before knowing the word for laundry detergent. Cate, my daughter, had a full toilet and sleep regression when we moved. I underestimated the impact on her.
My ex-husband and I endured the first strained year, barely hanging on to our marriage, and then decided to split. There were many moments in the first few years of moving to the Netherlands when I felt very alone and doubtful of myself, my strength, and my abilities. I was in the middle of the tunnel, and I just had to keep on going to get to the other side. I found a great group of friends to support me, and the amazing HealthCity team kept me inspired and engaged. Together we started redefining what the Personal Training business could achieve across Europe.
The journey with HealthCity switched gears when the investors saw a stronger business case for budget fitness. The company split into two brands, and the entire head office switched to Basic-Fit. I had a new challenge: how do you provide fitness services when you don’t have staff? I had the fantastic opportunity to pivot and create a new skillset, moving from developing and defining people-driven services to developing and defining content-driven services on different digital platforms to make great fitness programming available to millions. Looking back on it, I feel lucky to have been a part of this team responsible for so much digitalization and innovation.
My last pivot at Basic-Fit was to step out of the Fitness Department completely and start working on understanding fitness customer behaviour and developing the customer journey for more than 2 million (at that time) Basic-Fit members. I had a small incubator team dedicated to developing the journey, testing campaigns, and reporting insights. This initiative eventually rolled into the marketing department and now has at least three teams managing the different journey phases.
That milestone eclipsed my 10-year anniversary at Basic-Fit Health City. I needed a change. We were right in the midst of Covid, Basic-Fit was making cuts, I didn’t want to join the marketing department, so I took a package and left. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but I knew it was time for me to start calling the shots professionally. I started my own business to support companies in the fitness sector with their growth plans.
My initial plan was to take six months, defrag myself, get centered on who/where/how I was right then mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, and make a plan for my next steps. Naturally, the opposite happened. I was two weeks out of Basic-Fit when my first client approached me to step into a fractional role running the Women In Fitness Association as COO. I couldn’t say no; as a feminist, I really wanted the opportunity to make an impact. I was already an ambassador and had co-created a leadership program that we were offering to the WIFA members. I accepted the position and jumped in with both feet.
I lifted my head, and it was 18 months later. The fractional contract had ended, and I still didn’t have a business plan. I had basically treated myself like an employee with my first client rather than really understanding the difference between working for and working with a company. I had another opportunity to hit the reset button and start defining how I wanted to work. I took four months, started working with a coach, and intentionally got to work.
Fast forward to December 2021, and I took on a fractional position with a German Tech company. This time I set clear rules of engagement and milestones: reorganize the department, redefine the key account service strategy, implement both, and pick up the next project.
My second fractional role took nine months, and I rolled right into my third. Each opportunity, I reflected on, got a little sharper with my terms of engagement, scope of practice, working days, and payment terms.
I learned that I really needed to get good at scoping and holding my time boundaries—this is a big challenge for me. As a consultant, if you hire me for two days a week, I need to make sure that is exactly what you get. I am a time optimist, and often the days stretch into each other. This leaves me overextended without enough time to strategically look forward, do my own administration, or conduct new business outreach.
Every time a project or fractional role wrapped, I would find myself feeling a little bit terrified. What next? What if no one wants to work with me? Am I going to be able to earn enough this year? Work is either completely overwhelming or too slow; I can’t deal with the pace change—it’s exhausting. The gremlins were real. In my second year working for myself, I really considered re-entering the job market because I was feeling so insecure. I was able to turn myself around by connecting with a few truths for myself: there is no security even in the job market; I really love the freedom of getting to work with who I choose and on what is meaningful to me; I know that I have delivered great value for my clients and will continue to; I trust in my ability to hustle when I need to. This has turned into my mantra when the gremlins come out. I’m ready for them.
I kept myself out of full-time engagement so that I could pick up smaller projects and start building out my services offered. I wanted to build out frameworks that would be part of my service offerings that I could train other people to work with so I could begin to scale myself. I decided that if I wanted to continue consulting, I needed to build a team. It can be very lonely if you are a company of one.
So here we are in the middle of the next iteration for my company—it started as Duende Solutions. Duende means overwhelming authenticity, which represents my number one value. Duende was a translation of me. At the end of Q3 2024, I will launch The Collective with three powerhouse partners. The concept and the team are growing, and I am really excited and proud of this.
At The Collective, we help health, wellness, and fitness businesses worldwide break free from the grind and focus their growth strategy. We provide a diverse, global perspective and powerful strategies to help you develop a long-term aligned roadmap, accelerate your growth, and optimise your operations. Our expertise empowers you to seize impactful opportunities and drive your business forward with clarity and efficiency. Check us out at https://wearethecollective.world/
Here’s what success looks like for us in the next three months. Our biggest challenge with a great network and experience base is not trying to be all things to all people. Therefore, having a clear and short menu of services is essential for us, but this is still a rumble process. We want to be in a position to grow the core team by the end of 2024. That means having a few big mid/long-term projects on the go.
Nothing is more fulfilling than building a business that aligns with my core values and allows me to work with people I admire and trust. This gift drowns out any voices of insecurity that may come up as we navigate the shifts.
The hardest part of starting as an entrepreneur is doing something alone. My advice to those thinking of taking the leap is to find a partner or a core team. Create a safe collaborative environment where you can inspire each other and hold each other accountable. It’s not easy, but the impact you make on the world is truly your mark to own.
About Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
After a successful career in college athletics, Dave Thomas found himself at a crossroads. Unhappy in his sales job and feeling destined for more, he took a leap of faith and left his stable but unfulfilling position to enroll in an intensive 6-month fitness education course. This one decision catapulted him into the fitness industry, where he dedicated himself to becoming an exceptional instructor and eventually opened the popular Performance360 gym franchise.
After he finished that first course, he immersed himself in additional coursework and quickly amassed more certifications, including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), USA Weightlifting Coach, Kettlebell Specialist, Precision Nutrition Coach, and many more. What began as a solo mobile training operation that he ran out of his Nissan has become a thriving fitness empire with 17 locations open or in development. Thomas credits the growth of Performance360 to a relatable brand and a unique approach to health.
In addition to building a gym franchise, he has received ten certifications, coached over 5,000 classes, written over 2,000 fitness blogs, developed brand coaching systems and the P360 Coach Academy, and designed the fitness program for Performance360.
Coach360 spoke with Thomas about his philosophy on coaching education, how he connects and inspires his clients, and what he learned from building a gym from the ground up. Keep reading to hear his advice for new coaches and the two attributes he looks for in every hire.
My superpower as a Coach and now brand voice has always been “relatability.” I drink beer. I eat burritos. I don’t meal prep. And I have never pretended otherwise. Of course, I also emphasize a fit, healthy lifestyle with regular movement, a daily foundation of healthy eating, and aggressive training 3-4x per week, but it’s been my ability to blend the everyday normal indulgences as a fitness professional that has driven my success, and the brand’s.
I first became a Coach in 2010 after deciding to leave my corporate job on a crazy whim that I could open a gym in San Diego. I have always been in good shape (thanks mostly to good genetics), I had a background in fitness after playing four years of Division I athletics, but I have never been an obvious “fitness guy” when you look at me. I’m not jacked. I have never been the strongest person in any room of fellow coaches. So I knew back then that my path to success was through being relatable and making that which is intimidating not so. The ability for someone to see how I lived and then believing that fitness could seamlessly fit into their life, as well. Without the plastic tubberware on the go, chicken and rice diets, and sipping aminos during a workout nonsense.
I was, and am, just myself – and I think that authenticity has served me well in the manifestation of being relatable to my core customers.
The turning point for me was sitting on the floor of my shower at 5am before going to my sales job (that I was horrible at), and realizing this was not what I was here to do. I have always been entrepreneurial and after that aha moment of depressing self pity, I went into work that day, gave my notice, and enrolled in a local fitness education program that was an intensive 6 month crash course of kinesiology and nutritional sciences. Cost me $6,000 that I did not have but to me, it was more about the signal of taking this seriously for myself than anything else.
I just believed very, VERY strongly that the fitness landscape at the time was missing a brand that spoke to the everyday person trying to improve themselves. The person who did not want to live a boring, flavorless lifestyle just to get into shape. I believed there was a niche to be served by making complex fitness accessible, not intimidating, and so I dove headfirst into acquiring as much knowledge as I could to serve that goal.
I think mine were pretty typical to everyone starting out. Finding clients and generating enough income to survive. Luckily, I started this journey with no real bills and no kids so it afforded me the runway to really develop my craft and not have the pressure of immediate success. Most people who follow Performance360 have no idea that it started out as me running it out of my Nissan for two years prior to the gym opening. I would hustle and do boot camps for my friends, drive an hour to train someone at their house, and essentially take clients as early as 4 am and as late as 10 pm. This gave me a crash course in how to talk to people and get through to many different types of clients. and was a critical foundation to the DNA of how we communicated at what would become Performance360.
I started out before there were so many amazing resources like this one and back in the 2010s it was all about certifications. So I took as many of them as I possibly could. General personal training, nutrition, kettlebell, Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, got my CSCS…if it was offered there is a strong chance I got the certification. I think to try and whittle that down into advice for up and coming coaches now it would be to expose yourself to as much education as possible. I think the advice of finding a niche is one that is terribly overdone. The old saying of “A jack of all trades is a master of none” is always misquoted, as the full quote of that is “A jack of all trades is a master of none…but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
So what I found to be most valuable for me was a wide range of skills and knowledge, it enabled me to apply little pieces of that to different clients rather than be pigeonholed and limited in my communication and coaching.
Accumulate as much knowledge as you can, the chances of you being singularly successful in one niche is very slim and requires a ton of luck.
Here’s the truth no one else will tell you. If you want a career in fitness, you need to decide why you are interested in it. Is it for passion and lifestyle freedom? Or is it financial? If it is for passion and lifestyle freedom, there is no better route one can take in my honest opinion. The ability to work a flexible schedule that is often far less than the 40 hour office grind most have to endure, interact with great clients, the sense of achievement in helping someone, and being a positive role model in your community are all invaluable.
However, there are not many paths that offer upward mobility financially in a way that scale your time to earn you more money. That’s just a fact. Many coaches often overstate their skill sets in other areas just because they were a successful coach. If you want to keep progressing in fitness, you need to learn business, management, and be ready to make yourself invaluable to your employers so that there is continued value in all that you offer beyond just the skills you have as a coach.
That, or just open up a Performance360, of course 🙂
There’s two that I look for. Buy in and coachability. I care very little about what you’ve achieved in your career prior to Performance360. It’s nice and the obvious reason we are interested in you, but I care about how much you buy into the culture we have here at Performance360. Because if I am not able to get you to buy in, then you won’t be in a position to let your unique skills and value shine.
Beyond that, if you are not coachable then I know you have a ceiling that likely is not as high as you think it is, or want it to be. Team members who are bought in and coachable are the people that I have historically committed the majority of my mentorship and opportunity to.
We are one of the only concepts that offers you the ability to never have coached in your life and have that ultimately turn into being a gym owner. In fact, there are several in our culture now that I can show you as thriving. We offer real development for those who want it. It doesn’t happen overnight and requires willingness to commit and be patient, but so far, every coach who has wanted to open a Performance360 in our culture has, to date.
I believe very much that every coach should have an upward path if they show themselves as capable, consistent, and loyal. And I am very proud to say that has been the cornerstone of our brand growth.
What got you here is not necessarily going to get you there. Regularly ask your mentors or team managers how you can get better, and never stop doing this. It is absolutely incredible to me how few people do this because they think they are already an elite achiever. You will likely find that person is very interested in your success and seeing you thrive. We all have blindspots. Minimize yours as much as possible and you’ll succeed to a level far beyond those who refuse to address them.
Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg Lambrych is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
What if you could predict and prevent a client’s injury before it happened? What if you could offer ultra-specific exercise prescription based on their exact genetic makeup to prevent disease and maximize results? With whole genome DNA sequencing technology, you may be able to do both very soon.
Join Kathleen Ferguson, Founder and CEO of Coach360, on the DNA of Things Podcast as she sits down with Dr. Jeremy Koenig to discuss the tremendous potential of DNA sequencing in unlocking a new level of holistic health for all.
Dr. Koenig holds a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology with additional postgraduate education in molecular genetics and serves as a leading business advisor in the realm of DNA sequencing for health and fitness companies. In this episode, Ferguson and Dr. Koenig explore possible applications of this burgeoning technology and how health and fitness coaches can use this data to empower their clients with a hyper-focused plan based on actionable insights gleaned from your client’s DNA. They also highlight the importance of advanced education opportunities for health and wellness coaches and the vital role that community plays in professional coaching development.
The future of fitness is here, and it’s all about data-driven personalization. Listen to the episode here.
https://dna.sequencing.com/coach360/?rfsn=8012288.301da6
Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg Lambrych is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
Under the hot desert sun, Anita Graves Martinez, CPT, SNS, an experienced NCSF personal trainer and Barre instructor, is helping her clients become stronger and more graceful at Barreista, Northern New Mexico’s only full Barre and bounce studio.
Despite her current status as an accomplished athlete and instructor, Martinez’s fitness journey was not without its challenges. As a child, she struggled to stay active and often found movement more difficult than her peers. It wasn’t until years later that she discovered the reason behind this–a heart valve defect diagnosis. This news, instead of discouraging her, became the catalyst for a significant change in her life.
Opting for a holistic route to symptom management, Martinez increased her strength and endurance and improved her quality of life. Once she experienced the incredible benefits of exercise, she was hooked. She poured herself into learning everything she could about fitness, which sparked a fire in her and made her want to help others.
After years of dedicated study and earning numerous credentials, including a career diploma in Fitness, Nutrition, and Medical Terminology, and certifications as a Personal Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist, Martinez was ready to make her mark. In 2018, she opened her own studio, offering a unique blend of Barre and Bounce classes, and personal training, providing fitness solutions for everyone in her community.
Thanks to her incredible coaching acumen, personal warmth, and boundless positivity, the studio survived the COVID-19 pandemic and is thriving today. Keep reading to learn more about Martinez’s inspiring journey and her advice to up-and-coming fitness professionals and gym owners.
I simply wanted to help people. I feel like people in general have a mental block towards health and fitness. It’s their last resort. It might seem easier to take the medication and feel miserable instead moving, eating well and being informed. It took years for me to help myself. I had the motivation but not the education. Through trial and error, I figured it out, what was best for me and my body and at that time. But I went the long away around because I simply was not educated. It’s a lifestyle. You don’t turn it on and off , you look for ways to improve your health with things you already enjoy. I just wanted fitness and nutrition advice to be attainable and affordable to everyone and help them realize it’s easier than they think. Maybe not initially. But that’s where I can help. Help them love it and make it a habit for life. Realizing it’s not a one size fits all. Every client is unique, so every meal and exercise is also unique.
Listening. I learn so much from my clients. When one teaches two learn. Empathy is powerful. From that, I show them their super powers , not mine. It’s not about me….. it’s always about the needs of my clients. Before I recommend, I commend. That gives them the chance to see how powerful they can be.
As a child I always loved movement and wanted to move. I wanted to dance, run, learn gymnastics. I couldn’t seem to keep up with the rest. I was always breathless, felt heavy , and that embarrassed me. Years later I found out I had a heart defect. Three of my heart valves were dysfunctional. My Dr. described my dysfunction as walking up hill all the time. My heart was working hard, and it just made sense. But I wasn’t content taking medication that made me feel ill and feeling sorry for myself. I felt I needed to change my habits but had no idea where to start. I knew I needed to lose weight and eat heart friendly. I wanted to help my heart by not overworking it with extra weight and fatty foods. I knew walking could help and eliminating some foods. Before I knew it I was 30 pounds lighter, I was jogging and my walks were longer and longer, turning into hikes. I was climbing at elevations above 13,000 feet. Amazing for a girl with a heart defect! I was basically a vegan by this point. Slowly eliminating meats and all dairy. I felt amazing. The Drs said I saved my own life.
Because I had no background in movement I was very shy in my body, very insecure and embarrassed. I’m shy by nature. I’d see other fitness trainers and they seemed to be so strong, outgoing, lively and that’s just not me. I lacked self confidence and didn’t believe in myself. I also didn’t feel fit or strong.
I educated myself. I studied and studied and loved every minute of it. I also decided it didn’t matter what others thought of me. What mattered is what I thought of me. So I started loving my body and appreciating all it’s done for me. It gave me two beautiful babies. I slowly started to love myself. I slowly started to give myself credit. I started to believe in myself. This is also when I fell in love with barre and started feeling strong. I realized that fitness and nutrition came very easily to me, and not everything does! So I feel like I was meant to do this. I think we all have gifts, it’s what we do with them that matters. Giving back is so important to me. Honestly, I think all my life I was doing the wrong things. I love fitness, nutrition, health, helping people love themselves enough to be happy again. I’ve grown into the person I always wanted to be as a child but some how couldn’t. I believe we grow into the person we needed as a child. So now I am that happy, outgoing lively, fit person because I am truly doing what I love. I want to help those that are shy, insecure or have low self esteem. I want to help people who are confused, overwhelmed, tired and weak. I’m their cheerleader, mentor, life coach. I absolutely love teaching barre in class settings… it will always terrify me!! But it keeps me challenged and humble… I love on line training, one on one training. I need both to balance me!!
I’ve learned and want others to realize, patience and consistency is key. Be patient with your body, listen to it, love it. If you fall, get back up. Don’t give up on yourself. Be consistent. A five minute workout is better than no workout. Consistency when it comes to eating. Take the time, make the time for yourself. We all need the best versions of ourselves to help one another. Everyone is worth it! Find an exercise you love. You’ll stick with it. I enjoy different forms of exercise. But my love is barre. I love the movement, the lengthening, the core balance /strength and endurance it gives me. My inner child is dancing away inside!!
My husband and children supported me and believed in me when I didn’t. That means a lot. And education. Lots of continuing education. It doesn’t end. You’re constantly learning and I welcome it. This is not a guessing game. People lives can be at stake. I don’t just work with young ones that are already fit. I’ve had the privilege of working with all ages and medical backgrounds. I’ve helped so many lower their numbers safely. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, weight loss, hormone balancing . I work with Drs and chiropractors. Always listening and learning. A shout out to NCSF. They’re certification program is most valuable along with their continuing education and support through the years. I take advantage of this!! I love barré fitness and there’s so many variations. I’ve tried to learn as much as I can . I use what I can and dismiss what I feel doesn’t work with myself and my clients. I saw the need to help clients with lower back issues. I recently got certified as a lower back specialist with NCSF
Like Nike… just do it. Don’t let yourself hold you back. We’re all capable of great things. We just have to figure out what they are. I always remember and love this saying… “what if I fall? But what if I fly!!” If you really love it , it will show. Be authentic, be true to yourself and educate yourself. When you do something you love, people will love it too. They will respect you. I’ve had the honor of opening many doors for many people and have seen them walk through! I also believe finding your niche in the fitness industry is so important. I didn’t start off wanting to be a certified personal trainer. I initially fell in love with barre . But to know it well and teach it well I needed to understand the body. I didn’t want a weekend or online certification. I completed the NCSF certification program. It took 4 years of studying at a fast pace. I became a certified personal trainer and certified in sport nutrition. That was my umbrella. From there I was ready to be certified in barre. I’ve earned two barre certifications. Barre Forte and Barre Concept. The latter, an international accredited certification where I continue to study. It was there that I was certified as a rebounding instructor.
I will always be moving and educating myself. Sharing what I’m learning with others. Enhancing people’s lives. Being a support . My barre studio made it through Covid stronger than ever, so hopefully in 5 years it will still be going strong, thanks to all who believe in it and support it. Change is constant. I believe in moving with it and staying relevant.
Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg Lambrych is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
Through dedication, passion, and resilience, Haley Manning has built a remarkable fitness career that spans over ten years. Her passion lies in group fitness and nurturing the growth of children through fitness development. Currently holding the esteemed position of Senior Head Coach at Orangetheory Fitness, Haley’s exceptional achievements have earned her a well-deserved nomination for the highly coveted 2024 IDEA® Industry Awards Emerging Trailblazer of the Year. This recognition is a testament to her innovative methods of creating dynamic fitness and wellness communities and her commitment to excellence in serving the industry.
Throughout her journey of personal and professional growth, Haley encountered various obstacles. However, she made a conscious decision to lean into her fitness community, which provided her with comfort, unwavering encouragement, and authentic relationships. By fully immersing herself in this community daily and adopting a more compassionate coaching style, she fostered stronger connections with her clients and colleagues. Consequently, she played a pivotal role in cultivating a safe and inclusive environment where individuals could show up and be their most authentic selves.
Continue reading to discover the valuable lessons she gained and the numerous advantages of establishing a fitness community centered around authenticity and support.
My journey as a fitness professional began long before I earned my degrees, certifications, or stepped into the role of guiding others towards their health goals. It commenced as an athlete, where my passion for physical activity and its transformative power first ignited. I found myself drawn to the fitness industry. It was a field where I could merge my love for athleticism with my desire to help others achieve their goals and embrace their health journeys.
If I had to identify my “superpower”, it would be creating a sense of community and belonging for each of my clients. In alignment with my personal mission statement; to empower individuals to be in control of their own health and wellness journeys through proper education and community support. I believe that everyone has the potential to achieve their health goals, and it is my role to guide them, educate them, and provide the support they need to succeed.
My late mother was a significant influence in creating what my mission as a fitness professional is. In the last few months of her life as I watched her battle her illness, despite her life expectancy dwindling, her ability to bring a vibrant, infectious energy each day was incredible to witness. To this day, I still receive messages from my mom’s friends, colleagues, neighbors (even hospice caretakers) reciting funny stories and fond memories. I am lucky to have been graced with a parent who had such a positive outlook, going further than just welcoming any stranger, but genuinely making them feel loved, included and empowered. She spent her entire life creating incredible and meaningful relationships; in honoring her memory, I aim to bring that same spirit into my life.
Throughout my journey as a fitness professional, I faced several significant personal challenges. One of the most profound difficulties was dealing with the loss of two parents. This period was incredibly tough emotionally and mentally, as I grappled with grief while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in my professional life. During this time of in my early twenties I was already trying to navigate career decisions in a competitive industry and deal with the challenges of a cross-country move, which meant leaving behind familiar surroundings and a support network, and adjusting to a new environment, both personally and professionally.
Addressing and overcoming these challenges required a multifaceted approach. Leaning into my fitness community played a crucial role. Instead of adhering to the outdated notion that personal trainers must always be ‘cheerful’ or ‘upbeat’, I embraced a more human approach. I allowed myself to be vulnerable and honest about my struggles, which not only helped me heal, but also strengthened my connections with my clients.
The most valuable forms of support and resources I’ve found in the fitness industry have come from networking! The adage “you only know what you know until someone knows better” rings especially true in this industry. I am so grateful to be working in an industry with so many intelligent people who are constantly researching and discovering new ways to achieve optimal health and peak fitness shape, along with the technology we are using to track and test our bodies responses to exercise and nutrition is constantly getting sharper. We are working in a society where accessibility has never been easier, thanks to social media platforms and virtual meetings.
Attending events such as IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) and IDEA World has been transformative for my career. These events not only offer incredible educational opportunities that have kept me updated on the latest research and trends in fitness. However, beyond the education, the networking and connection-making opportunities at these events are second to none. Meeting other professionals, sharing experiences, and learning from each other has been invaluable.
The fitness industry is full of individuals who love to chat—many of us have spent significant time teaching a crowd while talking on a microphone, so we are in no shortage of expressive, motivated people who enjoy sharing their knowledge! The entire premise of ‘personal training’ started from a notion of an expert teaching others.
Networking is one of the most crucial elements for success in this field. The fitness industry is filled with intelligent, passionate individuals who are constantly researching and discovering new ways to achieve better health outcomes. By connecting with these professionals, you can learn from their experiences and gain insights that you might not find in textbooks or online courses. Attend industry events like IHRSA and IDEA World, which offer not only incredible educational opportunities but also unparalleled chances to network. Engaging in conversations, sharing knowledge, and building relationships fellow fitness enthusiasts can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations. Remember, the fitness industry thrives on communication, and many professionals love to share their experiences and insights.
It’s important to find your niche within the fitness industry and focus on areas that you are passionate about. Whether it’s strength training, yoga, nutrition, or another specialty, choosing something you enjoy will make your work more fulfilling and sustainable. Your enthusiasm for your niche will be evident to your clients and will help you build a loyal client base. Specializing also allows you to become an expert in a specific area, which can set you apart from other trainers and coaches.
As I continue to grow in a leadership role, developing beginning fitness professionals, I see it as my goal and duty to ensure that these candidates seek proper, accredited education and gain in-depth content knowledge. It’s malpractice for fitness specialists to shortcut the education process when individuals in their community are trusting them with their health and wellness. Quality education forms the foundation of your practice and ensures that you are providing safe and effective guidance to your clients. By nurturing an environment rooted in quality practices, you can elevate the industry, creating student-centered instructors and trainers who prioritize the client’s experience, emotions, and results.
How often do we tell clients, “consistency is key” – the same is true for us! Continue to show up for yourself and your clients, even on the hard days when you lack motivation. Lean into your dedication, passion and remember the reason you chose this career path. Your commitment will not only help you achieve your personal and professional goals but also inspire your clients to stay committed to their fitness journeys. Building trust and reliability with your clients is essential for long-term success. Being authentic and empathic when dealing with challenges is honorable!
I often joke that, “the only constant in the fitness industry is change”, this is something I’ve had to learn the hard way and still continue to be a lesson. I really enjoy where I am at this point in my career, being a Senior Head Coach at Orangetheory Fitness apart of the ASPYR team in Southern California. I have such a strong community of both colleagues and clients who I’ve been fortunate enough to build strong relationships with and who are rooted in similar values as me. As an educator, it is paramount that I continue to be a lifelong learner myself, so I am constantly trying to sharpen my craft and enhance my practice. I am looking forward to the next five years of fitness and technology advancements and how I can become an expert in utilizing them.
Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg Lambrych is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
Through dedication, passion, and resilience, Haley Manning has built a remarkable fitness career that spans over ten years. Her passion lies in group fitness and nurturing the growth of children through fitness development. Currently holding the esteemed position of Senior Head Coach at Orangetheory Fitness, Haley’s exceptional achievements have earned her a well-deserved nomination for the highly coveted 2024 IDEA® Industry Awards Emerging Trailblazer of the Year. This recognition is a testament to her innovative methods of creating dynamic fitness and wellness communities and her commitment to excellence in serving the industry.
Throughout her journey of personal and professional growth, Haley encountered various obstacles. However, she made a conscious decision to lean into her fitness community, which provided her with comfort, unwavering encouragement, and authentic relationships. By fully immersing herself in this community daily and adopting a more compassionate coaching style, she fostered stronger connections with her clients and colleagues. Consequently, she played a pivotal role in cultivating a safe and inclusive environment where individuals could show up and be their most authentic selves.
Continue reading to discover the valuable lessons she gained and the numerous advantages of establishing a fitness community centered around authenticity and support.
My journey as a fitness professional began long before I earned my degrees, certifications, or stepped into the role of guiding others towards their health goals. It commenced as an athlete, where my passion for physical activity and its transformative power first ignited. I found myself drawn to the fitness industry. It was a field where I could merge my love for athleticism with my desire to help others achieve their goals and embrace their health journeys.
If I had to identify my “superpower”, it would be creating a sense of community and belonging for each of my clients. In alignment with my personal mission statement; to empower individuals to be in control of their own health and wellness journeys through proper education and community support. I believe that everyone has the potential to achieve their health goals, and it is my role to guide them, educate them, and provide the support they need to succeed.
My late mother was a significant influence in creating what my mission as a fitness professional is. In the last few months of her life as I watched her battle her illness, despite her life expectancy dwindling, her ability to bring a vibrant, infectious energy each day was incredible to witness. To this day, I still receive messages from my mom’s friends, colleagues, neighbors (even hospice caretakers) reciting funny stories and fond memories. I am lucky to have been graced with a parent who had such a positive outlook, going further than just welcoming any stranger, but genuinely making them feel loved, included and empowered. She spent her entire life creating incredible and meaningful relationships; in honoring her memory, I aim to bring that same spirit into my life.
Throughout my journey as a fitness professional, I faced several significant personal challenges. One of the most profound difficulties was dealing with the loss of two parents. This period was incredibly tough emotionally and mentally, as I grappled with grief while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in my professional life. During this time of in my early twenties I was already trying to navigate career decisions in a competitive industry and deal with the challenges of a cross-country move, which meant leaving behind familiar surroundings and a support network, and adjusting to a new environment, both personally and professionally.
Addressing and overcoming these challenges required a multifaceted approach. Leaning into my fitness community played a crucial role. Instead of adhering to the outdated notion that personal trainers must always be ‘cheerful’ or ‘upbeat’, I embraced a more human approach. I allowed myself to be vulnerable and honest about my struggles, which not only helped me heal, but also strengthened my connections with my clients.
The most valuable forms of support and resources I’ve found in the fitness industry have come from networking! The adage “you only know what you know until someone knows better” rings especially true in this industry. I am so grateful to be working in an industry with so many intelligent people who are constantly researching and discovering new ways to achieve optimal health and peak fitness shape, along with the technology we are using to track and test our bodies responses to exercise and nutrition is constantly getting sharper. We are working in a society where accessibility has never been easier, thanks to social media platforms and virtual meetings.
Attending events such as IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) and IDEA World has been transformative for my career. These events not only offer incredible educational opportunities that have kept me updated on the latest research and trends in fitness. However, beyond the education, the networking and connection-making opportunities at these events are second to none. Meeting other professionals, sharing experiences, and learning from each other has been invaluable.
The fitness industry is full of individuals who love to chat—many of us have spent significant time teaching a crowd while talking on a microphone, so we are in no shortage of expressive, motivated people who enjoy sharing their knowledge! The entire premise of ‘personal training’ started from a notion of an expert teaching others.
Networking is one of the most crucial elements for success in this field. The fitness industry is filled with intelligent, passionate individuals who are constantly researching and discovering new ways to achieve better health outcomes. By connecting with these professionals, you can learn from their experiences and gain insights that you might not find in textbooks or online courses. Attend industry events like IHRSA and IDEA World, which offer not only incredible educational opportunities but also unparalleled chances to network. Engaging in conversations, sharing knowledge, and building relationships fellow fitness enthusiasts can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations. Remember, the fitness industry thrives on communication, and many professionals love to share their experiences and insights.
It’s important to find your niche within the fitness industry and focus on areas that you are passionate about. Whether it’s strength training, yoga, nutrition, or another specialty, choosing something you enjoy will make your work more fulfilling and sustainable. Your enthusiasm for your niche will be evident to your clients and will help you build a loyal client base. Specializing also allows you to become an expert in a specific area, which can set you apart from other trainers and coaches.
As I continue to grow in a leadership role, developing beginning fitness professionals, I see it as my goal and duty to ensure that these candidates seek proper, accredited education and gain in-depth content knowledge. It’s malpractice for fitness specialists to shortcut the education process when individuals in their community are trusting them with their health and wellness. Quality education forms the foundation of your practice and ensures that you are providing safe and effective guidance to your clients. By nurturing an environment rooted in quality practices, you can elevate the industry, creating student-centered instructors and trainers who prioritize the client’s experience, emotions, and results.
How often do we tell clients, “consistency is key” – the same is true for us! Continue to show up for yourself and your clients, even on the hard days when you lack motivation. Lean into your dedication, passion and remember the reason you chose this career path. Your commitment will not only help you achieve your personal and professional goals but also inspire your clients to stay committed to their fitness journeys. Building trust and reliability with your clients is essential for long-term success. Being authentic and empathic when dealing with challenges is honorable!
I often joke that, “the only constant in the fitness industry is change”, this is something I’ve had to learn the hard way and still continue to be a lesson. I really enjoy where I am at this point in my career, being a Senior Head Coach at Orangetheory Fitness apart of the ASPYR team in Southern California. I have such a strong community of both colleagues and clients who I’ve been fortunate enough to build strong relationships with and who are rooted in similar values as me. As an educator, it is paramount that I continue to be a lifelong learner myself, so I am constantly trying to sharpen my craft and enhance my practice. I am looking forward to the next five years of fitness and technology advancements and how I can become an expert in utilizing them.
Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg Lambrych is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
An accomplished former professional athlete, author, and successful entrepreneur, Giselle Barbosa has already achieved more than most people do in a lifetime at a young age. Her athletic accomplishments are made all the more impressive when you consider she was born with a significant birth defect.
Barbosa was born with Poland Syndrome, a rare condition where a baby is born without certain muscles on one side of their body, which can lead to significant disabilities. In her case, she was born without her left pectoral muscle. Determined to give her the best chance possible, her physician recommended she start swimming at a very young age to help her develop her muscles and build strength, and she’s never looked back.
Her journey didn’t stop at conquering the pool. She went on to excel in every sport her school offered, competed worldwide in CrossFit, authored a children’s book, and founded multiple companies. Her latest venture, Reflect, is a testament to her innovative spirit and commitment to enhancing people’s health and fitness journeys.
Keep reading to learn more about her inspiring journey from a star athlete to a multi-business founder.
As an athlete you’re constantly looking for ways to monetize your career, whether that be through sponsorships or coaching. And so I took up coaching while I was competing. During this time I also co-founded the first mental health and wellness business in Web3. It was acquired after a year, which was around the same time that I obtained a career ending knee injury. When my current co-founder and CTO came to me with the idea of Reflect, it seemed natural to dive in head first. With my background in fitness, coaching, sports psychology and business, it was a natural progression and I knew we were going to make it into something big.
I honestly feel like there are a lot of carryovers from coaching to starting a company. You understand discipline, organization, delegation and how to work with a team. You understand people; what they want and how to provide them with a service. You’re constantly learning to keep up with the latest studies in and around health and fitness. So I would say my biggest challenge was finding balance in my work. Understanding that as a founder of a health and fitness company, I too needed to practice what I preached. To prioritize my health and fitness and to make that as important as the work itself.
Definitely surrounding myself with good people. And when I say good people, I don’t mean “yes men” or people who are always celebrating you. People who you look up to and take on a mentorship role in your life. People who are not afraid to tell you when you’re wrong. Resources and publications like Coach360 to stay up-to-date with the latest trends help a lot when it comes to daily learning and staying ahead. Like you learn in sports – it’s good to be aware of your surroundings, but always focus on what you are doing and stay in your lane.
Take time to research your market and your customers’ pain points. Before you start building anything, interview them and collect data so that you know exactly what people want. A lot of the time you are building for other people, not yourself. Never stop learning. Actively mark out time in your day to read about what is going on in the health and fitness space so that you do not get left behind. And understand the difference between busyness and productivity. Learn to be outcome based instead of filling your days with endless work. This really is where the power of AI helps.
I get a lot of satisfaction from fixing problems that I had experienced during my time as a coach (and as an online and in-person athlete). I don’t want people to go through those same experiences, and so being creative with problem solving has been very rewarding. I also love people and building communities. That is something that makes me extremely happy when starting a company – bringing like-minded people together and helping them achieve their goals. We measure success by how much our users are earning. So simply the more our coaches earn, the more we know we are doing a good job.
Meg Lambrych, RN, NASM-CPT, PN-1
Meg Lambrych is a registered nurse, personal trainer, and nutritionist with 15 years of experience helping people reach their goals and expand their knowledge. She now works as a freelance health writer, partnering with innovative brands to educate and inspire readers in the digital publishing space.
Powering the Business of Health, Fitness, and Wellness Coaching
