She Inspires: Letters To You

She Inspires: Letters To You

Hey You,

If I could say one thing to you it would be: find your SMILE. Find the place within yourself that no matter what’s going on, you can smile anyway because you know that no storm lasts forever. Even when hard times come and the rain seems like it will never end, remember it will! You can never see the light of the sunshine if your head is held down in defeat. Trust me, I know times get hard, but times have been hard before, and you will make it through this-as you always do. I wanted to take this time to encourage you in case no one else does. I want to remind you to acknowledge the rhythm that continues to pump inside your chest despite any opposition you face. And when the tears cloud your vision sometimes, remember we walk by faith not by sight! No matter what you do JUST HOLD ON. Believe that you can make it and trust that when you do, you’ll gain strength that you never thought you possessed, and yet it’s been right inside you all along.

Just a quick letter to YOU.

LIGHT and LOVE,

Khojdeshia Denise

She Owns It: Conversations with an Entrepreneur, Stephanie Pollock from Working Out in Paradise

She Owns It: Conversations with an Entrepreneur, Stephanie Pollock from Working Out in Paradise

Meet your new favorite fitness coach! She’s spunky, she’s positive and she wants to help you get in the best shape of your life, even if you don’t live in Hawaii. (Yes, she has a virtual boot camp!) With a personal fitness story that motivates her to help other women get fit, this mama is on a mission and isn’t slowing down anytime soon!

What’s the story behind Working out in Paradise? What experience birthed this business?

In 2013 I purchased a previously existing company that I had been working for in our area. I loved my job and was pumped to start my own business! I changed the name and the logo and started my own formats. I spent my first year really discovering my brand and what I wanted for Working out in Paradise. I wanted to make fitness available to women in my community. It needed to be challenging and still be fun and supportive. Something that women in my community would look forward too and be excited about! I thought about my own journey and what would have made it easier, better or would have made me do it sooner. I hope that this is what Working out in Paradise can do.

What’s the hardest part about owning your own fitness business?

Constantly reminding myself that I do not have to be perfect. It is very hard to not compare my body or my business to others. Sometime I find myself wondering if I would make more money doing what I do if I had the “perfect” body. But then I stop myself, because that is the exact opposite of what my brand is all about! I tell my clients not to compare themselves to others, and neither can I. I am not perfect, I eat my pizza and drink my beer too. And I am absolutely honest about it with my clients, and they really appreciate that.

What has been your most successful networking tool?

BNI Business Networking International. It is a group of business owners who meet once a week to give and receive business referrals. The theory behind it is that “givers gain” We keep an ear out for business opportunities for the members in our chapter. And then go one step further to introduce, connect, or refer that business for them. So that you have your own little army of sales people that have a network you would never even know about. There are chapters all over the world passing millions of dollars’ worth of referrals. Look up a local chapter in your area and attend as a visitor. I highly recommend it for all businesses but especially for the entrepreneurs!

People can now do the boot camp virtually. Tell us more about your online boot camp and how that came to be? How can we join?

I just launched this format 2 weeks ago. I was getting so many requests for this type of format I could not ignore it anymore. I have followers, family, friends, and referrals from all over the country telling me that they wish I was closer to them. Thankfully, these days, we can be everywhere all at once! My camps right now run through Facebook in secret groups. I create the group and add in the members so no one else can see what we are up to. It’s like our secret Facebook fitness club house. You get 5 workouts per week. The workouts range from speed, endurance and strength training, and is great for all fitness levels. You also get the Working Out in Paradise nutrition manual, as well as personal contact with myself for any questions or concerns you have during the boot camp. I also share tips, advice, and knowledge daily on creating a healthy and fit life style. We have weekly challenges and a participation winner each round. The cost for this group is $30.00 for 30 days. For details on when the next group starts, you can email me at workingoutinparadise@yahoo.com

If you could pick 3 words that best describe your brand what would they be?

Fun, motivating, and supportive

If someone is coming to one of your classes, what should they expect?

Kids! All of my classes are keiki (Hawaiian for child) friendly. So besides the sweat, pumping music, and burpees, there are usually a few little kiddos running around too.

There’s a lot of fitness guru’s out there, what makes your brand different and how do you manage to stand out amongst the many faces?

My own personal journey. I myself lost over 70 pounds 2009. I know how difficult it can be to get started. I can relate to my clients when they are giving up all the foods, drinks, and bad habits. Change is hard. When someone can relate to you and give you tips and advice from their own experience, it seems more possible. Something else that make me different is that my classes are all keiki (kid in Hawaiian) friendly. I started this company when my son was 3 months old, and he has been attending classes with me ever since. I think it sets such a great example to our children when they see their parents making their health a priority. That example trickles down to own families, community, and peers. I just always stay true to myself and to my clients. We try not to take anything too seriously. We sweat a lot, but we laugh and have fun too. Fitness has to be fun! Also, there is the gym. I don’t think you have ever been in a gym quite like the Wild Wahine Boot Camp gym. It may just be a covered drive way but it is on our 2 acre plantation on the North Shore. It is a great outdoors and private venue. We are so lucky to be able to work out in such a beautiful environment. It really is working out in paradise.

What is your number one advice for someone who wants to get into the fitness market but is finding a hard time breaking into it?

Stick with it. Just like with fitness results, this takes time. Stay consistent. There is a lack of that in trainers and coaches in this industry. Your clients need to know that they can depend on you, day after day. I would also suggest really working on social media. It is so crucial these days! Spend a little bit of money to get some training in that area. It is worth it.

Where do you see WOIP 10 years from now?

Honestly, I hope I am doing the exact same thing I am doing now, just with a wider reach. I’m out here on a little corner of an island in the middle of the ocean, but I hope to be able to reach the world, and inspire them to take control of their health!

Find more of Stephanie and Working Out in Paradise on Instagram @workingoutinparadise

She Empowers: When the Going Gets Tough

She Empowers: When the Going Gets Tough

 

Life is real and sometimes we face challenging times that make us feel as if the next step forward is a thousand miles away. When this happens, here are a few ways to help you during the difficult times in your life:

 

  1. Hit the Reset Button

When we hit road blocks in life, the blow can hit us so hard that we lose focus on the bigger picture. Understand that this is okay. It’s called life and the longer we live, the more we experience. When we experience curve balls in life, take a moment to step back and remind yourself of the WHY in your life. This is called hitting your reset button. Your WHY is the things, people, or mission that keep you motivated in life. By taking a moment of reflection (the sooner the better), the more you can embrace the inevitable while remaining in grace and focus through your process.

 

  1. Fight thoughts of Negativity

Sometimes we can become our worst enemy through our condemning and self-destructive thoughts. The battlefield begins in our minds; we can make ourselves think we are in the best position possible or the worst circumstance imaginable. Make the effort to cast down negative thoughts that linger because they will simply make root in your heart. To fight your thoughts, speak to them. (Sounds crazy, right? Good. Try it.) When thoughts arise to remind you of the problem you’re facing, speak life (or your desired outcome) aloud. It’s impossible to have your thoughts contradict your words—eventually one must align and words take precedence. Speak life to your situation and watch it shift, first with your mind and then into your reality.

 

  1. Find Your Happy Place

Think of the things that make you happy. Is it cooking? Singing? For me personally, my happy place is reading, writing, and nature. They’re my place of escape when I desire to mentally take a break. Seek your happy place to help you find your balance. It can’t make your problems go away but will help shift your mood while you’re in it.

 

  1. Spend time with your Core Loved Ones

Relationships matter and the within the core of our hearts reside our core support system. When life gets a little difficult, tune in deeper to the people you love. In addition to reminding you that you’re never alone, they help you cope with moments of hard times. Stay connected and spend time with your core.

 

Although adversity is inevitable, it’s up to us to ensure the direction of how the issues of life impact us long after they are gone. We can allow them to make us bitter… or better. The choice is ours. Since the only way through it is “Through It,” add these tips to your resource tool box for those rainy days.

 

 

ALTIMESE - asig

She’s Poetic: You Can

She’s Poetic: You Can

You can start and finish that book.

You can take time to research for that non-profit dream.

You can take a day off.

You can buy that pair of shoes in your shopping cart.

You can move to that new city.

You can travel to that amazing place.

You can earn that degree.

You can build that home.

You can take those cooking lessons.

You can buy that motorcycle.

You can plan that wedding.

You can get that membership.

You can sponsor that group. You can join that dance crew.

You can get that promotion.

You can write that article.

You can contact that C.E.O.   You can be that C.E.O

You can rock that dress.

You can cut your hair in that new fly style you’ve been wanting to try.

You can get that pet. You can get that car. You can get that bag.

You can lease that building for your company.

You can give yourself permission to do whatever you want!

Most importantly,

You can do this!

Go get your blessing!

 

-Jasmine Shirley

She Loves: The Garden of Life

She Loves: The Garden of Life

From the moment we inhale our first breath of life, relationships are formed. Our young minds soak up the value of relationships through the visual behavior of the adults in our lives. We either learn the invested time needed to create strong relationships or we learn a lack of significance in maintaining the connections with others. Either path chosen, this all shapes our vision of relationships.

No matter how you decide to slice it, dice it, or divide it…relationships matter. They remind us that we’re never going through the journey alone. They help us grow. They help us move closer to our purpose. Through the good and bad, relationships are the very foundation of life- first beginning with our relationship with God.

Relationships are like gardens. They require time, patience, and a heart to nurture. Gardens that are unattended to eventually die and simply return to dust. They go through seasons of little growth and seasons of fruitful harvest. When we invest serious time, if we’re lucky—the seeds we plant become so deeply rooted that even when it “looks” as if there is no growth or activity on the surface, the roots continue to run deep.

Relationships are no different.

If you find yourself unsatisfied with the relationships that you’re surrounded by, evaluate the amount of time and care that you’re investing toward the core source of life.

Roll up your sleeves and nurture those gardens that we often call relationships.

 

 

ALTIMESE - asig

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