The Question that Changed My Life
If you had told me 20 years ago that I’d become a personal trainer, own a gym, teach boxing, and help thousands of people improve their health, I would have laughed in your face!
During my teenage years, my mom had a small bakery and catering business. My dad, sisters and I helped out many times. At 15 years old I learned what customer service was all about. What I didn’t realize then was how much those afternoons of selling cookies and cakes and helping with catering events would benefit me later in life.
Before becoming a personal trainer, I had so many different jobs. Bartender, waitress, hospitality manager, food and beverage director, sales manager for a golf resort, insurance sales, administrative assistant, and the list goes on and on. The only jobs that I enjoyed and felt confident in doing were bartending and waiting tables. Somehow it all related back to when I was 15. Good food makes people happy. Happy people are fun to be around. It was an easy job that paid well. I say “easy” as in it’s not hard to treat people well and give them a great experience. It was not easy on the body as I got older, so I knew that was not what I’d be doing long term.
At the time I decided to start pursuing my fitness career, I was working for an insurance company. I took the tests more than once, but I did eventually obtain my health & life license and my P&C license. And even after finally passing, I realized I was completely miserable. One day my boss asked me a question “If you could do anything, what would you do?” Without hesitation I answered: “I would be a personal trainer”.
I spoke it into existence.
Then got to work making it happen.
I started out teaching bootcamps in 2013. First, it was friends coming to my bootcamps, then I taught teachers on their summer breaks and then went around to different schools and held bootcamps after work. I spent a lot of time driving around from park to park and school to school, so my business name, On the Geaux Fitness, fit perfectly! All those years ago when I learned to treat people well and give them a great experience - it was the same thing here, except it was exercise that was bringing the joy, not food.
It’s been non-stop ever since. I became a kickboxing instructor, a certified boxing coach, certified Tabata instructor, was the first person in Louisiana to open a non-contact boxing program for people with Parkinson’s disease, raised thousands of dollars for Parkinson’s disease with push up contests and cake auctions. Had my own gym for a short time and then finished out the last 6 years with a local gym where I have developed some of the best friendships.
When that chapter ended in March, there was a mix of sadness, gratitude, and excitement. I wasn’t ready to stop helping people - I just wanted to do it differently.
Looking back, I realize that fitness is so much more than the workouts. It’s about confidence. It’s about helping people believe in themselves. It’s about creating community. And while the gym chapter has ended, that mission hasn’t changed.
So, what do my days look like now? I’m still working on my business every day. Creating strength programs, designing a website, creating a newsletter, getting certified as a fasting coach, and informing people about natural peptides. I’ve probably been working harder these past 3 months that I have in years!
It’s funny to say, but it feels like I’m just getting started!