Can't Be Broken
Can't Be Broken
Building Your Body, Building Your Life: Monique Lawson's Path to Empowerment
When was the last time you truly invested in yourself? In this captivating conversation with Monique Lawson, we explore how one woman's decision to prioritize her own well-being completely transformed her life trajectory.
Monique shares her remarkable journey from growing up in a large family with a single mother to becoming a successful hair stylist, business owner, and fitness competitor. What began as a simple desire to "look good" after having her third child evolved into a profound transformation that impacted every aspect of her life. "I had no idea how it would help me mentally," she reveals, describing how fitness became her anchor during difficult times.
The conversation takes us through Monique's unexpected career beginning when a friend drove her to a salon where she was hired on the spot—a serendipitous moment that launched her 20+ year career as "Machine Hands." Similarly, her entry into fitness competitions came through another unexpected push when her trainer saw potential she didn't recognize in herself.
What makes this episode particularly valuable is Monique's candid discussion of the mental benefits that came with physical discipline. She articulates how the confidence gained through fitness helped her navigate personal challenges and become more present for her family. Her advice for those intimidated by fitness is practical and accessible: find a trainer, consider group training, and remember that everyone started somewhere.
Whether you're contemplating a fitness journey, building a business, or simply looking to invest more in yourself, Monique's philosophy that "nothing good comes easy" offers both challenge and encouragement. Her story reminds us that the greatest investment we can make is in ourselves, creating something "no one can take away from you."
Ready to start your own transformation journey? Listen now and discover how small, consistent actions toward self-improvement can create ripple effects throughout your entire life.
What up, what up, what up, and welcome to another episode of the Can't Be Broken podcast. I am your host, seamonster, and today I have the opportunity and a special guest in front of me that we're just going to share some stories, share her journey and hopefully we can all learn and get and move forward and continue to learn from each other here. But I have the beautiful and talented and you know they use these words boss babes. You like that stuff? Boss babes, I do. And you know they use these words boss babes. You like that stuff? Boss babes, I do, you do. Okay, all right, boss babe, she's a boss babe, she's an owner, she's a mother, she's a wife. Welcome to the show, monique Lawson.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Yeah, good to be here. Yes, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no thank. And for having me over here at your location actually a beautiful location up in Rancho, Rancho, Cucamonga. Is that what it is? Yes, it is. I think this is the first I've traveled. Usually something outside, I do like a Zoom thing, but I don't like that. Yeah, so I'm like nah, let's meet.
Speaker 2:Yeah, face-to-face is much better.
Speaker 1:Yeah, face-to-face is much better. Tell the audience a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, a little bit about your family and whatnot, and then we'll move forward into some of the stuff that we got lined up here.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I was born in Hollywood, california. Didn't spend too many years there, I believe we moved out to the Inland Empire when I was eight years old.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So I spent most of my time in the Inland Empire. You know I have eight siblings.
Speaker 1:I was raised Big family, big family Five brothers, three sisters.
Speaker 2:I am third to the youngest.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:We were raised by my mother.
Speaker 1:Yeah, single parent, single parent.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you know, that was you know.
Speaker 1:So some probably some older brothers and sisters kind of rate help raise you as well, and everybody pitched in yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:We were really close, All of our siblings I have four older brothers, so they played a huge part in making sure that we were taken care of, helping my mom and, you know, a big family.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, they're still all around. You guys get along pretty good.
Speaker 2:Yes, they're still all here.
Speaker 1:Thank God Okay.
Speaker 2:We are all doing pretty well. We all are married, have children. You know businesses pretty successful.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, considering how we were raised, you know, single parent, you know so the odds were against us, but we prevailed. You know, thank God my mom was. She kept us in the church, you know, maybe seven days out of the week, and it used to drive us nuts, but thank God we had that foundation. Yeah, you know, that's all she could, you know, give us just to ensure that we were going to be well, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean it seems like in today's world a lot of people think that success is monetary or some kind of stuff to give their kids and their iPads and whatnot. But your mom gave you the best, which was her love and her commitment to religion or faith, and showed you guys the right path and morals and values. And then from there obviously you grow and if you have a great job and you move forward, of course you're going to give to your kids, like we all do, to try to give them the best life possible. But your mom gave exactly what she had, which was her love. And then your brothers and sisters and everybody kind of collaborated. And you know it takes a what do they say? It takes a village to grow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it takes a village. And it definitely did. We were raised by the church.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:My mom, whatever help she could get, you know we got it.
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah, that's so awesome. That's good to hear.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I come from a small family my dad came from like a family of 12.
Speaker 1:Okay, so yeah, very big yeah, but back then you know you're talking about my, my family's, from Mexico. People have kids so that they can help out around the farm. You know, do work, go do this. You know more work than anything here in the United States and nowadays things are so expensive that you know families are smaller two to three kids, four kids sometimes you know, at least nowadays. You know things are expensive.
Speaker 2:Yes, things are extremely expensive and, you know, my mom came from a large family as well. There were there were six of them. She's originally from Louisiana, New.
Speaker 1:Orleans.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so she moved here to California when she was 19.
Speaker 1:Does she have an?
Speaker 2:accent she does. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:And you didn't get it. Huh, no, I didn't get it. I didn't get it. I like the accent, though, I like the accent I love the New Orleans accent. It's freaking awesome. Yeah, I got a chance to go there a while ago. I was playing baseball and I was in Houma Louisiana.
Speaker 2:Oh, nice, yeah, Okay, it was cool, really small town.
Speaker 1:Really small town. Yeah, there was some baseball thing going on there and it was cool, but it was a long time ago as a kid, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's Southern hospitality there.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:So we were raised with some great morals. You respect your elders, and there was nothing else to that. Yeah, you know, no compromise.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 100%. Tell us a little bit about, like, growing up, or were you involved in sports, working out, how important was fitness to you or what was going on in Monique's head during that high school time, or if you went to college or not.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, actually I didn't go to college. I wanted to go to college but that just didn't happen. We moved around a lot due to my mom being a single parent, so that was very, very rough on us as kids, but know. But she did try to keep us in sports. So I played basketball for a while, Okay, I ran track, and after that I wanted to get into the music business. So, I rapped for a while.
Speaker 1:Oh, nice yeah.
Speaker 2:I really, really wanted to pursue that. But you know, being 15, 16, trying to wrap, trying to get into this industry, you really need assistance. You need. I was trying to do this on my own, it just wasn't safe, yeah, you know. So I had a natural gift which was doing hair, yeah. And one day I had a girlfriend. She picked me up I think I was maybe about 17 years old and she picked me up. She said, hey, I want to take you somewhere. And I'm like, girl, where are we?
Speaker 2:going, so I get in the car, cause you know I used to run from doing hair because you know I wasn't getting paid to do it. You know I was doing friends and family and it would take up a lot of time. And I'm like I don't want to do this, you know, um, but you know people thought that I was good enough to do it professionally. So I get in the car and she takes me to this new salon in Fontana that had just opened up. It was actually a braid shop and I'm like what are we doing here? She's like just get out the car. So I go inside and they pretty much hired me on the spot and this is where I've been since. So I've been doing hair for over 20 years. Wow, yeah, and it has completely sustained me.
Speaker 1:And what a journey that your friend said let's go get in and like just pushed you to do it unexpectedly.
Speaker 2:She really did, yeah, and it saved me, because I don't know where I would be without hair.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Thank God for giving me this natural talent that I was able to nurture. Yeah, thank God for giving me this natural talent that I was able to nurture. Yeah, you know, because I moved out at 16. I was able to, you know, get my own place at the age of 17. You know, my father passed when I was 14 years old, so we were getting a little bit of money from Social Security for that and getting money from hair, so I was able to sustain myself and finally be able to, you know, move away from all of the moving here and there and be able to sustain myself.
Speaker 1:You never know, like you never know where life kind of takes you, whether it be you want to or you're thinking about it or unexpectedly, like me, in this podcast journey I had in my head for about two to three years I want to do a podcast and you know, you kind of throw it around in your brain of like, what direction, but you don't have a set goal of what you want to do. I wanted to do, like, interview kids in baseball and their journey and get them exposed, and it didn't go that way, right.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And then I just didn't start it until a buddy of mine who originally started with me doing this podcast. And then I just didn't start it until a buddy of mine who originally started with me doing this podcast just boom, we did it Like let's go. He bought the equipment and all this stuff and I'm like, oh, this is really happening. Yeah, he ended up leaving just because he didn't have the time and I said, well, I'm not stopping, I love this. This is good, you know. Yes, it helps me, but it leaves something that we talked earlier about, leaving something for my kids and my voice and stories that they can go back to and whatnot, and listen.
Speaker 2:Right, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I got pushed into this as well.
Speaker 2:Yes, and it's been helpful Absolutely. Sometimes you just have to jump in and do it. We have all these dreams, but they're nothing if you don't do something about it. You have to apply them and thank God for the people in our lives who saw that in us and said here you know what, come with me. Here you are, start.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:Thank God for that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thank God for that. But it seems like, obviously, just getting to know you and talking to you, you are driven by helping others. I think that's the purpose of anything else, because the talent that you had for doing hair is to actually help others right, and that's the purpose of this podcast and what I do with strength and conditioning and training is, you know, we've gone through this journey of life and we've experienced, and now we want to give back, and the talent that you have and you found in your purpose is to actually make somebody feel beautiful. They're already beautiful, but feel great about themselves and look a certain way, and my brother used to have the same. He says if you look good, you play good. He played baseball. So he goes if you look good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.
Speaker 2:I heard that and it's so true. It's fulfilling doing hair. I thought it was just doing people's hair right. And to see how it made these women and men feel after they got out of my chair was completely fulfilling. You know, um, I always say that this business is recession proof because no matter if you're broke, whatever's going on in your life, you're gonna feel good after you get your hair done yes, I feel great every time I go get my hair cut with my barber and we chop it up over there yes I mean the barber for me.
Speaker 1:I've been going to the same Barbara. Wow, 30 years or something. Yeah, the price has gone up, for sure it's okay, it's the experience. But he needed to. I told him, dude, you need to charge more. Yeah, I see, Because he left it down there for a while. But I think COVID changed a lot. He also was like walk-ins and now he's only appointments.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And he loves it. And I'm like dude, I told you a long time ago, do this. I told you a long time ago, but you know it's hard, it's hard.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we built these relationships with our clients and it's just a beautiful thing, you know, and then you get comfortable. So you don't want to, you know, go up on continue getting that experience. So we have to be happy as hair stylists you guys got to make sure we stay happy so we can give you the experience.
Speaker 1:It's the relationship, it's trust. Somebody told me a long time ago that businesses are built on trust. They are Absolutely so somebody comes in here because they have a trust in you, whether with their hair, with their stories. They feel comfortable, they feel loved and that's why they come here, because it's a competitive market it is. There's other people doing what you do right, as well as myself and a lot of other businesses, but it's the relationships you build that keeps them coming back.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:And obviously you're doing a great job. I love the studio, by the way. Thank you great job.
Speaker 2:I love the studio, by the way, I love the name.
Speaker 1:The name is, if you want to share it.
Speaker 2:It's Motivation, motivation. Harris Studio.
Speaker 1:And then how'd you come up with that name? If you don't mind me asking.
Speaker 2:Okay. So my husband will say that he gave me the name Motivation. Okay, of course he will, but I have to let him know a lot of other people have called me Motivation.
Speaker 1:My name is.
Speaker 2:Monique, of course, and I spelled motivation with the M-O and the three for Mo, because a lot of people call me Mo. But you know, not even knowing, I have inspired and motivated a lot of people. You know, when they're sitting in my chair and we're having these conversations, or them just watching me, you know, run my business, or they're watching my fitness goals. So, unknowingly, I have motivated a lot of people and you know I think it's great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it feels good too. I remember going to a when I started this podcast and I interviewed several people whether it be well, I started with athletes and whatnot and I interviewed this coach and I went to a game to go see a kid that I trained and the parents were talking. They're like you're the guy, the podcast guy, listen to this episode and, oh, my God, I love it and I'm like thank you, and it feels great.
Speaker 2:Yes, it does. It feels great that people are listening. Yes.
Speaker 1:And that people like it, enjoy it and give feedback. And you know, obviously it's not visual, so people don't know what I look like, unless they follow me on my other page. Right, which is fine, right I?
Speaker 2:don't really care. Yeah, that's awesome. I mean, you know, once you get out of the chair and you're feeling good, you're motivated to go out into the world.
Speaker 1:You are, that's right. Yes, I mean, that's amazing. We're talking about fitness a little bit. Okay, tell us a little bit about your fitness journey, how that began, when it began and, um, yeah, and kind of what it does for you.
Speaker 2:Okay, so the fitness journey um. I have always been big on fashion and looking good.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Um, I had. I hadn't started fitness or actually going to the gym ever until I had my three babies, my last daughter, my last child.
Speaker 1:I said you know what, Mo, it's time to do something for yourself.
Speaker 2:You know you have poured into these children, you've been pouring into the family. It's time for you. And I've always wanted to be this 2.0 version of myself, yeah, In which I think all women could do that. I mean, all women are capable of being a 2.0 version of themselves. So after my last daughter, I said you know, I'm going to go to the gym. I have no idea what I'm doing, so I'm going to get a personal trainer and we'll just go from there. Mind you, in my mind it's all physical. I just want to look good, I just want to look my best. So I began. I went to A2F for the first time. I had no idea what I was stepping into. These are competitive trainers that put you on stage to compete and I had no clue. How'd you find?
Speaker 1:A2F. A2f is extended to I'm sorry it stands for Addicted to Fitness, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Addicted to Fitness. My sister led me to Addicted to Fitness. She was training with one of the trainers that worked with the owner, so she started her journey first and then. So she led me to Arlene from Addicted to Fitness and that's how it began. So I'm just working out and I'm getting some results, feeling good about myself, and my trainer is like, yeah, you're going to get on stage in about five months.
Speaker 1:Wow, pushed you again. Another push, another push.
Speaker 2:And I'm like what? Like absolutely not. I've seen, you know, competitors before and I'm like I don't want to look like that. That's too much muscle, you know, I just want to work out, I just want to look good, yeah, yeah. And she's like no, you have it, you work hard, you can do it, get on stage. So I said, oh, what the hell, I'll just get on stage, let's see how this goes. I mean, the worst thing that could happen is I look good in a bikini and I'm on stage right.
Speaker 2:So it's a great goal and we did it.
Speaker 1:So before you started this journey with A2F and a personal trainer and getting into, I think you competed several years ago in the fitness bikini competition. Yes, you worked out though before.
Speaker 2:No, you went to the gym.
Speaker 1:No, no, the only working out I've ever done was basketball training or track, but no so during the time that you were raising your kids and having kids and being a mother and all that, you didn't go to the gym.
Speaker 2:You didn't go to LA.
Speaker 1:Fitness Bally's or whatever it was.
Speaker 2:I did not. I was not interested at all.
Speaker 1:No, and then, after your kids were born, what was the trigger? What do you think? Like said all of a sudden, I need to go to gym, I need to work out and invest in myself. Like was there a point, a low point in your life, something was going on that turned you. Because a lot of the times when people will hit a point where they're like I'm tired of this, I'm tired of looking this way, I'm tired of feeling this way, I'm tired of whatever, and they do a whole 360. Was that something that happened to you, that triggered you?
Speaker 2:I think, yes, it did. You know, being married, having children, not feeling as good as you did, you know, with yourself having a husband who is in the entertainment industry he's an actor, he's been in the business for over 30 years. You know seeing all these beautiful women and you know, of course, social media doesn't help at all you know so.
Speaker 2:I'm watching all of this. I'm like you know what, like I'm tired of this, you know, and I was just at a really low point in my life as well, you know. I don't know if it had to do with postpartum, with it, whatever.
Speaker 2:But, I just wasn't feeling as beautiful, you know, and I just want to change all of that. You know I wanted to. I want to be my best. I wanted to do something that no one could take away from me. You know, I know how men are. I know you guys are visual creatures and I wanted to make sure that when my husband looked at me, that I was going to be the most beautiful woman that he's ever seen Not saying that he didn't already think that, but I was going to make sure that- I kept him on his toes.
Speaker 1:There was a little bit of insecurity then, absolutely, a little bit of security, absolutely, yeah, absolutely, and you're like, nah, I'm done with this, yeah.
Speaker 2:I was done with it. Yeah, and I mean he would tell me you know over and over again oh, you're beautiful, you're beautiful. I'm like, yeah, no, yeah. I have to feel that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then how was it the first week when you went in there and you, you know?
Speaker 2:because a lot of people will start something.
Speaker 1:You know. It's just like. Every year they have these fitness goals or like a new year's resolutions. I'm going to hit the gym Right and they say that in two to three weeks, or whatever it is into the journey, they're out. You know a lot of people are out, but how come you didn't, how come you were not out when you decided to to make the change?
Speaker 2:You make the change. You know I went in there. It was hard as hell. I didn't know what I was doing, I was extremely sore, but I started getting results almost immediately. You know, I started seeing the weight coming off and I was on a mission. To be honest with you, I was on a mission. One thing about me is, whatever I do, I try to do it to its fullest potential. You know, and I have my mind set. Finally, because it really is mental, being in the gym is not fun. You know it's not easy. You have to mentally prepare for it first, and I was ready. I have mentally prepared myself for this. And just the group of women in A2F they're completely, you know, inspiring. They motivate you. You know they're supportive and I had all of that. I gained another family there at A2F. You know who saw, you know, great in me and it kept me coming. You know that support alone it just really kept me going, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's. I mean, you said it perfectly. Um, you had a different mindset. You had a mindset with a purpose yes, with no excuses, with a grind, with a no quit attitude. That started first, and then, yes, and then you surrounded yourself with like-minded people absolutely right, because energy is everything.
Speaker 1:Yes, so now you're there with great energy, like-minded people that probably at certain one time or another also hat we're going through some kind of adversity. Absolutely now, all you guys are building upon each other, helping each other out grow and whatnot. Yes, that's amazing. Yeah, I follow. I follow a two F on on Instagram. What a great page. I mean you have a great page and, um, it obviously is motivating.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all of the women there, they, they had a story and I had no idea. You know I was thinking that I was just alone. You know, in my feelings and you going through whatever I was going through, and every woman in there had a story, whether they were going through a divorce or they were having some health issues. It was always something grand. You know that they were going through to lead them to those doors, you know so yeah, what does a training week look like for you?
Speaker 1:We're not competing right, but just like you know, how did the first two weeks look like, how does it look like now. You know what does the training week look like, what are your days off? And then, obviously, besides just putting in the work at the gym, what does your meal look like? That changed, obviously. You probably were eating differently once you got into this, so you cut out some stuff. A lot of people think that you stop eating, but you actually eat more. Yeah, you stuff. A lot of people think that you stop eating, but you actually eat more.
Speaker 2:You put more protein in you or whatnot. But what does that week look like for you? Okay, so I started out three days out of the week when I first began my fitness journey, and that was enough at first, and then my body started to crave more. It's like, okay, you do three days, but on my days off I'm like, oh, I really want to go to the gym. My body started to want more, so I started at three days and then I-.
Speaker 1:Are they like an hour, hour and a half sessions too?
Speaker 2:I would say about an hour and a half to two hours, yeah. And then I upped it to five days. Okay, yeah. Once I committed to getting on that stage, I was like, okay, we're going to need five days, I need to make sure that I'm well prepared to get on this stage. So we did five days. Of course, they gave me a meal plan. I started to eat clean, which is, you know, protein, your veggies, healthy carbs, your rice, your you know sweet potatoes and all that great stuff. My husband used to call me the drive-thru queen. Yeah, so no more drive-thrus. I just started to prepare my food. I've always cooked, so I just, you know, the kids, the family, they ate what I cooked. So they were on prep too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they were on program too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they were the whole family, yeah, um so yeah, and you know, the eating made a huge difference. Uh and yeah.
Speaker 1:And then like, do you hit like when you go to the gym, like Monday, wednesday, fridays? Is it like upper back, lower body, certain lower body days? Um, how does that look for you? Is there cardio days? Is there endurance? Do you throw that in every time? Core work how does your schedule kind of look like?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Monday through Friday I work out. Those are my five days. I try to rest on Saturday and Sundays, so we alternate. On Mondays we hit lower body, Tuesdays we'll do upper and then we'll just alternate. So I'll get two upper bodies through the week and three lower.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And then after the workout, we'll do the cardio. They always say you burn more fat when you do your cardio after your workout versus before and you do slow tempo cardio.
Speaker 2:Your cardio after your workout, you know versus before Do you do slow slow tempo cardio it depends when I'm really trying to burn fat I'll get on the Stairmaster and I'll do 20 minutes or 20 to 40 minutes on the Stairmaster. But if I'm not, you know, if I'm not, if I don't have a goal, I'll just do maybe 20 minutes of walking on the treadmill.
Speaker 1:Yeah, after the workout, yeah, yeah, a lot of people don't like cardio, I know I know, but it's necessary. It's necessary, you know it's good for your heart.
Speaker 2:You know it really keeps things nice and tight. You know it helps a lot. I know it's a big difference when I'm not doing cardio versus when I am.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's almost decompressing too, because if you've hit it hard, you know like I'm tired, you get on there and you can kind of just you know, if it's a slow tempo, one like you're walking or something, you can just kind of like it's your time to just relax, recover. Yeah.
Speaker 2:It is, it's my time. I just get on that machine and I'm thinking, and you know, just recovering.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you track your macros or calorie intake or any of your micros or?
Speaker 2:anything. I used to yes, okay, yes, and that helps tremendously, okay, tremendously. When you get those numbers right, you're able to not have to track it, and then it becomes a lifestyle you know exactly what to eat.
Speaker 1:Right Once you know.
Speaker 2:Yes, once you know, you know you don't have to do that forever, but it does. When you're first starting out, you should definitely track your macros. It really, really helps you to understand, because it is, it's a science to this you know. So you want to know how much protein you know that you're taking in, how many carbs taken, how much fat to take in. All of those numbers matter.
Speaker 1:Yeah, did you use a like an app, or how did you figure?
Speaker 2:that out, I did. I used Fitness Pal.
Speaker 1:Yeah, fitness Pal, that's a good one. There's a couple of them out there. Yeah, I think Fitness Pal is pretty friendly. It is Like user-friendly.
Speaker 2:It definitely is. It's really simple. You know they have all of the products every food place you go to or product that you're consuming. They have it right there in the app. So you just type it in and they have all the numbers there for you. So, yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:And then, when? How long did you go like on this? You know, diving into the fitness and food and everything before you had your first cheat meal.
Speaker 2:Oh goodness.
Speaker 1:Or would that happen like that weekend?
Speaker 2:No, I started to become obsessed with it. You know, once you're seeing your body change, you don't want to screw that up. You know, I know they say that you can have a cheat meal, but it's like, oh, you're almost afraid to have a cheat meal. Yeah, you know. So I don't think that I had a real cheat meal until after competition. Okay, yeah, because a competition is extremely strict. Yeah, so yeah, until after competition. And then, you know, after that, I think I competed twice and I decided I have other body goals now. I didn't want to be, you know, so thin and all that great stuff. I'm like, I like the curve. So, you know, we're going to try and consume more food and switch it up a bit so that I can. You know, I don't want to keep working and working this hard and I'm not really loving what I see. I want to get to the body that I want.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I mean congratulations on getting like to move your body and have it do different things and look differently by the way you eat. And train is hard and it's amazing. You're like I did that because I was training for that and this is what I did and that's how I looked and whatnot. And so when I was running my ultras, 100-mile races and whatnot, I mean I was lean as hell.
Speaker 1:But I lost a lot of muscle. And then I'm like I don't want that. My brother said you look sucked up, are you OK? And I'm like I don't want that, right. My brother looked, said you look sucked up, you know, are you okay? And and uh, I'm like, yeah, I'm running. I mean, that's what I want to do, you know, and uh, now I'm doing a little bit of uh like high rocks, it's like CrossFit stuff, okay, like Deca, yeah, so, um, so now I got to put on some muscle right.
Speaker 1:And it's shorter sprints and my training is different and stuff like that, right, but it's amazing what the body can do depending on how you treat it, what you want to do Absolutely, when you just to give a little understanding for people that are trying to to get into whether it be bikini competition or some kind of figure competition, what would be the best advice that you would give them, besides obviously getting a trainer and working out? But how long does it take for somebody probably to get to that point and what's the best advice for, like, how do they get started?
Speaker 2:First, you have to be mentally prepared, like I said from the beginning. You have to want it, you know, because there can't be any distractions. You have to want it for yourself. You have to literally dedicate every day to yourself. You have to make daily deposits that's what I like to call them and then everything after that. You're free to do whatever you know for your family and you know for work, but you have to put yourself first. You know whether it's that hour a day, um, you know to dedicate to yourself. To get on that stage, you have to do it. It's, it's always going to be you first. Yeah, okay, and there's going to have to be sacrifices.
Speaker 2:There is sacrifices, absolutely. You know the sacrifices, maybe putting down. You know the sugar, you know the bread, you know, but it's for a great cause. It's for a great cause, you know. You're not going to get anywhere without discipline.
Speaker 1:Discipline, yeah, yeah. And then, after they get that wrapped around in their head, what do they do now? Do they reach out to a trainer? How do they find the proper fit for them?
Speaker 2:Yes, I would highly consider reaching out to a trainer, somebody who's been there, probably who's trained?
Speaker 2:Absolutely A trainer who is a competitive trainer. They know how to train you. They know what the look is supposed to look like to get you there. They're going to stay on you. They're going to literally walk you through the whole process. They're going to hold your hand, they're going to support you. So find a great trainer, you know, who's willing to hold your hand through this whole process, because it's not easy. It's definitely going to be hard and lock in yeah, you have to lock in and it's, it's and it's so empowering, it's so fulfilling, it's what? 1% of people who actually compete. So you will be a part of that 1%.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, yeah. I remember when I did the marathon. That's exactly what they said. They said you're 1%, 1% of the people in the world. Do a marathon. Wow, I believe it.
Speaker 2:And so I was like all right, cool. And then I said what's an ultra?
Speaker 1:An ultra is like 30 point something or more, 50 milers, 100 milers and that's 0.001%. Wow, and I go, that's what I want to do. I heard that. But then there's 200 milers, there's 300 milers, 300 miles. That just came up right now. Yeah, I'm like, oh shit, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:We'll try it, yeah, yeah, we'll see what drives you, what holds you accountable, like what is the why of why you stayed disciplined and why you continued that journey, why you continue the journey now? Like, what is the drive for you? Because I know you don't wake up every morning going like, yeah, you know, I mean, you know it hurts you know.
Speaker 2:No, yes. So the drive for me is what fitness does for my mental health. You know, I had no idea how it would help me mentally. I only was going for the physicality of it. All right, I just wanted to look good. But after that workout, you know, feeling happy and feeling ready to just, you know, to go, ready to go to work, ready to, you know, take care of my children, ready to take care of my husband, that's what I needed. You know, no matter what was going on in my life once I was done hitting that gym, it made it so much easier for me to deal.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know. So the mental health for me was highly important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it seems like investing in yourself brought out the best version of you, absolutely so that you can be the best version for your family and everybody around Absolutely. Because I think I mean, I think you know people that are in the fitness industry, people that work out, understand the fact that you're investing in yourself. It hurts, it's discipline, there's sacrifice, but once you do that, then you can give everything else to everybody, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Because now you're invested in yourself. Absolutely, because how can you?
Speaker 1:help if you don't help yourself first.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and the rewards of feeling good, looking good you go out into this world, and the respect that you get. But unknowingly from other people. They see you and they see that discipline and you get treated so much differently. You know, and it's not anything that I've ever asked for, but that's just how the world is. You know, when they see a fit body, when they see a disciplined person, you know they also want to become that. You know, and they, they admire that and they see it in you and they almost praise you for it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So who doesn't want to walk out into the world and be looked upon like that 100%? Your kids are watching you. You also want to be a great example for them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what do you tell somebody, a friend, a client that comes in here and says you know, monique, I want to get started. You know I love same thing. I praise you what you've done, the discipline, the sacrifice, and you know what I got going. I got this gym, I got this trainer. I'm two weeks in. I just I don't know. It's a lot. I want to. I don't know if I can go back. It's too much, I don't have the time. You know because you hear it all the time.
Speaker 1:You know I see it, you know, and what advice would you give that client, that person?
Speaker 2:that friend to keep going and keep moving forward. You know they've seen me before and they've seen me after and they know that it's possible. They don't have to sit here and, you know, get surgeries or do the quick fix and all those things. They've seen me literally build my body from the ground up and the only advice that I could give them is put yourself first for once. Do something that no one could take away from you. That's the one thing that you give to yourself that no one can take.
Speaker 1:That is true.
Speaker 2:And it's the craziest thing. But everything else just falls into place once you take care of yourself first.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think you said it best earlier, was it's earned.
Speaker 2:It's earned. You know what I'm saying? It's definitely earned.
Speaker 1:You can go spend money on this and this and that, but earned is so much more gratifying, but long-lasting.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Because you've worked for it.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:You've earned it. It's not given to you, no, you have earned it.
Speaker 1:You've earned every second of sweat in that gym, every second of sacrificing and discipline and getting up and not listening to your mind when it doesn't want to go, Cause that's that's the hardest part is, sometimes your mind is battling, you know, and battling demons sometimes too. Yeah, that's, that's, uh, that's real good. Um, I know a lot of women. Um, they find a gym intimidating, you know, for several reasons, whether it be machines, maybe men, maybe they feel out of place or whatnot. What would you tell somebody who's trying to get started going to a gym? What advice would you give them in regards to getting started and overcoming that intimidation?
Speaker 2:The gym is intimidating. Hence why I say get a trainer first, so that you're not walking in there and you're not feeling like, oh my God, I don't know what I'm doing. Everybody's watching me, you know. Because you're not going to get anything done that way you can hurt yourself. You're not going to get any results because you don't know how to train. You don't know what to do with these weights, what to do with these large machines, you know, so you don't want to hurt yourself. I think that when you're first starting out, just please get a trainer. Get a trainer Once you get a trainer and you feel more comfortable with going into the gym by yourself. Even then it will be intimidating, but put your headset on and just focus on yourself. Don't worry about anybody else in the room, because everybody's struggling. Everybody's there for the same reason that you are. Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's great advice. You're right Everybody's there for something, right? Exactly, they're there for a reason they had, like anything else they were. They had their first trip to the gym, too, and they felt intimidated Absolutely.
Speaker 1:You're not the only one, yeah, yeah, but you're right, I think, getting a trainer, you know, unfortunately sometimes some women or men will get a trainer and it's not the right fit Right, and I say, well, go look for another trainer, yeah. Or go look for another gym, yeah, because you know it's like a car you might get in there automatically, feels good. Then you drive it and you don't like the way it drives. Right, and it's okay, right.
Speaker 2:You know it's okay, or even or look for somebody else. You know you can get a trainer who trains groups, you know, and that way you have other women or men who are there with you, learning with you, and you guys are helping each other, you know. So it doesn't have to be one on one. I know one on ones could be fairly expensive.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But if you do like a group training session like those, are awesome as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know what we never talk really about and other people that I talk to, it does get expensive and that's one of the intimidating factors as well is like you know what it's expensive and I think you said it right. Like, get a group. Yeah, find a trainer that's going to do a small group training. You guys can split the cost, the trainer can still make his money because it is his time and you can still learn. Find a group that keeps you accountable. Why weren't you here on Monday?
Speaker 2:Exactly Right.
Speaker 1:All these different things and you're splitting some costs. Yeah, and then, yeah, that's great advice. I do see that a lot more happening. I know I do that and I think it's great. I think it should be, you know, but make sure that you're also the group doesn't get too big.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Then you get kind of watered down and get lost. Yeah, Get lost and stuff Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Who are some of the people that you look up to, whether it be in the fitness industry, family, friends, people that have motivated you of your journey, of where you're at right now, of being a mom, a wife, competed in the fitness industry, a business owner for several years? Who are those people that you look up to and say thank you very much for guiding me? You look up to and say thank you very much for guiding me. You know Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Well, let's start with my mom. Yeah, you know, I look up to her for not giving up.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know her raising eight children by herself. I'm like how in the hell did you not give some of us away? I'm serious, it was, you know, I don't.
Speaker 1:I'm sure she thought about it.
Speaker 2:No, seriously, I'm sure she thought about it no seriously, I'm sure she did.
Speaker 2:You know me, having three children of my own, it is so hard. It is so tough I actually really have six because we have a blended family yeah, but it is so difficult, yeah, and she never gave up and she continued to push and she continued to push. You know she never cursed us, she. You know she never cursed us, she. You know our parenting is definitely way different than hers. She definitely disciplined us. But you know she had so much love to give, even though she struggled, you know, in her upbringing. You know she didn't have the best upbringing at all, but she never gave up. So that's number one.
Speaker 1:Can we say her name? Do you want to give shout outs to her?
Speaker 2:To Donna, my mommy Donna. Mama Donna gave up. Yeah, so that's number one. Can we say her name? Do you want to give shout outs to her? To?
Speaker 1:donna, my mommy donna. Mama donna, mama donna, that's what they call her. I have a stepmom, donna, you do. I'm blessed to have two beautiful moms oh awesome yeah, my parents got divorced when I was 18, and so my, my, my what's a biological mom maria, and then my mymom, donna. They're both amazing. They get along, everybody got along. I love it, and so Donna.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So thank you, mom, yeah, thank you for instilling the foundation of God, knowing that we could always count on Him if we didn't have anything else. So her first. Next is Arlene, my first trainer. I always tell her she's my lifesaver. Oh, nice, and she is. I'm going to get emotional, but she saved my life. You know I was in a really dark place, I feel, and you know she stayed on me, she held me accountable. She also had a story of her own. You know she didn't start her journey until she was 50 years old. She went, had a story of her own. She didn't start her journey until she was 50 years old. She went through a divorce and it just shattered her. That was her first everything, that's who she had her children with. And at 50 years old, her whole world came crashing down.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and she started her fitness journey, so it's never too late. She started at 50. Arlene is 62 now and she looks better than some 20 year olds.
Speaker 1:I know Okay.
Speaker 2:It's. It's unreal, but I just admire her. She's just a beautiful woman. You know she continues to run A2F and continuing to inspire women and changing women's lives completely.
Speaker 1:How long has that gym been around?
Speaker 2:I believe it's been around for 10 years now.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, and she's one of the business owners there.
Speaker 2:Yes, she is oh nice, she's an IBF pro.
Speaker 1:Oh nice.
Speaker 2:She competes pretty often.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, continuing to compete, yeah, continuing to compete, yeah, and then it seems like you guys obviously connected on an emotional level.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:As first, obviously, getting there, training you, creating a bond, like we talked about earlier. Yes, A bond of trust and a bond of commonality and that led into this fitness journey of just like wow and you obviously feeling the way you do for her and her story and how you guys connected.
Speaker 2:Yes, wow, I was very fortunate to find.
Speaker 1:Arlene, that is, yeah, that's very fortunate.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and so then to Arlene.
Speaker 2:Yes To Arlene. Thank you, my Arlene.
Speaker 1:I know how much I love you lady.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I can't really think of anyone else right now.
Speaker 1:But yeah, those two you said that. I remember you saying that you looked at sometimes competing and you're like. I don't want to look like that.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And now, after you did that, what do you think about that?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, I'm like, I want to look like that. I wish I could look like that all year round. Because, first and foremost, the discipline that it takes to look like that to build muscle and we need muscle, ladies, we need muscle.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Okay, we're losing muscle 3% muscle every year as we get older. That's what's going to sustain us, that's going to keep us healthy. You know, when you fall and all that great stuff, you need that muscle. You know it's good for everything. Yeah, Health wise, everything you know, and you're not going to look buff and crazy, that's, you know some.
Speaker 1:It's a myth.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a myth and that's going to take a lot of years. Several years several years, okay, before you can ever even look like that. So, um, yeah, I mean I, I just I, I wish that I could look like that all year around, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:but like looking at them too, like I remember growing up and watching arnold schwarzenegger and some of the guys competing this, these, these, and I'm like, oh, look at that, it's. I mean, why do they have to put that stuff on them to make them look darker, and all that stuff, right. But as I got into this industry, I'm like, good Lord, what discipline, what hard work, what sacrifice.
Speaker 1:Like you give props to the journey, to the journey To the journey, the journey of like the work that it took to look your best physique and compete on that day, on that stage and all come. It's crazy.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And I always idolize Arnold Schwarzenegger. His story from like not, you know, not being American, and coming here and then began being the governor and then just transcending the whole fitness industry. Yes, the way fitness industry, yes, the way he did, yes, it was amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he has a great. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 1:No, he has a great documentary out that I saw. It was really good. Awesome yeah, Awesome, yeah yeah. Do you know any of the ladies in the fitness industry that like took championships like that Like or no?
Speaker 2:I don't follow. I have a couple of ladies who I followed and they were my inspiration as I was competing. I believe one of the girls name was Masa.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I can't remember her last name, but she's awesome and it's so crazy because I actually got to meet her on my competition day.
Speaker 2:I was like oh my God, you're my favorite girl. And then I have another online trainer who I was working with Now she was complete body goals for me. Her name was Sani Sumit Sani, and she was body goals. And it's crazy because I go back to my photos from where I started and I look at it now I'm like, wow, mo, you pretty much got there, so it's possible you can literally build the body that you want.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You can do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh man, that's amazing, and you know what the thing is. People will get stuck on something too Like for me at least. I like to try different things, like I've done the marathon training. I've done several different things from triathlons. I've done the marathon training. I've done several different things from triathlons and now.
Speaker 1:I'm like, wow, I want to do something else and I like that. Like right now you're in a different journey. You're like, that's cool to look like that, but I also want some curves. I'm going to do this and I'm going to eat this way and this is the way I'm going to train.
Speaker 2:It's going to be a little bit different, but it's okay, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Do you have any like favorite quotes or anything that gets you through, that, that inspires you or you like?
Speaker 2:I have many quotes. I'm always looking for a motivational quote. Oh gosh, what is my? What's a good one? You?
Speaker 2:know I'm always looking for the motivational quotes that push people to continue on. You know there's greatness ahead of you as long as you continue to push. You know everybody has a story. I think we're motivated by our past. You know our history and we have that history for a reason. We're built for it. Yeah, you know, and if you can push through the hurt and the pain, there's something so great at the end of that for you. Yeah, I know it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, I know it, and it builds character. That hurt and that pain builds character. It builds toughness, something that some people don't have if they live a pretty great life. So, yeah, I can't think of an actual quote right now, but I can guarantee you that you could live a great life on this earth, you know, as long as you continue to push forward.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think we quit too easily sometimes.
Speaker 2:We do quit too easily.
Speaker 1:I've always been of the mindset that our mind wants to be happy all the time. Yes, you know we're hedonistic people.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And as soon as we uncover pain and adversity and obstacles and we've hit a wall, we're like let me go around, or let me do something else, or whatever, instead of like okay, I got more, let's push through this, let's do what we need to do, and when you don't push through it, you're doing yourself a disservice.
Speaker 2:Yes, you are.
Speaker 1:And that pain, like you said earlier, that builds a calloused mind.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:And it builds you, it shapes you into a different person.
Speaker 2:Yes, it does.
Speaker 1:And pushing one more is how you get through it. Yes, and pushing one more? Yes, because I think there's this great illustration of this guy with a. What is it Like? He's digging like in a tunnel, yeah, and he's trying to get to the other side, where there's like gold or something.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And there's two illustrations, one's on top, one's on the bottom, and the guy, he's almost there and he turns around and goes the other way. Wow, and he was like I'm never going to get there. I've been doing this for 10 years and it kind of shows you. And there's a little illustration while the other guy keeps going, keeps going and the gold is so far, but he keeps going and keeps going. It's just never ending journey and you just got to keep moving forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, every little bit adds up, which makes me think I do have one.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Nothing good comes easy.
Speaker 1:If it's easy to attain you probably don't want it.
Speaker 2:Listen. Nothing good comes easy. Nothing good If it is hard and if it's taking work to get. I promise you it's going to be good for you, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Even relationships. Yeah, yeah, even relationships. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Because it takes work. It takes work. I have a beautiful daughter and she's got a boyfriend and whatnot. And I'm just going like, oh man, she's probably going to get her heart broken one of these days and I'm just going to be like shit and I want to be there and comfort her and I will and all that, but I know it's going to happen. But she's got to move forward. It's like all of us. And you got to work at a relationship and you got to work on your body and you got to work on your mind and you got to invest. Yeah, because if you do not invest, yeah, it's going to take you a different direction. It will and have to invest in yourself and push forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, push forward.
Speaker 1:I say I used to. I tell some of my clients and kiddos I said there's no free lunch. No, there's no free lunch, you know sorry to break it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah and like you said, if it came easy it's not worth it. Yeah, um, what would you? What would you tell your younger self? Like, what advice would you give your younger self now, knowing where you're at now, knowing how you've changed, how you invest in yourself, you know how you were at this, this point where you're like I'm tired of being this way. You know, I don't know how you were before. Right, you said you just kind of played a little bit of dabs in some basketball here and there and then life kind of took over. What advice would you give that younger person?
Speaker 2:Oh, I would give my younger self the advice of keep going, be patient. Be patient, you know. Stay on the right path. What's for you will be for you, you know. Yeah, I mean, that's it. Just, you know, continue to work hard.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that you know. I mean, there's so many great nuggets out of this whole conversation that we've talked about, and one of the things that you just mentioned was patience, patience. You know, we live in a world right now where there's information at your fingertips. Everybody wants something right now and we've lost patience. Yes, that's why I golf, by the way. No, I'm just kidding, right, yeah, but we need more patience. We need more patience with each other. We need more patience with the outcome, with the process and embracing the journey, and with the outcome, with the process and embracing the journey, and we need to be patient with things because it is a process.
Speaker 2:It is a process.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's great advice. Yeah, because when we're young, too, you know we're impatient, we are, we want stuff right now. I want to be 21 now, yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's God's timing. Yeah, you know, whether you're religious or spiritual, whatever it is, timing is everything. Let's just say it like that Timing is everything. Timing is everything. Yeah, you know, and as long as you have a pure heart, you're doing everything with a pure heart, you'll be fine. Just continue on, be patient and work.
Speaker 1:That's 100%. That's 100% true, 100%, that's 100% true. How do people get a hold of you here to come get their hair done here?
Speaker 2:right To maybe work out with you or whatnot. How do they get a hold of you and just look?
Speaker 1:you up?
Speaker 2:Yes, so I go by Machine Hands for my hair page, and a lot of people know me as Machine Hands in the hair world. Yeah, I got that name because I'm pretty fast and efficient. You know, they say that my braids look like a machine. Did it because of the consistency? Of the braids and how clean and neat they are.
Speaker 2:So, I said, okay, I'll take that. So, yeah, you can reach me on Instagram at machine hands machine underscore hands and I also have a fitness page and that is motivation fit motivation underscore fit. So if you have any questions about fitness, I'm more than willing to guide you, to help you. However, so you know, you can definitely reach out to me on either one of those pages if you want to sit in the chair or if you want some health goals. So, yeah, I do it all.
Speaker 1:I see that. That's why it says machine hands.
Speaker 2:Yes, okay.
Speaker 1:What else. I can sit here and talk to you and ask you questions all day. It's been great. I've learned a lot, see. That's why I love doing this. This is so beneficial to me. I'm almost like selfish. I'm like I do this for me, but I really try to do obviously I do to help others and to listen and they can get something out, and not only that network you and I here. Maybe you get a client or two here or whatnot, but now I know you, I know your journey and it helps me. Yeah, absolutely. If I'm in this area and I need a haircut or something, I'm here.
Speaker 2:Not like I got a buzz cut. Well, we got some great barbers.
Speaker 1:Or a barber right now or workout, see or workout. You got a workout over here. Yeah, you're going to work out over here a while.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, you'll love A2F.
Speaker 1:I know, I see the pages. It looks amazing, it's amazing.
Speaker 2:I'm intimidated. It can be intimidating but everybody looks great. But they're the kindest people ever.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:They really, really are.
Speaker 1:Well, most more than anything, people that are investing in themselves are the nicest people.
Speaker 1:Because they don't need to prove anything. No, there's no ego. You just kind of go like I remember this one saying I did jujitsu back then, nice, yeah, that was a good one and what was the same. But basically it says, once you know how to fight and defend yourself and all that, you're more calm, absolutely Because you're not scared. Yeah, you're like okay, but when you're scared is when you bark. You try to prove something, right, right. So if you're in this industry, in the fitness industry, or you're going and you're investing in yourself, there's no need to bark. No, you're just doing it because you're investing in yourself. There's no need to bark. No, you're just doing it because you're investing in yourself. You're a better person and that energy kind of flows throughout everybody. It does.
Speaker 2:You're working on yourself, you're a happier person 100%. You're happy. Miserable people you know like to start shit you know, mm-hmm. Happy people like to help.
Speaker 1:Yes, yep.
Speaker 2:Man. So, man, such great advice you've given today. Absolutely Anything else we want to talk about or you want to mention or talk about, or anybody that you want to mention upon here that might get a shout out, or anything else out there who is going through anything tragic in their lives, if they're feeling lost or feeling like they have no one to lean on and feeling like this world doesn't matter anymore. I want to encourage you to work on yourself, do something for you. Work on yourself, do something for you.
Speaker 2:I can only give you my example of how much fitness has helped me. You know, when you work on yourself and you feel better about yourself and you gain a whole new community of people who are also doing that, it's life-changing. It's not the end of the world. I have gone through so much with my upbringing. I mean losing my father at the age of 14, living on my own since 16, 17 years old and never turning back. I have been on go and have never stopped, but I've accepted that because I am constantly, you know, pouring into myself every single day and it helps you to be able to push through. This life is hard.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know. So don't give up on yourself. Yeah, you know. Pour into yourself, into yourself, work on yourself.
Speaker 1:That is great advice. Let me ask you more. I know you just touched upon it a little bit here and I think we talked about it, but pouring into yourself, investing in yourself, comes in different ways. Obviously, right One is physically like you got to put in good food. Good food is going to give you the energy source to feel a certain way, absolutely Working out, building your body, building confidence, moving forward, and I think we talked about it a little bit. Did you invest in yourself? Like reading podcasts, anything else other than that? Or how did that come about? Like when you, you know, continue to other than that? Or how did that come about? Like when you, you know, continue to invest in yourself?
Speaker 2:You know, I know I used to love reading. But being in a salon and meeting people of all aspects, I mean, you know I have learned so much from these people. That's your investment. It really is just the conversations that I've been able to have, building a clientele of great quality of people, learning from these people and even my elderly clients who see things in me that I didn't see in myself, and sitting with them for hours at a time and just gaining information has helped me tremendously, yeah, tremendously yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know I originally I dove into a book that changed my life. I have a tattoo of it around my. I got an Ironman tattoo for doing the triathlon, the Ironman, Nice, and I put the initials of like how it changed my life and whatnot. But you're 100% correct. We talked about it, about like why I do this podcast and it was like to leave something for my daughters, but it gives back to me having conversations with you and then my clients. That's an investment in itself. I just learned a lot and no book is going to give you that A real conversation, real emotions, something raw right yeah.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's awesome Real life experiences you know, those experiences are valuable.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know you can't cry and whine about the experiences in life. You know there's value to those.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, I want to thank you so much, thank you. It seems like we just got on here 10 minutes ago, but we've been doing this now for an hour and something, which is amazing, yeah, when you have good conversation, and we just flowed and I appreciate it. Thank you for your time and for sharing those kind words and I think at the end, where you set it up, it came all together of you know invest in yourself.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:There's a purpose, there's a reason and push through and whatnot. Thank you so much. I really really want to thank you. I enjoyed this conversation a lot.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did as well. Thank you for having me, it was awesome.
Speaker 1:Thank you and thanks for everybody for listening and tuning in. Please make sure that you share, send some feedback. And actually I want to give a shout out to the person who put us in contact, which is Prime. He reached out to me. Yeah, I found him through my wife. She showed me something. I'm like, who's this guy? And then I reached out to him. I loved his page and what he was doing and then he said hey, bro, I like what you do. We had a conversation. I got some people that would be great on your podcast and he's a guy that I kind of live my life, where I take ownership and if I say I'm going to do something, I'm doing it. It's happening.
Speaker 1:No matter what, I'm going to finish what I need to and we're going to get it done. He reminded me of that and he put us in contact. So thanks, prime, appreciate you, great guy, great guy. He's doing a lot of work right now at the gym.
Speaker 2:Yeah, everybody loves him. Yeah, we love having him, him and his beautiful wife Nicole, nicole, yeah, shout out and keep listening, keep you know sending me feedback.
Speaker 1:You guys can find me at Can't Be Broken on IG or UAG Fit. Thank you guys, and remember you can't be broken.
