We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Olson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.
Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
A turning point in my career occurred when I shifted my focus from achieving a specific income to making a meaningful impact. In this industry, there are numerous ways to positively affect one’s community. As a mother first and foremost, I recognized that my earnings may not meet my expectations, but the impact I could have was invaluable and personally rewarding. By changing my mindset from self-gain to serving others through my job and position, my attitude towards work and fulfillment transformed.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My professional journey began in the car sales business, but when I became a mom, I knew I needed to find a career that allowed me to spend more time with my kids. With my passion for health and fitness, I became a personal trainer and started teaching a few spin classes each week at a local gym. As my kids grew, I transitioned to working at a professional gym, where I helped new moms and people of all ages to balance a healthy lifestyle with long-term health and fitness goals. Over the years, I’ve coached and worked with hundreds of people to make fitness a part of their daily routine and not an overwhelming task. Now, I plan events for a nonprofit centered around yoga and mindfulness, which brings military spouses together to recharge and disconnect from their demanding jobs and roles as solo parents. It’s been a crazy journey filled with twists and turns, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to empower and help people in their fitness journey.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Throughout my career, I’ve had to pivot and take a step back several times, all while prioritizing being a supportive wife to my husband and a mom to my kids. As a high-level fitness coach and professional, it’s easy to get caught up in opportunities that come my way, but my family and children always come first. I’ve learned to throttle back and refocus on what’s truly important to me, even if it means passing on specific opportunities. I value being emotionally present for my kids while their dad is away, and I know that I wouldn’t be able to fully show up in my career if my mind was elsewhere. Therefore, I humble myself by knowing my boundaries, limitations, and values as a human being before being a professional. It’s crucial to check in with myself, pace myself, take breaks, and pull back when needed. I view my life and career as a marathon, not a sprint. I’m honored to share my story and grateful for the guidance I’ve received from mentors in my industry.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
If given the chance to go back in time, I would have chosen my career path much earlier than I did. Since then, I have grown immensely in this field and have come to understand that to be an exceptional coach, I must first learn how to coach myself. This involves not only putting in the physical work but also the mental effort to back up the advice I give to my clients. It can be easy to get caught up in the industry’s pressure to conform to a specific body image or appearance. Still, I believe that true authenticity and a genuine passion for helping others set me apart. This mindset has allowed me to mature faster, become a better person, and help those around me more effectively.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @trainsimplewithjess
Image Credits
Plain Jane Photography