Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shambrisha Orange. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shambrisha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
SOWFIT,LLC. is a small business based out of Dallas, TX, we are a firm believer in our motto, U REAP WHAT U SOW. Dallas, TX is a huge city that is busy and popular for its lavish & prosperous lifestyle. But underlying is a concern of childhood obesity rates that are on the rise. Roughly 1 in 6 youth have obesity and TX, with 21.5% of youth ages 10 to 17 having obesity, ranked 46 out of 50 states. As a mother of four children and a fitness enthusiast, that data is very concerning, and I want to do my part to help aid the rising rates of childhood obesity.
There are neighborhoods who lack resources, genuine support, coaches and mentor access, etc. These underserved communities will continue to be overlooked if no one starts to address the underlying issue of childhood obesity. Our youth need a positive outlet to channel their energy. Our youth need positive male influences in their lives. Our youth need to be educated on a well-balanced diet, how nutrition fuels their body, etc. Our youth need a safe space to learn about their health and well-being.
Kool Kidz Boxing Club is a small business also based out of Dallas, TX. The owner of Kool Kidz Boxing created the club to help the youth in his apartment complex learn self-defense and to keep them out of trouble. He noticed that the kids in his neighborhood were “bored” and getting into mischief, so he decided to start teaching them a few boxing moves, not only with their feet, but also with their hands. He didn’t use the excuse of not having a facility – he trained them outside. He didn’t complain that he didn’t have enough supplies – he utilized what he had & did the best he could. He told them that the lessons learned in the ring could also be applied outside of the ring – in a positive manner. Next thing you know, he had 12+ kids knocking on his door to learn how to box. And after 2+ years, he has mentored, coached and assisted 50+ kids in his neighborhood – including his own. I saw this growth take place as I was watching from afar (on social media) and wanted to get involved in the community.
I rallied 3 other business owners and told them I would like to start a sponsorship program that would raise money and awareness to bless an underserved community/ business and Kool Kidz Boxing was 1st on my list. When I explained to the other business owners the impact that Kool Kidz Boxing has had on the community, they didn’t hesitate to get involved. Among 4 business owners, led by SOWFIT, LLC., we were able to donate $750.00 and training supplies that included socks, towels and inspiration gifts for not only the kids but the owner/coach as well. What he was doing was providing for children who would normally be considered at-risk, giving them a chance to learn a new skill, teach other kids and leave a positive mark on their lives. When we presented the children with their sponsorship of funds and supplies, they were overjoyed and grateful. And as a mother, entrepreneur, just as a human, it felt amazing to be able to do a small gesture and give hope to so many.
Shambrisha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Shambrisha Orange, founder of SOWFIT, LLC., serial entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast. I empower clients to embrace a healthier lifestyle through fitness, motivation, and nutritional guidance. As a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Performance Enhancement Specialist, I craft tailored fitness programs to enhance stability, endurance, flexibility and confidence, allowing clients to fully engage in life’s adventures without hesitation. As an athlete all my life (playing volleyball, basketball, track & flag football), training and working out have been a lifestyle for me. These things came naturally, and people would often ask me how to improve my nutrition, how to train, how to perform confidently. So, I’ve been providing support to other athletes for over 30 years, but in 2019, I finally decided to stop running from my calling and to put the official title of Certified Personal Trainer on my name. Providing gifts of knowledge & service are my natural love language, it is how I’ve always operated, and I’m blessed to be able to help others unveil the greatness that lies within, through fitness & motivation.
I cater to a diverse clientele, including post-surgery individuals who are seeking continued support after they complete physical therapy; new mothers striving to reclaim that vitality and confidence post-partum; and elite athletes looking to improve their speed & agility skills; and lastly, children in need of a positive outlet to combat the alarming rates of childhood obesity. I’ve worn the hats of every single one of my clientele. I played flag football from 2016-2022, where I suffered my 1st major injury of a torn ACL. Successful ACL repair on my left knee in August 2022, I completed Physical therapy as the doctor instructed, but then what? What was the game plan after my insurance no longer covered my physical therapy visits? Do I continue to go to sessions and pay out of pocket? Asking myself these questions led me to draft a version of an online option to continue strengthening my knee, because I knew if I was asking “what’s next”, then the non-athlete was also asking these questions. So, I decided to craft a blueprint to help athletes on the journey of being cleared back to play sports at a high level – even at the end of insurance covered physical therapy visits. After suffering an injury, strengthening your muscles as well as your mind are imperative to returning to sports to perform at an elite level. My SOWFIT,LLC Rehab after physical therapy blueprint was designed with this in mind. I wanted to bridge the gap and aid post-surgery individuals to promote continuity of competition. The injury was NOT going to win. Speaking from experience, I’m able to showcase and express with much more passion, than someone who has never experienced an injury and returned to sports. Additionally, SOWFIT,LLC has provided sports skills training and nutrition guidance to youth in Dallas & surrounding areas.
Through SOWFIT, we have made significant strides, generating revenue in merchandise sales and launching a user-friendly app – SOWFIT, LLC. When the world shut down in 2020, I was still working as a health care professional AKA an essential worker. But I saw that many businesses were closing, there were business owners who didn’t know how to pivot to virtual options to offer their goods and services. I saw a surge in creatives getting to slow down and tap into their creative genius without so many distractions. I saw more people tending to their gardens and lawn care. I saw people finally taking their health seriously and started on a health and wellness journey that included a quest for knowledge of proper nutrition. It was at this time that I believed that launching a user-friendly app would be beneficial for SOWFIT, LLC. to continue to make strides in the physical fitness world. Most of my family is in Texas, but what about my relatives in Michigan? In California? In Florida? What if they wanted the opportunity to train with me? Designing an app that has the expertise of an athlete and certified personal trainer at your fingertips was a win-win. This was a business decision that allowed SOWFIT, LLC. more exposure to other clients who desired my services outside of my community. Outside of my state. Outside of my normal reach. This was the 1st steps in learning to scale my business. With the advancement of technology, there is no excuse anymore. If you can’t go to a gym, you have the option to complete a home workout session. All crafted on the fitness app. If you don’t live in Texas but still want to be trained and mentored by a Certified Personal Trainer, you download the SOWFIT, LLC app, log your water intake & nutrition, and be held accountable for your daily efforts on your fitness journey – all crafted on the fitness app and monitored by Shambrisha Orange.
Looking ahead, our vision is to transition into a subscription-based service, offering ongoing support and expertise to our digital clientele. We’re dedicated to expanding our impact, leveraging social media and cultivating strategic partnerships with local institutions to serve our community on a broader scale. We are proud to announce that SOWFIT is a member of Princeton Lowry Crossing Chamber of Commerce and can’t wait to help leave a positive imprint on the community and surrounding areas.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Atomic Habits written by James Clear. This book impacted my life in such a positive way that the healthy habits I personally created & learned transitioned over into me also creating healthy habits into my business, my craft. Atomic Habits is stated to be an easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones. In my personal life, I started making small daily goals of what I was going to accomplish. One day it could be a short list of stretch & meditate for 10 mins, answer follow up emails for 20 mins, workout 30 mins, craft fitness programs 1 hour, no cell phone 20 mins, eat fruits and veggies for afternoon snack. Or it could be a long list (that I won’t list out) but either way, it gave me purpose for each day, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment as I checked off my daily goals. Starting small then gradually adding bigger responsibilities and goals helps one feel like they are growing and being successful with the “easy” tasks. Not to mention, listing out daily habits really improved my time management throughout the day. As you know, for an entrepreneur/mother/athlete and all the other hats we wear, time management is key so that you don’t experience burnout or have constant feelings of being overwhelmed. Small habits make a big difference. And this is the same thing I was able to preach to SOWFIT clients. I encouraged them to change small things in their diets. With consistency and time, they would experience a big difference in their weight, health & mind.
This book also breaks down how to easily create a good habit and how to build on the good habits you already have. For example,, I had a client who used having to clean her house as an “excuse” as to why she never had time for the gym. She worked from home but when an opportunity to join me for a virtual workout session would come available, she would back out and say “oh the bathroom was filthy, I needed to clean it properly because my children didn’t” or “I need to clean the kitchen and meal prep for dinner.” Yes, these are facts she is stating, but the fact she couldn’t get her mind to detach from the cleaning always seemed to be the culprit as to why she couldn’t take 20 mins to herself to exercise. So, I decided to meet her where she was. I drafted a unique workout session for her. When she decided she was going to clean the bathroom, then she needed to complete a set of 10 pushups on the spot. When she decided she was going to wash the dishes, then she needed to complete a set of 12 jumping jacks. When she decided she was going to clean the kitchen, then she needed to complete a set of 25 reverse crunches, and so forth. This helped her be able to workout in the comfort of her own home while also still cleaning around her house throughout the day. She couldn’t believe how something so simple added to her day! And I was extremely happy that we found a happy medium to help her achieve her goals, by not taking away too much of her routing. This is the beauty of having a customized fitness plan that caters to you in your current lifestyle.
When it comes to motivational speakers, Inky Johnson and Dr. Eric Thomas are both extremely talented individuals that I’ve listened to for 6+ years, well before I started my business. They both speak life into you as a person, force you to look into the mirror and be accountable for your own success. Inky Johnson states that you must fall in love with the process, don’t get so captivated with the end goal. The magic is the person you become along the journey. And Dr. Eric Thomas (AKA ET the Hip Hop Preacher) has a powerful quote, “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.” That is so profound, and I’ve used that as fuel as I continue to push my business to a level of success that my children can be proud of.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Quick lesson – I allowed others to dictate my journey for far too long. As a mother of 4 children, I was often told, ok after you have children, you can sit down now. Stay home, be a mother. No more sports, no more physical activity. But that’s not in my nature. I poured into myself by remaining healthy & active after having my children. This was 1 way to fill my cup. If my cup is not full, I cannot fill the cup of my children and family. And I wasn’t going to let others dictate my motherhood journey. I recall playing flag football, then rushing to the car to pump breast milk in between my games. I would store my breast milk, then head back out to the field to resume playing. I was able to play a sport that I loved while simultaneously providing for my children in a way that only I could. Some people frowned upon that. Others cheered me on and called me a superhero. With the outside noise, it is very easy to allow the negativity to overpower your thoughts. So, I get the opportunity to allow mothers to be free and strong in their own way. I motivate them to let them know, you are a woman 1st. You get the chance to carry the title of mother BECAUSE you are a woman. Take care of the woman 1st and this will help restore that confidence and vitality which could easily be lost as a new mother. Again, speaking from experience and leading by example, I can confidently coach and mentor the wisdom I’ve learned with so much more conviction.
Another lesson: I believed my family were going to be my biggest supporters. As I was learning fitness and nutrition through my NASM courses, I was applying new knowledge to my own household and couldn’t wait to share the new knowledge with my closest family and friends. I just knew they would be as excited to learn about a new stretch that could help eliminate their back pain or a new nutrition tip that would help improve their blood pressure.
Guess what, no one was as excited as I was, and I was baffled! It was a gut check. I was literally giving away knowledge for free to my family members (who desperately needed the help) while passing over clients who were willing to throw money at me for my expertise and services!!! I didn’t comprehend why they didn’t utilize me for their gain. I didn’t understand why they didn’t take heed to my advice as a fitness professional until I realized this: When you KNOW better, you DO better. My family members were not ready to receive the new knowledge because it would force them to change their ways. It would force them to eat cleaner foods. It would force them to carve time out of their schedules to exercise to get their blood flowing, etc. They had no interest in learning from me and I was SO ready to pour into them. They weren’t ready to receive it. It wasn’t until they saw me start pouring into other clients (non-relatives) that they wanted to start inquiring about my services. And then some of them had the nerve to ask for a family discount! I responded with a NO; these are my fees. You all had the opportunity to get the information for FREE and you fumbled the ball on that opportunity. So now I’m trying to make SOWFIT,LLC. into an impactful and profitable business, you will have to pay for my services, just like everyone else who is a non-relative.
And the lesson I’ve learned is the following: It’s ok if your family doesn’t support you. It’s ok if they don’t meet those invisible expectations that you put on them in the first place. There have been plenty of strangers who needed my services and saw the value in paying for my expertise. And some of those clients have become like family. So that was a bonus in and of itself. Now, I said all of that to say, your tribe will find you. You shouldn’t have to force anything because your gift will make room for you and the people who desire it most will eventually be drawn to you. Keep being authentic, keep being passionate, keep walking in your purpose and life will align the right people at the right time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sowfit.fitbudd.com; https: //ockuztomz.com/search?q=sowfit
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SOWFIT24
- Other: Apple iOS link for SOWFIT LLC app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sowfit-llc/id6445965379
Android link for SOWFIT LLC app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sowfit.appIG: @shambrishaorange
Facebook business page: U REAP WHAT U SOW
