We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jackie Errico. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jackie below.

Hi Jackie, thanks for joining us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

I had been in the fitness industry for over 15 years and I had worked from the private sector, to the corporate sector, to the Division 1 Athletics level, and I finally decided to start my own business and take everything I loved abut the health and fitness space and everything I wanted to see done better with the space, and make it my own. When I opened my training facility on February 20, 2020, it felt like the culmination of a dream—a space I had carefully crafted to serve my clients and community. But just one month later, on March 20, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that dream faced an unimaginable challenge.

The reality hit fast: brand-new equipment, a space that couldn’t be used, and clients whose routines and health goals were suddenly upended. I had to pivot, and I had to do it quickly. In that moment, speed wasn’t just queen—it was survival.

I loaned out my equipment to clients and the community for free, knowing that keeping people active and connected mattered more than anything. Luckily, I already had a mobile fitness app, so I transitioned everyone onto the platform. Within three days, I learned how to host Zoom workouts, and by Monday morning, we were up and running with personal and group training sessions online. My goal was simple: maintain a sense of community and keep my clients engaged in their health and fitness goals during a time when everything felt uncertain.

At first, I offered many workouts for free. But as a small business owner with overhead costs and rent to pay, I had to balance generosity with the reality of running a business. To my surprise and gratitude, the community’s response was overwhelming. My client base began to grow, even as workouts shifted to my living room at 5 a.m., with my partner, Rachael, tolerating early-morning chaos for the sake of my mission.

When Chicago’s bitter winter hit, I insulated and heated my garage to train clients outdoors. Temperatures were brutal, but my clients showed up, and so did I. Their resilience motivated me to keep finding ways to adapt and deliver results. By the time we could return indoors, my business had not only survived—it had thrived.

The growth was so significant that I eventually brought on a business partner and moved into a facility twice the size of my original space. Reflecting on that period, I’m deeply thankful for my clients and the community who stood by me through the unknown. They are the reason my business is what it is today.

Jackie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a 35-year-old, twin mom, partner, and entrepreneur who has been passionate about health and fitness for over 15 years. My journey in this industry began by working with athletes, from grade school to Division I levels. Over time, I expanded my expertise into the private and corporate fitness sectors, working with a diverse range of clients—including kids with special needs, firefighters, high-level CEOs, and everyday moms and dads striving to get healthier.

Throughout my career, I saw incredible potential in the health and fitness space but also areas that needed improvement. This inspired me to create Just Lift Fitness, a luxury personal training studio in Clarendon Hills, IL. My vision was to build something truly unique—a business that combines the best aspects of fitness with a deeply personalized, holistic approach to health.

At Just Lift Fitness, we help our clients achieve their health and fitness goals by focusing on what matters most: understanding their “why.” I believe that if I can connect with a client on a deeper level and uncover the true reasons behind their goals, I can help them transform not only their bodies but their confidence and overall well-being.

Our approach is grounded in strength training—because no matter what your goals are, strength training is essential—and it’s supported by high-protein nutrition plans, as well as guidance on sleep, hormonal balance, and mindset. By addressing all these aspects, we deliver the results our clients deserve.

We offer personal training, small group private training with a maximum of five clients per session, and remote training through our custom mobile fitness app, allowing us to support clients anywhere in the world. At the heart of our business is community—our clients, employees, and the people we serve all come together to form a family dedicated to growth and support.

Just Lift Fitness is built on core values that guide everything we do: Be real, kindly, Nurture growth, Pace productivity, Create holistically, and Personify care.

What sets us apart is our commitment to results and relationships. We don’t just help people get fit; we help them feel confident, strong, and truly at home in their bodies.

For me, the most rewarding part of this journey is seeing the impact we’ve had on thousands of lives. Our mission is to reach millions of lives and help people live their life without fitness barriers. Whether it’s helping someone regain their health, overcome obstacles, or simply feel good in their skin, it’s these transformations that fuel my passion every day.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Looking back at how my business has grown and scaled over the past five years, I believe my reputation in the market has been built on a foundation of my personal core values: kindness, perspective, growth mindset, and passion. These values shaped how I approach every interaction and naturally evolved into our business core values: Be real, kindly, Nurture growth, Pace productivity, Create holistically, and Personify care.

From day one, I’ve prioritized treating every person I interact with—whether they become a client or not—with genuine care and respect. I want what’s best for everyone, and I’m committed to helping them achieve the best results possible. This mindset shows up in every detail: I return calls immediately, follow up quickly, and treat every client like a friend or family member.

My dedication to the community has also played a huge role in building our reputation. I volunteer my time, sponsor local events and youth sports teams, and raise funds for nonprofits whenever I can. Giving back has always been a priority because I wouldn’t be here today without the incredible support of my community. As my business has grown and my team has expanded, I’ve worked hard to make this spirit of giving and involvement a core part of our culture.

For the first three years, our business grew almost entirely through direct referrals and our presence in the community. I’m the president of the Clarendon Hills Chamber of Commerce, serve on the board of the La Grange Business Association, and am an active member of two additional chambers and several business growth masterminds. These connections have deepened my involvement and visibility, helping me build trust and relationships across the local market.

Ultimately, I believe the key to building a strong reputation is simple: treat people how you’d want to be treated and give as much as you can. When you approach every interaction with care and authenticity, it creates a ripple effect that strengthens your reputation over time.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale is crucial for any business to grow, scale, and ultimately become a sellable asset. Over the last five years, I’ve learned that this is not only one of the most important aspects of running a business but also one of the hardest skills to master as an owner.

The key for me has been to focus on continuous self-development as a leader. I’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into coaching programs to improve my leadership abilities, and I actively share this knowledge with my team. We bring in outside professional every month to educate our team on a wide range of skills. Developing a high-level management team has also been critical. We’ve worked hard to build leaders within our organization who can support the broader team and help maintain our culture of excellence and collaboration.

High morale starts with leading by example. For us, this means approaching challenges with a positive perspective and demonstrating resilience and accountability. It also means fostering strong relationships through intentional team-building activities, both professional and personal. From development and training days to fun bonding activities outside of work, we prioritize creating an environment where our team can connect, relax, and grow together.

We treat our employees like family—supporting each other, covering for one another, and building a culture where many of our team members choose to spend time together even outside of work. This sense of community and camaraderie helps build trust and keeps morale high.

We’ve also implemented systems to ensure clear communication and regular check-ins. Our general manager holds weekly one-on-one meetings with all staff, our COO meets weekly with the entire management team, and I meet weekly with the COO and GM to stay aligned. These consistent touchpoints foster collaboration, provide opportunities for feedback, and ensure everyone feels supported.

Ultimately, managing a high level team and maintaining high morale is an ongoing process. It requires consistent investment of time, money, and effort into team development, communication, and culture. When you focus on building up your team and creating a supportive environment, it pays dividends in the success and growth of your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jlfitnesstraining.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackie_errico/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19gKkJBsZk/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-errico-mba-cscs-3742a433/
• Twitter: https://x.com/errico_jackie?s=21
• Youtube: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCSvOPxbZcxW7UEaqG4rrU8g