Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jocelyn Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jocelyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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

The craziest thing that has happened to me as an entrepreneur, so far, is getting sued by the University of Texas. As a small business owner that is probably one of the scariest emails you could receive. Although the lawsuit was eventually dropped, it went on for over a year, and it cost me a pretty penny in legal fees. When I look back the craziest part of the lawsuit was the allegation itself. This major university wanted to sue my small business for Name Image and Likeness (NIL). Hold on, it gets even crazier, this was regarding a sports program that they were developing. Yes, you heard that correctly, they were suing me for something that did not even exist yet. Two things confused me about this allegation; 1. How can letters, LHNF, even have NIL. 2. How can you sue me for something that I legally created first. I can laugh now and publicly reference the case now that it was settled outside of court and obviously things worked out in my favor. But overall, what a crazy experience! On the bright side, I did learn a lot about legal matters when it comes to entrepreneurship and some of the risks that come along with it. I guess being sued by a big-name corporation will do that to you.

Jocelyn, 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?

At the age of 19, I was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer that had developed from the unhealthy ways I was eating and living. The doctor suggested that I needed surgery to have it removed but I took a different approach and decided to turn to holistic healing. I began to change my diet to a vegetarian based regimen and began to exercise regularly versus just when it was time to exercise (military training, sports). And just like that I was healed, no more stomach ulcer pain to hinder my every day routines. So that made me think, “What if I could do the same thing for someone else?” And that is how Legendary Health and Fitness (LHNF) was created.

Now let’s flash forward to how I got to this point. I have been an active-duty US Army Soldier for nearly 19 years now. The fact that I had been in the military is truly what opened the door for me in the fitness industry. I had the opportunity to become a certified Master Fitness Trainer and Physical Fitness Facilitator via the military. I then coupled that with nutrition and scientific studies by getting certified at Body Design University and NASM. Since I was active participating in these programs it helped me to become a certified and accredited Wellness Coach and Personal Trainer.

Most of my legends (clients) tell me the thing that sets Legendary Health and Fitness, LHNF, apart from other personal trainers and/or gyms is the accountability factor. I am literally calling or texting my legends 2 to 3 times a day to help keep them on track, most other trainers aren’t going to do that. I also provide clients with a meal and fitness plan every week, that helps them maximize their results, because we all know you cannot out train a bad diet. Lastly, “we bring the gym to you”, that’s the motto and that’s what I do. I bring the workout to client’s homes, jobs, etc. that brings the convenience factor to people. Because most people actually don’t mind working out, they just don’t like the commitment of gym memberships or the constant traveling you must do to get to them. So, I would say I am most proud of being able to remove those obstacles out of people’s way.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Are you familiar with the phrase “I bet on myself and doubled down.” Well, that’s exactly what I did to come up with the initial capital to start Legendary Health and Fitness, LHNF. I used 20 – 30% of my annual income from my primary job that initial year I launched the business to pay for all needed certifications, marketing and advertising, and trademarking. So, if you are a up and coming entrepreneur and/or small business owner. Don’t be so quick to quit your 9 to 5 job during the initial development of your business. I know there are so many voices out there telling you to do the exact opposite and to not have a plan B when it comes to your dreams. And I agree to a certain extent. My counterargument however would be “why rely on a bank or someone else to either fund or not fund your business when you can do it yourself”.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It’s something I never thought I would struggle with, but something I had to unlearn was not telling people I was a in the military. Transition can be scary, and I guess in the beginning phases of my transition from boots to business I developed some form of survivor’s remorse. I didn’t want people to think that I felt entitled to anything or that I expected some type of handout because I was a veteran. Now do not get me wrong, I am very proud of my military career, I just wanted to be viewed as more than my uniform. I learned quickly, once I let my guard down a bit, that the military is what gave me commonality to a wider pool of individuals. Most people either had previously served themselves or had family members or friends who served. So, the lesson I learned was to be humble but to not be too modest. People only know what you tell them and my silence about parts of my life was limiting my potential to connect with a possible larger audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.legendaryhnf.com
• Instagram: legendaryhealthandfitness
• Facebook: legendaryhealthandfitness
• Linkedin: jocelyn-thomas-462567176
• Twitter: legendaryhnf