We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leah Embrey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Leah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

The most important lesson/experience so far was learning how not to treat your employees. In one job I had in a gym, the owners treated the employees nice to their face, but would talk bad about them behind their back. It was branded as a company with tons of growth and opportunity, but when the employees tried to create those opportunities and bring new ideas to life they were consistently shut down.

Specifically, during Covid, when we planned to open back up to the public, I brought up concerns about what the policies and procedures would be. And I will admit I could have handled things a little differently. With that being said though, after I left the meeting the owners continued to talk about it to the other employees saying I was creating problems that weren’t there and was “a drama queen.” A fellow employee called them out about talking bad about me behind my back and proceeded to quit that day, after being there for two weeks. That was put back on me saying it was my fault she quit, regardless that we became close during those two weeks.

In a separate instance, right before I quit to start my own company, we were discussing the website. I brought up the idea to hire someone who knows more about websites than any of us that worked there and was blatantly told in front of the group that I don’t have good ideas and hiring someone to do the website was not a smart move. Cue to the last experience with them. Once I had created my own company and left, they proceeded to tell the other employees that still worked there that I wouldn’t be able to keep it afloat. While continuously blaming me for scheduling issues that were happening two months after I left, regardless of the fact that I had brought up the same concerns two months prior to leaving.

I have used those experiences to direct my future actions when I grow enough to have employees. I will not treat my employees or anyone else in my circle in that manner. Employees are not just replaceable personnel and if I want them to work as hard for me then I need to work as hard for them.

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

I am founder of Pride Fitness DSM, a personal training studio dedicated to creating a safer space for the LGBTQ+ community to gain confidence through strength training. The gym space is based out of Des Moines, Iowa, with options to work with me in the online space as well. I enjoy spending time doing puzzles and reading a good book with my morning coffee. When I’m not at the gym, I’m usually at a brewery or the dog park with my partner and our dog. I also coach softball and volleyball at my local middle school and high school. Dad jokes run rampant in my household just as much as sarcasm. And if you’re around me long enough you will start to believe in and speak kindly to and about yourself.

My passion and love for lifting started back in 8th grade for school softball and has continued throughout the years to my career now. What started as a way to get better in my sport, has transformed into helping people feel that same confidence I had when I started. I have worked at several different gyms and while all of them served a purpose, they never felt like they 100% fit. That’s when I decided I wanted to create the gym that I had been looking for all those years before.

Through Pride Fitness DSM, I offer personal training services to clients in a few different formats. The formats include 1-on-1, buddy (two people) and group class which are all serviced in person, with the option to work with me in a group or 1-on-1 format online. The main focus is strength training and mindset shifts. By focusing on these two specific things, a majority of other wins will follow.

I solve one of the basic things that LGBTQ+ individuals and allies look for when going to the gym: acceptance. People want to be a part of a gym that affirms who they are where they feel comfortable and won’t be judged or looked down upon. The number one aspect that sets Pride Fitness DSM apart from others is that this space (physical and online) was made specifically for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community to gain strength and confidence in a space designed for them.

I’m proud of the impact this space and company has made in the first 2 years of business. Being able to help people break down barriers and become truly confident in themselves is a huge win.

One recent client story illustrates this. During a session, I decided to video their deadlift to use for feedback. After asking consent, they had a negative reaction to having the video being taken. We talked through what feelings came up and about ways to adjust that thought process. Afterward they shared that they had never put into words what seeing themselves in the video meant for them. They were able to overcome those feelings of shame and guilt at not being happy with where they were at, but knowing they can accept themselves in the space and body they currently are in. Seeing that individual move toward feelings of acceptance within themselves is one of the biggest moments of achievement so far.

The biggest thing I want people who aren’t familiar with myself and my work, is be prepared to work through some hard feelings as they come up while using sarcasm to even out the mood. This is such a loving and affirming space for you to grow both mentally and physically. Just remember that you will be the one putting in the work with me right next to you along the way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A recent lesson that I have had to unlearn relates to productivity and the value we put on it. Since we started school, our value and worth has been tied to how much we get done. We were praised when we did our homework early and respected when we got the highest degree. On the flip side we were shamed if we didn’t finish a math test on time (you know the ones – the timed math tests in elementary school), or didn’t feel accomplished enough if we didn’t get everything crossed off our to-do list. Our society has man-made this concept that we need to be productive all the time otherwise we are not good enough. That our worth is tied to how much we get done during certain hours of the day.

Being raised in that thought process throughout school then moving into the work field, that idea has created a lot of shame, guilt, self-doubt, and diminished confidence. Those feelings are typical for the average person in our society, add in an ADHD diagnosis and those increase ten-fold.

Currently, I am working through what that diagnosis means for me and how it all relates to productivity. I have had to unlearn the idea that if I’m not productive all of the time it means I’m not a good business owner/person. Typically this manifested in feeling shame for working on a puzzle (which is fun and not related to business) instead of replying to emails (which to me is not a super fun business activity). After switching that thought process I can recognize I am still a good business owner and human regardless of if I complete my puzzle and/or reply to emails. All because my worth (and yours) do not rely on how much or little gets done in the day.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Being willing to step out of your comfort zone and learn new things. As a business owner and solopreneur, I have had to learn so many new policies, procedures, software, etc. over the course of starting my business and sustaining it. Which involve two very different mindsets and tools, many of which I had no prior knowledge about. So being willing to take the leap into the unknown almost every single day has been so beneficial. While there is fear in doing the unknown, it is also a brave thing to do that not everyone gets the opportunity to experience, and for that I’m very thankful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pridefitnessdsm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pridefitnessdsm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pridefitnessdsm
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-embrey-8794bb64/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pride-fitness-dsm-clive