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

Leah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I have been working as a coach since 2013. I didn’t start out immediately as my own boss. I worked for one of the major gyms for seven years before I started my own business. My time there was really wonderful as I was able to grow my skills as a trainer, learn about the industry, and how to effectively manage my clientele. I also met tons of wonderful people and created life long friendships. My time there was really wonderful in many ways but, like every job, there were pros and cons. The tough part was they always wanted more. I was always pushing myself to hit hours or sales targets designed by the corporation so I could be considered a top coach. At one point(2017), I had a severe crash in my health. I was stressed out all the time to the point that I couldn’t sleep and would have panic attacks from anxiety. I was also training very hard in the gym and this was also adding to my bodies stress load. It was the perfect storm. My thyroid dropped and my adrenals suffered from the impact of constant stress, both mental and physical. I was so sick I could barley get through an entire shift at work without almost falling asleep and this is while I was standing up. At the time, I had no idea why this was all happening. At one point I even thought I had Mono. It took me a year to find a doctor that could help me and diagnose the issue and two years after that to be mostly healed. The journey I went through to heal my body was not something I would wish on anyone. I was scared I would never get better. But, I am a believer that everything happens for a reason and even though that was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through, I know it has made me stronger as a person and it helped me figure out my path. So fast forward to the beginning of 2021 and that is when Patrick Fitness Services was born! I knew I couldn’t stay in the situation I was in and thus I created my own business. Now I run my own business so I set my own hours and only take on a client load I feel comfortable with. I refuse to let work take over my health again because that is what is most important. Sometimes I wonder what it might be like to have a regular job again because as a business owner you are solely responsible for your business and sometimes that might feel overwhelming, but then I think about the freedom I have as a business owner and the ability to set my own pace. I also get to share my story and help others that are struggling with similar health issues. So to answer your question, yes, I am very happy as a business owner!

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.

Many years ago, before I entered the fitness industry, I worked for one of the major banks. I was told that this would be a great career and I could make good money. However, I absolutely hated it. I did not like working behind a desk all day and even though I was good at it, I was bored and unfulfilled. I made the decision to pursue a new career and it needed to be something I was really passionate about and enjoyed doing on a daily basis, and that is how I ended up in the fitness industry as a personal trainer! I worked hard to educate myself and learn as much as I could about the industry. I fell in love with helping others fall in love with fitness. Ten years later I still love what I do and I continue educating myself as much as possible because the learning never stops! I have worked with hundreds of clients over the years, helping them improve their health and work towards their goals. I’ve competed in powerlifting, competed as a dressage rider, been in fitness magazines, travelled internationally for photoshoots, travelled internationally for training in my sport, so it has been a fun decade! I think it is safe to say that pursuing a passion over a “safe career choice” is much more fulfilling. Wouldn’t you agree?

I am an online coach so let me explain how that works! I coach all my clients through an app. It gives me updates in real time as my clients complete workouts and they are also able to submit videos of their exercises. Through this I am able to provide feedback on form and execution of movements, so my clients are able to perform the exercises safely and correctly for their goals. I update programs as needed and also provide nutritional recommendations for my clients to help them achieve their goals. What sets me apart from other coaches is I actually provide all my feedback through video. So my clients get to see my face on a regular basis(almost daily) and I am able to use visuals to help my clients learn by showing them the adjustments they need to make. Most people are visual learners so this type of feedback helps provide clarity and allows my clients to improve on form and technique much quicker.

My mission is to help women become the highest version of themselves. When you are healthy, strong and confident, you feel like you can conquer the world! This unstoppable feeling is magical and that energy radiates off of you, lighting up this world and making it a more beautiful place. Your energy is infectious at this point and I absolutely love seeing women shine like this. So I work with women who want to get stronger and help them sculpt their body and mind through heavy lifting. Ever want to do your first chin up or learn how you can deadlift more than your body weight? I’ve got you! I also work with many women experiencing burn out and the challenges that come along with that. Since I have been through this myself I find it very rewarding to help others take back their health, when they are feeling so lost. When I went through this myself, I could have really used guidance from someone whom had also experienced what I was experiencing. If I can be that support system for others going through that, then I know they will feel a sense of comfort in a difficult time. It is incredibly rewarding.

I am so proud that I built this all myself. We all go through hard times in our lives but what you decide to do with what you learned during these events can either build you up or tear you down. You can sit in your struggles and let it control you or you can take action, find a solution and get back out there. You can do anything in this world.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

For me, the best source of new clients is from referrals. Fitness is a lifestyle and it is not a “one and done” type of thing. When I am doing the initial consultation with a potential new client, I review their current lifestyle habits and use that to help gage their starting point. From here I make sure the client understands the requirements that will be necessary to work towards their goals and discuss a rough timeline that said individual will likely need to commit to make these changes. This doesn’t mean they will be done with fitness at the end of this rough timeline but it helps them understand that significant time needs to be invested into creating real change. Changing lifestyle habits that you have been doing for years will not happen overnight and learning how to move properly in the gym takes time. Most of my clients end up training with me for years because they slowly start to understand the complexity of training and love having me as their guide. For example, my oldest client has been with me for just over nine years. Since I spend so much time working with my clients and developing close relationships with them, they feel confident to refer me to their friends and family.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

As an online coach, I am constantly in contact with my clients. With the type of service I provide, I am usually speaking with each client 3-5days out of the week. Communication is all done through the app via writing, voice note or video feedback. I also book video calls with clients on an as needed basis so we also both get time face to face. I usually book these calls if a client is struggling with a specific protocol, for example, struggling to make certain nutrition requirements, difficulty learning a new exercise etc. This way we are able to discuss things in further detail, the client is able to ask questions, and we are able to build a strategy together to move forward with success.

I create brand loyalty with my clients through consistently delivering what I promise. When I tell a client I am going to do “X” for them, I do it and I do it on schedule. Loyalty is built through trust and communication. My clients know that I am there for them 100% and they know I will do absolutely everything in my power to help them succeed. Even if my client is struggling with a personal issue and they are having a hard time hitting workouts or eating well, they will come to me for support and they know I will be there for them in a human way. I don’t guilt trip my clients when something is happening, I will be there for support and often times just help them restructure the plan for the time being. By treating them like human beings I have established strong relationships with all my clients and the loyalty goes both ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://patrick-fitness.com
• Instagram: leahpatrickfit

Image Credits
Paul Buceta James Marshall