We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Linzi Martinez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Linzi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
As a competitive gymnast until I was 23, I developed the love for fitness and nutrition on a very deep level. Something I always knew I wanted to share with the world in some capacity or another, a way to make a difference in the lives of the people around me. But for as long as I can remember, I have had a complete passion for film and television, acting in particular. It was something that made be feel insanely alive and thrive…. – however, I was so scared to do it that I never took the chance when I was younger. I used my passion and became a personal trainer and an Integrative Nutritional Health Coach as my career until I fell into hosting my first show on TV which actually allowed me to combine them both. Just delicious! In 2007, I had set a 5 year plan for my company to grow and for me to become a household name for women who needed to feel alive and thriving using diet, exercise and motivation. The fifth year was depicted as the year I would have my own TV show to reach millions of people to make a huge difference in as many lives as possible – a dream set to paper for the first time! It was so far away that the anxiety of TV was just a mere smidgen! During the first month of my plans execution, I was invited to be a guest on a TV show. Scared? …understatement!!!! I remember sitting on set waiting for them to cue me thinking “how can I ESCAPE THE ROOM”! Every excuse to get up and RUN, not walk but RUN! My heart was pounding, I was sweating and wanting to throw up and I had no clue how I was not going to pass out! Honestly!
Then this….For the first time in my life that little guy (jerk) on my shoulder that had usually won every battle, just lost for the first time and I STAYED! Not only did i stay, but I FELL IN LOVE and LOVED EVERY SECOND ON AIR!!! SO much so that the station owner offered me my own show right on the spot to start immediately! My 5th year plan of action came to fruition the first month!!! … it was the moment that changed my entire career and life. It stomped on all my insecurities and self doubt…pushed them out the doors to never to return…EVER!
Getting over that fear that I had been breeding for over 30 years was the exact thing I needed to do to open the flood gates to endless dreams – that finally, I knew I was capable of bringing to reality! And that I did.
After reaching 100,000 viewers with WRPBiTV, I wanted more. More reach, more impact and more excitement!
I decided to create, produce and host a tv series that could potentially really touch the lives of millions of people. I had no idea how – but I was going to do it! A drive that I had never had before!
The HHS Makeover 3 part TV Series was born in 2017. produced in 2018 and aired on all the OTT’s like ABC, NBC, APPLETV, CBS, and so many more! In fact, it went on to win Best Documentary and Best Host in the Miami Web fest, earned honorable mention at the Manhattan International Film Festival , was a Semi-Finalist in the Los Angeles Cinfest and was officially selected in my home town at the Toronto Lift-off Film Festival!
Who would have ever guessed! It was insane! I never looked up, just kept moving and believing. I never doubted its birth, there where crazy bumps – but I knew that anything was possible and NOTHING was ever going to stop me from doing want I have always wanted to do EVER AGAIN!
I am honored to say it did not stop there – I was addicted now to the belief in the possibilities of life and I went on the co-create The Prime Time…a TV pilot shown on July 7th on NBC. The premise? That life begins in your Prime…a time in life where you usually have more time, are finically more stable, and have more confidence that you had when you were younger. Lol (I had to share!)
After feeling completely comfy on camera as a host, I decided to once again step out of my comfort zone and right into acting so I can experience more than just my life. Actors get to feel and experience a life beyond their own, creating a very rich and exciting life! Something once again that I have always dreamt of doing! AND…I am in love!!! I just finish shooting a film where I play the lead for the first time. Makes me cry when I think of how happy I am.
This one defining moment in 2007 where I stepped outside of my comfort zone into the unknown also gave me the the courage to create Body on Fire Fitness, a method of training and nutrition for woman over 40 that creates a lean and muscular body. From filming daily in my Facebook Group In-home Fitness for complimentary training as a way to continue to give, to writing my first book “Recipes for Instant Weight Loss” available on Amazon and Kindle, I continue to remember … I , no WE can do ANYTHING.. you don’t always have to have a plan and wait to be prepared… you can just step outside and say I am going to go for it and let it unfold along the way for you! I can tell you this… that passion will meet opportunity – I am living proof!!! SO GO FOR YOUR DRAEMS! YOU ARE WORTH EVERY SECOND!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?
To produce, direct and host my own TV series it had to be funded by outside sources as it requires tens of thousands of dollars even for a small production. The show was a makeover for three deserving people from a casting of over 400 applicants who where given over $25k of services to get happier, healthier and stronger. These services I had planned to be given by the leaders in the industry in my community. However, there was a huge road block… I did not have a good following on social media, I had no distribution lined up and essentially, there was no reason for them to sponsor the show…I just had a crazy passion to create it.
So I decided to take the year to create a strong following of local and national people, go back to school to be current with my knowledge and to get involved in everything I could to get my name out there and create trust.
I produced a video on social media to help my target market every single day for one year – just information to make them feel amazing, look amazing and to help them fall in love with themselves again or perhaps for the first time! After one year, I had an amazing following of beautiful people that knew I had their best interests and I was able to get 26 sponsors and raise enough money to have a camera crew, a daily social media campaign, a Grand Finale which CBS covered, and money to promote the show to get distribution nationally.
It was worth every second of every video, it made the journey so much more rewarding knowing that it was not easy, that I really had to work for this. I did not give up, something I think I would have done in my past… this was a first for me … I did not care how long or what it took. Looking back now… this is really where my pride comes from. It is amazing how long a year is when it is ahead of you and equally as amazing how short it is when you look back… great lesson.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
I have always found the most amazing strategy to growing you clientele, followers and audience to to give. Give what you know that may make someone’s life nicer, happier, healthier or just better. This creates an amazing connection, one that you too will find makes you feel beautiful. There is nothing better than making a difference in peoples lives, I believe this is where true happiness comes from. This makes people want to be with you, around you and listen to you and mostly trust you. They will tell their friends and family creating an amazing perpetual influx of new clients. (Plus it makes life so nice)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.linzimartinez.com
- Instagram: @linzimartinezofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyhealthystronger
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuUkBf6ZlQ8s1CzrlrXetUA/videos
- Other: Facebook free training group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inhomefitnesswithlinzimartinez
Image Credits
Photo credits go to Laura Peterson