We were lucky to catch up with Rashaad Slowley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rashaad , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change the moment I started my business. I truly believe everything unfolded for me according to God’s timing. Interestingly, I never dreamt of owning a fitness business or becoming a health and wellness coach. Six years ago, I was working behind the Genius Bar at the Apple Store. I trained a lot of local athletes on the side, despite not having any formal certification at the time. Thanks to my athletic background, I had a solid understanding of how to train and how the body should move.

Eventually, I decided to go part-time at Apple and enrolled in the American Academy of Personal Training. It was a full-time, four-month program that really taught me the ins and outs of personal training. After graduating, I was hired at Equinox and within just two months, I had a full-time schedule. From there, I continued building my career—working with brands, maintaining a full client list, and earning several certifications.

I didn’t officially start my business until the pandemic hit. My online presence grew rapidly, and it felt like the right moment. Towards the end of the pandemic, I relocated to South Florida for a fresh start, but as always, God had different plans. Everything I experienced—the clients, the brands, and the relationships—helped me grow my business even further. I’ve since been able to build a community where I can truly provide value and make a meaningful impact. Everything is unfolding exactly as it’s meant to.

Rashaad , 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?

Hi, I’m Rashaad Slowley, a health and wellness coach based in South Florida. My journey into the world of fitness and wellness began about six years ago, though my roots as an athlete run much deeper. I played football throughout my life, both at the collegiate level and professionally in the NFL and Canadian leagues.

After my athletic career, I transitioned into a different field, working at Apple’s Genius Bar. But my passion for fitness pulled me in a new direction, and I decided to pursue personal training. I attended personal training school and got my start at Equinox, one of the leading names in the fitness industry. During my two years there, I built a full-time client roster and worked with a wide range of individuals and brands, gaining valuable experience and knowledge.

From there, I moved to Performance House, a gym known for training high-end clients, including athletes. My clientele expanded, and I had the opportunity to work with top performers from various sports. Shortly after, the pandemic struck, pushing me to pivot my business online. I began hosting virtual fitness classes three times a week, with attendance ranging from 50 to 100 participants per session.

It was during this time that I relocated to South Florida, effectively restarting my business in a new area. Fortunately, many of my clients followed, and I continued to train virtually, allowing my business to thrive. Over the years, I’ve cultivated strong relationships with both clients and brands, which has been instrumental in my growth and success in the health and wellness industry.

What sets me apart as a coach is my versatility. I can work with clients who have a variety of goals—whether it’s losing weight, building muscle, or training for a specific sport like football, basketball, or golf. I’m certified in prenatal and postnatal fitness and offer specialized training for expecting and new mothers. Additionally, I provide rehabilitation support for those recovering from injuries and can even work with children.

As a people person, I prioritize building deep connections with my clients. I offer more than just physical training—I’m here to help with nutrition, mental wellness, and emotional support. My clients value not only my expertise but also the personal advice I provide, whether it’s about their family, career, or daily life.

Thanks to my strong network in the health and wellness space, I’m also able to offer a premium service. Whether it’s arranging for specialized equipment, sauna sessions, cold plunges, or other recovery tools, I know exactly where to go and who to talk to. This is something my clients truly appreciate.

If you’re looking for support in any aspect of your health and wellness journey—whether it’s physical, mental, nutritional, or emotional—I’m here to guide you, both online and in person.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I believe the most effective strategy for growing your clientele is through word of mouth. While there are many ways to attract clients—such as marketing yourself through social media, handing out business cards, attending events, or even cold calling or approaching people in gyms—in my experience, the best clients come from personal referrals.

There’s nothing quite like someone sharing the great experience they’ve had with you with others they trust. When a person hears about your services from someone they look up to or value, it carries a lot of weight. This kind of referral builds trust right from the start and often leads to motivated clients who are excited to work with you.

It can also create a sense of community. Often, friends or acquaintances of a client will end up working with the same trainer, and before you know it, you’re building a network of clients who are connected. This makes your work more personal and fulfilling as you’re not just training individuals, but fostering relationships.

So, I always emphasize treating every client with the utmost care and providing them with the best service possible. If you do this, your clients will naturally spread the word, and from there, your business will grow through those trusted networks. It’s a strategy that builds organically and can expand far beyond that initial connection.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The biggest pivot I’ve ever had to make in my life came during the pandemic when I made the decision to leave New York and essentially start my business over from scratch by moving with my family to South Florida. In New York, I had built a successful career, but when the pandemic hit and gyms closed, everything became uncertain. I quickly adapted by offering Zoom classes three times a week, which went well for several months.

At the time, my daughter was just six months old, and my wife and I felt that relocating to South Florida would offer us a better quality of life, especially for raising a family. It wasn’t an easy decision—I was leaving behind my clients and the strong foundation I’d built in New York—but we felt it was the right move for us as a family. I made the sacrifice with confidence and faith that I could rebuild my business and community in a new place. I trusted that this was part of God’s plan, and I believed things would work out.

When I arrived in Florida, it wasn’t instant success. I started by working at different facilities, training athletes, and working at independent gyms. Every day, I would travel long distances to places like South Beach and Brickell, all while striving to rebuild what I had left behind. But through hard work, word of mouth, and offering my clients a premium, life-changing experience—physically, emotionally, and mentally—I gradually gained momentum.

As I continued to grow, referrals and client satisfaction led to a strong community forming around me, right where I live. This network of people who share a passion for fitness and wellness has been incredibly rewarding. Today, I’m proud to say I have a thriving community that looks to me for guidance in health and wellness. Becoming a Lululemon ambassador for my area has been a highlight, as it represents the trust and respect I’ve earned in this new chapter of my life.

That move to South Florida was, without a doubt, the biggest pivot I’ve had to make in my business, but it was the right one. It allowed me to rebuild, grow, and thrive in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Shaadiefit @Domorefitnessllc

Image Credits

Do More Fitnesss
Lululemon
TLF
NFL
Mens Health Magazine