We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shaun Provost a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shaun, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?
When I first graduated from college, I worked in corporate America as an Account Manager for a mobile marketing firm. The job came directly from an internship that I had completed in graduate school, and perfectly aligned with what I had studied in both undergrad and grad school, doing exactly what I thought I wanted to do; on the cutting edge of marketing in mobile technology.
And I don’t think I’ve ever been so miserable.
After the first few months of learning the job, my daily assignments weren’t intricate or challenging. My whole job was based on optimizing the bigger corporations to price out the little ones, make them roll over. I grew to hate every click I was making and every meeting I had to attend. I felt invisible. I wasn’t making a difference. The same tasks were piled on my desk, the same meetings were unfruitful, and the same outcome always came. Day after day. I would leave work crying, call my mom or vent to my boyfriend, every single day.
My one reprieve was my daily workout class during my lunch break taught by a wonderfully skilled woman named Mariama. She worked at Wave Health & Fitness, the Seaport Hotel gym in Boston that employees of the Seaport businesses could use for classes, gym time etc. Among her many responsibilities, she taught a 45 minute kickboxing class at lunchtime during the week.
In between sobs at the end of the day, I would gleefully tell my boyfriend all about class, how high I was kicking or what songs came on, what new people were in class or how Mariama complimented my form. One day he asked me why I liked that class so much, what about that hour away from work made me so happy, and without even thinking about it I said, “She just helps people be better. Live better, do better. Anyone in that class could be the best kickboxer in the world or just starting today and she would respect them and teach them all the same.” and he replied with “So could you.”
And just like that I signed up for my NASM CPT, took the classes and studied full time. I went back to Wave a few months later after passing my boards and asked for Mariama, who took me under her wing while I taught bootcamp classes and began my personal training career under her watchful eye. It took me another few years of traveling as an athlete competing in marathons and obstacle course races making a name for myself, but eventually I started my own personal training and small group training business, Live Unbreakable, LLC. Where there were no bigger businesses making money off of how many clients I turned around, or how many optimizations I was making… just me, helping people live better and do better. To this day, and 23 certifications and one more board certification later, that’s still all I hope to accomplish. Helping others live better, and I am grateful every single day that they trust me to do just that.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Stuck in a corporate job, I felt like I was slowly fading away. My only escape was the midday kickboxing class that left me feeling energized and alive. That’s where I met Mariamma, my personal trainer, who saw a fire in me that I didn’t even see myself. “You’d be a fantastic coach,” she’d say, and I’d just laugh it off.
But the fire was real. It fueled my weekend warrior spirit as I crushed obstacle courses and marathons. It kept me warm on cold runs in the early mornings and fueled my passion to race. People kept asking how I stayed so fit, and the more I shared, the more I realized I had something valuable to offer.
So I took a leap of faith. I ditched the cubicle, traded in my pencil skirt for leggings, and started training anyone who needed it: friends, family, even fellow athletes. All pro-bono, while I studied for my NASM certification. My passion was contagious, and Live Unbreakable started to take shape.
It took me a few years of working in globo gyms before I realized that I was meant for so much more. I could do more with my own brand, help more people and create a space where others could discover their own inner fire and build a life they love, just like I did.
I started pouring my heart and soul into my athletic journey, and inspiring others to do the same. I never dreamed that it would grow as big as it has – I always meant it when I said “If I can help just one person… feel better in their own skin, push through hard challenges, recognize their own strengths, that’s when I’ll know I’m on the right path.” And I still mean that.
Live Unbreakable is so much more than just a brand; it’s a community that saved me from myself. Now, I get to pay it forward, one workout plan at a time.
What really sets me apart in this overcrowded, confusing industry is this; The body and the vibrancy/energy that I have now, it wasn’t created by luck. I wasn’t born with it. It’s not genetics. It’s not an accident. I researched, studied, educated myself, advocated for myself, and figured it out brick by brick. I oh-so-carefully curated my body, my mind, and my “vibe” from next to nothing. I’ve been defeated. I’ve felt hopeless. And yet I’m here, Living Unbreakable. What’s even better than that? I have the blueprint to help you get here, too.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience is my middle name!
Live Unbreakable, LLC started purely as a fitness brand. At that time, I thought the best way to help people live better lives would be to help them move better; whether that was weight loss, muscle gain, body composition changes, or something completely different. Bootcamps, kickboxing, personal training – all of these modalities were great at helping my clients achieve their goals.
What I quickly found out was that other factors seemed to impact my clients in a bigger way. Maybe more importantly, in a way that I was unequipped to help. Nutrition and hydration, sleep habits, mental and emotional fatigue, work and family stressors, etc… all of these would be mentioned during sessions and would impact my clients to varying degrees. The best I could do at the time was provide anecdotes based on my own personal experience, but I yearned for further education to better assist them.
Unfortunately, as I was delving deeper into both further education and business expansion, I began experiencing significant health challenges. Starting with cystic acne, headaches, and fatigue, my symptoms quickly turned into major concerns like torn ligaments and broken bones. Things only compounded and got worse from there, with several joint dislocations finally sidelining me from my athletic and entrepreneurial ventures. I was still training – what I could – at that time, and it wasn’t until persistent severe lower abdominal pain and cramping was added that I actually took time off. You know what they say – if you don’t take a break, your body will do it for you.
Well, my body forced me to take a break. It also forced me into several doctor’s offices per week, plenty of medications being pushed my way, and not one single diagnosis. I must have seen north of 25 doctors in the span of 3 months and spent over $5k going through tests, visits, bloodwork, etc. And still – nothing. I felt broken. Defeated. Invisible. Hopeless.
Frustrated by the lack of a definitive diagnosis from countless medical professionals, I took matters into my own hands. Through extensive research and education, tons of reading, coursework, research studies and trial and error, I developed a holistic approach to my own health. I started advocating for specific tests, blood work etc, and ultimately, self-diagnosed as a celiac in addition to a few other underlying health issues.
That’s why I call this little blip my blessing in disguise – because I was forced to confront my personal health challenges and become my own advocate in such a fierce way, I gained truly invaluable insights into healthcare, my body, functions, the gut-brain connection, gut health, and the intricacies of my menstrual cycle. All of which ignited an even stronger passion for helping others understand their own bodies and feel as good as I did. I had no idea what “healthy” really felt like until that point, and I want to help as many people as I can to experience it, too! From there, I pursued my National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaching education and specialized in women’s hormone health, and earned roughly 22 additional certifications.
Take that for resilience :)
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Initially, Live Unbreakable, LLC was founded upon my reputation as a competitive athlete. As an elite obstacle course racer and marathon runner, I frequently participated in races, literally almost every weekend for months at a time. My consistent success, including podium finishes and victories, significantly boosted my fitness career and helped me establish a strong presence in the industry. Demonstrating my expertise firsthand through my athletic achievements was a powerful way to build credibility and gain recognition. As my athletic career progressed, so did my business. Pretty sweet, honestly! The victories and accomplishments of my growing roster of athletes served as additional evidence of my coaching effectiveness, further enhancing my reputation and attracting clients.
When health concerns forced me to take a pause from racing, I was still able to continue coaching successful athletes and building the business through their positive referrals. Word of mouth was a huge marketing strategy during this time. As I continued to expand my knowledge and expertise, I deepened my engagement with existing clients and shared my insights through my website and social media.
Reflecting on Live Unbreakable, LLC over the past decade and a half, I am immensely grateful for the growth and evolution that both my business and I have gone through. It’s been really cool to see the shifts in direction, from my original fitness passion to delving into gut health, mental health, and holistic health practices. And my passion and reputation have only continued to grow with the business, and I don’t know a lot of entrepreneurs who can honestly say that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.liveunbreakable.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingunbreakable/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shaun.Provost.Unbreakable
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunprovost/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/live-unbreakable-raleigh
- Other: second website: hormone-harmony.com
Image Credits
Jennifer Evens Photography