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

Hi Shelby, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job

The most important lesson I learned from a prior job was that I should never put so much into others and their companies that I lose myself.

For 8 years I was a manager in high producing retail stores. I was promoted multiple times and relocated by the company a few times as well. However, I worked crazy hours and was told I was capped out in salary potential. I decided after having my son I needed a career that would give me more of a work-life balance and that I could advance in, so I transitioned into Dental.

I worked extremely hard for two practices in both Maryland and Texas. After less than a year at the Texas practice, I was told I wasn’t the “right fit” and was let go with full unemployment paid out, but never given a clear explanation as to what it was I had done wrong. This was very hard for me. I had always received promotions and awards and never been fired. I put so much time and energy into all these companies and then I was left only feeling tossed out like I was worthless.

I soon realized I was giving more of myself to others than I was to me. I had goals and dreams that I put on the back burner for the last time and created Fueled By Love Meal Prep.

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?

I have a meal prep company called Fueled By Love. I specialize in creating meals based on a persons personal customized macronutrients. This is done by using a mathematical formula that factors in ones age, gender at birth, height, current weight, goal weight and activity level. Based on that information I calculate how many calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fats they need to consume daily to reach whatever their goal is. This can range from losing weight, to building muscle, to just maintaining. With those numbers I create customized meals that have only those macronutrients in them so that they literally don’t have to do anything but eat. I take care of the grocery shopping, the cooking, the weighing and proportioning and I even have a delivery services that drops the meals off to their home.

Unlike other meal prep companies, I don’t just offer the standard meals with the same protein carbs and fats (though it is an option) because I understand that not everyone needs the same macronutrients. I also understand that when consuming 2-3 of these standard plans, you more often than not, end up over doing your fats and not reaching your daily protein goal. Without reaching your macronutrient goals daily, you won’t be able to reach your physique goals while also fueling your body with the proper nutrients to be at your optimal performance.

Is my way more time consuming, absolutely! But this is why I went into this business. I genuinely want to help my customers reach their body and health goals and I understand that in order to do so I can’t treat everyone the same when it comes to macronutrients because everyone’s macronutrients are not the same! I refuse to treat people like just another dollar and that means investing in them the same way they are investing in me when they decide to try Fueled By Love.

I am always working with personal trainer and coaches. A lot of the time they write diets for their clients and the client is left with a paper full of foods and amounts to follow. This can be extremely overwhelming to someone new to fitness, busy with kids and work, or just not a person who enjoys cooking and prepping. So that’s where Fueled By Love comes in! Many times I have created meals with the diets given to them by their coaches/trainers so that they can reach the goals both their coach and them have in mind. I don’t need to always be the brains behind the operation just the cook and preparer!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Fueled By Love is a word of mouth local business. I have always said with anything in life, it is quality not quantity. Ensuring I can work hands on with my customers has always been a priority for me, so when building my customer based I rely heavily on word of mouth referrals. I want my new customers to want to try my meals and work with me because of someone who’s opinion they value told them about their great experience with Fueled By Love.

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

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is focusing on having great customer service, being quick and responsive to the customers, and understanding that everyone’s needs are not going to be the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.FastFueledByLove.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/FastFueledByLove.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FastFueledByLove/