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

Victoria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I ever took was stepping away from a career I loved and knew well. After 12 years as a Montessori teacher, where I delighted in creating outdoor obstacle courses and yoga flows for students, and fostering academic growth I found myself unexpectedly exploring new paths during the Covid lockdown. I began taking fitness and nutrition courses just for fun, unaware that they would lead me to something transformative. When I hosted my first outdoor fitness class for friends, family, and newcomers, 15 people showed up, and two even asked me to be their personal trainer. I suddenly saw the potential for something beyond teaching, though it meant leaving the security of the familiar. With a mix of excitement and fear I joined a business program at Sage University to follow this calling.

As my fitness business gained momentum, I realized that training sessions often went beyond physical fitness. Clients opened up about their lives, aspirations, and challenges, and I found that I was not just guiding them physically but supporting them emotionally and mentally. What began as a career in personal training grew a new branch to my business. My background in teaching and observation skills played a vital role in this new approach, and I saw that helping clients transform involved a mind-heart-body connection that resonated deeply with them.

Now as a Transformation and Life Coach I dive deep into my clients lives and show them how to live more passionately, purposefully, and with just the right amount of playfulness. Looking back, taking that leap into entrepreneurship became a doorway to living my passion daily, and I’m grateful for the journey that allowed me to support people in becoming their best selves in every way.

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?

My craft as a personal trainer was a natural start inspired by my dads training journey as a marathoner for the Houston Marathon. At nine years old I laced up my own pair of running shoes and joined him at the park. He said “You thought it was cool so you came with me”. He’s right, I did thing it was cool and it looked fun! In high school I began competing in track and cross country where my dad gave me invaluable lessons on resilience, breathwork, and the tenacity needed to “break through the mental wall” of distance running. That experience grounded me…gave me a taste of the “runners high”. I had a deeper connection with the outdoors and an introduction to life’s lessons of the natural high’s and lows. I set for life on the runners lifestyle and ran my first marathon at 18. I wanted to be the best and see how great I could become in this athletic endeavor.

At age 27, life threw an unexpected hurdle my way. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. This challenged me physically but didn’t dim my spirit. I forged a head and at age 32 I completed six half-marathons, 2 full marathons, and a mix of fun runs. In 2019 as I was training for the Houston Marathon, a late diagnosis of Typhus Fever, lead me to the ICU and on life support for a month. I had total organ failure, heart failure, bone marrow removed and blood transfusions. I remember at some point in the hospital, waking up in the middle of a procedure called PICC line, where a tube was inserted to send antibiotic’s to my heart, and thinking “God, please let this be over. I just want this to die!” I had endless agonizing pain and confusion. July 16th, 2019 my parents had to prepare for the worst as they were told that I was not showing signs of recovery. I will never understand what my parents experienced having to make a life or death decision for their daughter. That day my mom called her closets friends and family to help her through this. Jessica, my best friend came and lead a prayer circle, my friends and family sent so much love and resilience my way to recover before making that final decision. By an inexplicable turn I began to show signs of life again on the monitors. At some point I do remember seeing “The white light” or more like being in “The white light” the feeling of pure love is the best human way to explain it but it was something greater than that. I remember finally “waking up” and I could see parents but I didn’t quite know who they were. Same with my brother and other family members. I knew them but I didn’t at the same time. I was still on life support but more conscious and showing sings of improvement. While in the hospital I had all the time to sit in my thoughts and emotions. I subconsciously remembered how to meditate and place my attention on the beauty of the little things I could find joy in while at the hospital. Receiving around the clock shots to keep my blood from clotting transformed to me noticing when the sun was rising, which nurse remembered all her procedures when entering the room, who asked me if I wanted to go for a walk around my bed because that’s as far as I could go (haha!), and noticing the little patterns in my little room at the hospital. The recovery journey was a year long process to regain fine and gross motor skills along with rebuilding a new life.

Today as a Lifestyle and Transformation Coach I bring the same dedication and encouragement to my clients. There are no limits to who I work with and have seen a variety of people: single, divorced, young, old, neurodivergent and so on. Retired Navy Seal, William H McRaven wrote a book called “Make Your Bed” that changed my life during my recovery process. To this day I practice the art of “It’s the little things that can change your life” with my clients. I would say my greatest success story thus far is introducing a previous personal training client to his now fiancé. The way my client lit up when he talked about his new sweetheart was heartwarming. Before they got engaged I joked and said to him “just invite me to the wedding”. Coaching for me is not about giving advice, it’s about serving my clients that is most organic to the individual with regards to their lifestyle and hearts desire. I truly believe in my own saying “Cant Stop, Wont Stop!” because no matter how hard life gets I will always do my best to prevail through life’s lows.

My sessions are one-one-one with the option of a second co-coach in the sessions- called team coaching. I have had the honor to train and co-coach with Sedreana Saldana. Together we have hosted online coaching workshops such as What To Do With Your Life, How to Talk to Men (in business and relationship), Earning Your Living by Living Your Dream, and in person Dating events in the Austin Texas area. My personal brand is Viva Le Fun & I co-operate a women’s business support group called G.W.E.N (Global Women’s Entrepreneur Network). The foundational tools I have acquired over the years come from my background of 12 years experience as a Montessori Teacher, personal trainer, life coach and Sage University.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One book that profoundly shaped my journey in selling with integrity was 23 Innovations in Selling by Mia Sage. Until then, the art of selling was entirely foreign to me. I hadn’t sold a thing in my life, nor did I understand the fundamentals of running a business. What I discovered was both enlightening and transformative: people buy from those they like and trust. This book opened my eyes to the reality that selling isn’t about pushing products or services; it’s about building relationships and offering real value to others.

In the process, I realized that, oftentimes, people aren’t just buying what you’re selling—they’re buying you, the person behind the product. Your integrity, respect, and ability to connect create the foundation of a trustworthy relationship, which is what ultimately turns a “maybe” into a “yes.” If you focus on genuinely helping others and presenting your service with authenticity, you’re already far ahead.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I actually met my business partner, Sedreana Saldana, three years ago in an online class called What to Do With the Rest of Your Life. At the time, I was being interviewed, and she instantly picked up on my passion for date coaching and effective communication. Intrigued, she volunteered to help me with my “seed project,” and soon enough, we were coaching each other. Little did I know that this seed project would grow into a successful, income-generating venture!

Now, let me tell you—before Sedreana, I’d been through a few other “players” in the game, and let’s just say, I quickly learned that not every partnership is a winning one. But Sedreana? She was different. She was the one I had the most fun with, and let’s be real, the one I made the most money with! She brought out the best in me, and our synergy was undeniable.

Finding a solid business partner, assistant, or team member isn’t as easy as it sounds. It’s a bit like dating—you go through a “trial period” to see if you click. The goal is to find someone who contributes to the results: attracting more clients, generating positive energy, maintaining top-notch communication, and, yes, driving revenue. And with Sedreana, I hit the jackpot!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.globalcoachingnetwork.org/coaches/victoria-rodriguez
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viva_le_fun/

Image Credits

Victoria Rodriguez