Samantha Cordova, our 2018 February Trainer of the Month, is raising the bar in our industry with her undeniable dedication and persistence to setting and exceeding the highest expectations of herself. She leads by example and is an inspiration for her community, her clients and her colleagues in the industry.
Here is how Samantha is raising the bar…
Certifications/qualifications: National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT); B.S. Kinesiology from California State University, East Bay (CSUEB); MMA Conditioning Specialist (NASM-MMACS); TRX Suspension Training; Pilates Reformer Instructor; Running & Conditioning Coach; Yoga/Pilates Fusion Instructor; (and my foundational emphasis for clients is calisthenics awareness and control)
Business: MissFit Training
Website: www.MissFitTraining.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastBayMissFit/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missfittraining/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissFitTraining
Year started in business: Professional Certified Personal Trainer in 2009. Launched my independent Personal Training business, MissFit Training, in 2015.
Recognition and awards: Contributor for ACE magazine; Top 5 Best Personal Trainers in Alameda; featured in the Fitbit Coach app.
What inspired you to start your business?
I used to be surrounded by a lot of negativity and struggle, which led to very low self-confidence and limited my perception of what I could “do” in the world, so I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. If I wanted to be happy, then I would be the one in charge for making that happen!
After thinking long and hard about what I wanted to do “for the rest of my life” I decided to choose a profession that can a) help and educate others in a healthy, positive way; b) promote longevity and self-efficacy; and c) would keep me active and on my feet so I can set a great example of health and fitness for everyone that I serve.
What is one hard lesson you’ve learned in business you believe has been most valuable?
PERSISTENCE. I, like many of my peers in the industry, have gone through (and sometimes still go through) the many ups and downs of running the show as a solopreneur. I had zero clue how to manage all the aspects of providing a world-class service to people, while also learning everything about the behind-the-scenes “hats” I need to wear to successfully run a business.
Despite the rough patches, I have found that surrounding myself with the right support network of inspiring leaders and mentors (and keeping the success of my clients in mind!), I am constantly reminded of the reasons why I started this business in the first place.
Quitting would be the easy route, but PERSISTENCE is hard, and that is what’s moving me forward.
If I asked one of your clients why they choose you over other places/gyms/trainers, what would they likely say?
They would say that I am genuinely a good listener- and that serves really well when your providing a service that is constantly changing as the client progresses (or sometimes gets set back) in their program.
I am in the business of taking clients from where they’re at in life, their mindset, and their physical capabilities. I help them understand that today is a starting point- no matter how low their confidence is or how many injuries they’ve had or what medications they are on- they know that together, we will work on them getting better every single day.
I believe people are more capable than what they think they can do, so by listening to what their beliefs are about themselves, I can help them overcome the fears and challenges that might be holding them back from being their best self, right now.
Name one or two ways you are trying to raise the bar in the industry?
I am raising the bar with my passion for this business as a way of life- living and breathing everything I teach my clients and share with my communities. Whether online or in person, I am consistent with who I am and what I represent and believe in.
This year I’m providing more educational events and workshops, so I can connect directly with the people in my community. I really want to empower them to take ownership of their lives and learn how to push through life’s challenges and create their own journey.
I am happy to be speaking at two local high schools and hopefully inspire some of these kids to choose a career path similar to how I find this profession- healthy, positive, and promotes longevity for a brighter future.
On a bigger scale, I would love to connect with larger organizations with the same core values to help others and use that as a platform to extend my reach and help build a fun, positive, and healthy community- and use fitness as the means to do so.
Ultimately, I’m going to help change the world!
