Growing up, most kids will tell you that they want to be a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, a veterinarian, an actor amongst other very mainstream jobs. Although times are definitely changing, you don’t hear, “I want to be a professional network marketer,” very often. Likely, never.

Despite the movement of entrepreneurship that has arisen in the US and abroad recently, this kind of business still carries with it stigmas that are hard to break. Especially since there are fly-by-night companies engaging in behavior that give this industry a bad wrap. Notwithstanding this, I am fairly certain that in the next 5 to 10 years, you will hear, “I want to be a Team Beachbody Coach,” more and more often — especially from kids who have grown up living the Beachbody lifestyle with their parents. And I think that’s awesome!

So, if you would have told me at my law school graduation that in 2018 I would stand on stage accepting the top award from the CEO of a network marketing company, I would have likely said “yea right.” ME? NEVER. I, too, was skeptical about this kind of business. Ya know, the pyramid schemes, the super sleazy home parties, the pink cars, the inventory. OMG, no. I would never participate in something like that. Ok, fine. Never say never. I did. But Beachbody is so different and none of that. It actually changed my life.

And I will explain in second why. Let me have my moment first. HA!

On Saturday, June 23rd, 2018 — Carl Daikeler, CEO of Beachbody, said really nice things about me, called my name, I sobbed uncontrollably, and I accepted an award from him called The CEO Award in front on 20,000 Beachbody Coaches.

WTF. Me? Yes, me!

Here’s where I tell you all the awesome things about this company…

When I started this business in August, 2010 I didn’t know ANYTHING about direct sales. All I knew was that I wanted a discount on Shakeology because I was miserable in my body, ate like a toddler, smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, lived on coffee, and was stressed the-F-out at work. I had graduated law school 5 years earlier and hand landed a spot on the coveted medical malpractice team at my firm. The ballers of med mal. I was one of two women. The other was already a partner so it was sink or swim for this girl! I swam. But that comes at a cost.

Time for me and my family was non-existent at times. Although my firm had a family first policy, the nature of the job is unforgiving combined with my competitiveness and desire to succeed — my habits were just horrendous. I needed to change.

So Becky said, “drink this shake,” and the rest is history. Well it’s actually NOT that simple. Stories like this never are.

When I began feeling in control of my health and started sharing what was working for me a hobby business was born. But little by little, I started seeing those paychecks hit my bank account each Thursday and my dreams began to peek through. You have to understand, this was 2010–11 when the financial markets crashed and we almost lost it all. So this silver lining called Beachbody was alleviating some of the burden of our high debt, ridiculous mortgage, and student loans. Hmmmmm, maybe just maybe I can do this AND practice law. Yea, I totally can. And so the hustle began and our Team began to grow. My sister and I started understanding the concepts that helped us level up like vision, leadership, momentum, team culture — and our Team, Diesel Nation, began to flourish.

During the last 8 years, we have done incredible things in the business. Our Team grew from 2 sisters to over 12,000 Coaches who are now all over the US, Canada, and the UK. Myself, a 6X Elite Coach, Superstar Diamond, Executive Leader, Success Club 10 Legend, Million Club and former Coach Advisory Board member. BIG STUFF. And pretty spectacular for people with ZERO network marketing experience, no social media skills, no training systems handed to us, nothing.

But the road wasn’t always smooth and it was in those moments that you learn how to lead.

I love the quote, “Everything rises and falls on leadership” by John Maxwell. It’s the absolute truth. While some believe great leaders are born, they are not. Great leaders are created by sheer will, perseverance, influence, service, love, patience, and many other skills you develop overtime as you learn to navigate through and overcome the obstacles that will undoubtedly come your way. (I’ll share some of my biggest lessons in leadership below.)

When you believe in something so much, it begins to shape who you are and what you want to become. Beachbody’s mission and core values do that for me. Our mission, “to help others achieve THEIR goals and live healthy and fulfilling lives,” isn’t just some sort of cult chant we’ve all memorized — it’s a way of life. My personal mission is to leave people better than they were before meeting me. That they believe in themselves enough to work hard, seek change, and win at life.

I truly believe with 100% conviction that what we do in health and fitness improves the quality of life of people, and not just in the physical sense. It improves happiness, joy, relationships, and so much more. It gives regular people a place to belong and feel loved. And it gives regular people a platform to do something meaningful. And that is something I want to protect and always will.

I was asked to serve on the Coach Advisory Board of the company during two challenging years. I will spare the full details but most know that our recent transition to digital (Beachbody on Demand) after being a “DVD” company for so many years wasn’t a walk in the park.

The business seemingly changed overnight and many people didn’t know how to handle it. And that caused its own set of problems with Coaches leaving the network and then utilizing social media to smear the company as a recruiting tactic into new “opportunities” with the promise of quick money. While the Beachbody “lifers” stayed the course and painfully navigated through, it appears those that left have either 1. Came back to Beachbody, or 2. Have signed up and quit various new ventures (some as much as 5!). Anyway, I digress — that’s for another blog. LOL!

The point is — during those times we had to lean in hard. Not only in leading our own organizations but the network as well. We had to make TOUGH decisions that caused uproar in the short-term but was for the overall good of the network long-term, we had to see past the digital transition to find solutions for our Coaches to earn more money in their business, we pitched new products, new services, new platforms — you name it. All to continue this incredible business into the future. While it’s not perfect, the business is booming again and the future seems so bright!

So when I wrote to the leaders of the network thanking them for all their messages, texts, etc. I proudly said this award was “OUR WIN” — we did this.

As those big letters flashed on the screen – CEO AWARD – and Carl Daikeler began speaking my chest tightened. When he said “this Coach has 4 Star Diamond business centers, one of which is a 15 Star Diamond center” I knew right then and there that he was talking about me. While the crowd erupted when he said the word “lawyer” – I sat in my seat overcome with emotion. Danny put his arm around me and said, “you did it.” Cue ugly ass cry… 

As I walked on stage to accept the recognition, the last 8 years flashed before my eyes… The first time I took a sip of Shakeology. The first time I attempted P90X Chest and Back after having DJ. The night I signed up as a Coach. My first Super Saturday. The trip I earned to the Bahamas. Various conversations with people who have instilled belief in me or taught me lessons. The first Coach that quit. The many Coaches who have come and gone. The tears shed hearing incredible stories of success. That lunch in Vegas when I decided we could be a Superstar Team. The day I walked into my boss’s office and handed him my letter of resignation. The day DJ was diagnosed with Autism. The day I was asked to speak at Summit for the first time. The day Becky and I spoke at Summit together at general session. The day I was asked to serve on CAB. The day we had earned a million dollars… I can go on.

To be honest, I didn’t even know what I said when I got to the microphone. But forever ingrained in my heart was Danny running up on stage to give me a big hug, which instilled courage to speak. And Carl’s smile. He seemed so proud. 

The last 8 years have been filled with many moments. Moments that have compounded on each other and shaped our future as a family. I am forever grateful that this opportunity came into my life. It has, without a doubt, made me a better person in every facet of womanhood — wife, mom, sister, daughter, granddaughter, aunt, friend.

Standing on stage that Saturday night was a full circle moment that confirms, I am where I am supposed to be. And I am doing what I am supposed to be doing with my life. I know this is not for everyone, but when it lands in the hands of a person willing to see life a little differently, work hard, and have vision — it is pretty spectacular.

So in the next couple of years, if your kid says, “I want to be a Team Beachbody Coach,” smile and hand them your credit card. They might just change the world as you know it!

So I said I would give you lessons in leadership, so here they are:

1. Learn the skills of leadership. Read leadership books, go to leadership seminars. Like I said above, leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made by growing into the role and developing skills that will help you lead people. There’s a big difference between manager and leaders. Managers handle systems, numbers and processes. Leaders influence, instill belief in others, and create more leaders.  A manager says, “go,” a leader says, “let’s go together.”
2. Create and share your vision with your Team. People want to be lead and want to know where they are going and most importantly, WHY.  Where do you see your Team in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now. Share that with them. Your vision has to be about a mission bigger than any one person — it must inspire a movement.  
3. Establish a powerful and cohesive Team culture. What do you want people to feel when they join your Team? Creating an environment where people feel loved and that they belong is your most powerful asset as a leader.  
4. Remove rotten apples. if someone, even a Team member, is threatening the bond of the Team you have to remove them from your environment.  Negativity spreads faster than positivity!
5. Become the moral compass of your Team. People should look to you as the example of how to run a business.  If you engage in improper activity, it will give others the green light to do the same.  

There are so many lessons I can share but perhaps I will save them for another day.  I will leave you with this — a team is not limited by its members, it is limited by its Leader. And because of that I am working hard everyday to show our Team what is possible so that they, too, can live their best life.  

Thank you everyone.

Love,
This Year’s CEO Award Recipient