Featured Entrepreneur: Autumn Calabrese
Interviewed by: Anna Svetlik De La Rosa
Episode: #14
Autumn Says, “Life isn’t about being perfect it’s about making progress.” Change your thoughts & change your life!
Autumn Calabrese is one HOT momma!!!!!!!
So, it is no surprise that everyone all over the world looks to her for diet, nutrition and of course fitness advise. She has a realistic approach to Healthy Living.
Well, I’m SO excited to have Autumn Calabrese joining me on my Blog to EMPOWER all women. This babe is the creator of 21 Day Fix, FIXATE, Nutrition expert and not to mention a Mighty Mom.
I started my workout journey with her 21Day Fix and when Autumn agreed to my interview, I almost peed on myself, seriously, I was so excited, hahaha! Just being totally honest! I love her and her saying “Fitness is a not a destination IT’S a journey”
Autumn BELIEVES IN YOU, so you don’t want to miss our chat!!!!!!!!!!!
Also you do not want to miss the rest of our interview in my upcoming book, which will come out soon!!!
MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTUMN:
Q1. What did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to be an actress and a dancer. It was always my dream to live in Los Angeles, to be my own boss, to inspire people.
Q2. After you had the idea to start your business, what was your first step to make it a reality?
My very first step to starting my own business was to get my certification as a personal trainer. I started with my NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) certification. Once I did that, I applied for a job with a small business doing in-home personal training. I knew eventually I wanted to own and run my own business, but I had a lot to learn in the beginning.
Also, learning from someone else who had already been doing it for several years was very helpful for me. I learned a lot in the two years I was with that company. After two years and a lot more studying, I was ready to go out on my own. The first thing I did on my own was get a website up and running. It wasn’t anything special, but it was a way for people to find me.
Q3. How did you support yourself when you were in the beginning stages of launching your business?
I had already worked for two years with another small company. When I left several of my clients chose to come with me. I made sure to live within my means while I built my business. When the economy got tough, and my business suffered a little I took up a second job at a gym as a personal trainer. You have to be flexible; you have to keep working hard, and you have to do what you have to do when things are tough. If it’s truly your passion and your dream then you don’t quit, you fight harder; you become more determined, more creative, more ambitious.
That’s what I did. I still saw private clients in their homes, I also saw my clients at the gym, and in between that I worked with Brooke Burke for her website. I also did some fitness modeling, competed in fitness competitions and started working on developing my portion control system. I had my foot in the industry every way that I could. The more involved you are, the more opportunities you create for yourself.
Q4. How did you get started in the industry of health, wellness and fitness?
It was always something that was in my life. I was a competitive dancer at a young age. I learned about eating properly, fueling my body to be the best dancer possible, being dedicated, making sacrifices. I also was an assistant dance teacher in high school and college to make extra money. That was my first step into working with others and teaching. My dance training was a huge part of what set me up for my success in fitness. I learned technique; I learned to cue, I got comfortable being on a stage in front of people. I developed a thick skin; I learned not to take rejection personally.
These are all important traits to have when building your own business. If you get discouraged easily, you will give up the second things get tough.
Q5. What motivates you?
I get asked this question a lot. Different things on different days motivate me. For a long time is was just that is was my passion and my dream to make it in LA. Then it was the fact that people told me I couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t make it. Then it was my son and being a single mom. Now it’s my world; I love it more and more every day. I am motivated by the people that I’ve helped, I’m motivated by the possibility of the people that I can help, I’m motivated to teach and inspire our youth, I’m still motivated by my son, and I’m motivated by my own ambition to do more, help more and be more. I want to leave a lasting impact on the world, something that leaves this place a little better, a little healthier than it was.
Q6. Who is your fitness mentor?
I don’t really have one. My first dance teacher was for a long time. Gina Rostin (hope I spelled that right, it’s been a long time) at Spotlight Dance Studio in Mayfield Hts Ohio. She probably has no idea just how huge of an impact she had on my life. Aside from that I learn and grow from my peers, the people I worked and work with.
Q7. What is the most challenging part of running your own business and always being the center of attention?
Running your business means there’s no one to turn to or manage up to when things get tough. You’re in charge, people look to you for the answers, and I don’t always have them. It’s ok not to be perfect, not to know it all. I’m lucky that I run my own business and also work for an amazing company, Beachbody. My CEO is a huge mentor and inspiration to me. I’ve learned so much from Carl Daikeler.
Being the center of attention can be challenging at times. You have to remember to stay true to yourself. That means you can’t be all things to everyone. I make sure that the topics I talk about, the photos I post, the products I endorse hold true to who I am. If they do, that’s all that matters. Not everyone will like everything you do; you have to be ok with that.
Q8. In your career so far, what would you say is your proudest moment ?
I’m really proud of how far my career has come since signing on with Beachbody, I could not ask to work for a better company. I also love that they allow me the space to be creative and workout even outside of Beachbody. I’m launching my new eBook “75 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids” on Monday, March 6th. This is huge for me as one of my goals has always been to end the trend of obesity in our youth and to teach them how to be healthy. The book is designed to help parents pack healthier lunches for their kids.
Q9. What is your favorite on the go snack?
Fruit usually an apple
Q10: What advice do you have for other women looking to start their own journey?
GO FOR IT!!!! Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Yes, it will be hard, and yes, there will be days you want to give up. No, you won’t be able to do everything all at once, BUT the journey will be amazing, it will be fun, it will be a learning experience, and best of all you will be your own boss, doing something that you love, in control of your own life. Nothing is better than that so stick with it.
Do you have any upcoming future collaborations?
I’m constantly collaborating with my brother Bobby who is a chef. We just created an eBook, “75 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids” that will launch on my website www.autumncalabrese.com . I love getting to work with my big brother and make a difference at the same time. We are both so excited!
Autumn’s mission is to help you attain your best, happiest, healthiest body without restrictions or deprivation. She helps you on your journey to achieving your strongest self through dedication,
Thank you, Autumn, you are so amazing and you inspire the heck out of me to continue on my journey.
Also ya’ll don’t forget to check out the eBook “75 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids” which is available. It tell us how packing a delicious, healthy lunch for your child day in and day out can be a challenge. I designed this book to give parents a wide variety of creative, easy, lunch ideas for their kids and to give kids the opportunity to enjoy all the foods they love without even realizing how healthy they are eating. 75 Healthy lunch ideas for kids is the tool that’s finally going to relive the stress of packing lunches. Great for kids pre-school aged through high school.
Xoxo,
Anna
Autumn Calabrese “9 Week Control Freak”
Photo By: Tom Ivicevic
2021 UPDATE
Circling back around to the LEGEND, Autumn Calabrese @autumncalabrese and damnnnnn she is looking hotter than evaaaaa💋
Autumn Launched her New Program with Beachbody in December 2020 and it is off tha HOOK! It’s called “9 Week Control Freak” You have to go check it out!!!!
Autumn Calabrese “9 Week Control Freak” Photo By: Tom Ivicevic
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