I am a weight loss/fitness coach for Beachbody. I offer free weight loss and fitness coaching to anyone interested. You may know this company from P90X, Slim in 6, Insanity or other similar workout programs. I just got back from the annual coaches summit which was in Los Angeles, CA.
I had a fabulous time and I learned a lot more about the company, and about myself. I’d like to share with you my biggest takeaways from both.
I already knew a lot about this company. Such as the CEO and staff has a passion to reverse the alarming trend of obesity in this country and they are generous with their coaches in time, training, advertising, support, and compensation. I have this passion, too. In fact, I will not stop because I don’t want to see one more woman left a widow early, one more child left fatherless or motherless at a young age, one more life cut short in its prime due to obesity. But I learned at the summit that this company has integrity as well as passion.
Here’s how I know this. They sell a product called Shakeology, in two current flavors of chocolate and greenberry. Here is the link, if you wish to learn more about Shakeology. http://www.shakeology.com/debstevens The product has 70 healthy ingredients; most of which have a strong, possibly unwelcomed flavor that is a challenge to mask. The ingredients are all natural, nothing artificial, and no preservatives, gluten and caffeine free as well. They undertook the task to develop vanilla which is a much more subtle flavor than chocolate or greenberry. They had worked and worked to come up with a great-tasting vanilla and were to unveil this new flavor at the coaches summit. But then two weeks before the summit, they discovered, due to an FDA loophole allowing for a percentage of artificial ingredients and still be called organic and natural, that the vanilla used in the shakeology included a chemical common with antifreeze and other artificial ingredients. In fact, they learned that there is no vanilla product on the market, even if they claim the ingredients are all natural, that does not include artificial ingredients and harmful chemicals.
They decided that in order to remain true to their commitment in making this product healthy and nutritionally sound, they could not release the vanilla as it was and are back to the drawing board. Being a CPA, I naturally started wondering about the cost of that decision for them. Now, they were at the end of the process and while they never mention this in the telling, I’m sure they had to have already invested a large sum of money into the product at this point. My respect for the company has grown by leaps and bounds as a result of their decision to stand by their principles no matter the cost.
I also learned something else about myself. If you have read some of my blogs, you may know that I have struggled with some things in the past year or so. One of them, is that while I am a social media butterfly, I really have isolated myself from being around people outside of the online arena. You know, real life. I had a great time at the summit meeting people face-to-face. I met a lot of great people. I danced and danced and danced. And discovered, that I have been missing so much by isolating myself. So I’m considering this as a coming out party for me, of sorts. It took a lot of determination on my part to fly across the country and put myself out there. But it was just what I needed. So I’m declaring that I’m done isolating myself. I had convinced myself that I didn’t need the contact. I was wrong.
How about you? Do you tend to consider your online life your social arena? Have you isolated yourself from people? It’s time to become more balanced and venture back out into the world. You need them and they need you. You’ll be much better for it.
Deborah (Debbie) Stevens is an MBA, CPA, Money Maven who offers down to earth accounting, tax and consulting services, is a health and fitness coach, and jewelry designer and re-engineerer. With more than 10 years in public accounting and 6 years in private industry, her boundless energy and talents are now focused on making small businesses successful by analyzing the problems, discussing the issues, and crafting the appropriate solutions. Her strong, personal integrity, hard work, sheer determination coupled with a deep fun-loving view of life are what makes her tick. After having lost 116 lbs in 15 months, she has recently added weight loss and fitness coaching into the business mix. She is passionate about everything she does with a deep desire to help people. She is personable, down to earth, and ready to roll up her sleeves and get started on your business solutions. 
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This is so inspiring, Debbie! It’s great to see how your development is taking you to new heights.
Your test will become your testimony! Blessings!
Thanks, Paul. I am experiencing a lot of personal development. That’s what it’s all about.
You bring back the positives for weight loss. To many times we look at the work but not the benefits.
Thanks so much for sharing your support Bill. It means a lot to me. The benefits are literally life and death.
Debbie,
We have to believe in ourselves and what we’re representing to truly succeed in our industry.
It’s very clear to me that you are passionate about what you’re doing and building!
Go for it!!
Eddie
Thanks, Eddie. I am very passionate. It took me awhile to get here and I’m loving it and not going back.
Thanks for stopping by.
You know I agree with you 1000 percent! Lov’in every minute of it! Great meeting you in person too, and I look forward to the years ahead!
Hi Bill,
It was so fantastic meeting you in person. You are wonderful in person as you are online. I look forward to the years ahead as well. Talk to you soon.
Debbie,
You are a daily inspiration to me, my friend! Meeting you was one of the highlights of Summit. Thanks for having the courage to step out of your comfort zone and let us get to know and love you. It is exciting to be part of this phenomenal company!
Darlene,
Words cannot express how I feel about you. We were destined to be friends. And I’m so glad we are working together in this wonderful company.
Debbie,
Another inspiring post. I am happy for you that you were able to get past some hardship and start making new friends. I can hardly wait to see what your next post will be. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Karin,
I’m humbled by your remarks (and somewhat pressured). I’m just going with my heart, so we’ll see what pops out next.
Wow! What an amazing company! I can hardly believe that they ignored the “bottom line” in favor of what they stand for – that is so rare these days!
And congratulations on re-evaluating your choices! Self discovery is an ongoing as we move through life – and it’s part of the fun!
Hi Teresa,
I agree that they are an amazing company. It was hard for me to believe as well. That’s integrity.
Thanks so much for your support. I hope you’ll come back soon.
Would love to have been at the summit myself Darlene and meeting all you fabulous people! Debbie you do have a gift. Keep it shining and we’ll all be back.
Kellie Frazier
dot com
Thanks Kellie. It would have been great for you to have been there. We had an awesome time! Maybe next year!
Great job Deb! Congratulations on your coming out party!!! Glad to be part of it. I was just talking with a friend of mine about this topic this morning about how we isolate ourselves from the real world and miss out on so much. Look forward to seeing more of you out there in the world!
Make it a great day!
God Bless,
-ed
Hi Ed,
I wish you and Julie lived closer (or I lived closer to you all) so that we could meet face to face. You both are wonderful people and have been a big support to me. I truly appreciate you both. Thanks so very much.
Hello Debbie,
One of the fundamentals to success is having a true passion for what you are doing. That one emotion will carry us through all kinds of advertise conditions allowing us to hit our targets. Your article reflects your passion!!
Have a fantastic day!
Lloyd
Thanks Lloyd for your support. It’s greatly appreciated. It feels fantastic to be working from my passion.