Zack Schares: Making Noise in the Fitness Industry

Join us for an unfiltered and insightful 90-minute guest interview with the one and only Zack Schares from ZaxFit: a Global Fitness Consultant, Lululemon Ambassador, Triathlete, and founder of ZaxFit Indoor Cycling Certifications. 

 Get ready for some serious truth-telling as we delve into the depths of the fitness industry.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

• Breaking Ground in Mexico: Zack's journey includes launching Mexico's first series of boutique fitness brands, workshops, and indoor cycling certifications.
• Experience MX Co-founder: Discover how Zack co-founded the Experience MX, leaving a significant mark on the fitness landscape.
• From Podium to Global Fitness Consultant: Zack's path to the podium and his evolution into a Global Fitness Consultant.
• Self-Discovery Journey: Dive into Zack's decision to step away from workshops and his quest for self-discovery, exploring Ihuyaska and the ego.
• Coaching Authentically: Explore Zack's workshop relaunch, centered around the theme of Coaching Authentically.
• Killing Community with Performative Coaching: Uncover the impact of performative coaching on community dynamics.

Follow Zack on Instagram HERE
Zack's Website and the Coaching Authentically Workshops

Don't miss this raw and genuine conversation with Zach Schares as he challenges the norms of the fitness industry and sheds light on the importance of authentic coaching and community-building. 🎧🏋️‍♂️

Want to level up in 2025? My Black Friday sale is on now for ALL courses and programs with 25% off! Use code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout.

Transcript

Hannah / Zach: 0:00

the only thing that's gonna make people successful and what they wanna do and how they wanna build is honestly just coaching authentically. And yes, the outside noise, Instagram, that's, it's hard. It's hard to not see what other people are doing. But I have this eye now, when I look and look at talent now I can look at Instagram and be like, that move that person's doing is performative. There's no flow. They're doing that because of the likes, they're doing that because of whatever else. So it's like, are we building the communities or are we not? Welcome to the yes, you can podcast a soft place to land for fitpros and aspiring entrepreneurs. Looking for a motivational cheerleader. Who's been through it all and believes your best life is about being brave and tapping into your magic. Hi, I'm Hannah Pratt, an online coach and vulnerability clean I'm here. Ready to share my experiences through grief. Life and finding my place on the podium to help you level up. So grab a latte and a notebook and get ready to be inspired. Through the yes you can podcast Hello friends. Welcome to another episode of the podcast. I'm so excited to have Zach shares here today as my guest. Zach has been a really well-known figure in the indoor cycling and fitness community. And has pioneered tons of different development opportunities for instructors. Now while my course instructor magic is online. Like 100%. Zach has been leading workshops in Mexico and in the states for indoor cycling professionals, both were through his certification program. As the co-founder of the experience Mexico and its first year. And now in a more professional development, ongoing capacity, specifically focused on coaching authentically. Now our conversation is long today, and it was hard to edit it down because. I think when you connect with somebody who's really like minded. And especially with. Zach, and I we've only been connected over social media. So this was the first time. Actually speaking. Virtually slash you know, back and forth. Um, we just found a lot of commonalities now. the indoor cycling industry is so interesting and we both comment on things that we're not pumped about things that we love, that we're seeing our perspectives. And I think Zach and I are, neither of us are scared to S to share what we think. One thing I keep getting from insert instructors or coaches is responses to my stories, responses to my posts when I have these sort of unpopular opinions or differencing opinions. And. None of them are dramatic. I don't think they're sort of calling out different things that I believe reflect my values as an educator, as an intersecting professionals and instructor as a coach, whatever you want to call me. And it seems to resonate with a lot of people. But I think that when you are either earlier in your career or you don't have a business of your own, or you don't have a, another revenue stream speaking out against an industry can feel scary, right? Because you don't like your bread and butter, your. Your finances rely on being employed by somebody else. This is one of the reasons why. I've created a new course for fitness professionals that is specifically around teaching entrepreneurial. Skills so that you can build other streams of income. Into your business so that you are not relying on one studio paying you to show up. And teach and therefore making it basically impossible to take a vacation. Or, um, have the financial freedom that ultimately allows you to thrive in the fitness industry and in the wellness industry. So the waitlist for my new program is in the show notes. I'm going to be leaving it there. I'm going to keep everybody waited on bated breath, but it is going to start in the fall. It is going to be a bit of a different process. I want not necessarily an application, but I do want to know that this is for, I want to know the people who are applying for it. Whereas instructor magic, anybody can join. It is more of a professional development program with a really strong curriculum that is. Focused on. You know, these, these core principles of musicality, marketing, motivation, coaching, cuing, and mindset. But my new program on entrepreneurship does require a bit of coaching because it's going to be talking about things like. Branding and marketing and email list, building and community building, and, um, processes with an automating your systems with using tech and stuff. And it's a bit more, it's going to have more of me coaching you live on these different business principles that have allowed me to build multiple six figure a year business. Which is, you know, I, for me, it's been the dream it's allowed me to pay for vet bills for my dogs, allowed me to own my own house. It's allowed me to. Save for retirement and look at retiring at the age of 55. So. I'm really excited to offer this program, which is melding my. You know, 15 years of experience in the corporate and marketing industry and now into, and having coached entrepreneurs. For the last few years and now specifically for fitness professionals. So if you're interested in that course, please join. The wait list in the show notes, the link is there. And you know what? I have some other things that are gonna be announcing, but those are going to go into my email list. So if you're not on the email list, That link is also in the show notes. Join it. If you join the wait list, you're automatically gonna get added to it. You're gonna get playlist from me podcast episodes. My reflections. Things that you won't find on Instagram and that's going to include new resources for studios. If you are a studio owner and you're like, great. I already do have a profession. I do have multiple streams of income. Now I need to know how to make, maximize and maximize my profit. And especially around building sales campaigns for black Friday, we're just gonna be coming in the fall. Effectively so that you're not diluting your brand or feeling like you're constantly needing to put things on sales to get revenue in the door. This is going to be an exceptional workshop for you. So that waitlist is also in the show notes. Now without further ado i'm going to get into our conversation today with Zack shares of zach's fit Zach, I'm so excited to have you here today. Welcome to the As You Can podcast. Yes. I'm so excited. It's my first podcast. I feel so honored because I, like, I've seen you on Instagram live. I feel like we've known each other online and the indoor cycling community for a while. And you know, we didn't even address just before we started recording how we came to know each other, which was, which was that wild situation where you like basically saved the world with going after this. Anyway, so we're gonna pause on that story, but yeah, that's actually, that's so wild. I actually met so many people through that. But yeah, we can post probably do that. Even people like, what is the story? It was actually a blessing that happened because again, I met, I got to meet so many people. He actually was promoting me without even knowing he was actually promoting me. Yeah. Okay, so I'll just briefly, there was a, there was an. A person who we won't speak of, but he was basically harassing indoor cycling instructors everywhere through dms, myself included. And Zach was like the person who said, this is not okay. I am hiring a lawyer. I'm contacting the police in Canada because unfortunately this person's Canadian. And he like took it, he like took care of it for everybody. And as, as a woman who was dealing with this and he was going after women a lot not just women, but specifically I feel like he was, you know, kind of going after a lot of us. I was so grateful to you. So I just wanted to say that for the record because it's like, we deal with this constantly and you're like, and somebody would look at the dms like, this is not okay, but you're the, the only person who was brave enough to go on your stories and actually like, Like walk the talk that everybody was thinking. So yeah. Thank you. Yeah, I know. You're so welcome. And that's just kind of how myself of like, I've been this person just kind of speaking up for issues and problems and I've, yeah. I've just always been the one just being like, no, this is not okay. And how, how are we gonna, a different way where I feel like so many people in this industry is like, am I gonna lose my job? Right. Am I gonna say something where people are gonna cancel me? You know, like, what's gonna happen? And me, I'm just more of like, Fuck it. You know, like, what do I have to, what's gonna happen? So yeah, so I just, I I love to use my voice for people in the industry. Yeah. That was so great. And so that's how we connected. And so for you to be choosing my podcast as be a first platform to, to share your story, to share what you're planning on doing, your history with indoor cycling community and working being a leader in workshops and consulting for studios and helping build studios and brands. I'm really excited to just have a discussion with you today about your thoughts and this fuck it mentality that I also subscribe to.'cause I'm like, I'd rather like be proud of who I am and, and own my voice than to pander to what I think people, you know, might be offended by. And Totally. If it's like, if I really can stand on this hill and die on it, then, then let's have a conversation. So I'd love to start with, with how you got into this industry, what you currently do, and then we can sort of just riff from there.'cause I know we will. Yeah. How I got started, just like within fitness? Yeah, sure. Yeah. So, you know, I'm originally from Dallas, Texas, and so in 2006 I left Dallas and moved to Austin, Texas. Mm-hmm. And I. Started racing in triathlons. Oh, cool. And so that's really what I was gonna do. And I, I didn't really know what I wanted to do yet, but I knew I wanted to be like fitness related in, in what I wanted. So started swimming, started running, cycling was never a big thing, but Austin is a huge like, outdoor cycling community. So I started doing that in Austin and then did that for four years. And then in 2010 I moved to New York City for somebody amazing. But yeah, like, but it is, it was amazing. Three weeks. But you know what PE he brought you to New York, where is where you met? Yeah, exactly. That's, that was the best thing. But when I was living in Austin, I worked at the Y M C A like I feel like so many people of my generation did. You know, that's where we all started. Yeah, me too. I was like, worked at the Y M C A. I also worked at 24 Hour Fitness. So, and then when I moved to New York, I didn't really know what I wanted to do, but there was actually a 24 hour fitness in New York City. so I started working there. It was able to kind of just like transfer over and just teaching classes. But yeah, so I really started quote unquote at the bottom and just never even thought about what another world of fitness really was. But I think then like, what was that, 13 years ago? Like boutique fitness wasn't really a thing yet. Oh yeah. Not at all. And so so yeah, moved to New York and just started teaching classes. Started, you know, I was making like$30 a class, but being in New York, that's nothing. You know, it's like and yeah, so it started from there. And then really Started working with private like training private people. Nice. And got into that whole world of that. And started, I used to play soccer as a kid. Mm-hmm. So I started training kids in soccer and in New York, it's one of these cities where you literally, you just, you have to hustle but then I got introduced working in other places. I got introduced to SoulCycle. Mm-hmm. And so, but I remember when I very first went, I was just like, what? I walked outta my first class.'cause I was like, what is this? I was like, because this had to be like, it's probably 2012 mm. And I was like, what is this? Like people are. Tapping it back. Choreography on the back. Yeah. Yeah. I'm still racing. And by the way, I'm still like racing in triathlons, right. In New York and around still racing. So triathletes, like that kind of stuff. Yeah, it's like like why would you ever even know? Like, so but, but there was this big buzz around it that people just kept talking about it. So I kept going back and then meeting people with within that brand and was really getting inspired how people were moving within that space. So then really discovered boutique fitness and started working for other boutique fitness brands. But I still really didn't feel like I wanted to do more. And it's very interesting in what I really started then is my mother is she's, she's a special needs teacher and well, she just retired, but she's been a special needs teacher. I used to volunteer, go to the Special Olympics, do all these things with my mom when I was a kid. And I knew being in New York, like, I want to do something different. You know, it is, a lot of these friends and people that I were meet meeting in my community, they've never really done triathlons. Mm-hmm. They didn't really know anything about fitness for special needs and I want to do something within that. And so one of my clients, actually her son is autistic. Hmm. And so we started this program and it started with like 10 10 kids. And when I say kids, or 18 to like 25 years old. Yeah. And grew, grew it up. Mm-hmm. And so started doing that and that's really, and I was like building fitness programs for people with with disabilities. And that's really started driving me so much.'cause I was building cycling programs. I was doing all of this like a different way. And to go into that, like I've always been this person wanting to do things differently, wanting to use my voice in this different way. You know, how can I bring these people to this big brand that's talking, you know, to his SoulCycle or to whatever, how can we do that? Through there a client of mine asked me to start working with people with pd, Parkinson's disease. Hmm. Because I was already designing bike programs, and so they were, would you study this? I ended up studying it and sort of designing that stuff as well. That's amazing. And so this was all between 2012 and 2015. Okay. Is when, when I was doing all of this. And then, yeah, so then I was just, That all started doing all of that, kicked all of that off. But I feel, I still felt like there was this part missing. And I was teaching at other indoor cycling spaces and, and what was happening with Seoul. As I was doing all these other things, I wasn't allowed to teach with them.'cause at the time, with that brand, you couldn't do other things, right? Yeah. It was very just like, you're there, you're there, you're there. But I, I never wanted to just be at one thing. I was just like, hold on. Like, I don't wanna put myself in this situation and just be here. Like, there's so many other opportunities and things that I want to do. So if I can't be here, what else can I do? Mm-hmm. So me just being resourceful, I just kept talking to more people, doing more things. I was working at other cycling studios in New York. And then 2015 came about and that's where a friend came to me. Actually, it was the, it was my one of my really good friend's, ex-boyfriends. I was like, why are you talking to me? What do you mean? And he's originally from Mexico City. Okay. And so he was just like, Hey, like Mexico City is getting this boom right now of like, they're wanting to start doing more and more things. And then that's where I got introduced to wanting, like, doing more. And I was just like, I am enjoying what I'm doing here. I don't really know, like if I want to go and do that. And there were like, you should go. And kind of that 10 day business trip back in 2015 changed literally my entire life. It changed everything. So Started really focusing more on indoor cycling.'cause that's really what people wanted to do. At the time teaching like bootcamp HIIT classes in Equinox and that was really my, like, my bread and butter. Then teaching, just hit classes. Mm-hmm. Because again, when I'm racing I was like, oh, you gotta be doing strength classes. Not all these like crazy, like choreo type things. But I really, I was really enjoying more and more doing choreo type classes, rhythm classes, and mm-hmm. As I was doing that, I was like, okay. And then when I went out to Mexico City, I was just like, okay, they're wanting this, but at the time it was very just like, how do you just ride to a beat? Right. You know? It was very basic when it started back then in 2015. So yeah. So it started doing that and. Once that started in 2015, I don't even know where to start from there. So did, were you doing workshops in Mexico City or were you helping studios like get started at that time? Because I feel like those, yeah, so two things I know you do. Yeah. So at the time when this happened, so it was 2015 and. Going there. And it was really interesting then too, because nobody was really going to Mexico City. Mm-hmm. Like everybody at this time, at least from the states, everybody was either going to Tulum, plyo, Carmen, that's it. Mm-hmm. Right, right. Exactly. Yeah. I was like, basically it, and like when I was telling people I was going to Mexico City, they were like, you probably shouldn't go there. Like, yeah. Like really? Like do you have Yeah. They're like really bodyguard, like Yeah, that's fine. I know literally, so the perception we have, yeah. But what, what's interesting then, is there, I remember going, I'll never forget this moment, because it was very interesting. I felt like it was like this quote unquote spy, there was one other brand there, and actually, I mean, it's, it's a big, it's one of their bigger brands in Mexico called Eclo. And so they were the only brand there. And so this brand that they called me, they were just gonna, they were gonna be the second people there. Mm-hmm. And. What people didn't realize just'cause I, in my, again, my earlier days in New York, I knew business side of things, but like, I was just like, this is much different than just like four walls throwing some bikes in a room. Mm-hmm. And you know, it's, it's just very different. Yeah. And it's, yeah. So I remember taking a class at the other brand and then coming at the Selo and then coming and working with a team. But it was interesting with a team, like I was helping basically build the team up. Mm-hmm. So doing the auditions, seeing like who should be on the team and then train the team from there. Mm-hmm. But it was originally just a 10 day trip, you know, like, so take 10 days, but I'm like, this really doesn't take 10 days. It takes much longer than 10 days. Yeah. But and so yeah, went for that 10 days, they're like, no, we're only gonna do 10 days. I'm like, okay. But like, trust me, I'll probably, you probably want me to come back. It's not gonna be 10 days in training. And and yeah, that 10 days went by. It was so great. Went back to New York and then was still, because I was still working, like I was still doing all my work in New York. Mm-hmm. I was, that was just like a quick little trip. And then they called me and they're like, can you please come back? And I was just like, I don't, and they wanted me to come back for like a long time. Mm-hmm. And I was like, I'll probably just come back for like another week, but I'm not really giving anything up, you know, in New York. And so Went back and then it was just, it was, it was, it was a mess. Like it was just people just not knowing what they, how to do it. Yeah. And they thought it's, it's like, you think it's easy. You think, again, you think it's four walls and speakers. Some bikes. Yeah. And it's not easy. But I was so excited to teach something new to people. Mm-hmm. It's because again, the crowd really had no idea what this was. People knew of like SoulCycle, but like, not really. So it was just like what we'd actually used to do then. We used to either go to Miami or LA and like they would like want to go and take classes at SoulCycle. Mm-hmm. And so but really people in Mexico City just truly didn't know what it was and what was happening there. And then just kind of like fast forward, like I. A lot. It just happened with, I think, many businesses. There was just drama happening and people just weren't listening. And it was just frustrating.'cause it's like, okay, if you're gonna pay me to do this, listen, you know? Mm-hmm. It just takes time. So yeah. So from there, I really never, and but it was interesting how this happened is that after, after working with that brand, another brand contacted me. Hmm. In it was another brand in Guadalajara. And they contacted me and I'm like I don't know. Like, this is not really something that I'm like, I just never thought about this. And they're like, will you train? Will you train the team? We've heard about you? Like, and I was like, I don't know, like, is this a thing? Like that's what I was like, really thinking. I was like, people actually do this. Yeah. And so this is, we're now probably like. Middle of 2016 and I was just like, I don't think people would do this. Like, I was like, I don't think people just travel around training people, but maybe they do, but they're doing it. But I'm doing it. I know. Yeah. Like, I'm like, and so, and to kind of like pause right there again, going all over the place. The reason why I kind of wanted to go more in, like, think about this,'cause I used, I was, I did a training with Schwinn, like I would train people for Schwinn and that dog. So I worked with both of those old school people know what that is. So it's like you had to Yeah. Sit, you had to like sit in a conference room padded, like carpeted, conference room. So boring. The instructor, whoever taught it was usually boring. Didn't tell a joke or crack up. So so I was like, okay. The worst. I had know from that past of when I was leading those. And so that's what went to Gu Lahara and that's when more and more people just started contacting me. Mm-hmm. Then I just remember I was like, well, maybe I can really make a business outta this. You know, maybe I can really, but at this time, in 2016, I was nervous'cause like I didn't really, I didn't speak Spanish. Mm-hmm. And, and my span, my Spanish now is still not great. It should be better than what it, what it should be. After me going, I see you calling out the cues. Yeah. And I on Instagram and I'm like, great. That's better than I can. Like Yeah. I can give you a little bit of a Reba. Yeah. Yeah. But, but what was happening at the time, it was these moments where it was just like, I was nervous because in just in my own like way, I was just like, am I really fully able to express myself and lead it and talk to these people and have these like communications, you know, with all this. Mm-hmm. So At the time, I asked somebody to come with me and like kind of like, help me with this and like translate.'cause I was very nervous. Mm-hmm. I was very nervous to be like, is this, are people gonna understand what I'm saying? Right. I was so like stupid minded at the time. And again, trying to express what I'm trying to teach and then how do you teach that in Spanish? Mm-hmm. That's important. Yes. Yeah. You know, it's like, it's just very important of like how you call different cues.'cause you're not gonna, again, you're not gonna call them all in English. Right. So yeah, so really I was just getting calls like crazy then. So again, this is 2016, people were just like, oh wait, oh wait, hold on. This is happening. This is happening. And it just started blowing up like crazy. And so people were calling me left and right and being like, come open, come open, come open. Come help us open. Come help us open. And then people would be like, Wait, let me like, can you help us build now? Because then that's what started happening, right? Like, now can we use the vendors? And so, and I had contacts with all the, I started having all these contacts with these people from sound to light to everything. Mm-hmm. And then I got a message, this was like 2017, I got a message from a brand called Roe in Mexico. It was interesting. They wanted me to come and I remember just going out and meeting them and it was like this special like group of people. And it's, it's, it's just so interesting how businesses work because at the time it was three business people. Now they're just one. You know. So it's like, it's just interesting how these businesses transform and what happens. And my biggest issue of what I started running into is like just people weren't listening. Hmm. And so, and I was having these things of being like, no, it's not different here. Right. It's the same thing. You're not the exception. You're not the exception. Yeah. Yes. It's a different, it's like, yes, it's a different city. Hmm. But it's really no different is like what's happening in this space. So this was 2017, opened up this space and I loved it. Like deep down in my heart I was like, this feels right, this certain brand rodeo. And I was like, this feels really good. They just feel like they know what they're doing. They're like doing everything. And so again, moving forward, 2018 comes about and I kind of stopped New York like I'm done.'cause now, now it's like, it's, it's crazy. Like my workload is absolutely crazy. And I'll never forget this moment. It was 20. Where were we? It was towards the end of 2018. I'm getting calls from so many people. Messages from so many people, but now what's happening is it's people literally wanting to build right next door. Hmm. So it's, it's people wanting to build in the same city. And I'm this person, and I'm still this person till today, I don't sign contracts. I've never signed a contract. I've signed a contract once, actually. And this was like reset, but I'm not a contract person. I'm more of a person of like, if I'm with you, I'm with you. Mm-hmm. And I've always been that person and, and I can go in like the whole con that was like from a mentor thing, because I don't wanna feel, I don't want someone to feel stuck to me and vice versa. Right, right. Like, I can, there's, it just can go into this like crazy thing. But, so at the end of 2018, people are writing me and they're just like, Zach, we wanna be better than X, Y, Z. We have all the money. We can do this. We can do that. We wanna be better than SoulCycle, we wanna be better than this. We wanna be better than this other brand. Like make us just like SoulCycle. Mm. And that's, and that was around the 2018 time when that was really happening. And I was just like, whoa, this is getting crazy. It's getting insane. And this was, yeah, so that was like 2018 and I was just like, what, what am I gonna do to make sure I stay loyal to these people? Mm-hmm. And people were actually already starting to do the trainings.'cause they're like, wait, what is Zach doing? Mm-hmm. I can replicate what he's doing. Copy paste. Yes. Copy paste. And so that started happening and I was very much like, and it never really, like, there was certain people that I was like, why are you doing that? You know, like mm-hmm. What are you doing? Like what are you, what's actually going on? So this was now the beginning of 2019, and I remember going back to, I was in some, I think I was back in Guadalajara, and I get a message from somebody, and I literally think to myself, I'm like, you know what, what if I just start like creating these courses? Mm-hmm. And then that way these people can just come to me. I don't have to travel. Like they can just come to me. Right. And then I don't even have to figure, I don't even have to like go anywhere. So it's like I can, like, instead of an apartment, Mexico City, be in Mexico City and I'm good. Yeah. And then the reason why I was doing this as well, because I was like, it was getting so loud that I was like, why can't I, I can just get all these people and if they're in the same city, great, you're in the same city. But when you're in the space that I'm like renting in Mexico City, I don't care where you're from. Right. Right. And so I remember like, wanting to do that. And my partner at the time when I called, I was just like, she was like, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like this, this is not, this won't, you don't, this is, this is just gonna blow up in flames. And I'm this person, I get these really crazy, just like gut feelings of something. Yeah. And when I get that gut feeling for myself, I've gotta go right? Like you're an unstoppable train. Like Yes. Yeah. I'm like, that's just how I am. When I get these ideas, I'm like, this is gonna be great. I need everybody to jump on board. Yeah. Like, this is what with me is like, I'm the creative person and then understand where minds are of people. Mm-hmm. And then there's other times where I just need other people to help me execute it. Mm-hmm. That kind of way. But so that, so this is early 2019. Announce it. Then literally after it was announced, that group one, it got sold out immediately and it was like, whoa. Like faster than I've ever even like thought of. It was just, it was wild. Yeah. And then it was like, okay, a group two. Okay, a group three. And it just kept going and going and going and going and people just kept asking and asking and asking for more. Mm-hmm. And then, so that's really how that story of those workshops really like happened.'cause it was like, okay, let's build something into this space and do something like that. And so that happened pretty much all of 2019 running those. And I have to say like career-wise, when I think about most successful financial side was 2019, it was crazy. Mm-hmm. It was like people were just like, Coming here. Yeah. Yeah. And through there, really just like I started meeting so many people that people are now reaching out to me. You know, on Instagram it's people from like Australia, people from Shanghai, people just like writing me from all over. And they're just like people in Australia, they were like, wait, can you come out here and like work with us? And I'm like, wait, I can go to Australia and and do this. I can go to Bueno Aires and spend a month there and you wanna pay me this money to do this? Like, it was just wild to me. Yeah. 2019 was happening and so I started doing that and I was just like, whoa. So, but what was really, it was interesting during those workshops though, because people in these workshops, I'm this person, if you ask me for something, I just give information. And then what was happening was people started copying it. Blocking me on Instagram, like just completely shutting me out. And as you get to learn me more, I'm a very, and people know this, every person that knows me, if you know me well, like. I'm a verbal person. And I'm not really like a, if I find out you did something, I'm gonna write you. Mm-hmm. Just that person, I'll be like, Hey, why did you do this? Mm-hmm. Like, I'm just, I'm that person because I, I really do put my heart and soul into so much of what I want for people. And my goal is if somebody wants to start a workshop, talk to me. I wanna help you. Mm-hmm. And I've always been that way where some people feel like, oh, I just have to do it better. I need to like hide around and, you know, and, and do it this way and, and do it this way. It's weird how people have like a, like such a fear of just having a conversation and just being like, it. It's, I think because social media has sort of socialized us to not having direct conversations with each other or being great written or like verbal conversations and it's like, I. If we just have a direct conversation, Hey, I have this idea. I wanna do it. I don't wanna step on your toes, I wanna do this thing. I feel compelled to do this thing. Then it's like the, the conversations happen and how you react is how you react. But like, it's respectable, right? It's like it's respect thing. And I, I get so turned off by this, like this sort of the passive aggressive, like blocking and going around somebody and you know, it's like, it's just so, it's disrespect and whether you intended or not, it's like you've blown up a situation bigger than how do you just have this like, scary conversation upfront at the very beginning? Yeah. No, and it's, it, it's happened a lot. It, it's, it's in, especially in my work in the States and a lot in Mexico, you know, there's a lot of people that I have built up. Helped want them to fucking win and still want them to win today. But it's this way where people has shut me out.'cause it's like, let's just have that conversation. Mm-hmm. Great. You want to go and do a workshop? Go. Because what was honestly happening with me is I was allowing guests to come in and have guest people. Mm-hmm. And then these guest people started leading their own workshops and I was, and it just, it got to me in this way that I was like, why? Like, great do it, but why are you doing it behind my back? Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's where it comes from with me. It's like, I want to bring you in this space to get you to know people. And, and Hannah, that's happened to me so many times, more times than you can imagine. Like, I'll see somebody, it's like, I. I'll be like, Hannah, I wanna fly you into Mexico City. Have you do this workshop? And then literally, I'm not even kidding, it'll be two weeks later and you'll post doing a workshop in Mexico City who wants to come next week? But I'm not kidding the amount of times that's happened to me. And so when people think I'm this, like, I am a crazy person, I'm very just like this. Like, because I care for other people so much. And it's more of this way of like, no, I invite you in this space'cause I truly do believe in you. And then how can we have that conversation together and like, have you win. Mm-hmm. Like, what are you, and that, those are those moments where I always say to people, I always ask this question to people, and this actually happened in one of the workshops. I, I was explaining to somebody and I was like, I want you to come back. It's like if I asked you, Hannah, I was like, what are you really good at? Like, I'm gonna have 45 people in front of you. And I want you to spend four hours having a conversation with these people, something that you are so fucking good at that you're like, you know what? I wanna tell'em about this. Mm-hmm. I want you to do that for four hours. And, but then what happens? People are just like, and this happened so much, Hannah. It's like people are like, you're just gonna gimme four hours. But I'm good at so many things and I'm like, no, we all have our strengths. Right? We all have our weaknesses. Mm-hmm. And same thing with me, like I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses. Like my strengths are bringing people together, connecting people, networking people. There's other things that I'm like, fuck that. I can't do that. Like, you know, there's, there's so many of those moments of that. And so again, that was happening so much. And then I had to just be like, I got into this space where I was like, I don't trust anybody. And this really started happening. I. Like towards the end of 2019.'cause I was like, wait a second. People are leading workshops that I just trained in the last nine months. Right. And so that's really, I feel like in 2019 when things started kind of getting loud as well. Mm-hmm. And it's like, what do I want to do with this? Because this is not how I start. Like I didn't start this from drama. Like I didn't wanna be in like a drama state. Like I really wanted to like bring people together in a different state and in a different way. Mm-hmm. And so, yeah, so that's really how like the whole workshop thing played through, got to 22 groups and then just felt like so many people were doing workshops that I was like, People kept writing me to want to do them. And one of the biggest things that was happening is, is people were now writing me that were going to these other workshops, just being like, what's going on? What's happening? And I just, it was just getting to me in this way because I'm very passionate about connecting people. I'm very passionate about the indoor cycling community. Like you're, you were talking about earlier about like, if something's going on in the community, I'm gonna fucking speak up. Yeah. I'm just that person. And so people that follow me, they always, people laugh at me all the time. They're like, when I do a, a black screen on a story and just have a, I love it. I love it, I love it. I'm like, pause. I, yeah. It's like, pause it. But I'm this person of like, when I feel something, I have to let it out. Mm-hmm. And I share it. And it's been so interesting with that because there's, I've done that so many times. And then people, I. There's so many people that respond to it in this way being like, wait, that's happening. Like it's happening to me too. Like people feel that in that kind of way. And so I remember just like wanting to stop doing the groups, but there was like this whole idea, there was just so much drama happening. It was just like,'cause this is what was a lot was happening with me then me personally, again, I'm this creative person. I have to feel this like type of energy to do anything. So people were now all of a sudden giving me ideas of what they thought would be best. So people were like, Zach, you should do this. Zach, you should do that. Zach, this would be an amazing thing. Zach this, Zach that. But I, but what I was noticing Hannah is, and this is what was so well for me, and I had to like, take a step back and like literally take like three months, is people just started using my name. Hmm. They just wanted me to be a part of something. Hmm. To decide for them and then just like, Because my name was just like selling in this way, but it's interesting with this that I was like, but it's not what I want to do. Right. I'm glad you're excited about it. And I would go to it and people would be like, Zach, isn't this amazing? And I'm like, no. Like in my own heart, like maybe for you it is in this way, but like I just, I felt like what was happening in the industry is things were just happening and this things just started getting louder and louder and louder, and I felt like I had to be a part of these different things. So, you know, doing the workshops, doing all those, really thinking like what should you know, be, what should be created and what's happening. And that's when it came about of like, I've done past fitness events. I've done fitness events. I was actually doing fitness events called Food Fashion Fitness in Mexico. God, 2012, 2013, leading these workshops. Mm-hmm. Working with different brands, working with big high brands. I've led these like retreats. Mm-hmm. So I've been doing that for a long time and I've done them in upstate New York with like local people. It was basically like people leaving people leaving the city and just going upstate New York for a bit. And it was very interesting. So this was actually at, during 2019 when all this was happening and New York was happening and everything was just buzzing. I. Clients of mine run this hotel in Mexico City. And so they were just like, Zach, do this, do this event at our hotel. So I originally drafted out this thing, did all these like things, and it was it was gonna be like a, a fitness event at this hotel. Mm-hmm. And put everything up. There was every name possible from New York. They were gonna come out, do this event. It was gonna be incredible, and it was just gonna be solely like this event that I was gonna do. But then once I did it, you know, it's actually so wild. That's when a Fyre Festival came out. Oh my God. Oh, and, and what was interesting then is I remember creating this event and I was like, you know what? It doesn't feel quite ready yet. Like, I was like already selling things, doing things. And it was gonna be in the city in Ba de Bravo and outside of Mexico City. And then didn't feel right. So then waited literally a year and a half, waited till after Covid. Mm-hmm. And then that's when people started asking me, Zach, when are you gonna do this event? Mm-hmm. What are you gonna do? Something? And my whole idea, like I was saying before and what I wanna do back in 2019 and what I've done in bits of the past of bringing people together. Mm-hmm. So that's when creating this event, originally creating the experience, Mexico. Mm-hmm. And so that's how it all like fed off of from that. So and created it with somebody being like, let's do this event. But it was like gonna be that scary thing of like, I don't know if you're really ready for this, but I was like, no, this is the time to really make this event happen. Mm-hmm. Really put that entire, like, putting it like on the talent side, this is the talent that we should have. Here's this person, this name, here's this name, this person's booming right now. Mm-hmm. This is when I was meeting people like Christina and just like having all these contacts and meeting all of them. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, at the end of, or I guess it was summer of 2021 planning this event, like, you know, it was this idea of like coming up with this, this big event with people and again, bringing all people together. You know, the idea was to bring all 22 groups together. Mm. Was the whole idea. And, but bringing them together with just like badass people doing great things in the industry. And again, just loving to connect people. And I've been so fortunate to travel around, meet cool people, have conversations with people. So it's like, how can these like cool people that I get to interact with on a personal level, bring them out to people, to the audience in this kind of way. So that's where it really came about of like, okay, it's time to really do like a big event in Mexico and cr and create something which went into the experience of Mexico. And it's just, it's interesting creating events. People think they're so easy, you know, people just think, you know, people are gonna sign up and it's gonna be this and it's gonna be that, and we got this and, you know, it's everything. And there's, there's so much on the backend that it really does take to really just make sure everything comes to life. Mm-hmm. And I, and I, I, I truly believe of like, you know, everything from. Everything seems great until literally you're at crunch time. Mm-hmm. And I feel like every event, probably every event that even thinks they have it figured out. Crunch time is a crazy time. Yeah. You're like, who's bringing that thing? Where's the I know. Like, email going out. Like it's, yeah. Cause I, I've ran major events and they are you feel like you've been hit by a truck afterwards. Totally. And even during This is amazing. And you're like, yeah, it's great. Yeah. Lost five years off my life from running this. Totally. And so much of like, and, and people that truly know me, I'm this person of, I love updates. I need to timeline. Mm-hmm. Like update me. And I'm also this person, like if you tell me that you're gonna do something and you don't complete it or you don't show up, I get in this, I get crazy. I actually do. And. I can explain more of that. I'll go into that crazy side later, because I, I did this whole journey recently and this side of me of how I was acting then and how people were treating me, it just made sense why I was, why I would act a certain way. Mm-hmm. But kind of going in that I did, I, I got crazy. I, I said things that were disrespectful, but, but I wasn't being heard and no one was listening to me. I didn't feel like that, you know, no one, anybody was listening to me and I was just kind of like, why does this feel like it's going outta control? This is when things are feeling like, why is it being, why is it getting so chaotic? Mm-hmm. And so, to be honest with you, I went to cancel the event. Hmm. That was the thing. I was like, I'm, I'm canceling it, like it's not happening. And the event was in two and a half weeks. Oh my goodness. Yeah. And I was like, this is too much money. Mm-hmm. Like, it's just not happening. And luckily things came, came about, came to life, the event was able to happen. Mm-hmm. But you know, you realize like it's, it's, it's not easy in this way. And then, you know, there's like this flip side where it's just kind of like, well, I can do it better this next year. Do you wanna be with me or not? And it's just kind of like, well, are we in this together or not? Mm-hmm. And so, and that's literally been so much of my life in the last year now, I would say, is people feeling like they can do better. Mm-hmm. It's been interesting this time around in the last few months, the amount of people it's been reaching out, the people that thought that they could do it better, we've been having real conversations. Mm-hmm. Like deep conversations and it's been like meaningful conversations. Mm-hmm. Because it's just like, okay. You were going through that in your moment of life, like you showed up this way because you were going through that, which is completely acceptable as long as we communicate about it. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? Like we have to communicate those feelings. Now it's hard as fuck to communicate feelings, what we're going through in life, but sometimes when you show up that way, it's like you're being judged in that way. You're showing up. Mm. In that way. So it's like, you know that if we know what's going on, then you're going to, you know, I'm gonna respond to you. So so yeah, so going and, and doing that event, it was, it was stressful, you know, and it's, it was, it was very difficult. But then I was just, I just, I moved on and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna allow people to do what they want to do. People can do all the events, do all the workshops, but I know what I bring is so different and what I want to share with people is so different. So I'm just gonna just move on, do my thing, and just mm-hmm. Keep shining in this other way. And so, fast forwarding it was interesting, 2022 was such an interesting year. And it's interesting when I go back on my Instagram, people go back on there. I look at like my summer. It was actually like May of 2022, and I remember looking at my Instagram and I was actually in LA recording this class of mine, and the industry of indoor cycling has just been getting louder and louder and louder. Mm-hmm. And it's just been so interesting with that because this whole song, I have this remix of with Rufus Still Soul, and in that song I'll never be like you. Mm-hmm. Like you. Yeah. I'm only human. So what was interesting is when I go back, I remember when I, like when I look back on Instagram, I was, I was, I was speaking in a way where I was trying to get people to hear me. Mm-hmm. Because I was talking about, I'll never be like you, you'll never be like me. But together we can fucking create magic. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And that song fades into, if you want me, if you need me, I'm yours mm-hmm. Into inner bloom, but. This story that I was literally trying to tell through music and through lyrics last summer. I was just trying to share that to everybody of like, guys, you're not gonna be like any of these people. You're not gonna be like me. No one's ever gonna be like me, and vice versa. We're all great at something. Mm-hmm. There's some people that are great at QuickBooks. I fucking suck at QuickBooks. Yeah. You know, like, and spreadsheets. And spreadsheets. Like, I wish God, the way that some people send me an Excel spreadsheet. I was like, yes. With all the colors. I'm like, how the, how do you do that? Yeah, yeah. This is the talent. This is the talent. Yeah. And so I, it was just, it was summer of 2022 and I just felt the industry getting louder and louder and what was happening from every brand to the brands that you quote unquote, that you see at the top to a small town, God in Australia, you know, everywhere. Literally and everywhere in between every, everyone just started talking about the same thing. Everybody was just trying to keep up. Everybody's just trying to stay afloat. And that was my message the entire time. And I was trying to go and do these workshops in other places, but everybody was just trying to be like a certain person or a certain brand. Mm-hmm. And I was like, hold on, like, what is going on? Everybody started doing workshops, and again, it goes back into like, people are doing workshops where they're like titling them in these like tidal ways that I'm like, hold on. What makes you think that you're, that you're calling a workshop this, but like you as a person, what makes you think you're that? Mm-hmm. Can you give like an example of like what, what, like what? I wanna make up an name because I don't wanna call. Yeah. Make it a name. So it's like, if I were to say something like just calling, like what's the highest rank of whatever in life? Like I. Right. The c e o of Yeah. Of indoor cycling. Yeah. Yeah. I hear you. Come to my workshop. Yeah. Who says you're the CEO O of indoor cycling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love when people call, I'm like, you're not a, like, you can't call yourself a go. Like it doesn't work that way. Even visionaries. I'm like, I can be a visionary of my company. But when you say that it is taking like, it's like we all have more to learn. Totally. We all have more to learn and like everybody has their own special set of skills, but like, you better back that up with years of experience in doing this if you're gonna be putting out, like, it's not just like,'cause I've seen so many, so many instances where I'm like, this looks great on Instagram. And then I go to their class and I'm like, this is not, this is not it. It's like a good reminder like, All that glitters is not gold. And branding is easy to do nowadays on social, like highlights. It's super easy with all these different apps and, and everything now. And so, yeah, this summer was happening and I just remember this word and I think, again, when I go back, like to my Instagram, I, I wrote something that like, it's loud. It's so loud. And I just was basically speaking in this way, but it was really how I was feeling. Mm-hmm. And I was just like, what is going on? Why are all these people trying to do all these things? What is happening? Like, there's people again that like I'm working with certain brands, going into them, working with them, and they're demanding all these things. I'm like, you just started. Mm-hmm. You know, you literally just started. Mm-hmm. And. It's been so interesting, like as I was just going through it and as things were happening and, and what was happening and even my relationship, you know, my partner is, was just being like, what is going on? And my partner's not in my world, he actually, he does works in fitness, but that's not his full-time job. He works in tech. Mm-hmm. But like, he started being like, you allow people like this to talk to you, you allow this to happen. Yeah. And it was so interesting in this moment because I had never been in a serious relationship through my career over the last seven years of my career of what I've been doing. And Joe and I had just met summer of 2022. So he literally meets me in this moment. While I'm starting all these feelings. Mm-hmm. So then he's like, who's this fucking crazy person? You know, like, so it was, and it, so it's, it's been so amazing being with him because he's helped me so much in like, understanding of like this path that I need to go on and like, not dealing with certain things and setting boundaries. Because that, that was one thing that I was just like, these boundaries aren't set. You know, there was just certain things that was happening during this. And as towards the end of the year, I started doing this project in Miami, which many people's asked me about this thing as well. There was a brand in Miami, took them over with, with one of the Mexican brands. Mm-hmm. Again, I just love to connect people. I love to bring people together. And what people truly need to realize in this industry. And I remember talking with people about this, about what was going on in Miami and speaking with people like in Mexico that was coming is not everybody. My job is, what is to do is what the reason why I wanted to originally get this brand. It was an old brand called Red Bike. lot of people knew it in Miami. Mm-hmm. They were there for a long time. But like, what my job is as a person when I introduced brands to clients is you would go into a brand and there was a lot of people. The people were, there was a lot of people in the class, the coaches were connecting with the people. They had this community. Mm-hmm. Now on like a Mexico term and how they do classes, it's very different. Mm-hmm. But my biggest thing is, is why are these people showing up? In the, like the writers. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Why are these coaches having this impact with them? And that's what we, as we're buying this brand, need to understand. Right. You can't just walk into a brand being like, you suck. Yeah. Change everything. Yeah. It's a process, right? There's a community there that exists. It's not a blank state that exists. Yeah. And so this is really truly the icing on the cake until where my path is now. This will kind of like some of, like some of where I've been, but what was so interesting is doing this thing in Miami was my final, like, I can't do this anymore. Mm. I can't, I can't keep moving like this. So with them started doing work in November of 20, the end of 2022, and explaining to people of like, this is like a six to nine month process to transition. Into a new brand. Mm-hmm. You can't do this overnight. Yeah. You know, the coaches that are already there, they want, they are excited about change. Mm-hmm. But again, you don't just change your people overnight. And also what we need to understand is, again, why their classes are full. Mm-hmm. And there was just a lot of hitting heads with it of, well, if you can't do it, we'll send somebody else to do it. Hmm. Type thing of like, well maybe they can do this, maybe they can do that. There was toxic people on the team, and again, this goes into my gut feeling that I was like, there's certain people on this team that shouldn't be here. Mm-hmm. Getting messages, like getting really just like awful messages. From people on a team, and I know this has happened to other brands before, it's just like where you're just like, you're just getting messages from people that you're just like, what is this toxic culture? Mm-hmm. What is going on here? And I remember in this moment, got into this big argument and sending this message and it was just basically just trying to get people, it was, it's ego what was happening. It's like, I'm not telling you you're bad. Let's improve. Right?'cause my job is to do, my job is to understand where you're at and build you from there. Yeah. I'm not this person that goes into a space being like, you suck. You're the worst. It's like, okay, here you are. Let's take you here. Mm-hmm. Let's move up a level and let's build.'cause we can all learn and, and grow from there. So going into all of the, going in it, everything flopped, everything just got crazy. Mm-hmm. It just got very loud and I just told them, I was like, I can't be a part of this brand anymore. I don't feel respected. I've helped grow this brand. And I just don't feel respected anymore. I don't feel hurt. And there were people within the brand that feels like they're better demanding things, thinking they can do things better. So left the brand and what's been so interesting for me is this all happened within February and I go to this brand actually in Orlando called Urban urban urban Works. God Maurizio would kill me. Yeah. To train them. And it was very interesting when I went and I met Mauricio and I met his team and I was training them. And I remember thinking to myself, this is why I started right. And I remember having a sit down and like having tears with Mauricio and his team.'cause I was like, this is why I started. You guys are excited. Your energy's here. Like, and I was like, this is why I started. Yeah. So in February of this year of 2023, I was like, I need to take some time. Joe. My partner was just like, I just got in this space where I was just like, it's loud, it's chaotic. What is going on? Mm-hmm. Back you are the problem. Like, what, what's happening? Let me start digging deeper into myself and like, let me see what's going on. And I read this incredible, incredible book called potent Leadership by this woman named Ruby Freeman. Mm-hmm. And it starts and,'cause here's what was happening at this moment, Hannah. Like, I didn't feel heard mm-hmm. By anybody. Like, and when I say, and I, I felt heard by people that I wanna make the change for. But I didn't hear, I wasn't being heard by the upper people. And that's what's hard.'cause I'm this middle person in these, in these, like everything I do and I'm supporting the talent and then I'm, you know, I'm working with the instructor or the the owners and I'm that middle person. And so I just wasn't feeling heard. And that's what was hard for me in February. I was just like, why is no one hearing me? Like, what am I doing? Mm-hmm. Like, let me see what's going on. I remember reading, reading Ruby's book, never read a book. And I start reading her book and I'm like, for the first time I feel hurt. Mm-hmm. Like in like not heard, but I'm like, there's other people that seen this as well. I feel seen. Yeah. I feel seen. So that's what was happening. I was like, oh my gosh. Okay. I feel seen for the first time this other person. It's like, what's going on with social media? She goes deep in about social media being a performer, being a leader, and I'm like, these are words that I've been saying for a while. Then I read that book was so moved by it and like wrote her and I was like, this woman will never contact, like she'll never respond. And she responded and just like the way that we just had conversation and I was like, wait, there's other people out here that's had certain experiences that's had moments. And then that's where I was like, I want to dig deeper, which is why I went down this other journey, which that's another talk for another time. But I went down this and did Ayahuasca journey. Mm-hmm. And Ruby was one of the facilitators for this, and just so much made sense. Mm-hmm. The reason why I react a certain way when people don't show up in certain situations, they tell me they're gonna do something. And when I freak out, it comes from like a moment of like, Of fear of like, I'm not gonna be able to go to the next day. Mm-hmm. And that comes from a moment, like I'm the only child. Mm-hmm. And it was just my mom and I, my mom's a single parent, and so I was brought up that way. Same thing things would happen with my mom. If it's like, if someone says, Hey, your paycheck's gonna be here on Friday, the paycheck wasn't there. We weren't needing. Right. Yeah. And so a lack of trust is like a, it's the lack of like, coming forward and doing what you're saying you're gonna do isn't just that one thing. It's rooted in trauma of like, lack of safety and like Totally. It's like, so it's repeating all those situations where you're like, I can't trust you at all if you don't do this thing, because that's my experience when people don't totally come through. Yeah, of course. And my thing is, is like, and if you can't do it, I'm totally fine with that, but I'm a resourceful person. Mm-hmm. Get that from my mother. It's like, I don't know how I'm gonna do this, but I'm gonna pull some resources together and we're gonna make it happen. Mm-hmm. And so as Ruby coaching me through things and having these conversations, so much was making sense on how I was responding to so many people because it is from like that past trauma being like, no, I just wanna make sure that I don't feel that way. The other thing about this, and this is something that I experienced too, is like when you are so hyper independent, because you've had to be, it is really hard to lean on others. And so when it turns out poorly, when you've decided to be vulnerable enough to say, I'm going to let you do, handle this thing, and then they don't handle the thing you're like, Well then I'm closing the, then the, like the walls come back up because Totally. This is the one time I've like, I've, I felt like I could be vulnerable enough to trust you and now, now I'm going back to trusting myself'cause that's the one thing I can count on. Totally. Totally. And that's again, that's just what was happening so much and things that I was just noticing within, like within the culture of everything of like, things can happen very different from the states to Mexico. It's like mm-hmm. I don't have family that I can call and be like, Hey, can I just like borrow all this money and Right. Build something and do that. So that's where I was just noticing that like of what was happening with all of that. So yeah, so that's where I'm leading into really what I'm doing now and going into this space I'm doing now. And it just feels right more than ever. And it's really just going into just like being your true, authentic self. Mm-hmm. And. That's, and it's, I, I feel like, you know, it's so easy to kind of say and to kind of do, you're like, Hey, just be yourself. You know? Just be like, just be true to yourself. But with all this outside noise, it can be hard to do that. It can be hard to be like, well, look what this person's doing, you know, on Instagram, or look what they're doing. Look what this brand's doing. I need to do that to quote unquote, to be successful. Mm-hmm. But what people are doing, what some people are doing now is they're not reading their communities. They're not asking their community, what do you want? Mm-hmm. Because most of these communities that I go to, like they don't. These other communities, like if they're just kind of like people that just wanna come and take your class, they don't care about these other people. Right? They don't give a shit. They don't give a shit about what real went viral or whatever. Exactly. Like they don't, and I was, it's so interesting, I've been talking about this a lot as well, like true up. Like when people think about their classes, like most of your, like every quote unquote, everyday type of people, your people that always show up, they're not showing up.'cause you posted something on Instagram, they're just there and they're like, oh, today is this great? Mm-hmm. You know, like, I'm here for you no matter what. You know, like, yeah. So, and that was, those are the people that. People really need to start paying more attention too. Mm-hmm. And like that's what brings those people into those like spaces. So going into this like coaching authentically space and when I was just traveling for the last month throughout Mexico. Yeah. I think about those moments. I'm like, do I need to be throwing in back flips? I always joke about in that way. But in the last month I was like, I was really staying true of like my story and where that was going and where I was going, and I was connecting with people in a way that was just like another level. Mm-hmm. So that's really why I want to, why I'm going into this next round of these workshops of like the only thing that's gonna make people successful and what they wanna do and how they wanna build is honestly just coaching authentically. And yes, the outside noise, Instagram, that's, it's hard. It's hard to not see what other people are doing. But I have this eye now, like I'm so crazy. When I look and look at talent now I can look at Instagram and be like, that move that person's doing is performative. There's no flow. They're doing that because of the likes, they're doing that because of whatever else. Mm-hmm. And you know, when I was just traveling, I was like, you know, I was asking people just to keep a runup for 30 seconds and half the room couldn't even do it. So you can't tell me that you're keeping it up for two minutes and doing all this choreo. So it's like, are we building the communities or are we not? Right. So that's why, again, I'm going into this next phase of coaching authentically. Cause that's, it's needed more now than ever. And, and going into that, I feel like for right now, big events are just not it. And we just need to just stay small and us as coaches, us as mentors, whatever you call yourself in a leadership space, we need to check in on each other first. So we can really spread that love out to these bigger groups of people that are looking up to us. Mm-hmm. Because so many people look up to so many of these leaders and I do have the opportunity to work with so many incredible brands and names out there, but I'm having conversations with these leaders and these men and people that are like leading these communities and it's like, you are not even well. So that's really what I'm gonna be focusing on now and just see how that takes off. And in these next workshops, it's been wild, the responses I've been getting with it of just like true, authentic, like what's really going on? And let's. Let's spread this out. Well, and I think people have been waiting too, because like what I really appreciate about about what you've shared is that you did share, Luke, it's loud. I'm taking a step back. I'm doing this inner work. I'm figuring out my next step. And you've been, you've brought everybody along really authentically, which is rare because Instagram can be like the highlight reel of everything and not, not bringing somebody on the context that it took to get to that like successful point. Totally. And so, Now that there's a new, a new opportunity to work with you and to learn how to be authentic, truly authentic, not just, you know, the toxic positivity stuff, like the name of this podcast is, yes, you can, but like, believe me, like that comes with, that, comes with like decades of like work of being like, you know, those three words have gotten me through some dark, dark, dark moments or some, and just like those, like the little, the little question of like, yes, you can continue on. It's not like, yes, you can, you know? And like there's work with, I always, I always tell people like, if I'm teaching a class, think I'm like, look at yourself in the mirror and say, I can fucking do it. Yeah. But I'm not just saying like, you fucking do it is you just screaming. It's like, I'm gonna get through this. Yes. Yeah. It's like those moments I feel like from you, you look at yourself in the morning and you're like, yes you can. Yeah, yeah. Yes you can bitch. Yes you can. Yes you can. Bitch. Let's pull it together. Let's get it together. Yes, you can. And then you walk out the door. Just keep saying that. You keep saying it. Yeah. Yeah. So I, I feel that of like, and I love that of like, yes, you can, because there's moments you have to, you know, even when those moments where you feel like you can't, you've gotta tell yourself. Yeah. And because if you do tell yourself, if you say no, you can't, you're never gonna do it. Mm-hmm. But if you telling yourself, yes, you can, yes you can. You're gonna get one step closer to completing whatever you wanna do. And I find like the, the, like those moments where you are in class, you're grinding it out, or you're having an emotional moment, or you're having a breakdown or whatever, it's like, it can feel super, super, super overwhelming. Even just being in a room and having a, having a coach speak to your soul with some, like, something that cuts through the noise and directly to you and they think, you feel like they're speaking your truth right there. You know, like killing me softly lyrics like of like, it's like somebody's speaking, like reading my stuff out loud, like it feels that way and. The yes you can was born out of what was like, literally born out of like, you are in your darkest moments and you need something to just remind you that movement forward is possible. And I find where, where I get frustrated as somebody who's very honest and sort of to the point is on Instagram seeing a lot of the like, Like talks of positivity both in the indoor recycling community and wellness and whatever. And it's like the people who are in the wellness world have usually gone through something really hard and they don't need like more platitudes and like surface level bullshit and totally. Coaches shouldn't just be copying and pasting quotes that they hear without doing the work of like, what does this mean to me? How can I really communicate this to my riders, to my clients in a way that's not just about me, but like is deep and unique and different and is gonna cut through all that noise. And so I'm totally, I'm really excited to see the result of the coaching authentically workshops, because I feel like that's what people are gonna walk away with. Both the riders who are in the room and the coaches who take the workshop. Can you share the details of, of how people can register and where they are? Like I, I'll include all that in the show notes, but just like, okay. Coming up on, yeah. So Again, what? To, to creating this workshop. It's, it was one of these ways of like, I wanna get closer with the people. Mm-hmm. In these workshops, in the past workshops that I did, people would send in notes just being like, oh, it was too many people. I felt like I couldn't really, like Mm. Get the feedback that I wanted from z like I wanted. So what I did with this workshop is no more than 20 people per group. Nice. And then with that so many trainings when people are training likes in groups and, and past things, they're often teaching people that are strong. Mm-hmm. So with this workshop, you get to either be on the coach as a podium, or you can register as a writer. Mm-hmm. And the idea is to have different types of writers. So you're coaching a room of different ability of people. Mm-hmm. And so not your normal people. It's like, hey, again, I always joke this, if you're calling out backflip, it's all these in this room right now doing back flips, you know? Yeah. And they're not, we're gonna stop the music and we're gonna talk about why did the room not do a back flip? Maybe you couldn't be heard. Mm-hmm. Maybe you didn't build up properly with it. So that's really what this workshop, again, is going more into and really going into lyrics. I'm really big on this, and it's interesting that you talked about killing me softly. I love that song so much. Mm-hmm. I'm really big with instructors right now that are playing songs they do not know. Mm-hmm. Lyrically, yeah. You do not know a song lyrically there's no connection. Mm-hmm. And how are you connecting and selling it in that way to your people? Mm-hmm. And'cause when you know a song literally, and this song doesn't even have to have lyrics either. Like how are you telling your story? How are you telling your journey? Mm-hmm. And you can do that through whatever you are dealing with in that moment. And so, again, this is just really getting deeper. Like I want people to share their story through these lyrics, through music.'cause that's what's gonna gravitate towards them. So yeah, so it'll be three days. It's gonna be a Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Saturday and Sunday is just for the writers. So the, the writers will come in on Saturday and Sunday, Friday is just really coming to a group and just really setting intention about what everybody really wants.'cause what I've been noticing as well is bringing groups of people together is we're all talking about the same thing mm-hmm. Separately, but we're not coming together and talking about it in person. Mm-hmm. So that's really what Friday is gonna be about is really just bringing everybody together. And having conversations with each other, it's, we're not even gonna be on the bike.'cause what I also say, it's more important than just a bike. There's so much more work to do than that. And then before we do all come together, there is a 30 minute zoom call with me just so you can really set, just so you can set the intention of like, what is it that we're gonna, like, what is it you really wanna work on? Gimme your goals and what you want. And then all that can be done through my website at zs fit.com. And yeah. I'm just, I'm, I'm super excited for this and I'm just, I'm really ready to help people feel like they don't have to be keeping up with everybody else. Mm-hmm. And really show this other side of like, let's share your story because everybody has aho everybody has a story. It's like, how are we gonna share it? Yeah. Authentically in that kind of way. So you know, over the last I. Here. I've been talking about taking walks and for myself personally, I was just like, you know what, in taking walks I've been doing on the bike, and it's literally just moving your legs while you're standing up. And as if you were just walking outside. Mm. And what I was doing so much in my classes is I was having people take walks and taking walks is when there's like the music's faded out. Mm-hmm. Or you can't hear the beat almost. People think about it as like, when you're isolating and there's no beat. Right, right, right. Yeah. It's a walk for that, for me that would be like a walk. Mm-hmm. And the reason why I was telling people to take walks,'cause that's what I was doing in my life for the last year, is taking a walk, figuring shit out. Mm-hmm. So that's where I'm trying to get people authentically coaching in their classes is how do you feel in your life if you need to take a walk? Take a walk. Mm-hmm. And how can you coach that authentically where people are just like, I. Why is this bitch taking a walk? No. If you coach things authentically, people are gonna feel that. Right. And know where it's coming from and know how to get to it. Yeah, exactly. But it was my job. No one really knew. They probably thought, oh, something's going on with Zach. But like, they didn't really understand exactly why I was taking these walks.'cause I explained it of like, I want you to take this walk. It's like life, you know? We've all slammed the door, called our partner, our boss, a bitch, and had to go take a walk outside. Mm-hmm. You know, we've all been in that situation where it's like, lemme just go take a walk. Right. Lemme just throw some shit out. So that's more of like what I wanna get people tools on of like, where you at? How do you feel? And how can you bring that into your classes? Mm-hmm. Cause that's really where your people are gonna come and they're gonna sign up. That's where you're gonna fill up your classes more.'cause people are gonna truly, authentically feel you. Mm-hmm. You know, if people are struggling with, no one's coming to my class, I don't have numbers. We really have to think about like, are you coaching authentically? Are you trying to coach like somebody else? Mm-hmm. And that's what it really comes down to with all that of like when I, people are like, Zach, no one's coming to my class. And then I looked and I have these conversations with him. I'm like, well, when I see you coaching, who is this person? Mm-hmm. Not you, it's you trying to be somebody else. And just because somebody else's is successful is not gonna be your success. Yeah. So so yeah. So I'm, yeah. So with this coaching authentically, that's what's really gonna go into, it's just like, let's get into that authentic self and learn how to be more authentic. And so we can lead in that way. And you can lead your classes better too when you're authentic. Yeah. Like, you know those classes that you teach and you're just like, fuck. I felt that like I was exactly in the moment. I was like exactly who I am. And they loved me for it. They loved me. Yeah. And when you're authentic, you can overcome all of the questions I get. All the time about like the technical shit, like how do you deal with this? How do you deal with that? I'm like, you be yourself in the moment. And how that can look is literally just being present with that situation, whatever's happening and laughing, making like light of it, acknowledging that it's happening instead of trying to pretend like it's not like when you, when you lead with authenticity, all of those like minutiae questions kind of to get taken care of. Like, how do I motivate? Well do it authentically. How do I go? It's like it, it sort of answers that every question, but it's hard to do. Totally. And so I'm really excited that you are. That you're focusing in on this, and we've now been talking for like, almost like we're like 90 minutes, but I, okay. Yeah. I need to, and I actually need to go. Yeah. I'm actually taking a class at six 30. Well, it's, it's 6:00 PM here, so, so I, I, I've actually taking a class in 30 minutes, so I'm so grateful that we have this conversation. I feel like it's one of many that we're gonna be having. Like, I just, I just have that same intuition that you always talk about, and I'm like, from the A D H ADHD thing to the creative, like, we're doing this. I'm like, I feel a lot of. And like alignment and Totally. I'm so excited for the people who are gonna be learning from you. I think in September, September for your, for your workshops. September. Yes. Yes. In September. Yes. So in September. Yeah. So check it out and yeah, I'm just, I'm ready again, I'm just ready for this next phase to help people into this, into this next phase of being authentic, being your true self. Let's quiet down the loud noise'cause it's loud as fuck it is. And, but I appreciate, I appreciate your voice being a part of the conversation in a different way. And so thank you Zach for being on the We Can podcast, everybody can find. Thank you so much. His Instagram handle, his website, everything in the show notes, and we will see you on the next episode. Yes.

1:18:32

thanks for listening all the way to the end of the yes, you can podcast if you loved this one, I would so appreciate a rating and a review on apple podcasts. That lets others know that hey this is a good podcast and it's worthwhile to listen to you if you really loved it make sure to share with somebody you love who could benefit from a little magic and motivation in their lives thanks so much friends and have a great day