The Uncommon Leader Podcast
Are you ready to break free from mediocrity and lead an extraordinary life? Join us on The Uncommon Leadership Podcast as we explore the power of intentionality in personal and professional growth. Our podcast features insightful interviews with inspiring leaders from all walks of life, sharing their stories of overcoming challenges and achieving greatness.
Discover practical strategies to:
- Think positively and cultivate a growth mindset
- Live a healthy and balanced lifestyle
- Build your faith and find inner strength
- Read more and expand your knowledge
- Stay strong in the face of adversity
- Work hard with purpose and passion
- Network effectively to build meaningful relationships
- Worry less and focus on what matters
- Love always and make a positive impact
In each episode, we'll dive into relevant leadership topics, share inspiring stories, and provide actionable steps you can take to elevate your life. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your journey, The Uncommon Leadership Podcast offers valuable insights and practical guidance to help you achieve your goals and live your best life.
The Uncommon Leader Podcast
Proven Strategies to Overcome Limiting Beliefs and Self-Doubt with Kelsey Lensman
When resilience meets empowerment, extraordinary transformation begins. Join me, John Gallagher, as I sit down with the indomitable Kelsey Lensman, who turned a potentially career-ending injury into a springboard for inspiring women nationwide. Kelsey's tale is more than recovery; it's a narrative of shattering the glass ceiling of self-doubt through her 48 fitness challenges across 48 states in a mere 48 days. Her relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries serves as a clarion call to all women seeking to unlock their latent potential and solidify their self-belief.
Empower Fitness isn't just a gym; it's a crucible where mental barriers are forged into stepping stones, and Kelsey Lensman is the alchemist at its heart. We unpack the life-changing impact of strength training, not just on muscles but on the psyche of women spanning six decades. It's a place where stories of limitation are rewritten into anthems of capability, where 12-year-olds and grandmothers alike hoist weights and shatter stereotypes. The thread of shared struggle and triumph weaves a tapestry of community that uplifts and propels women towards unimagined personal and professional heights.
As we wrap up, I reflect on my own path of personal growth, catalyzed by a social media detox that gifted me a newfound clarity and deeper connections. It's a testament to the power of placing faith and focus at the forefront of our lives. This episode is not just an interview; it's a starting block for listeners ready to redefine their relationship with technology, forge a purpose-driven life, and join the ranks of uncommon leaders. Kelsey's journey is the spark - may it light the fire of transformation in you.
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Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)
Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!
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Hey, uncommon Leaders, welcome back. This is the Uncommon Leader Podcast and I'm your host, john Gallagher. I've got a great guest for you today, uncommon Leaders. Kelsey Lensman is a nutrition and sports medicine specialist, entrepreneur and highly sought after speaker with a passion for women's fitness. She owns and power fitness that coaches women all around the country in their nutrition, fitness and mindset. Her unique approach to fitness has helped hundreds of women get results, grow their mindset and become strong, confident versions of themselves.
Speaker 1:She's a five times bodybuilding competitor, five time powerlifting competitor and loves to push her own boundaries. You'll hear that pretty clearly in the story. And also she successfully finished mission 48, where she competed in 48 grueling fitness competitions in 48 states in 48 days. What a story that is, and her goal is to inspire you to do hard things, push your limits and build true self confidence. You're going to love what she has to share on common leaders. Let's get started. Kelsey Lensman, welcome to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Great to have you on the show. I think we're going to have a great conversation today. How you doing.
Speaker 2:John, I appreciate you having me and I'm so excited to dig into the summits questions that we clarified before. So I'm ready and let's get rolling with it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let's do that. I'm always nervous about having that conversation beforehand and I'll get to the point where I wish I had the record button already on. So let's see if we can regenerate some of the topics that we had as we go forward. But I'll start you off with the first question. I always start every first time guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast and that's a tell me a story from your childhood that still impacts who you are as a person or leader today.
Speaker 2:That's a great question. As soon as you asked me, that one story popped up. So when I was a freshman, actually in high school, I was going out for really for the day, and back in high school, middle school, I was, and still am, a pretty big athlete, that's. You know what I love doing? Love playing sports. And so going to my freshman year, I was set to play varsity basketball, varsity volleyball, like the whole thing. Right now I'm excited about it.
Speaker 2:But going into that summertime I ended up going out to four wheel with a friend of mine that played basketball with me and I don't know if you've ever heard of mudding. Have you heard of mudding at all? Okay, so we went mudding that night, all right. And so my friend and I were on that four wheeler. She was driving, I was back behind her holding on, and as soon as we kind of picked up speed, we hit mud. And as soon as we hit that mud, that four wheeler flipped, because we hit it at the perfect time or worst time, at the perfect speed or worst speed. Four wheeler flipped.
Speaker 2:I completely blacked out. I don't remember anything. After all I remember is sitting down in mud. I see her name was Taylor. She was. Taylor was about five feet in front of me and I see the four wheeler completely crashed into my left, taylor's to my right and I just have this adrenaline. Go on Like Taylor, are you okay? You okay. She's like, yes, I'm good. So as soon as I try to get up, I'm like pull, pushing myself up from the ground. I realized I looked down and my complete lower leg bone was sticking out of the skin I know, and all of a sudden I get sheet white. I say Taylor, I'm not okay. Once again, I really can't feel the pain yet because my body is just in this fight or flight.
Speaker 1:Yep, yep.
Speaker 2:Yep. And I said Taylor, not okay. So she ran to her home, which is about a mile and a half out. We're in the middle of nowhere. I remember him sitting in mud. All I see is just basically expansive trees, with my leg in my hand, thinking dear God, like please, let me live through this. Because all I could think in that moment was like, am I gonna bleed out? Like knowing now I'm going to, but when you're in that moment you're just thinking all these crazy thoughts, right.
Speaker 2:And so, long story long, we ended up getting to the hospital. They drove me like two hours to the hospital because we were once again really far out. I remember that night I was actually doing pretty well Once again. It's completely diagnosed with all the things that they were going to say in the future. But I just remember thinking like man, you know my entire versity basketball that's the only thing that I could think about versity volleyball like that's not happening now. And so that next day ended up going into the surgery room, I had a crazy external fixator. If you've never seen that, it's like Frankenstein, but on your lower leg rods sticking out of big metal rod here, and the reason why I bring that story up and why it changed me. So much is. It showed me at a young age how to overcome something more even mentally challenging than physically challenging.
Speaker 2:And in that timeframe, john, I had a lot of athletic trainers, a lot of physical therapists that helped me, yes, physically, get back to the way that I wanted to, but also mentally. And I remember the physician. The night that I saw him in that ER room. He was like, yeah, you're definitely not playing basketball this year. And I was like you don't know who you're talking to. And so then, four or five months later, I mean, I was in a cast for about three months, started walking on month four and then I was on the basketball floor two months later. And once again, that changed my trajectory because I remember those people helping me and I was like I want to be that same person to help somebody else, the way that those people helped me. And so that then started my medical journey and fast forward. It's exactly what I'm doing I'm helping people physically, mentally, in those areas. So it was one of the hardest things I've ever done or overcame, but also one of the most life trajectory changing things that I want and take away for the world.
Speaker 1:Kelsey, perfect in terms of story and it's touched on the journey We've both been on with regards to brands brand builders group that we are, most you know, perfectly positioned to help the person that we used to be and that seems to be writing your mission in your business, so maybe we'll go there first. So you talk about your mission really is to help people understand that their capability far surpasses what they imagine. And so what does that look like for you in terms of how you coach your clients one on one? Talk a little bit about your business, how you do that one on one. You do some fitness training as well, both remotely and in person. Then you also do some activities and events with individuals as well. How does that, how does that play in your business?
Speaker 2:Oh, that that mission of you are more capable than you could ever imagine, is the through line and literally everything that I do. And so to back story a little bit, not to make this about me, but also to give context, is I never in a million years, john, thought I would be the person that I am today, owning the businesses, doing crazy mission 48, inspiring people, let alone having an army behind me, like ready to tap into their potential. And I always say, if I can do it, anybody can do it. Because if you were to talk to Kelsey five that not even five, probably 10 years ago, she'd be like no way, like that's just, that's not possible. And so that first change or started me on my journey to where I was getting my fitness good, and I realized that it wasn't just about you know how I trained or how I fueled my body. It was about the people that I surrounded myself with, the podcast that I put in my ear, hence yours right, yes, how I fueled my body, nutrition, and also how I was moving my body physically. And then that translates to like what I do as a company is we help you as a whole human. It's not just hey, do this training program. It's help you as a whole human get to the goals that you have, and so I own.
Speaker 2:It's called empower fitness, where we do one on one nutrition and fitness coaching with women all around the country, and then we also do all women's strength events called empower events, and once again it's all about challenging women to step out of their comfort zone, do hard things and actually build that confidence within. And we've had ages 12 to 72 and our 72 year old lived to 200 pounds forever, like we're in rape about her. And it's for a lot of women that you know, don't picture themselves as a big power lifter or you know, as I've ever done it before and, john, you'll see in some of the videos too, it's women are shaken before they step on the platform. They honestly want to leave out that backdoor. Yesterday they do not want to do the thing, but I tell them, step up there, show yourself that you can do it. And as soon as they pick that weight up, john, it's like every belief breaks of what they're capable of.
Speaker 2:And I've actually had some women start businesses after completely changed the relationship with their families. Just show themselves that, hey, like I can do more than what I think that I can do and I actually was listening to another podcast recently and this this brings, at least true for me is that they said we're wired for limitation, not wired for potential. Like our human brain is wired for limitation, it's not wired for our potential, right, and so when we can realize that and ask ourselves, like man, what am I capable of? That I didn't think that I could do. Sky's the limit for you, at least in my opinion. And if you start that trajectory, the world better watch out because of the whole another level of use coming. So that's a little bit, a long bit about what I do, and just say about what I do and just also the mission that I want to lead here.
Speaker 1:No, let's, let's say they're there for me, cause look, doing something harder than you know you're capable, or then you feel you're capable of at the start. So you touched on a couple of things in some of the things that I read about you. One is you know, right now, self-confidence, especially in women that you train women is down and comparison is up. So we find ourselves comparing with others, yet our self-confidence is down and you talk about transformation while you are a fitness instructor in nutrition. You also talk about the fact that it's got to be through mindset and community as to how you do that full transformation. So, given that self-confidence is down, comparison is up. I'm sure you've seen many types. What type of gaps do you see? What type of mindsets do you see in the individuals that you're coaching, from 12 to 72? What are there? Things at the start.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's a great question. I've actually never been asked that question. I've been interviewed quite a bit, so I love it, so I would. I would say a few of the initial mindsets is actually let me even pull this back a little bit A lot of the women that come to us don't even realize that they have beliefs that don't serve them. Okay, they see it externally. They see, man, I can never get my fitness right, or, hey, you know what, like I, I'm not getting to the goal that I I want to get to. And they see this external reality that just isn't playing out. Or they feel like they're self-sabotaging themselves. But they're not even aware of the stories that they're telling themselves. And this was me too, and I always say that the stories we tell ourselves, that'll play also into our identity and we will never outperform who we believe ourself to be. And so, if you believe yourself not you, john, but whoever's listening we see a lot of our women.
Speaker 2:If you never believe that you're going to be that fit person, guess what You're going to do a nutrition or the trainer or whatever plan that you have for a week, two weeks, maybe even three, and then slowly you'll start reverting back to old habit, habits, old patterns, because once again you're cooling yourself back down to that identity that you believe yourself to be Right.
Speaker 2:And so a lot of the women that come come to us. They don't even realize that they have these stories about themselves, they have these identities about themselves, that they have these versions of themselves, that that is internal, that's hard wire, rearing them to keep them stuck Right. And so what I love doing is once again, like, tell me you as a human, like, let's, let's dig into all areas, because I'm not about any crazy fad diet or hey, just do this training program. It's like when you help grow the person, first the results, the physical results. That's a byproduct. Right, we have the nutrition, we have the training, but for me it's about evolving the person out to not only get to those goals but to keep them. And so that's what makes me really excited. So I would. I guess that I wouldn't say there's any one belief, but it's a lot of the identities or stories that they don't even realize that it's unconscious running their brain.
Speaker 1:Hey listeners, I want to take a quick moment to share something special with you. Many of the topics and discussions we have on this podcast are areas where I provide coaching and consulting services for individuals and organizations. If you've been inspired by our conversation and are seeking a catalyst for change in your own life or within your team, I invite you to visit coachjohngallaghercom forward slash free call to sign up for a free coaching call with me. It's an opportunity for us to connect, discuss your unique challenges and explore how coaching or consulting can benefit you and your team. Okay, let's get back to the show.
Speaker 1:Well, I think you just said the right word. The last word you said unconscious, right, the limiting beliefs we place on ourselves. That requires we, you know. You mentioned some of the mind things, and what I've read recently as well is that our brains don't know the difference between a negative thought and a positive thought. They just know there's thoughts and we have to put definition to those. So, those limiting beliefs, something that and there's a book on my shop right there the four eight principle talks about how we overcome those limiting beliefs, allowing us to think positively. And then, once we can get our thoughts right, then we can worry about the actions to your point. Nutrition exercise like those are just the drivers, those are just the activities. But you got to have your mindset before you're truly going to have that personal transformation.
Speaker 1:Now you've had to do hard things. One of the things I want to touch on real quick I know it's already done, but the listeners are going to appreciate what you've done and that was mission 48. So you, that was something that had to have a belief in your eyes. It's going to be the hardest thing you've ever done and make something happen. So tell me about mission 48, why you did it and what it's meant for others.
Speaker 2:Well, let's let's talk about beliefs is actually transitions beautifully. And because I had a belief that I couldn't do it for two years. So I never. I had this idea two plus years ago, john and I sat on that for two years because, number one, I was afraid, I was scared and I didn't know where to go Right. And so let's rewind. Two plus years ago I was sitting in my living room. I'll never forget this night I was watching this documentary from his name was iron cowboy, where he did 50 iron man's in 50 states and 50 days, which was wild to me, with five kids in an RV, absolutely insane.
Speaker 2:But in that documentary it showed his yes, his high moments, right, coming back to Utah Everybody's there but it also showed his really low moments of like, why am I doing this? You know his body was breaking down, his mind was not doing too hot at that moment and it really inspired me of, well, what am I capable of Like? Right, if you push in boundaries on that part, what, what can I do? That I don't think that I can do. It once again is a through line of just everything that I do now. And I remember sitting there and I thought what if you know what, if I did 48 different fitness competitions the inland states, everything from a powerlifting meet to a half marathon to a CrossFit event, like just pushing boundaries on not one lane but all the lanes of fitness. And this is when it was done originally 48 different competitions in 48 weeks in 48 states. And I was like, oh cool, I can do like a Spartan race on a Saturday and then I could talk to a school for young girls on a Wednesday, because I love just pouring into those younger generations, because I wish I would have had some of those words way back in the day.
Speaker 2:And, like I said, I sat on that idea for two years. It was. It kept like having the stirring in my heart and we were doing great stuff in business and you know that was going well. But this idea kept coming up and I just kept pushing it down, down, down, because I'm like number one, that's crazy. Number two, how do you do this? There's no playbook for it, right? And I remember John, two years later, I could not deny this nudge or the stirring.
Speaker 2:And for those listening, that might be whether you started a business and it was just kind of the stirring up, whether it's a passion project and nonprofit. It's like this idea keeps coming up, even though you wish it wouldn't, because it's easier to not acknowledge it. And I remember I walked my dog for about four hours one night just because I was, you know, battling mentally. Do I do it, do I not? Do it? Is this dumb, is this amazing? And for me, faith's really big in my life. And so I remember, getting home, I wrote in my little journal Dear God, whether this is good or bad, I don't know, but I said, dear God, I was like, please give me the biggest sign, not this little like tap on the shoulder, smack me over the head with a sign to know either to pursue this or not. I'm cool with either decision, but I just I need to know this is more than just me. Never had this happen before.
Speaker 2:Next morning I wake up, go to work out Like I normally wake up and go work out. For some reason, john, that day I decided to listen to a podcast instead of music, which I always listen to music. And I was listening to a podcast with this other gentleman that was interviewing this guy and he was talking about this mission that he went on and doing it for charity and it was like a mirror, a spitting image of what I want to do with Mission 48. And then he said this and I was sold after that. He said so many people live in the five and sixes. Life is good, but not really great, but also not terrible. It's like we just ran some repeat five and sixes over and over and over again. And he said because so many people want to go for the nines and tens, but they're too afraid because what if it becomes a one?
Speaker 2:And as soon as he said that, john, I was like I gotta go for it. Like when I look back on those two years, like I said we were doing great stuff, but Kelsey, the individual was in five to six, she was just rinse and repeat, wake up, work, go to sleep, like nothing was really rememberable from those last two years. And I said, kelsey, your nine and 10 is Mission 48. You just think that it might be a once. You're afraid to pursue it. And so after that the brain dumped everything that I would need for this crazy campaign.
Speaker 2:Fast forward about probably eight months later, six to eight months later, ended up going on Mission 48 where I did 48 different fitness competitions. This is the kicker in 48 states and 48 days, and my mission with it is not to, you know, have people watch me travel the country, but to really inspire a lot of women and young girls to step out of their comfort zone, to do hard things and build that self-confidence. And then we did partner with a charity called Ruling Our Experiences and they do 20 week programs in schools for young girls to talk about things like confidence and leadership and what the stuff that they do with young girls is absolutely incredible. So we were able to fund girls for their program and fast forward. Here we are we're getting a documentary ready, we're getting a book ready and it's here. So it's been a crazy ride these last two and a half years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you finished it with a Murph and those who listen and know a lot of what I'm in view don't know what that is. Look it up, so you didn't have to tell you it's hard.
Speaker 2:Cassie talking about doing hard things and it's hard.
Speaker 1:Now you might be finding that nine or 10 in writing a book is gonna be hard, so it's a whole different kind of personal transformation and discipline that exists. I haven't done it myself. It's on my list as well. But doing something that hard, 48 different states, 48 extreme workouts it's called extreme workouts. It's what you did in 48 days. What did you learn about yourself over that time?
Speaker 2:Oh, that is a great question. How long do we have for this interview?
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, exactly, I mean, what do you?
Speaker 2:think no, they said, actually I had somebody, a mentor, called me, in the middle of Mission 48. And I had some very high moments, some very low moments on Mission 48. And he said this, and this summarized this beautifully he's like Kels, you're taking two years of lessons that people learned and condensing them in 48 days. And I was like that is exactly it. It felt like at moments I was getting punched in the face and I just, you know, I would take a step up and I would get punched back in the face.
Speaker 2:And there was that moments where I'm like God put me here for a reason, and so I learned a lot about myself and how I respond in adversity, how I also to continue on, even in the midst of almost everything telling you to quit, and for me it's understanding what that why is. For me, I had a really deep why. Yes, I wanted to help the young girls, yes, I wanted to help women. But also I had even a deeper why of like my faith led me here, Like I know that God would not put me here if I also didn't lean on him to endure through it. And so, man, there were so many lessons, but I think the condensing of lessons in 48 days was such a beautiful summary of it.
Speaker 1:Well, you keep continuing to do hard things as well. Again, the book, the documentary. I look forward to hearing more about that as you go on that journey. But even moving into 2024, there was a step and I follow you on Instagram and look folks again follow also on Instagram. You want to see somebody doing hard things. That's what she does. But one of the things you talked about specifically related to your faith was, as you started 2024, you felt another nudge. So you got a nudge to do the 48 days, the 48 states. But you had a nudge to do something different as well, and that was at least an Instagram fast, not a social media fast, and for someone who relies on social media online to drive their business, that was a big step for you. Tell us about what that nudge was, what you went through and what you learned from that as well.
Speaker 2:I'm so glad that you brought this up because that was, once again, a trajectory of change for me so early of this year. So, honestly, about a month ago, as we're recording this, I was sitting in church one morning and the church that I go to usually does 21 days of fasting, some type of fasting whether that be a certain food, whether that be social media, whatever that is that individual chooses that thing and I was just really sitting there thinking about it and I just had a, once again, a nudge, a gut feeling of Kelce 2024 is going to be really important from more of a focus standpoint, from more of a foundation standpoint than anything. And I had a feeling of, hey, you need to let go of distraction right now. You need to refocus what your priorities are. For me, that was my faith. For me, that was my business. For me, that was okay. Where do I want this year, the next you know, five plus years to go.
Speaker 2:And I had a feeling of, hey, give up social media for 21 days. And for those that, listening, you might be like, okay, kelce, that's not that much, but I also run my business a lot through social and I utilize those channels a lot. Right, and I actually had a friend when I mentioned that I might do that. She's like, well, how can you do that? Like you need to do this for your business. And then I also internally had another thought of if I don't believe that God is greater than my social media marketing strategy, I got a bigger problem, right, if I cannot give up social media for 21 days and one not have my business functioning, I've got a bigger problem. But also number two not believe that God has a bigger plan for me than just me posting on social and, you know, attracting clients that way, then my priorities are not right. Right, because I hopefully will and should believe that God is so much greater than that. And so I said delete, we're doing it, gave it up for 21 days.
Speaker 2:And in that 21 days timeframe it wasn't just give it up, it's hey, refocus, for your time is being spent. So for me, I did a daily Bible study. That I did daily. I once again really leaned into the vision of my business and I was focused on that. I wanted to really focus on my relationships this year, after being in a business for, you know, many years and neglecting a lot of those relationships, and as I was going in those 21 days.
Speaker 2:I'm not a big scroller on social media, like I'm pretty, you know, intentional with my time but I also realized how much of a distraction in my focus that could be when I didn't have it. And so as I got it back, it was that little pattern to interrupt, it was that pause for me to say, okay, how do I want to use this tool, not have this tool? You use me and I'm so glad that I did it. I'm so glad I really reset that foundation for me and John, you might have heard this analogy too, or those listening of you know, are you putting your rocks as the foundation?
Speaker 2:Are you putting quicksand as that foundation Right For me? I want my foundation to be really firm and for me that's, you know, trusting and believing in God and having that relationship with him, versus having that quicksand of social media. And you know what I think I need to do to grow my business. So that was an incredible time and I really encourage those of you don't have to give up social media but to analyze, like, what are your two to three main priorities right now? And your focus is your biggest superpower. So if you can focus and hone in on those two to three things and kind of let go of all the excess stuff that's wasting your time. That will help you double down and be way more effective in the future.
Speaker 1:I love that.
Speaker 1:I so appreciate you sharing, too, how important your faith is to you on your journey and how that has an impact with regards to what's going on, and one of the one of the key words I heard that you talked about one is focus.
Speaker 1:I mean, I guess that's the key word, but the second is the outside of the gap, the barrier, the rock in our shoe, so to speak, or the distractions, and that's whether it's social media or something else, it's negative mindset, it's negative thoughts, whatever it is in that journey that keeps us distracted from what's ahead, from inside of the vision. We've got to work intently on eliminating that and, again, that requires doing something hard. So you've spent a good deal of time developing yourself through that journey, but you also talked about that. 12 to 72 year old, look Whether, while your market, if you will, is to serve women, leaders that listen to this podcast have got to understand doing something hard is something that can be done. What is it that you would suggest to them as the first step when they're looking to make a personal transformation?
Speaker 2:And let me clarify this I mean personal transformation from a fitness standpoint or just from you as a human standpoint.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think I'll leave it open for you. You can kind of you can? I mean, if somebody wants to lose weight, that's one thing, right, they want to become a healthy person. But there's also someone who needs to start a journey on. They want to be closer to God or they want to be better as a leader in their business, all those things. But there's a, there's something that kick starts it. What kick starts it for you on that journey? That? What's that nudge? How do they get going?
Speaker 2:That's so good. So I would say this and there's two things that are coming up as you ask that question is whatever you're avoiding, pursue it. And so, if that individual is listening to this and they have a vision, they have goals, that's amazing, right. But sometimes, in that stillness, ask yourself what am I avoiding? For you that might be growing your relationship with your family, right? You're amazing in the workplace. Maybe it's your avoiding going home at night because that's more of an uncomfortable thing for you. Maybe for you, you're avoiding this thing in your business because it's uncomfortable, it's hard and you're not necessarily distracting, but you're being productive in other areas. But this is the one big needle mover. Maybe for you, you're listening to this and you realize, like that's my fitness, I have to get me good right To really then help other areas of my life.
Speaker 2:So I would say for those listening, ask yourself, get still just for two seconds and say what am I avoiding? And whatever that initial thought is, we'll pursue that, okay. And then also, too, what I will tell them is and I say this for me, in owning a business and leading amazing people, is you need to get you good. And what I mean by that you need to get your mind right, your body right, you right. That will impact every area of your life, your business, your family, your relationships.
Speaker 2:And I personally know for me in times when I was letting certain things slip a little bit like I know that I should be doing it but I'm not doing it that 1,000% impact on my business. When I let certain things slip in a little bit, it was 10 times harder for me to lead and really lead from the front, because I knew internally I was not doing the things that I needed to do and that I said I was gonna do right. And so, like I said, those listening to it go into that uncomfortable thing that you're avoiding. But then also ask yourself look at me. You're like am I good, am I the human good? And if there's something else that's, you know, a little bit uncomfortable or you're questioning, get you good first and that will lead to a better business, a better family, whatever those goals are for you.
Speaker 1:Love it, love both of them, get you good. And also, whatever it is that you get that vision and you just aren't getting started. You gotta push toward it. You gotta think bigger, pray bigger, think bigger, go after something bigger, cause we need folks, we need leaders who are gonna go after something bigger and not just stand by and accept the status quo. Love that Kind of last question, then we'll get to the logistical things. The time has gone so by so fast. I got another 20 questions I could ask we may have to do it again.
Speaker 1:In the time that you've spent investing with others, is there a success story of someone else that really touches you, that says, I'm sure, glad I and you don't have to say anybody's name or whatever that is. They may be able to figure it out as they listen, but that's just impacted you more, that you were able to help them.
Speaker 2:There's actually. There's a few names coming up that are popping in my brain. I'll tell you the one that actually was the person that started the events for me was inspired it. So, once again, we work with a lot of women and this was a few years ago when I was more in person that now we're, you know, more online. We do with women all across country.
Speaker 2:But she was here, local in Columbus, ohio, and I remember I had, you know, five or six of my girls in the gym and these were women, john, that never expected that to, number one being a gym, never thought they would lift the barbell, never thought that they would be maxing out and bench press. Third of all, and and it was just versions of them that they never thought they could be there's one woman specifically even two years prior, I used to go to this local school and do like this little fitness thing at this local school. She came up to me two years prior and I remember we were doing a warmup. She goes Kels. I just want to let you know like I'm not the one to do much with fitness, so I might need to scale a lot, I might need to, you know, sit out for a lot and I was like, totally fine, right, like we'll work with you.
Speaker 2:Two years later, she's one of the five to six women in that gym maxing out on bench press, like completely a different version of her. And I remember, john, they were going one at a time. I was unracking them to help them. And for those that are listening to this and not seeing, it's bench presses when you pull the bar basically down to your chest and then push it back up. And so this one woman, she looked at me. I put a certain amount of weight on the bar. She looked at me like complete disbelief, like you did not just put that weight on the bar and I said you got this, like trust in yourself, you got this.
Speaker 2:So she gets on the bench. She's shaking, she's nervous, all the things. She grabs the bar. I help her unrack it. She slowly pulls that bar down to her chest. Boom, that bar goes all the way up. You might as well push it to the ceiling because it looks like it was five pounds and she jumped off that bench. The whole gym is exploding. She's like elated and she was so proud of herself in that moment and the reason why I bring that story up from a transformation standpoint is it had nothing to do with whatever weight was on the bar.
Speaker 2:I don't, I could care less about that weight. It had everything to do with man. I was afraid of it. I didn't think that I could do it. I stepped out of my comfort zone. I did it anyway. Look what I just did. Right, fast forward. She's. I mean just doing so many different things in her life. So I say specifically for women, but also for men out there, when you pursue something physically hard and you unlock that, you better get ready because there's a whole another level of you coming and that gets so exciting.
Speaker 1:Love that. It just took me back to time and I had my trainer back in 2017, margo, who trained me, and I know that she'll listen to this for once. She'll see this and she'll listen to it, and I'm going to talk right to her as I say this. She was always good at sneaking in that extra five pound weight I'm not telling me what was there or sneaking in another rep, knowing that I was capable of doing it and probably overcoming what my self doubt was. So my record ultimately was the 40 to 49 year old group at that point in time, on the roller and finally getting there and having the people on the I thought I was going to die when I was done, but I got there and it was something that that ended up on the wall. That was a good thing. I had my name on the wall.
Speaker 2:That was what I was shooting for.
Speaker 1:But look, kelsey, you've. You've been so gracious in sharing your time today and I love the stories. How do folks stay in touch with you and learn more about you?
Speaker 2:Oh, for first of all, john, I just want to say I appreciate you having me on any any time that I can spread this message, this mission. As you can tell in those listening, I get excited about it Cause I'm so just changed my life. So, thank you for those that are listening to this podcast, keep listening. Tell my woman all the time, put good words in your ear. And that doesn't mean just physically in the environment that you're in, that means virtually. We have, you know, amazing resources for a reason. So y'all are listening to this for for a reason. But those that are, you know, tuning in and want to keep in touch. My socials are at Kelsey Lenzman, kelsey L E N S M A N you Google that kind of everywhere Instagram, youtube, all the things and they also do have my background sports medicine. So I have a lot of tips on how to train smart and avoid injury. It's huge passion point of mine, so I would love to connect with you guys.
Speaker 1:I would encourage everybody. I'll put the links in the show notes all those things that you talked about so folks can can get in touch with you. Kelsey, again, thank you very much for your time. I'll give you the last question, though, that I always give, my first time, guess I'm going to give you a billboard. It's time for you to kind of send people out and give them a call to action. What's the message you're going to put on that billboard? It'll be in Columbus, ohio, and everybody's going to see it, and why do you put that message on there?
Speaker 2:It would be in bold letter, three words do hard things. That's what it would be. And the reason why is when you see that and you do that hard thing, you better get ready because there's a whole nother level of you coming Kelsey thank you so much.
Speaker 1:That's a perfect ending this conversation today. I've enjoyed our time and I wish you the best, John.
Speaker 2:I appreciate it, everybody listening. Thank you so much for tuning in.
Speaker 1:And that wraps up another episode of the Uncommon Leader podcast. Thanks for tuning in today. If you found value in this episode, I encourage you to share it with your friends, colleagues or anyone else who could benefit from the insights and inspiration we've shared. Also, if you have a moment, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only helps us to improve, but it also helps others discover the podcast and join our growing community of Uncommon leaders. Until next time, go with Grow Champions.
