Becoming a Leader in the Fitness Industry | Trainers Talking Truths

Listen to this Podcast Episode

Jenny and Dan chat with Maria Gonzalez. She tells her story of coming to the U.S. starting her career in the fitness industry, all while also learning the English language.

Podcast Introduction:

Welcome to Trainers Talking Truths. This is an ISSA podcast dedicated to exploring the fitness industry and uncovering the whys and hows of personal training. To do that, we'll talk directly to the industry experts and certified trainers. We'll dig into fitness programming, business tactics, nutrition, and more. You'll even hear from current training clients who offer insight from the other side. We've got the fitness industry covered, so turn up the volume and enjoy the drive.

Jenny Scott:

Hello, world. Welcome back for another ISSA podcast, Trainers Talking Truths. It's your co-host Jenny Scott here with my not one and only, but my favorite podcast co-host, Dan the Man Duran. How are you, Dan?

Dan Duran:

Well, I'm better now that you have reaffirmed that I am your favorite.

Jenny Scott:

Every time.

Dan Duran:

And I am fired up. I am really excited. Our next guest, I had the opportunity to meet over 10 years ago.

Jenny Scott:

Nice.

Dan Duran:

Or somewhere around there. 10, little over 10 years ago, we partnered up at an IDEA World Fitness Convention in a workout, and I can't remember who it was, so maybe Maria can tell us if it was Peter Twist. It might have been Peter. No? She's saying no. Who was it, Maria?

Maria Gonzalez:

Keep thinking. It's a powerhouse.

Dan Duran:

Ah, I don't remember that, so we partnered up with-

Maria Gonzalez:

Todd, Todd Durkin.

Dan Duran:

Oh, it was Todd Durkin. Okay. We were in Todd Durkin's workout. We had a great time. We got to know each other. We ran into each other over the years and she'll be able to tell you about what she was doing at that time, but I can tell you she wasn't the CEO of a big beautiful club, so it's been really fun to watch her trajectory.

Jenny Scott:

That's awesome. Yeah, I'm super excited. I know Dan will give us a little intro and of course, we want to hear from Maria as well. In this episode, I do want to preface this, you guys, this is not about just girl power. Go, ladies, right? This is about somebody who overcame a lot of different obstacles and busted her butt to get to where she's at, so I'm super excited for you guys to hear her story. Dan, you want to give us a little intro?

Dan Duran:

Yeah, absolutely. Maria's a Colombian native who moved here to the US in 1998 and she did not know any English. Despite the language barrier, she built a successful career starting as a lifeguard and eventually becoming the CEO of ClubFitness Greensboro. She's a former national level competitive swimmer and water polo player. Her lifelong passion has been in fitness and helping others. She currently serves on the board of trustees of Cone Health. I don't think that's right. Yeah, Cone Health, was recently elected as one of the newest IHRSA board of director members.

Jenny Scott:

Nice.

Dan Duran:

That's huge, and serves on several boards of local nonprofits and the community advisory board of trust.

How did you get into fitness and to where you are now?

Dan Duran:

Wow, that's a lot. Maria, how the heck did you go from arriving in the US, hablando puro español, not speaking any English, and then becoming the CEO of a big, beautiful club?

Maria Gonzalez:

Well, it has been a journey. It has been a beautiful and fun and bumpy journey all along the way. When I said that I didn't speak English, I said yes. I say no. I said, "Hi, my name is Maria, nice to meet you and nice to meet you, too," and probably few words here and there and that was as far as I went. Language has many venues and when you don't speak a language, there is a lot of limitations, but then I think you learn how to communicate with a smile, making eye contact, seeing people, and I think as we are more and more connected through our phones, we don't have these conversations as we used to have before. I find that maybe it was a challenge, but then maybe it is a huge strength of mine because whenever, whatever I go, I want to see people's eyes.

I'm looking for those eyes, whatever they are, I'm smiling to them, and I hear all the time. They're like, "Maria are you always happy?" And I'm like, "Why not? Sure, yes, I am always happy." That doesn't mean that there's difficult times at times, but we want to make people feel seen. We want to connect with people, and I do that now and I did that when I did not speak the language. I would say that was probably the start. I know we're going to be talking a lot of things, but here in Greensboro, there are many different communities and I have to say that when I have the, I don't know, I'm just going to go for one, the Koreans for example, when I was doing membership, they would always look for me and people were like, "Do you speak Korean?" I'm like, "No, I don't speak Korean," but I try to connect with them. I try to read what they are pointing out to. At times it may be hard to understand, but it was hard for people to understand me, too, and how bad do we want it and how hard are we trying to understand others? Let's just begin with that. It has been just super fun to break through the language barriers.

Dan Duran:

And that's fascinating how you did that and I can attest to the fact that you definitely smile with your eyes. How did you go from arriving here and getting into fitness? I distinctly remember conversations with you asking for tips on swimming, so you clearly went into the swimming and water polo. In fact, you were the one that told me how nasty it gets under the water. How did you end up going that route and then eventually into fitness?

Maria Gonzalez:

I grew up as a competitive swimmer. I play water polo. I have been part of the gym world since I was 11, so that has been my life. I went to school for accounting, so it was fascinating to go into math classes, accounting classes, low classes, and people were like, "Why are you doing this? Why are you not going for sports science or physical education?" And I'm like, "No, I love numbers, but maybe one day I will get to combine my two passions." When I was in college, my swim coach asked me to help him out with a swim lesson and I was just like, "No, I'm not good with kids," and he's like, "Help me out. I'm in a bind. I need a warm body." And I'm like, "Okay, one time only. That's it." Well, one time only, I was 16, I will be 45 this year, and I have not stopped teaching and I probably will not stop teaching.

Did a lot of training in Colombia. I did a lot of courses and I was connected. When I moved to the states, I was connected from the league in Colombia to a swim school in Miami and they said, "You need to connect with them." It was a couple that he was an ex-Olympian from Mexico, married to a Colombian. I reached out to them and I said, "I was given your name. I'm very interested to learn from you." And he said, "Do you speak English?" And I said, "No." And he said, "Well, great. Study English for a year and then just come and sign up for one of our courses." And I'm like, "I'm not going to do that." I mean, I love when people tell me no. You just don't know. I want to have all the nos in front of my life because when someone tells me no, that means that I'm going to find a way to get through that.

As soon as I was told no, I went into the website of the Red Cross and I sign up for the course. I just cannot sit down. I cannot just sit still and wait for a year while I'm taking English classes, which I still did, but then I sign up for the class. I showed up weeks later and he was like, "I thought you were not signing up for the class." And I'm like, "Yeah, but it was lifeguarding. How hard can that be?" I can get in the water. I can do the pre-swim. I can rescue anyone.

The part that I didn't count on was the testing part. You have all these multiple choices and when you don't speak the language, everything looks the same. It was several attempts to pass that lifeguarding test and then at the end, he's like, "Let's just do it verbally and then you just have to answer them," and that's how I got to pass my first American Red Cross lifeguard in the States. And he said, "Just because of your personality and just because I said no and you went for it, I would love to offer you a job." So we did it.

How do you find the time to commit to community organizations?

Jenny Scott:

Nice. That's awesome. And then how did you work your way? You've been part of a lot of different organizations and board of trustees and you're with IHRSA now, lots of different things, and just forgive me for not knowing this. It's separate from your regular job, obviously, and is it just a small time commitment monthly or quarterly or something to that effect?

Maria Gonzalez:

Some are, some are not. I think depends on the organization, depends on the needs of the organization. Some may be monthly, some of them may be quarterly. I'm invested in people. For me, just everything that I have received has been just opportunities, connections, people helping me along the way. And I find that that's what I owe to my community, what I owe to the industry that has given me so much, that if I have the opportunity to serve, if I have the opportunity to help, inspire, I will do it. Of course, you start with one and then one leads you to the next one and then everything goes. And for me, it's always finding what are those cause or what are those services and organizations that are doing something that is meaningful to you?

I have never served or volunteer just to have a list on my resume. I don't do things just to fill a spot. I think for me, I'm committed and when I am serving, I'm invested and I don't do anything halfway. It is a sacrifice. And a lot of times people may think, "Well, I just don't have enough time." I'm very busy. I have my job and I have my family and I have to do all of these things, but we are in an industry where we tell people, "Well, you will find the time. If you really want to do it, you will find the time," and that's what I do. Sometimes I'm like, "Well, I wish I will have more time so I can give more time to other things," but I think right now I'm pretty full.

What was the first community organization you started with?

Jenny Scott:

Yeah, sounds like it. Do you remember the first community organization that you started with?

Maria Gonzalez:

The first program that I did before I started serving on a nonprofit was a program led by the Chamber of Commerce. And normally any of the Chamber of Commerce around the country do have leadership programs. Here in Greensboro was Leadership Greensboro and it was a nine-month program. Then after I finished the ninth month program with 44 leaders in the community that were from different industries, I was elected as ... It was four people that were selected to be the program chairs for the following year. Then I went through another Leadership Greensboro, but more from the planning and organizing side. And then after that second year, they said, "Okay, so now what? How are we going to use those tools that you just learned to impact your community? Connect with organizations that you are passionate about." And then I had people saying, "Oh, Maria, there is this nonprofit that works with immigrants. I think you will be great for it."

And we were doing an event here at the gym. We were doing, maybe it was a luau, something. We had margaritas and I was the person out in the parking lot calling people in and I was just like, "Okay, everybody just come. We have free margaritas at the gym." And then people are like, "So you're telling me not to work out and come for a margarita?" I'm like, "Well, just only one day. Just have a margarita, have fun." The interesting part was that one of those members was the executive director of that nonprofit that many people had mentioned, so I said, "Oh, so by the way, what do you do?" And he said, "Well, I'm the executive director of this nonprofit that helps immigrants and newcomers to the community." And I'm like, "Hmm, interesting. You have this white man that is so passionate about helping people like me." If he's doing that, what about me? What am I doing to also help my community? And it was just almost like everything aligning and I said, "Well, the name of your organization has come many times into my lap, so it was just meant for us to meet in a luau day at the gym," so that was the first one. And from then, like I said, it has been an involvement with many different ones locally.

Jenny Scott:

That's awesome. I love that you said that it takes one and then you meet the right people and then you move on to the next one, or you start adding other organizations that you work with. I love that we're talking about this, Maria, because so many people obviously are going into fitness and listen to our podcast and that come through ISSA. They want to go into fitness to coach themselves, coach other people, but you are living proof that there's other ways to be involved in this industry and help make change, influence things, whether it's changing processes or inclusion and things like that. There's lots of different ways to get involved. You're actually, I'll be honest, you're the first person on any of these boards that I've ever spoken with, so that's why I'm picking your brain about the process and what you guys do because you guys are the change makers. You guys are the people who impact a lot of the decisions that trickle down to those of us who actually train people on a daily basis or who run fitness clubs and programs and stuff like that. You guys are the change makers, so it's really cool to learn what you do.

Maria Gonzalez:

Absolutely. I completely agree. We all have a place in this equation. Not everybody will have a seat on the table where decisions are being made, but if that is ever of your interest, you should do everything in your capacity to get there. I am living proof that anybody, even someone who came to this country not speaking the language, can make it happen. When anybody comes to me, I'm like, "Of course you can do it. Just go for it and connect with people and ask the questions and get involved." It is not only about us, it's about everybody else, and I feel that at times, we always have to remember that that should be our main goal and all the other things fall in place when you are sincere, when you are caring, when you are loving, when you want to be the best version of yourself and you continue to grow. There's no fall effect. It just continues to grow and there is no limit. You just keep on going with everything that you can do.

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Jenny Scott:

Love it.

What can you share with us about the experiences you had being Latina, learning the language, and being a female entering a male-dominated industry?

Dan Duran:

Wow. Maria, I can't say that I can relate because I did not have a journey like yours, but I've heard ... My father was an immigrant just over 50 years ago, came to the United States from Mexico, spoke absolutely no English. I know that there were a lot of challenges that he had to overcome. Somehow he met my mom who spoke no Spanish, so we'll just leave that to your imagination, and then I was made. With those challenges coming into a country, not knowing the language, entering the fitness industry, and it's primarily male dominated, I'm not saying that, like Jenny said, to create a riff here. I've worked in it, we've all worked in it. I go to meetings to this day, was just in one last week, where we were discussing why are there so many men? Why are there few women, because REX women's leadership group was there and there's only six in that group. It's like, "Wait a minute. Why aren't we building this up?" What can you share with us about the experiences you had being Latina, learning the language, and a female entering into a pretty male-dominated industry? What kind of challenges would you be willing to share with us?

Maria Gonzalez:

Let me start that even though I grew up in Latin America, a third world country, I grew up in a family meet economic ... We didn't have a lot, but we were not poor. We always had food on the table. My parents worked very hard to give me and my two brothers the education opportunities that they did not have, but my parents always embraced my personality. I have always been, from really early on, pushing the boundaries, looking for what it was next. And I was never told, "No, you cannot do that." I grew up in a small neighborhood and we had a very small swim team and at 11 I said, "I want to go and swim in the biggest swim team in my city." And that meant that I had to travel where they were swimming. At times my dad could take me, but at times I had to take two buses to get there, but none of that was a hold, right?

And from there, school, same thing, I wanted to go to this school or I wanted it to apply to this, and they were like, "Okay." They were always supportive. I've never in my life heard, "No, you cannot do that." So I take that as the foundation of my life. And yes, I do agree. I am very supportive of women and women leadership. I'm very supportive of small communities having a representation and having the inspiration for them to find that they can also do it, but I also find that we all need inspiration. We all need someone who can believe in us no matter what gender, no matter what race, no matter our social economic, we all need that belief and support, some more than the others. I think when you have that, could be your family, could be your school, could be mentors, that is extremely important.

Challenges, of course, I have faced them all along the way. People have questioned my capacity of doing things at times, and that could be from swimming. I could probably have been the most qualified person from my personal experience, my personal training, all the trainings that I had gone through, but because maybe I spoke with an accent or I didn't speak the language clearly at that point, I know those comments were made or the eyes could tell what the person was thinking at the moment. Jokes probably were made as well, but that personally, I'm not talking about anybody else but myself, that is not except for me. I mean, that is their own hold. If someone does not want to swim with me and have their kid learn from all the experience that I have, too bad.

Dan Duran:

Amen.

Maria Gonzalez:

They can go with someone else and there are people out there for them. That it's not going to define me, that it's not going to tell me that I cannot do something, and if I cannot do it, I will find a way if that is what I really want to do. Yes, there have been roadblocks. Yes, there have been people that have doubt or they are people who doubt what I can do and that it's okay. It's their problem, it's not mine, and like I said before, I actually like that. I like testing. I like challenges. I'm not afraid of them and I am ready to take them down.

I am extremely competitive, I am driven, and I also don't find that because I am a female, I see myself as less off. I find that there is so much potential of the strengths that we have as women and the strengths that we have with men. For example, I have great mentors in this industry and outside of the industry that they are all older people, they're male, they're female, they're from other races, but when I find something that I admire, I will reach out to that person. I will put myself there and I will have the time just to ask them questions, either get on a call, get on a Zoom call now that we have Zoom, invite them for coffee or for wine or for whatever they want, and just start connecting with people and get to know people more at a personal level.

And I have to say, I have been just blessed because everybody that I've reached out to has been open to have a conversation and to help me out. And like I said, I don't have a restriction. I play water polo with guys and I'm okay with that. I am the oldest of three and I have two brothers, so I just have never have a limitation of being in a room of men that are at a really high level because I know I bring something to the table that is different of theirs or their capacity or their point of view. And I just think that it's just beautiful that we can all have our strengths and try to figure out something together, but I think with that being said, I do want to see more women in leadership positions. I don't want to be like, "Oh, but you are the first female or you are the first female Latina." No, I think we need just to build up a full workforce of well-trained people, people that they are not afraid of anything, and that we are finding that talent that is just going to help us move our industry where it needs to go.

Dan Duran:

Well said.

Jenny Scott:

Yeah. I just want to ask, is there anything that you're doing with IHRSA, your community advisory board, any of these other boards that it's geared towards that, getting more, not just females, but people who are maybe just starting out, anything like that to incorporate more people into that leadership structure that you guys are working on?

Maria Gonzalez:

With IHRSA, I'm brand new. I actually will just start my term as a voting member in July. In San Diego was when they elected the new four board members and me being one of them, so that is early on. I have to say last year I connected with a Latin American forum and I have had the opportunity to connect now with a group of people that I did not connect before and they are everywhere in Latin America. When I think about not even only Colombia, but other countries in Latin America, my hope is that we all create those connections where these stories are being shared, that people feel that they can reach out, that people can email, contact us, that I can connect people with other people, depends on what they're looking for, so these conversations need just to happen more.

We need to find what are the talents that we have within and then just find connectors, which I love to connect people with other people. This person is looking just to expand their franchises, so now I'm thinking, "Oh, this person is doing it really well. You need to connect with this person," or I am starting as a trainer or as a swimming instructor or as a lifeguard, or I am at the front desk. We have all these amazing talents that comes either in our studios or the challenges that we all face, no matter how big or how small our spaces are. We have gyms, we have studios, but in a way, we all are doing the same thing. How can we help each other?

At many times, people see each other as a competition and we are not. I mean, yes, we are competitors of course, but on the other hand, we're not doing a really good job because we are competing for the same small group of people instead of trying to go and reach out all of these people that need all of our help. All these people can be filling up our clubs, our studios, and we will still need to create more because we have so many people that they're sitting down, that they don't feel inspired, that they feel afraid that for whatever reason, they just have not connected and found that exercise is important in their lives.

What advice do you have for someone looking to pursue a career in the fitness industry?

Jenny Scott:

I love that. Yeah, I love the connections piece, too. I try and do that myself. I can't tell you how many times I've seen trainers in gyms that look miserable and I just go strike up a conversation with them, like I might be able to hook you up with a different job or something that'll make you happier, so I love that you're bringing that up. Speaking of new people to the industry or somebody maybe who's in the industry and maybe isn't in their right spot, they haven't found that place there where they feel like they belong yet, do you have a piece of advice or two that you might give to somebody if they walked into your office and was like, "Maria, what should I be doing?"

Maria Gonzalez:

In the fitness industry or anywhere, we have to do what we love. I'm going to say this and probably some people are going to be like, "Well, I don't agree with that." But we cannot be in this industry because I just want to be popular. I mean, yes, you can, of course, but that should not be the main reason. Our main reason of this industry is to change, help people to change their lives and live their best life. And if it's about you, I don't know. I think they may be other industries that can help you feel greater or better or however you want to say it, but to me, the importance of doing what you love, it's key. If you are doing what you love, no matter how big or how small your job is, it's going to be a happy place. If even during those times that it may be challenging because there is not always these beautiful days. There is rainy days, there's storms, there is everything in the midst of everything that we do, but because I'm doing what I'm doing, I'm just going to just keep working through it.

And the other one is just give your best. Don't do anything halfway. If you really want to be the best version of anything that you do, if I am at the front desk, I'm going to connect with every single person that comes through the door. I mean, now I know things have changed, but before, I will shake hands, I will give hugs. I will still do that because I am a very Latina woman that loves to feel that connection. I just think that all of that, it's the connectors that they're going to make you so good into anything that you do. If I start at the front desk and I'm already making that connection, but really my goal is to become a trainer, when I become a trainer, all of those people were my friends already and because we build that relationship because we build trust in a way, and I'm going to say, "Oh, do you want to come and try one of my sessions?" Guess what they're going to say? "Of course, I would love that."

And it's just that part to me, I think it's sometimes it's overrated, but we are in an industry that relationships are so important. It's not just, "Oh, here's my card. Here's my card." At times we may have to do it, but if you can connect ... I said to people at times I may be in the pool, just the water is my element, so I may just be in the water swimming or just watching people and trying to fix their stroke while they're swimming, but without them knowing, of course. And at times I may see the grandmother come in with their grandkids that they're visiting and I may see this, of the child trying to go under the water because they're getting water in their nose, so I will come to them. I think then this was our conversation. We're in a dinner and I'm helping him with his swimming and I'm not even in the pool. That's what I always do. I'm like, "I'm teaching swimming out of the water." I'm like, "Just make sure that your head-

Dan Duran:

It helped, definitely.

Maria Gonzalez:

Point your arm. I will go to them and I would say, "Can I ask you why are you pinching your nose?" And they're like, "Oh, I'm getting water in my nose," so I will just give them some tips and then right away will be like, "Oh, Maria, do you think you have time for some private lessons?" And it's not even that I'm looking for that, but for people who are, if it just comes from you of just helping them out at that moment, you don't know how powerful that is. That will help you to build that clientele that you are looking to build, but if it is just transaction, "Well, if you want to talk to me, my fee is this," and I am fine if that's your style, but it is not mine. And I have to say my success has been built on that, on relationships, and relationships with people and just very, I don't know, sincere I would say or I'm trying to look for the word. It's just even organic. It comes not from something very structure. It is just I'm here to help you and of course, you're going to want it to work with anything that I do because I care about you and I want you to be successful, so why wouldn't you do business with me?

Dan Duran:

Wow. In a summary, the advice for the new trainers out there, number one, don't make it about you. If it's going to be about you, try a different profession. It's about them, it's about helping, it's about caring. Number two, don't do anything halfway. Go full out. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. And number three, it's about relationships, and that ties into number one. It's about caring about people and building relationships with those people and finding ways, if appropriate, that you can serve those people. Very well said, Maria, a recap there for the listeners. There's a theme here, folks. There's a theme here. If you've been tuning into our podcast for the last couple years, you know there's several themes and this is one of them.

Is there any advice you would give your younger self just starting out?

Dan Duran:

Maria, if you were to look back to your younger self just coming into the US and getting started, is there anything that you would do different, advice you would give yourself and go, "You know what? Do this a little bit different," that might have helped you overcome any, whether they're obstacles, and I know you don't like to look at them as obstacles, but let's just say it would've helped you achieve what you wanted to achieve faster?

Maria Gonzalez:

When my husband and I, we moved from Colombia to the States, we lived in Miami and Miami, it's a very Spanish dominating city. It was like a transition. It was a bridge to acclimate to a culture and we went there just because that's where his family was at. And I was going to school to learn English and I was studying eight hours a day. And then you will go out to a restaurant and you're trying to use it, few words that you remember, and then people will reply back to you in Spanish right away. One thing that we did after living in Miami, two and a half years, and I don't know if I will change it just because I was able to learn from the swim school that I learned at, but I have to say the decision that we made when we were there for two and a half years was we need to leave Miami because we're not forced to speak English and you always fall for whatever is easier.

We said, "We need to look for a new place. We need to look for a new home and then probably a place that does not have a lot of people that were going to speak to us in Spanish." And everybody thought that we were crazy. I mean, we didn't had many savings. We didn't know other people in other places. We had connections, but so we were leaving family, we were leaving the jobs that we had already started growing with, and we were just starting all over again. And at that point, really we're going to be forced to speak English. And we came to Greensboro because one of my husband's friends from school was visiting someone, so he didn't even live in Greensboro, and we're like, "Well, this looks like home. It has mountains." We are from the mountains. First time ever since now, we're like, "This is beautiful. This is the place." We applied for an apartment and within a month we were here, but I have to say, if we would have not made that decision, maybe the outcome of where I am right now would have been very different.

My idea for myself and for anyone is that at times we're going to have to make decisions in our life that they feel scary, that they feel uncomfortable, but those will be the only ways that you're going to be able to grow and be the best version of yourself. So as scary it may sound at times, just jump, take the leap, and do it because it's worth it. Just being uncomfortable is not a bad thing. As is scary, I have to say at times with things that I have said yes to, my legs may have been shaking underneath the table where nobody saw it, but then later on it, became okay. You overcome that challenge and you're like, "Okay, what's next and what's next?" Then you just keep overcoming one after the other.

Jenny Scott:

I love that. Be fearless and take chances. Very cool.

Dan Duran:

Love it.

How can listeners connect with you to learn more?

Jenny Scott:

Love it. Maria, where can our listeners reach out to you? I want to find you on social media. Do you have social media anywhere that our listeners could reach out to you, find out what you're doing, hear from you?

Maria Gonzalez:

Yes. I do have social media. I have Facebook and Instagram and I am on LinkedIn, with the few Maria Gonzalezes on Facebook, just imagine. Good luck, but I can just share all my platforms and anyone who is interesting in having a conversation, has questions, I am open, available, we will find a time. This is just an industry that has given me, I would say, so much my whole entire life, from athletics, from sports, from discipline, from learning from coaches, from teammates. So many people who have inspired me. I love sports and now I just get to go in the other way, which is giving back and not necessarily they have to be athletes, but just the opportunity for us to impact people that maybe didn't even have the opportunity to do sports growing up. For trainers that are out there starting, you guys have an amazing opportunity to make a change in anyone's life. Whatever age you like to work with, whatever level you want to work with, we are human beings and we have the opportunity to impact the life of someone.

Dan Duran:

Well said. Take us home, Jenny.

Jenny Scott:

Yes. Well, Dan, did you have any last words for our listeners today?

Dan Duran:

I'm going to summarize something that I really enjoyed hearing from Maria and you've heard it before. If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you, so when you've got that big, hairy, scary thing in front of you, just jump. Just go for it. Just go for it and even if your legs are shaking, they'll stop shaking. Well said.

Jenny Scott:

Yeah. A lot of what you said today, Maria, resonated with me, and I love that. And I love that you've become such a leader in this industry and again, you're a change maker and you're at the table and that you're willing to reach down and help other people get there, too, so I absolutely adore that about you. We'll definitely share your social media information on our description for our episode so people can follow you, find you, maybe find some leadership groups and things that you're a part of, or at least look to you as a mentor because I think that you'd be a phenomenal mentor for anybody who's interested. Thank you so much for joining us and for your time today.

Maria Gonzalez:

Well, thank you both. Thank you both for your work, for what you're doing, and we need all of us. Alone we can do so little. Together we can achieve so much, just like Helen Keller said. Right now I'm reading a book and I think just to brief you guys, it's called Multipliers. I don't know if you're familiar with that book.

Jenny Scott:

No.

Maria Gonzalez:

Is Liz Wiseman, but it's how the best leaders can make everyone smarter and we need to have not one person. We need to have an army out there making a difference, so we need all of us, so thank you for your work and thank you for having me today.

Jenny Scott:

Absolutely. And that was a mic drop moment for sure, Dan. So good.

Dan Duran:

Yep, yep, yep. Several of them.

Jenny Scott:

Yeah. Thank you guys so much for listening. Hopefully you are inspired, go back, relisten, but take her advice. Face that thing down and get after it. We encourage you guys, go out there, do all the things we tell you every week. Go out there and do all the things, but of course, make good choices. We'll be talking to you soon.