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Kari Pearce of PowerAbs On The 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry

An Interview With Luke Kervin

In this interview series called “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry” we are talking to health and wellness professionals who can share insights and stories from their experiences.

In this particular interview, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Kari Pearce.

Professional athlete and award-winning fitness trainer, Kari Pearce is the founder of the revolutionary fitness brands, PowerAbs! and PHIIT- the fitness phenomenon that has swept the fitness industry with its 10-minute results-driven programs. As a competitive gymnast of 18 years and a top ranked CrossFit Games Athlete, Kari has amassed a cult following online with her simple yet effective 10-minute workout courses that empower and train women from around the world.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you grew up?

Thanks so much for having me! I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have an older sister and a younger brother. My parents put me in gymnastics with my sister at the age of 3 as well as a variety of other sports. However, I just kept going back to gymnastics. I did the amazing sport for 18 years and finished my career at the University of Michigan. I was a 4 time Big Ten Champion with my team. In 2011, I graduated with a degree in Movement Science from the school of Kinesiology.

Through all of this, I am so fortunate to have such supportive parents that gave up a lot for me to be able to do the sport that I loved. It is funny that you do not realize it at the time but as I got older, I look back and just feel so lucky because I know a lot of people do not have that. I dedicate a lot of my success to them.

Was there a particular person or event that inspired you to live a wellness-focused lifestyle? Can you tell us about your main motivation to go all in?

My parents met at a gym so I always joke with people that I was born into it. They led a very active lifestyle even with having 3 children so a lot of it has to do with them. Since I did gymnastics for a long time, when that ended I knew I still wanted to be active but was not sure exactly what I wanted to do. I did a strength and conditioning internship at the University of Michigan and I was personal training at the same time. It was then that I realized my passion for health and fitness. I loved working out and how it made me feel. During this time, I also came to the realization that not everyone shared that same passion. This is when I decided to go all in for a wellness-focused lifestyle and help others do the same!

Most people with a wellbeing centered lifestyle have a “go-to” activity, exercise, beverage, or food that is part of their routine. What is yours and can you tell us how it helps you?

My “go-to” food is oatmeal. So many people joke around with me about my love for oatmeal because sometimes I eat it 4 times a day. I usually add cinnamon and berries to it and sometimes nut butter as well if I need some extra fats. No matter how many times I eat it, I never get sick of it! I also know it is good for me and it makes me feel good.

My “go-to” activity is anything bodyweight but especially burpees. I know this comes from a mix of my gymnastics and CrossFit background. Do not get me wrong, I like a lot of other exercises as well including squats, lunges, push-ups and other things because I know their benefits but I just love burpees. It is one of those movements that I do if I am tired and do not feel like working out. After I get 15–20 burpees in, the blood starts flowing, and I get loosened up. This gets me primed to workout. I have been doing a 100 burpee a day challenge since December 1st so that is also extra motivation for me to get after them. Plus you can do them anywhere as long as you have your body and a floor so there is really no excuse!

To live a wellness-focused life is one thing, but how did it become your career? How did it all start?

I grew up in a fitness family so have been very active my entire life. After finishing college I tried out some different things, I realized I loved health and fitness. One of my friends told me that I should start personal training at Bally’s Total Fitness, which is where I started my professional career in fitness. While I was personal training, I did a weightlifting competition, physique competition, and powerlifting competition. I learned so much and just really enjoyed it. After all of this, I knew whatever I was going to do in the future would involve a wellness-focused lifestyle.

From there, I got into CrossFit and competed for 7 years. It was incredible to push my body to its mental and physical limits. I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed it. However, I still continued to coach and personal train during this time. I loved focusing on myself but also loved continuing to share my knowledge and passion with others. In December 2018, my current team and I started PowerAbs. Before I knew that I wanted to impact others and was doing it one person at a time, but still felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until we started PowerAbs that I realized I could impact hundreds of thousands of lives. Now all of my work includes helping others become their healthiest, fittest self. I feel so lucky to be able to do what I truly love each and every day!

Can you share a story about the biggest challenges you faced when you were first starting? How did you resolve that? What are the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

It was definitely hard when I first began personal training to build up my clientele but as I worked more, it became easier. I remember the personal training manager telling me that I would have to build up my business myself. That meant walking the floor and talking to people to see if they wanted to train with me. This definitely brought me outside my comfort zone. I thought they would give me clients and I would just have to train them. Luckily, with my friend helping me and realizing I had to get outside of my comfort zone, I was able to get some clients.

I would say the main takeaway from that is sometimes we have to get outside of our comfort zone. Once you do, eventually it will feel more comfortable and learning and growing will come from those opportunities.

With starting PowerAbs, I knew that I really loved the program and it would get people results in just 10 minutes a day, however, I heard many people were skeptical. Also my team and I had to find a way to get the PowerAbs program out in the world and get people to try it. I feel fortunate that I have an amazing team and we were able to work together to get others to see and try PowerAbs. From this, I learned that it is important to work with a team that specializes in their own field. Trust them and the magic happens when you all work together towards a common goal! Also if you come out with something different, know that there are going to be others that tell you it can’t be done. Just trust yourself and do not worry about what others have to say!

Can you share with us how the work you are doing is helping to make a bigger impact in the world? Can you share a story that illustrates that?

We have an incredible Facebook Group, PowerAbs! Which has over 79 thousand people. The members are so motivational and inspirational. Also it is really cool to see how everyone supports each other on their journey. We have so many incredible before and after pictures of members that have done the 10 minute programs and seen great results.. Plus we have received so many emails and messages about people who haven’t felt comfortable in a bikini before and now they go to the beach and feel confident enough in their own skin to wear whatever bathing suit they want! Hearing things like this and knowing you were a part of the journey is just so amazing. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing you positively impacted someone else’s life!

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

We just released PHIIT Mom!! I am really excited about this because people have been loving PHIIT but I think it’s super important for moms to have their own program. They are superheroes and deserve their own workout program and community. There are going to be 5 live workouts a week with Rachel Bowles, who is a super fit mother of twins and helped me create the program and is the lead instructor, along with our team of other amazing instructors. Plus we are going to include nutrition advice because we all know how important that is when having a healthy family. I know moms have limited time so I want to help however I can to make sure they are taking time for themselves and being the best, healthiest version of themself. This will create a healthier living environment for the whole family. My mom was a role model for me and I think it is important for moms everywhere to be positive role models for their children!

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

The first trait that comes to mind is determination. When I set my mind to something, I am going to do everything in my power to make it become reality. One example of this is competing in CrossFit. I competed at the CrossFit Games 6 times and it wasn’t until my final time in 2020 that I was able to stand on the podium. Once I did that, I was happy with my career. I knew that I was not going to stop until that became reality. I was determined to stand on the podium and I did.

The second trait that comes to mind is caring. I believe one reason that PowerAbs and PHIIT have been so successful is that I truly care about the members of our community. When someone posts a before and after picture and they are proud of their results, I feel like I am on the journey with them and am so happy for them. Plus the reason we have come out with many of our programs is due to requests from our members. It is amazing hearing what people want and being able to deliver it. The members of our Facebook group wanted a full body workout in 10 minutes which is how PHIIT started. From there we have been able to release PHIIT Strength, Super PHIIT, Low Impact PHIIT, and our newest program, PHIIT Mom.

The third trait that I believe that is instrumental to my success is discipline. Being successful doesn’t happen overnight. There is a lot that goes into it. When I was competing in CrossFit, to be the 4 time Fittest Woman in America, a lot of sacrifices were made. Don’t get me wrong, I would do everything the same if given the chance. However, with that being said, I missed plenty of weddings, family get-togethers, vacations, and other things because I was busy training. I knew what I wanted and what I had to do there so stayed disciplined to reach my goals.

OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition of terms so that all of us are on the same page. Wellness is an incredibly broad topic. How would you define the term “Wellness”? Can you explain what you mean?

As you mentioned, wellness is a broad topic and a lot of things are included in it. I would define “Wellness” as physical, mental, and social health which allows us to reach our full potential as humans. Physical wellness means getting in your workouts and movement multiple times a week. Our bodies are meant to move and taking this time for ourselves will keep up physically well! In addition to that, be sure to make healthy eating choices to feel and be your best. Both of these together will allow you to make the most of your day and have energy so you can be the best you! Also doing things you enjoy and not letting others tell you how and what you should do with your life. I think that is a big part of mental health. It is easy to get overly stressed worrying about what others have to think or say instead of worrying about what truly makes you happy. This also means taking time for yourself when you need it. I know I always feel better after I take a break from my phone and computer and enjoy some time to myself. Social health means spending time with people you love and enjoy being around. Life can get super busy but it is important to plan time to spend with people that you care about. I know I always feel refreshed after catching up with others whether it has been a day, a week, a month, or a year since I have seen them. We are all social beings, yes each of us to a different extent, but it is still important to interact with others for our overall wellness.

With all of that being said, true wellness includes balance. You should workout multiple times a week and choose healthy, non processed foods the majority of the time. However, you should find the balance of treating yourself to a meal out and not feeling overly guilty if you miss one workout. As you move more towards a lifestyle of health and wellness, think about things that make you happy and that you can sustain for the rest of your life. I cannot state how important that is. Yes you should choose healthy options, but make sure they are ones you enjoy as well!

As an expert, this might be intuitive to you, but it will be instructive to expressly articulate this. Can you please share a few reasons with our readers about why focusing on our wellness should be a priority in our lives?

Focusing on your wellness will improve the quality of your life. When you workout, eat right, and get enough quality sleep, you will notice just how much more energy you have during the day. When I do not eat well, skip a training day, or do not get enough quality sleep, I am not nearly as productive and feel like there are half the hours as compared to a normal day. In addition to this, my body just feels better and I can do things I enjoy. When I get in my workouts, if a friend asks me to go hiking, play tennis for fun, or go to the pool, I know I am fit enough to have a good time and not embarrass myself which I know has happened to others. I have to say it again that focusing on wellness will improve the quality of your life in all aspects. This I know!

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasingly growing understanding of the necessity for companies to be mindful of the wellness of their employees. For the sake of inspiring others, can you share steps or initiatives that companies have taken to help improve or optimize their employees’ mental and physical wellness?

I don’t feel comfortable answering this for other companies because I’m not familiar with them.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry”? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.

I think it is important to mention that the following 5 Things are in no particular order. They are all equally important.

The first thing I would say is to be passionate about health and fitness. I do believe that is a major reason I have been so successful. I live it! Plus if you are impacting others, you must set a good example yourself.

Secondly, find your niche. We all want to help everyone but people want different things. Figure out what it is that really sets your heart on fire and go for that. My business started with PowerAbs because I think core strength is so important for everyone. We eventually created PHIIT, which is a full body program and then PHIIT Strength because it is so important for people, especially women to strength train.

Third, I would say realize that you are going to have failures along the way. I wish I could say that everything will always work out perfectly, but that is not the truth. If you can learn to adapt then you will be successful. We have made mistakes along the way, but learn from them and change things for the future.

The fourth thing that you need to create a highly successful career in the Health and Wellness Industry would be to take care of your clients and members. It is easy to be so focused on gaining new customers but one reason we have been so successful is that we listen to our members and give them what they want. Yes, I know it is important to focus on growing your business as well but the best way to help it grow is maintain the customers you currently have.

The fifth and final thing I would say is be willing to work. I love what I do and put a lot of time into it. This definitely goes with being passionate about health and fitness because it makes it not feel like work. There are days that I am working at 8pm on a Friday night but I love it and there is honestly nothing else I would rather be doing. Call me crazy, and yes I know I am a bit, but that is part of the recipe of success if you ask me!

I hope these 5 things help you if you are in the Health and Wellness Industry. It is so important that everyone invests in their health so I want to help others out there that are as passionate as me!

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would promote the most wellness to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

First of all, thank you! Secondly, I have created a variety of 10 minute programs. We have over 200,000 people doing the programs around the world. One reason so many people give the programs a try is because they are only 10 minutes. There is really no excuse not to get them in! From this, I guess I want a movement where everyone would workout! There have been many studies that show the benefits of working out for 10 minutes. I think everyone has in their head that if they can’t do a long workout then it isn’t worth doing anything. This is not true! People have seen incredible results from just doing 10 minutes a day. Do not get me wrong, they are an intense 10 minutes but still only 10 minutes. For those members that want more, they do 2–3 different programs at 2–3 different times in the day since that is when they can fit it in since they are only 10 minutes! So I think it would be great to make everyone take time for themself no matter how busy they are. Even just 10 minutes a day can have huge benefits on your life!

We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

Wow, that is a really tough one. The first person that comes to mind is the Rock. This is not just for the incredibly big breakfast that I have seen him consume before his leg day workout, but rather because he seems like he has twice as much time in his day than the rest of us! He is someone that I have looked up to for a long time. Plus he is one of the most influential people out there. Oh and I love fitness and he obviously makes that a priority even though he has a lot of other things going on. A private breakfast or lunch would be amazing but I would also love to get in a workout with him because I hope he could keep up ;) He seems all business during his workouts and that is the same way that I am. I really hope you tag him and he sees this!!

How can our readers further follow your work online?

They can check out the 22 programs I offer at powerabs.shop. They can also learn more about me and see some incredible before and afters on my Instagram page- @karipearcecrossfit or my Facebook Page Kari Pearce CrossFit Games Athlete. We also have an amazing Facebook group called PowerAbs! It is full of inspirational and motivational people who have done a variety of the Power Programs.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!

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