Caren Lloyd-Wallace | CPT, Tactical Strength & Conditioning Facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caren Lloyd-Wallace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caren, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work/Life Balance has become a very popular phrase in the last couple of decades. Early on, it was more applied to working mothers, but over time it has evolved to be more in sync with a culture of self-care. However, as an entrepreneur, I’ve found it’s a phrase that often doesn’t apply. When building your brand there are trade-offs and sacrifices with a larger goal in sight. There are early mornings, late nights, missed meals, sleep, and quality time. That is the price to achieve your vision. There simply will be a period of time where you have to recognize that what you sacrifice today will pay off in the long run, when you’ve built a legacy to leave behind and you can watch your business thrive without micro-managing it. It’s up to you to decide what it’s all worth in the long run. Being clear on your priorities helps make it clear day to day where your energy should be focused.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work as a TSAC-F means I write programs for, and coach first responders, members of law enforcement, and the military in fitness. Their jobs require a different approach to fitness. It has to balance strength, endurance, and conditioning, but in a way that directly applies to the specific physical demands of the work. My motto is “Fortitude through Fitness”, as mental strength is a vital part of such challenging jobs. Our current state of affairs is a testament to fitness needing to go beyond just the physical realm.

One of the best and worst things about what I do is that there aren’t many others that are certified to do it. I didn’t start out training this group but I found that this is an under-served field and one that I am genuinely passionate about. It is exciting to be one of the few TSAC-F in the area (the only one I know of actually), but it means that finding a mentor in this field has been difficult. There is nothing more invaluable than learning from those who have gone before you. It’s one of the most important lessons any entrepreneur can learn. Listen to those who have already learned what you need to know, and can help you avoid common pitfalls and mistakes. Not all the information you receive will be good, but you will save yourself a lot of heartache along the way.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The first person I’d want to shout out for support is my husband, Sgt. (Ofc.) Isaac Wallace Jr. As I am a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator, Isaac is a large part of the reason I am passionate about working with this population. His career in the military and as an LEO means I am fully invested in creating sound, effective programs that apply to the job he, his soldiers, and fellow officers have to do daily so they also come back home safely. As my programming evolves, Isaac is always willing to go through the training first and give me real feedback. That input is invaluable! His support at home is just as key as our schedules require us to really sync well to keep life running smoothly. In careers that present endless, evolving challenges, having a strong partner makes all the difference.

I would also like to shout out the team where I train at Eric’s Fit Lab in Tucker. As different as we each are, it’s inspiring to see the creativity and commitment each trainer pours into their particular clientele. To name just a few:

Eric McCaskill @Erics_Fit_Lab
Keon Black @TheAnimalisticTrainer
Micah Baisden @MrPowerhouseAtl
Jay Acie @sgjayacie
Jamie Hayes @JamieTheMotivator

The atmosphere we create of sharing knowledge and ideas without ego means that everyone wins. Most of all, our clients.