Meet Carolyn Williams | Gym Owner & Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolyn Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolyn, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want to leave a legacy that defeats all the odds that were set against me and the generations to come from me. I want to leave a legacy that reaches to youth everywhere to go after the desires of their hearts, and adults everywhere that it’s never too late. I desire for people to remember that they had a safe place in me and a place where they were made to feel good and confident about themselves. I want people to remember that I pushed through to show that there is a way to accomplish what you desire, no matter what the circumstances are.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I had a vision over 5 years ago that I would one day own my own gym. I had no idea when it would happen or where it would happen. I just knew that I was going to put in the work it took to make it happen. I’ve always learned to appreciate small beginnings. What seemed small now was actually a big then to me. I started training my very first client in another gym. She reached out to me one day after seeing my fitness journey and asked me to train her. I was so nervous and unsure of my skills, but said yes anyway. That started my entire journey. She had a huge transformation and the clients were flowing in. I was more that grateful for what God was doing in my life. I was so proud of myself for saying yes, even though my doubts were telling me to say no. I then worked in another gym and a year later decided to change my parent’s garage into a gym. Yes, I said my parents! I can not thank them enough for allowing me to take over their space for a whole year.

I had a meeting one day with my great friend who owns a dance studio and she introduced me to an amazing realtor, who helped me find the perfect space to start in. There were so many challenges getting my space ready, and I did what I knew to do best. I started doing some of the work to build my space on my own. I had great friends and family who chipped in and even drove me out of state to pick up equipment and set it up.
Nothing about it was easy, but everything about it has been worth it!

I learned to become even more responsible during my journey in the garage because I knew I had a plan to get my own space in a year. I saved every single dollar, once I purchased the necessary equipment. Business – wise, I studied my craft. I trained with business owners in the same field and I learned how to manage my finances. I asked a lot of questions from experienced business owners and put their advice into practice. Overall, discipline played a huge part in growing my business. I have always supported others with no motive, which definitely paid off as I grew my business. I also had to learn to network more and step outside of my comfort zone to experience growth.

I learned to overcome challenges by controlling what I was able to control and not worrying about the rest. I would say a prayer and leave it to God to send me who and what I needed to move forward.

I put my all into my brand. Literally my blood, sweat and my share of tears. I want the world to know that my brand represents a place for everyone to feel comfortable and to feel like they can accomplish any goal they set for themselves.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had to create an itinerary for my best friend for a week, one thing we will do for sure is eat! We are going to try all different types of restaurants – from Jamaican, to Soul Food, to Mexican, Mediterranean, and so much more. You name it! We would definitely have a list of excursions and events to go to, such as to the Gun Range, spoken word/open mic nights, karaoke, escape room, paint balling, arcade, and so many more places. We are getting older, so we can’t hang all day and night like we used to. So, of course there will be a couple of naps throughout the day. If it’s one thing we don’t mind doing, it’s taking a nap! We’d hang out with my family too, which is usually a good time with board games, food and laughter.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Over 10 years ago, one of the very first people to take me under their wings and mentor me in business and life, was Kevin M. Brown. I remember our very first car ride together to a business appointment and from the beginning, we were almost the same person in two different forms. He was genuine and honest in everything that he taught me. As a mentor and coach, he taught me how to lead and be firm in my leadership. He taught me how to demand the room respectfully and pushed me when I felt like I wasn’t able to push myself. I grew so much from our relationship and gained skills that I am able to use in everything that I do.

Website: bosstribefitness.com

Instagram: bosstribenation

Linkedin: Carolyn Williams

Facebook: Boss Tribe Fitness, LLC

Youtube: Boss Tribe

Image Credits
Jacqueline Williams: eroyalty_art