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

Hi Chelsea, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success in my business is trust. My clients can trust that I will always do what is best for them. I have created a safe space for every client to move and think freely. My coaching has accountability and challenges without judgment. I create personal programming that impacts that client based on their goals, abilities, and comfortability. My clients know without a doubt that they can trust me as their coach. Because of this, I have long term clients that experience huge successes and clients that refer new clients. These new clients are always family members or close friends. This speaks volumes to the trust that is built.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am…a very tall ( a little over six feet) adventure loving, dog mom, who has been impacting people to live healthier and more fulfilled lives through building community, providing fitness guidance, and creating personalized wholistic health programs. I love all things health and fitness, goal oriented, barbells with weights, and helping my clients achieve more than they thought possible.

By 2019, I had been coaching for years in a variety of different settings. I had done personal training, taught group fitness, coached weightlifting, and worked with special populations. I made the leap to coach on my own in 2019. I started with virtual group fitness classes and virtual personal training. After moving to Savannah, we finally had the space for a fully outfitted gym. The space was perfect to start personal and small group training. I created my LLC and made UpLifting with Chelsea an official business. My name says it all. My business is uplifting my clients and community through coaching. I got my first clients through offering sessions to my neighbors, friends, and friends of friends, and through word of mouth it has successfully grown.

Growing up, my mom would talk about inner drive for success. I would constantly ask her if I had “the drive”. She would just smile. Inner drive is hard to make into a habit. It can come and go depending on life’s circumstances. I have learned the power in creating a “why”. I constantly evaluate my “whys”. Why am I coaching? Why am I training? Why am I focused on health? I have created my powerful “whys” for each area of my life. I coach because I want to facilitate life change. I train for longevity and to do all of the active things that my husband and I love to do together. I focus on health for my 80 year old self who is still hiking mountains and playing with grandkids. These impact my daily decisions, help reinforce my health habits, and create accountability. Accountability leads to a higher success rate in everything. Inner accountability is important, but so is outward accountability. I have impactful family members and friends that create a safe space to hold me accountable in different areas of my life. I have accountability that I can trust to be a soundboard, offer encouragement, or provide the feedback that I need.

The most important lesson that I have learned through my business is that I don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, or the most outgoing, or the one with the most connections. I need to be myself. In the beginning I was not using my voice. I was trying to be what I thought I was supposed to be. When I found my voice, I realized that I have talents, experiences, and a personality that can impact people in a unique way. Trying to be someone I am not was exhausting and disheartening. Being myself is uplifting and has brought me success in a way I could not have planned.

Most would say my business is science based. While this is true, this isn’t the whole truth. Every person is different and there is no cookie cutter program that can be applied to fit every person. This is where creativity comes into play. There have been times where I have a client who has had three surgeries and lacks mobility to perform most daily activities. How do I get them to squat successfully? I have had clients that classify as special population training because they have a chronic illness that impacts their nervous system. How do I challenge their balance safely? No two people are the same and everyone has different goals or limitations. I did not enter into this career with creativity in mind, but I have loved creating new exercise modifications and alternatives.

I have several sources of inspiration. Looking at past decisions and experiences, I focus on what can be learned and implemented in the present and future. Hindsight is always 20/20, so I use that to inspire my current vision. Doing new things usually pushes me into my “stretch zone” where growth can bring new goals, desires, focus, experiences, and a sense of accomplishment. Each of these outcomes can bring their own inspirations and new directions. I believe that life needs challenges that push me to new levels and break the usual day to day. The excitement and growth that I experience by facing or overcoming challenges can create unique inspiration. I am also inspired by the success of people around me. I think that there is huge value to learning from others.

Risk is terrifying for the type A, perfection seeking, control person that I am. However, stepping outside of my comfort zone and into the “stretch zone” is where I see the most growth both personally and professionally. The “stretch zone” is just outside of your comfort zone where fears and challenges live. Taking a risk doesn’t have to be without some calculation. Knowing some of the outcomes of a risky decision is powerful, but what you do with that knowledge is impactful. I think with calculated risk comes reward, but not always in the way it was planned or imagined. The risks that I have taken in my life and career have led me to twists and turns that I never saw coming. However, they also led me to more growth and development than I have ever imagined. I never take risks without some thought to the variety of outcomes. After evaluating the risk, if I feel the biggest consequence is fear of failure, I have learned to step out into the “stretch zone” and see what happens.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Savannah is full of amazing adventures! The most exciting outdoor experiences is kayaking. Kayaking coastal Tybee, adventuring the marshes of Skidaway, and wondering around the mazes of Ebenezer Creek are unforgettable. You can see such awide variety of wildlife such as dolphins, alligators, birds, turtles, sharks, and manatees. I have two day adventures that I suggest to all of my friends and family that visit. Day 1, morning coffee at cutters point in sandfly, then a paddle through skidaway island, followed by a tour through the historic wormsloe, then dinner at The Wyld. Day 2, morning coffee at The Perk with Auspicious Bakery, a bike ride through the parks down town, lunch at Foxy Loxy, a historic trolley tour, then finishing up with dinner at Bull Street Tacos. For a full day of adventure, I highly suggest renting a charter boat and going to shark tooth island to hunt for sharks teeth. Another fun full day adventure is visiting Tybee island and Fort Pulaski. Savannah is such a cool place!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I can credit so much of my success to my supportive family. I have had the unique experience of growing up seeing the growth and development of a family run small business. My mom is the owner of a successful screen printing and embroidery business. She has been a huge supporter in all of my career adventures. My husband, Reace, has never questioned my goals and dreams. He is the person that gives me the support and encouragement that I need to step out of my comfort zone. Both sides of my family (my side and my husband’s side) have offerened endless support through sharing social media links and being a soundboard to new ideas. Lastly, I need to shoutout to all of my amazing clients! Each of them work hard, stay committed, and frequently offer referrels to help grow my business.

Website: https://www.chelseahudgeons.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseahudgeons/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chelseahudgeons

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO1rYTKhLyRwOtyQZByAtEA

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