1- Hello Jolene Cherry, can you please tell us a bit about you?
Hi, my name is Jolene Cherry, and I’m a certified Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher based out of Portland, Oregon. I’m a passionate advocate for fitness and have built a successful career focused on helping people achieve a healthy lifestyle through a variety of exercise styles and proper nutrition.
2- What are your focus areas and why?
Simply put, my focus is on fitness and wellbeing. Though, that can mean different things for different people. Therefore I strive to live a life of diversity, especially in the realm of exercise, so that I can provide options and experience to my yoga and personal training clients.
3- How would you describe your profession?
I have one of the best professions in the world: helping people achieve their goals. Serving clients on their fitness journey, whether it’s a personal training session at their favorite gym or a private yoga class at their home, is a humbling and enjoyable experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
4- Where do you think it is really making an impact?
One of the many joys of my profession is witnessing both physical and mental improvement for my clients on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. I always encourage my clients to take before and after photos to visually affirm that their hard work and dedication has paid off.
5- Do you think integrity is an essential part of the entrepreneurial spirit?
Absolutely! A few years ago, I badly sprained my ankle, which, as you can imagine, is a significant pitfall in the realm of personal training. The injury kept me from my exercise routines, as well as my client sessions. It wouldn’t be right to hinder my clients’ fitness, so I actively helped them find a new trainer that aligned with their needs and goals. Once I fully recovered, most of my clients returned, but a few stayed on their new fitness trajectory. As a businesswoman, it hurt to lose the income, but at the end of the day, I was happy that I faced the unexpected hardship with integrity and courage. In fact, I’m still good friends with many of my clients who now train elsewhere.
6- What advice would you give to young people just starting out and hoping to make it in the entrepreneurial world?
Stay curious, whether it’s about people or companies, and just as important, practice patience. Curiosity will lead to passion and in-turn action, but success rarely occurs overnight. You owe it to yourself to be patient as the seeds of your hard work grow.
7- Do you find as an expert, that you enjoy the challenge of the industry being complex with the game rules that are always changing?
New trends pop up in the fitness world all the time, but the core concepts usually remain pretty consistent. That being said, I’m genuinely excited about the intersection of tech and fitness. We’ve already seen an emergence of exercise instructional videos on YouTube. Now, with the advancements in live streaming, I can host a personal training session with my client at any time, anywhere in the world – data strength permitting, of course.
8- If you could turn the time, what would you love to change in regards to your career?
I would breathe and try to relax more! Not knowing the twists and turns of the journey is half the fun and, in hindsight, helps you grow stronger.
9- What are you most excited about at the moment?
The sophistication of smartwatches and wristbands as it pertains to tracking physical fitness. The easier we make it for ourselves to create and monitor healthy habits, the easier it will be to maintain our overall wellbeing.
10- The last word or final thoughts?
An entrepreneur finds a need and provides a service to fill that need. A great entrepreneur finds a way to be of assistance with passion and persistence.
About Jolene Cherry: Jolene Cherry is the go-to yoga instructor and personal trainer in Portland, Oregon, for those looking to reach physical fitness and harmony in life. Combining her passion for travel, physical fitness, and meditation, she studied with renowned yoga instructors in Thailand as well as Hawaii. Jolene also offers guidance for healthy nutrition to strike a perfect balance in your life.
