Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sara Bell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sara, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
My ability to take risk developed at a young age, during my time as a competitive gymnast. Although I don’t typically self-identify as a risk taker, it’s something that I commonly hear from others when I tell my story, especially related to my decision to leave a lucrative and successful 20 year corporate career as a global marketing director to pursue full-time entrepreneurship.
As I thought about this question and reflected on how my ability to take risks developed, I immediately pictured myself on a 4 inch wide balance beam mentally preparing to do my dismount combination; a roundoff, back handspring, into a full twisting backflip. I remember how fearless I was, and how I instilled so much trust in the belief that my coaches carried for me. If they believed I could do it, then I could do it. I had done everything I could to prepare. I trained and conditioned my body to give me the strength to successfully execute the skills, I prepared the environment to protect me and minimize injury if I made a mistake or error, and my coach was there to support me both mentally and physically, if needed.
I realize that this is the same approach that I have used to get through challenging times, work through difficult decisions, and take risks throughout my life thus far. I am always up for a challenge. I’m willing to put the hard work in and pivot, if needed. I use the others that have gone before me as my inspiration to get started, and the knowing that I am inspiring others after me, to keep me going. At times in my life when I couldn’t muster up the belief in myself to take a risk, I would do it for the other people watching me and believing in me – my husband, my team, my followers, emerging leaders, younger women, and my children. I want to inspire someone else to follow their dreams, to show them what’s possible if they just believe and take action. I want to demonstrate that it may not go exactly as you have planned or happen within the timeframe that you had hoped, but that if you set your mind to something, prepare yourself, minimize the impact if things don’t go exactly as planned, and take consistent action, the sky’s the limit!
There are 6 key risks that stick out to me in my career journey that I’d like to share, as I believe they have each played a critical role in getting me to where I am today. Each of these risks has provided a different set of skills and level of confidence that was needed for the subsequent one. Each one served as a stepping stone to the next.
Risk #1: A Summer Start Up
One year into my first job as a manufacturing associate at a large biotechnology company, I volunteered to help start up a plant on the other side of the country. Despite limited travel experience and never being outside New England for more than a week, I took the plunge. Arriving at the plant in Colorado, I found no clear plan for my role, so I took the initiative to add value wherever I could. This experience revealed my natural leadership abilities and boosted my confidence. I returned from that experience with a desire to make a bigger impact at work, and that was the beginning of an upward career trajectory within that organization.
Risk #2: Changing Careers and Moving States
After 11 successful years at my first company, I faced another significant risk: leaving a stable company where I had a strong reputation and growth potential for a new career opportunity in marketing, requiring my family to move to a different state. This decision involved uprooting my husband and young children, and adjusting to a new home, daycare, and career.
Like I did back in my gymnastics days, I looked at what I was in control of and did everything I could to minimize the impact if something were to go wrong, and then we did it! It was scary starting all over in a new home, new town, and new company. I had to establish new relationships and rebuild my reputation, in a field where I didn’t have any previous experience. Leveraging my technical background, leadership skills and people-oriented nature, I thrived in my new role and company, further cementing my ability to adapt and succeed.
Risk #3: Starting a Network Marketing Side-Hustle
In 2018 when my youngest son turned 4 years old, I committed to a healthier lifestyle and started regularly exercising and using nutritional products. I not only lost some weight, but my energy, confidence, and mood skyrocketed. I enjoyed the products so much that I decided to take a chance on network marketing and started sharing the products. It’s not something that I had ever intended or planned on, but the products had completely transformed my life and I wanted to help others do the same. What I didn’t realize was how scary it would be to put myself out there, and the judgment that I would get in return. Despite initial fears and judgment from others, I learned how to authentically promote the products, driven by a genuine desire to help people feel better and have more energy, especially busy and stressed professionals like me. This venture not only provided personal development and additional income for my family, but also connected me with key individuals who would later inspire bigger risks.
Risk #4: Leading a 9-Figure Business
I was presented with an opportunity to lead the multi 9-figure business line that I had been supporting for the past 4 years. It was a big job and a significant leap from my current role that would require me to lead former peers who had higher degrees and many more years of marketing experience than I did. I was overcome with imposter syndrome and self-doubt, but my gut was telling me to go for it. I had a vision for the business and I owed it to myself to give it my best shot. That job stretched me more than anything else in my life ever had. I grew immensely as a leader, but sacrificed a lot in the process and after a few years, the job’s demands eventually led to burnout.
Balancing this demanding job, my network marketing business, and personal wellbeing became impossible. As I prioritized work over self-care, my physical and mental health suffered. The pandemic amplified my struggles, transforming me from an optimistic and energetic leader to someone consumed by work stress, frustration, and cynicism. My identity became intertwined with my job, affecting my ability to enjoy life outside of work.
Fortunately, a supportive manager and coach helped me navigate burnout. This experience inspired me to find a path where I could fulfill my passion for helping others while maintaining balance in my life. Now, I aim to assist others in achieving their career ambitions without sacrificing their well-being.
Risk #5: Opening a HOTWORX Franchise
Through a network marketing connection, I discovered HOTWORX, a 24-hour infrared fitness studio franchise. I did some research and was very intrigued by the concept, and one night while sitting on the couch I secretly completed a franchisee application online. I didn’t even tell my husband until they called me!
For those of you that don’t know what HOTWORX is, it’s a 24 Hour Infrared Fitness Studio where you exercise inside of an infrared sauna. Members have 24/7, unlimited access to over 10 different infrared sauna workouts, as well as an unheated strength training area. You get the amazing mind and body benefits of infrared sauna therapy, plus exercise, for more workout in less time.
I loved the price point, value, and the fact that it was all virtually instructed. One workout and I was hooked! Thankfully, my husband is one of my biggest supporters and saw the dreams and vision exploding in my eyes. He agreed to invest our life-savings and embark on the journey of entrepreneurship with me…little did we know that life would throw us a curveball when just one month after signing our franchise agreement the world essentially shut down due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Everyone thought we were crazy for pursuing a fitness business when gyms were closing down left and right.
Starting a fitness business in the midst of a pandemic was one of the hardest and most difficult things I’ve ever done, but I was fueled with a purpose and passion to change people’s lives. There is a line in Jamie Kern Lima’s book, “Worthy”, that I love – “You’re not crazy, you’re just first”. Well, we did it! On December 22, 2021, just days before Christmas, we opened the first HOTWORX studio in Massachusetts (HOTWORX Northborough), welcoming 200 of our founding members.
For two years I worked full-time in my corporate job alongside growing HOTWORX Northborough to over 650 members, thanks in huge part to our amazing general manager and team of employees. Despite consuming a significant amount of time, HOTWORX provided a crucial outlet during my corporate burnout recovery. It gave me something outside of work to focus on, to put my energy into, and to fuel my purpose and passion to better people’s lives.
Risk #6: Founding Strive to Thrive Coaching
The long term plan was always for me to leave my corporate job once HOTWORX was profitable enough to support us financially, but I kept coming up with excuses, mainly because I was scared. I had spent over 20 years of my life building a successful career, which was a huge part of my identity and which I derived a lot of value, validation, and recognition from. How could I just walk away from it all?
I started thinking of what I could do to leverage my strengths as a leader, team builder, and visionary, and fulfill my passion to help people live to their full-potential, and then I recalled all the signs that I had ignored over the years. My network marketing customers who commended me on my listening skills and told me I should consider being a coach, or the numerous people that would confide in me and seek my advice, or the thoughts I had when being coached through my own burnout experience – I would love to do this as a living. So, just like the evening that I sat on my couch and filled out the HOTWORX franchisee application, I did some research for accredited coaching programs and filled out an application.
Despite adding yet another thing to my to-do list, I thoroughly enjoyed the 6 month certification program and loved being back in student mode. I used the resources and fundamentals of the coaching program I was trained in, my 20 years of leadership and mentoring experience, and combined it with the gaps that I had experienced throughout my corporate career to build a signature program designed to help high performers achieve their career ambitions, maximize their leadership impact, optimize their wellbeing, and lead more balanced and fulfilling lives. I was so fueled by the need for this program in today’s post-pandemic world that I started Strive to Thrive Coaching, an organization that provides coaching and consulting services to bridge the gap between high performance and wellbeing in the workplace.
On March 29th, 2024 I resigned from my 20 year career as a global leader in the life sciences industry to pursue full-time entrepreneurship, leading HOTWORX Northborough and building Strive to Thrive Coaching.
Each of these key risks throughout my life thus far has built upon the last, equipping me with the skills and confidence needed for the next challenge. My journey demonstrates the power of embracing risk, trusting in your abilities, and passionately pursuing your purpose to lead a fulfilling life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a high achiever and global leader with 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry. After a successful corporate career and starting a HOTWORX 24 Hour Infrared Fitness Studio, I chose to follow my passion and support high performers in achieving their career aspirations, without sacrificing their wellbeing and quality of life.
Having personally navigated career advancement and leadership growth at two very large global corporations (Amgen and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), I understand the challenges faced by high achievers – perfectionism, people pleasing, stress, overwhelm, emotional attachment to work, and burnout. That’s why I founded Strive to Thrive Coaching, an organization with services crafted to bridge the gap between high performance and wellbeing.
I offer private 1:1 coaching, as well as organizational leadership development coaching and team building programs to empower individuals and teams to unlock their full potential, thrive in their careers, and achieve more personal fulfillment and balance. Clients will experience accelerated career development, optimized wellbeing, increased resilience, as well as more energy, joy, and presence in their daily life.
Through my own personal experience with burnout and health transformation, I gained invaluable insights into the close connection between our wellbeing and our confidence, relationships, and performance. As a result, I’m deeply committed to helping individuals overcome the mental blocks and fears that hold them back, reconnect with their purpose and passion, rediscover their identity beyond work, and redefine success, so that they can thrive both professionally and personally.
I offer a free Thrive Discovery coaching call as well as a free trial session at HOTWORX Northborough, so that you can try out both of these services at no cost.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
After self-reflecting on this question, I believe that the three most impactful qualities in my journey were:
1. My willingness and openness to try new things and learn
2. My determination and persistence to see things through
3. My authenticity and ability to listen and build quick relationships
I always found the question, “Where do you want to be in five years?” challenging. While having a vision is important, early in my career I focused on giving my best to each role and seeing where it led me next. This openness to new experiences was key to my career success and growth. I enjoyed learning a little about a lot and applying those insights to understand the bigger picture. This approach gave me a well-rounded career foundation and allowed me to transfer skills across various roles, contributing significantly to my success.
A few years ago, I did a personal branding exercise where I asked various people in my life for three words to describe me. “Determined” was a common theme. When I commit to doing something, I’m determined to see it through, no matter the challenges or circumstances. This determination has been evident throughout my life, from making major career transitions to starting a fitness business during a global pandemic. I’ve never let obstacles stand in the way of my dream to help people live better lives. My determination and ability to overcome obstacles has empowered me with resilience and confidence to take on new risks and challenges.
My passion for coaching and mentoring began early on, where I found fulfillment in inspiring others to reach their full potential. Whether in teams or one-on-one, I thrive on cheering people on and helping them surpass their own expectations. I’ve always loved getting to know new people, learning about them, and helping them in whatever way I can, and found that my authenticity, curiosity, and ability to listen helped me build quick and genuine relationships. As a global corporate leader, fitness studio owner, or professional coach, listening and building relationships is a critical success factor. I’ve always prided myself as being a real and authentic leader and role model, which has helped me build trust and psychological safety very quickly amongst the teams that I lead and clients that I interact with.
My advice to people early in their journey is to be true to who you are and be open to new experiences and opportunities. Don’t select a profession based on what your parents or society expect, find something that lights you up inside! If you don’t know what that is yet, that’s ok. Start by trying as many different things as you can, so that you can learn what you like, what you’re naturally good at, and what brings you energy, as well as what you don’t like, what you need to work harder at, and what drains your energy. This allows you to test out different roles and professions, to see what may be the best fit with your personality, skill sets, and career aspirations.
Learn from those that have gone before you. Once you find a role or profession that you enjoy, seek out people with different levels of experience in that profession that can serve as mentors. Many people enjoy and are willing to share their experiences and help others, and this is a great way for you to accelerate your development and build your network. You can also use self-help books, podcasts, or a coach to further accelerate your development, improve your mindset, and build the skills necessary for success.
Remember that life is filled with ups and downs and that you can learn just as much, if not more, from the mistakes and failures, as you can from the successes. Don’t let the inevitable obstacles stand in your way, overcome them and use them to empower you to take on new opportunities and risks. Growth occurs when you step outside of your comfort levels and face new challenges, experiences, and opportunities.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is myself 7 years ago. A high achieving, ambitious professional with big dreams to impact the world, but lacking the self-worth, confidence, mindset, and strategies to accomplish their career goals without sacrificing their wellbeing and quality of life in the process.
I thought that I was doing everything right, because it was working. I was advancing quickly in my career, but one day I looked around and realized I had sacrificed myself for that success. I had deprioritized myself so much that I didn’t even know who I was or what I enjoyed anymore.
High performance behaviors and tendencies such as strong self-motivation and discipline, fast response time (even on nights, weekends and vacations), people pleasing, perfectionism, working long hours, and even having an emotional attachment to work, may help people achieve early success but long-term they aren’t sustainable and lead to exhaustion, resentment, and even burnout.
In both my fitness business and my high performance coaching business, I help provide clients with the tools, strategies, support, and accountability to reprioritize themselves so that they can thrive in their career and their life. This work includes gaining self-awareness, clearing the mental blocks and fears that are holding them back, rediscovering their identity, and redefining success.
Maximize your impact, optimize your physical and mental wellbeing, and break free from stress, overwhelm, and burnout, so that you can live a more joyful, fulfilling, and balanced life once and for all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.strivetothrivecoaching.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strive.to_thrive/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550979700349
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-bell-1427875/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWn1c0w83Jd2zRsuVxvpnPg
- Other: Here is the IG handle for my fitness studio, as well: https://www.instagram.com/HOTWORXNorthborough/
Image Credits
Tiffany Noori Photography Kori Leigh Photography
