Meet Nicole Zapoli

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Zapoli. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicole, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

Wow, so many great questions! I would have to say that I found my purpose as well as my resilience, confidence, self esteem, generosity, optimism, overcoming imposter syndrome, and being effective and successful as the only one in the room all through my steadfast work ethic.

My work ethic comes from so many sources including both my mom and dad. Watching both my parents start and run their own business together from a very early age made such an impact on me growing up.

Starting gymnastics at age four, and on team and competing by age six, brought about a deep understanding of what the words work ethic, discipline, and consistency mean in my life. I discovered the power of work ethic so early on in my life and for that I am so grateful.

For as long as I can remember I have absolutely loved setting goals, creating plans of action, and working super hard to achieve my goals. As I grew up, my foundation of work ethic that I had begun developing so long ago throughout my gymnastics training began carrying over into all areas of my life. I had a level of greatness I wanted to achieve and maintain across the board that extended well beyond my gymnastics training.

My mindset, purpose, resilience, confidence, self esteem, generosity, optimism, and beyond all continued to grow stronger. The more I continued on and applied the foundation I had built of consistency and discipline to every part of my life the more I reinforced a lifelong habit, and ultimately, my unwavering work ethic.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My mobile gym and digital online fitness business helps the community and the world by offering more convenient solutions for busy, ambitious, health conscious individuals who have full lives and schedules, but still highly value their health and fitness as well as overall quality of life and longevity.

My business is designed to bring fitness and wellness to my clients in the convenience of their own homes, gym of choice, outdoor location (park/beach), and also while traveling.

My program is designed to build strength, overall work capacity, and increase lean body mass so that my clients have the ability to live their strongest, healthiest, happiest lives possible.

My mission is to support, guide, educate, inspire, both physically and mentally.

My goal is to create as strong, healthy, happy, consistent, and committed clients as possible. In addition to this initial task at hand I desire to create culture within the community that centers around lifelong wellness and a high quality of life. I continue to passionately work on providing a sustainable system that can be implemented by anyone regardless of current fitness levels for the duration of their life.

My top priority is creating a training protocol that revolves around safety via optimal body mechanics, technique, and building a solid movement foundation. I want my clients progressing across all domains as they continue building their base strength and overall conditioning.

My program design is derived from over 30+ years of experience in coaching and training including artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, CrossFit Gymnastics, OPEX Fitness, Conjugate Tactical, Westside Barbell (powerlifting), Waxman’s Gym (Olympic weightlifting), and US Olympic strength and conditioning training and coaching methodologies.

From as early as eight years old I knew I wanted to own my own gym business, be a coach, entrepreneur, and most importantly, knew I wanted to help people when I grew up. As a young girl, I loved how empowering, fun, and awesome it was to feel and BE strong, healthy, and happy. I knew from then on I would be spreading my love and passion for fitness for the rest of my life!

Originally from Richmond-Sugar Land-Surfside Beach, Texas, I began my lifelong fitness journey with dance at the age of two, gymnastics at four, and was competing in artistic gymnastics by the age of six. I later switched to rhythmic gymnastics. By the age of fourteen I had received the opportunity to train at the United States Olympic Training Center and was a 4-time Texas State Champion in rhythmic gymnastics, 4-time Junior Olympian, and a member of the US Junior Olympic Academic Team.

Following rhythmic gymnastics I cheered competitively for three years becoming a three time All American NCA cheerleader. I went on to dance and cheer professionally for the NFL Houston Texans and the NBA Houston Rockets along with various other professional dance companies specializing in modern/contemporary and hip hop/street jazz.

I started my first business when I was 19 years old, a mobile gym business, offering in-home personal training as well as cheer, dance, and gymnastics coaching programs at private schools, day cares, and after school community programs.

A few years later in 2009 I discovered CrossFit and eventually decided to become a CrossFit Trainer as well as a CrossFit Gymnastics Trainer. Soon after that I was invited to intern and eventually join the CrossFit Gymnastics Seminar Team. For the past 13 years I have had the opportunity to travel the world and teach gymnastics in the functional fitness and CrossFit world both as part of CFG as well as within my own business and brand, NZ Fitness. I have now booked, organized, planned, prepped, taught, coached, & led more than 130+ NZ Fitness gymnastics workshops worldwide, as well as another 40+ CrossFit Gymnastics Seminars worldwide.

I have had the opportunity to be part of so many fitness community events locally to worldwide representing several fitness companies as an athlete, ambassador, business owner, seminar coach, etc.

The amount of willingness and dedication to my own personal growth and pushing past my comfort zone this has taken me is beyond all comprehension. I am proud of myself for having the courage to say yes to new life opportunities.

The honor to receive and say yes to new, amazing life opportunities to level up always far outweighs fear!

I eventually opened my own CrossFit affiliate when I was 29 years old and was brought on as a co-owner of another already established CrossFit affiliate when I was 34 years old.

In 2016, my seventh entrepreneurial venture and business baby, NZ Fitness LLC was born; offering remote online coaching + custom programming, personal training, virtual personal training, gymnastics workshops, mobile custom nutrition app, and nutrition coaching support. You can also find NZ Fitness in-person training located throughout the county of San Diego; in-home and outdoor, resort and boutique gyms, CrossFit affiliates, and more!

This year I launched my own NZ Fitness curated menu powered by Territory Foods for all your meal prep needs, including home delivery nationwide! Looking forward to launching my next online product featuring body composition measurement, custom nutrition plans, and more, plus a few more new and exciting online products in the works looking to launch Spring/Summer 2025!

My lifelong fitness journey has allowed and continues to allow me endless opportunities to create, grow, learn, build, and evolve as a person, mom, athlete, business owner, and entrepreneur. I am forever grateful for the many people, experiences, adventures, and beyond that have shaped me into who I am today.

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?

Looking back, the three qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge that were most impactful on my journey were: first, my mindset and the skill of viewing obstacles as part of the adventure and/or as opportunities; second, my consistency, discipline, work ethic, resilience, confidence, and self-esteem — reflecting on the question, what identity are you reinforcing for yourself each day?; and third, the knowledge and experience I earned as a lifelong high-level competitive and professional athlete, coach, business owner, and entrepreneur.

My advice for anyone early in their journey is to say “yes” more often than you might want to – especially to the things that seem scary – and embrace doing the inconvenient things consistently. These actions will lead you to grow and learn more than you ever thought possible. You will show up more for others (and yourself) than you ever imagined, discover new worlds you never thought existed, achieve more than you ever dreamed. Through this, you’ll realize that you are the most energetic, tenacious, courageous, bold, strong, adventurous, generous, steadfast, and big-hearted person you know. That trust and credit you build with yourself through these experiences will be worth more than anything else.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

Yes, I do believe we should go all in and lean into our greatest strengths, as long as it continues to align with our life purpose. I also believe there is immense benefit and value in learning, growing, and improving in areas where we are not as strong. For one, you could discover talents, passions, and strengths you didn’t know were within you by teaming up with others who excel in the areas where you are less proficient — individuals with excellence, a high level of knowledge, passion, and the ability to teach you their ways.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Kurtis Fraser
Michael Fraser
Hank Ford
Paul Smith
Clarkebourne Creative
Assault Fitness
Carlsbad Kickboxing Club
FitTogether
Allen Vexler
Dan Goodman
Picture Flicks
Hughes Marino

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