Meet Jennifer Morris

We recently connected with Jennifer Morris and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

Thank you Bold Journey for giving me the opportunity to share my experiences.

I believe my work ethic stems from the jobs I’ve had over the years, and the valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way. It started with my first jobs – delivering newspapers, babysitting, and working at the mall. Those part-time jobs I had as a student taught me the basics of a strong work ethic: being on time, dependable, and always giving my best effort, no matter how big or small the task was.

Later, as a corporate trainer, I refined my professionalism, time management, accountability and integrity. I learned the value of always presenting myself professionally, both in appearance and communication. The corporate world also gave me plenty of experience in staying organized, managing deadlines, and taking ownership of my work, which helped me build a good reputation and strong relationships.

Now, as a Zumba instructor, I bring all these lessons I’ve learned into my work. Even in a casual, fun environment, I bring the same dedication and professionalism, but with just a touch of brightly colored Zumba Wear! I design each class thoughtfully and focus on creating a welcoming and enjoyable experience for every participant. By being reliable and authentic, I’ve built trust and strong connections in my community, which inspires me to keep dancing and improving!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Since 2017, I’ve been a licensed Zumba Instructor and Certified Group Fitness Instructor with the American Council on Exercise, and I absolutely love what I do! Zumba combines great music and dance moves for a fun workout that boosts mood, confidence, and fitness. I teach various Zumba formats, both in-person at clients’ locations and online, but Aqua Zumba and my Zoom classes hold a special place in my heart.

Aqua Zumba is a pool party with a fitness twist! This fun, low-impact workout uses water resistance to build strength and endurance. All it takes is a pool, and I bring the party to you. In South Florida, Aqua Zumba is popular year-round, especially with tourists enjoying poolside workouts under the winter sun!

My online classes are another big part of what I do. When the pandemic hit, switching to Zoom gave me a chance to share my passion for Zumba with people all over the world. Even after in-person classes resumed, my virtual sessions are still in demand because they’re convenient, flexible and affordable. I offer weekly Zoom Zumba classes open to everyone, plus on-demand videos for those who need extra flexibility. For me, it’s all about creating a fun, welcoming space where people can dance, connect, and make fitness enjoyable and something to look forward to.

Check out my instructor website for my weekly Zoom Zumba class schedule and on-demand video options.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that I believe are most impactful in my journey are:

Showing up: To me, the simple act of showing up consistently is the most important quality. It reflects dependability and being fully present in every situation. I’ve had clients tell me I’m the first person they call because they know they can count on me. Showing up also gives the opportunity to showcase your skills and work.

Being authentic: I found that staying true to myself and being open with others has made all the difference in building strong, lasting connections. Communicating honestly and openly makes you approachable and encourages trust, openness, and meaningful relationships.

Taking pride in my work: I’ll always remember the words of my mentor, Jo Verde: “Sign your work with pride!” These words remind me that the quality of your work reflects professionalism and a commitment to excellence. Taking pride in what I do motivates me to maintain high standards, keep improving, and inspire others to do the same.

Here are a couple of things that have helped me in my journey:

Networking events are a great way to develop these qualities. Consistently showing up demonstrates reliability and commitment, and it’s a great way to meet people and exchange ideas within your field. They also help you practice speaking genuinely about your work, the ups and downs, which makes you relatable. Plus, these events allow you to share your accomplishments confidently and show the pride you take in your work.

Personal and professional development is important. Never stop learning! Whether it’s reading books, signing up for a class, listening to podcasts, or hiring a coach, there are so many resources to help you expand your knowledge and skills. I’m always signing up for a course, whether it’s a technical skill, like learning a new dance rhythm or a soft skill, like coaching people through change skills.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

One of my biggest challenges is chasing perfection. I often spend too much time trying to perfect every detail, which isn’t productive because it drains my energy and slows my progress. While this shows my commitment to doing my best, it also makes it harder to launch new ideas and classes and can lead to missed opportunities. Also, when things don’t go as planned, I sometimes get stuck in my own thoughts, leaving me feeling discouraged. To overcome this, I remind myself that I’m a work in progress. I often reflect on Mark Twain’s quote, “Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection”. This helps me shift my focus to learning from experiences, making progress, improving, and moving forward, instead of fixating on every flaw.

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