Brigitte Rentiers & Jane Ogle on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Brigitte Rentiers & Jane Ogle shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Brigitte & Jane, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
JANE: I perform in a jazz band, and we have had a steady “First Friday of the month” gig at a restaurant downtown for a few years. Lately we’ve scored a couple of intimate concerts and community music festivals, we’re excited to reach new friends we haven’t met yet!

BRIGITTE: I enjoy working in the yard planting plants and making the outside feel inviting with a variety of colors and textures. The time outside allows me to be with my animals (dog & cats) that bring me joy and peace.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We’re Brigitte Rentiers and Jane Ogle, the co-owners of CustomFit Center. We feel very fortunate to have just completed our ninth year in business, delivering a unique focus on movement quality in our group exercise and personal training programs. We’ve branded with tag-lines like ‘Savannah’s Un-Gym” and “Your Ultimate Training Partner” because we do consider a symbiotic partnership with our clients as the cornerstone of our practice.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
JANE: Stereotypes and assumptions break the bonds between people. If you think a label defines a person without getting to know a person and “walking a mile in their shoes,” it’s nearly impossible to establish a trusting and fulfilling connection. Reducing the value of a person to assumptions about their job title, their gender role, their family history, is devaluing, I think. And I know I’ve done just that many times before and I’m actively working to learn better and do better. Active listening restores bonds between people. Communication that builds people up instead of tearing them down restores them. Finding the bright side and finding common ground in your interactions restores them.

BRIGITTE: “Listening to Respond” versus “Listening to Understand.” Even when you are hearing information that you disagree with, it needs to still be heard and understood. Restoring bonds takes equal effort from both parties. There is not a “one time fix” with either breaking or restoring. Patterns of behavior over time can help one to navigate if the bond is worth restoring.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
JANE: Be kind to yourself, young Jane. Progress is fine, perfection is too much. Slow down and enjoy the ride of youth, instead of being in such a big rush to grow up. You are all you should be, and you’re getting better all the time just by being yourself.

BRIGITTE: It’s ok to not be serious ALL THE TIME. Laugh and enjoy the bumps in the road. Every “system” doesn’t have to be done the same way as long as the process to getting the results are safe, ethical, and moral.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
JANE: I think most people have multiple facets of their “real” selves, which they present in different ways in different contexts. As extroverted and performative as my career-self is, I also have an introverted-homebody side that is just as real and sometimes just as public.

BRIGITTE: For the most part, I am the real deal in all situations. Sometimes less expressive, sometimes more depending as I navigate people’s energy. I step up when I need to and give the lead equally without disappearing. My very close friends and family will hear more of the “unfiltered” version.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
BRIGITTE: Of course its great to be noticed when you do something, but that is not my drive. I work, live, and love because I want to. The bigger picture is being thankful to “get to do” things rather than “have to.” Praising is nice, but not a necessary motivating tool for me to continue. My higher power is the source for me to model.

JANE: I am intrinsically motivated to do a great job, still I wish I could say that I have found that everything deserves my best. There’s not enough best to go around, so I am choosy when it comes to overdelivering. Going the extra mile is a given for tasks and goals and things that I love to do, versus things I am good at but don’t love doing.

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Image Credits
Robert Cooper, Jane Ogle

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