Meet Carly Lobdell

We recently connected with Carly Lobdell and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Growing up, I have always wanted to have a job where I could help others and make a difference in the world. When I was 16, I started coaching swim lessons at Lifetime Fitness and quickly fell in love with the job. Helping students grow and learn lifesaving skills was so fulfilling and quickly grew into a passion of mine. This passion led to conflicting feelings as I began my freshman year at UGA. I wanted to pursue teaching, but due to outside pressures, I chose to study Marketing. Little did I realize the skill set my degree would equip me as I began my swim business. After my freshman year, I decided to teach swim lessons during the summer and used Facebook to promote my business. My business quickly grew and I found myself fully booked every year. After I graduated college, I realized I didn’t want to stop and reached out to the Oconee Aquatics and Recreation Center and we decided to start a swim school. I feel like I can bring all my passions together as I run this program. I currently teach 100 students every week. I also use my Marketing degree and creative skills to grow my brand. I loved working on the website and designing our logo and swimsuits.

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 goal is to increase water safety in Athens and teach as many kids as possible how to swim! Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and it is so important that students know how to swim and safety roll if they were to fall in the water. I grew up in the suburbs of ATL where there were lots of swim schools around. Athens, being a smaller city, has a limited number of programs, so I wanted to bring something exciting and new to the area. We teach several families that drive 40 minutes or more from cities such as Commerce and Covington to take lessons since we are the closest pool.

I also love working with students with special needs, and have worked with children with Down Syndrome, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy. I also specialize in teaching students with learning disabilities. I have ADD, so it is easy for me to relate to a lot of the kids. For my students with ADHD I make sure to make classes fun and engaging by switching tasks frequently to keep the kids from getting bored.

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?

Hard work pays off! Building a business takes time, but seeing the company grow as the months go by is so satisfying. When I started out in September of 2023, I had one employee, and now I have nine coaches working with me! I am currently training and hiring coaches, and I am so excited to see the program grow for the Summer as we continue to get busier.

Be Adaptable! Managing a big team of people requires flexibility. Things do not always go as planned, but I have learned to be quick on my feet and not let small problems disrupt my day. Being a perfectionist and a people pleaser I can sometimes get in my head too much.

Get close to your clientele! I am very passionate about Athens and have been teaching in the area for four years. I have taught many of my students for a long time. It is amazing to see how supportive all my clients are and how word of mouth can rapidly grow a business. It is so important to me that everyone who takes lessons has a positive experience and that the coaches get to know their kids.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest challenge for me is balancing my schedule. I currently teach 54 classes a week and manage a school of over 230 students. There are many different hats I have to wear to keep the program running smoothly. After teaching all day, I work well into the night on scheduling and responding to clients. It can be tedious but is worth it in the end!

It’s very important to me to prioritize God’s role in my life. I attend Athens Church and volunteer in Upstreet with the elementary schoolers. I am so thankful for God and his blessings. Through prayer, I find peace and it pushes me to keep going when I feel overwhelmed with the stresses that come with running a business. Being competitive I find myself constantly pushing myself to improve. I remind myself every day to look at how far I’ve come and it keeps me from stressing out about the little things. In the end, I know God’s got it, and every challenge I face is all a part of his plan!

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