We recently connected with Gigi Grassu and have shared our conversation below.
Gigi, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been an ongoing adventure. As a young child, I remember being confident and fearless, but somewhere along the way, life happened, and I lost myself. I became the ultimate people-pleaser, always the “cool with anything” girl, and often selling myself short. Speaking up for myself? Forget about it—I either didn’t think I deserved it or was terrified of losing friends. Sounds silly, right? But self-love isn’t always a walk in the park.
Over the years, I realized that building confidence is all about building trust within yourself. The game-changer for me was staying true to my word. I started with small tasks and made sure to follow through on them. If I said I’d take out the trash, I did it. If I committed to finishing part A of a project, I finished part A. Each tiny victory built my self-trust and, in turn, my confidence.
Think of it this way—if a friend constantly promised to do something for you but flaked every time, would you trust them? Exactly. It’s the same with yourself. I started treating my inner self like a person I made promises to and had to keep.
This whole process was like my personal training montage, minus the ’80s rock music. My goals got bigger, my self-esteem grew stronger, and I became more confident. And this journey has inspired me to create a daily mindset journal and planner, which was one of the things that helped tremendously. It was so great that I decided to publish it to help others as well. The daily mindset journal and planner has been ten years in the making, and it’s perfect for anyone who sometimes forgets how to adult properly, which will be available for purchase soon.
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?
It all starts with a thought. I’ve been battling anxiety and racing thoughts my whole life, making it hard to stay focused and get things done. I tried medication, but it turned me into a forgetful, irritable mess who needed higher doses just to keep up. So, I ditched the meds and turned to fitness and wellness to save my sanity. Over the years, I discovered that most people are in the same boat with racing thoughts and anxiety. Did you know the average person has between 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts daily, with 70% of them being negative? It’s like having a brain that’s stuck in a bad news channel. These thoughts lead to emotions and actions that create a mind loop of worry, fear, and anxiety, which tank productivity and peace. Racing thoughts can be as destabilizing! That’s why I created The Shape Up Coaching Program and my Daily Mindset Journal and Planner. My coaching program and book helps calm those crazy thoughts by shaping up your mindset, health, and life goals. It focuses on three key pillars: Empowering your mind, training your body and motivating your soul. So, here I am, a busy entrepreneur and ethnic mom trying to make a dollar out of 55 cents, doing my best to help others calm their minds and live their best lives.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three most impactful areas in my journey were:
1. Empowering My Mind: Developing consistency and routine with a daily planner was crucial. My advice is to start small—set daily goals and stick to them. Over time, this will build discipline and focus.
2. Training My Body: Regular workouts and nutritious foods transformed my energy and outlook. Begin by integrating simple, enjoyable physical activities and gradually build a healthier diet. Consistency is key.
3. Empowering My Soul: Practicing gratitude through journaling, spending time with friends, and engaging in activities that bring joy was essential. Find what makes you feel good and prioritize it. This nurtures a positive mindset and emotional well-being.
These key points became the foundation of my business and the tagline of my mission: Motivate your soul, train your body and empower your mind. They have not only shaped my journey but have also brought success to those I’ve coached. Start incorporating them into your daily life and watch the transformation unfold. Im actually finalizing a mindset journal and planner that created for myself that I am going to publish soon to help with exactly this.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenge I’m currently facing is tackling productivity anxiety (Ha, more anxiety—it’s like they’re giving it away for free! 😆). Productivity anxiety is that fear of not being productive enough, and I think women, especially working moms, feel this the most. I just had my second child, and boy, am I trying to do too much! Between trying to raise healthy mentally sound kids who stay out of prison, being a sexy non-nagging wife to my husband, the occasional girls night, a kick a$$ businesswoman and coach – I’m tired! It’s a work in progress, but I’m definitely getting better at not feeling guilty when I need to rest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shapeupwithgigi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shapeupwithgigi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shapeupwithgigi/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY63Jl5MlBxbVZvGZdMWnsg
Image Credits
Running image credit: Gabriela Oltean
Colorful Pregnancy Image: Madison Truscan
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
