Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Isiah Sombright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Isiah, 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?
They say it’s built over time through a lot of different things or factors, a combination of early childhood experiences, parental guidance, personal values and beliefs, cultural influences and adult development. That and so much more and I agree because mines came from those places as well. The many different places and situations I find myself in now also pulls this fire inside of me to work hard and it’s just who I am.
When I understood I had a strong work ethic it was made clear to me at a young age before I got into professional sports (football). I always had a unique mind and this drive inside of me to compete and be the best. however, I just never knew where to place it and what to strive for. So, running fast was easy and natural for me, but learning how to train and keep my body going was a different area I’ve never tapped into. I always had a willingness to “accomplish” “Win” “stay ahead” or do whatever it took to keep myself going but at that time I found myself wanting more and not knowing what to do to get more out of my body So to set myself aside and to be the best at running I knew had to work to keep my legs strong (train), work on endurance, work on stamina and breathing, learn stretching, sacrificing time or fun with friends to work towards my goals, Going to the gym during lunch breaks at my job(The Home Depot) to keep my body ready. Doing the things kids my age weren’t doing like developing a relationship with God building faith and understanding what’s for me and what’s not for me so ill understand how hard to work or when to move on. learning to eat certain foods as fuel to better my performance. All of this and so much more was my routine.
Growing up not having much pulled at me and drove my desires “for more” to a different level because as I got older, I didn’t realize how I was setting myself up for success with the type of work ethic I was displaying. The belief in myself and that if I worked hard enough, I would have the things I wanted, also following certain paths that was set before me from family and role models I learned that “God helps those who helps themselves” and I believed if I would try hard enough God would do the rest. So, it became a trust in God to show up for me if I put the work in, no matter what it was. That thought lead me. My strong beliefs in God lead me. Motivated, determined and trusting I would have what I needed if I try lead me and the tangibles that I mention earlier grew and I found myself working out for the CFL, AFL and signed to play in the NFL Mexican football league. Fast forward to now it’s a’ lot of areas that fuel my work ethic and how hard I work, but I always find myself tapping into to my faith in God, the motivating factors like family, responsibilities, the desires I may have inside of business and what needs to be done to obtain them. The things I mentioned like childhood experiences, parental guidance, personal values and beliefs, cultural influences and adult development all play a strong part in where I get my work ethic from. Ill love to share more with you but this is enough for now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Hello and good morning, my name is Isiah Sombright and I see myself as more than just a professional in health and wellness, I’m someone who thrives at the intersection of discipline, creativity, and purpose. I’ve always believed that the best way to stand out is not just by what you’ve achieved, but by the energy and vision you bring into the room. I’m here today because I want to share not only my background, but the mindset and drive that fuel everything I do.
The name of my brand is called Shakes & Weights (S&W fitness). I am a certified health coach, body transformation specialist and expert in nutrition. With more than a decade of experience in the fitness industry I help men become successful in addition to adding muscle to their bodies by integrating strength training, education, motivation, and proper nutrition. Through education I Provide Ebooks for people to buy to learn about the body. A series of books called ” The Body Check” giving my readers a breakdown of the different body parts and how to use them, what to eat and how to train them. All books come with easy-to-read information, sample meal plans and a workout to use for direction in the gym. The relaunch of the Shakes & Weights fitness app is set to make a return in the Spring of 2026 and is in full development as we speak. More info to come. Also, the drop of an amazing Podcast hosted by yours truly. so much to look forward to. TBA
I got into Fitness while playing Sports early on in my career. It started out as way to keep myself healthy and playing and then blossomed into a way of life for me. I studied Sports Medicine at the university of Arizona and received my Certification Through ISSA (international Sport Science Association) but before that I lived in the gym and studied everything about the human body and how it works. From healing, recovery, to the types of food to eat, and how much to push yourself, how to train and so much more. Over time I became a S.M.E. (Subject matter expert) to each body part and muscle group and felt I was ready to take it to higher levels and become one of the best.
Over the course of my career, I’ve had the honor and opportunity to work with over 100+ clients, from actors, athletes, children and everyday individuals. The most exciting part is meeting so many different people and being able to help them reach their body goals or assisting them and watching their confidence shoot through the roof. It’s all such a blessing. In the future I look forward to growing my brand into something bigger and becoming more known by the world by working and collaborating with great brands and continuing on this path to help Men and people transform their body to be the best it can be.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back for me the three qualities that impacted my journey the most was my faith in God, my ability to never quit and my work ethic. Without those qualities things would have been very different. Skills sets were developed inside of some of those slow days and long nights. Things were discovered about myself that I didn’t know existed or was pulled out of me in such moments where quitting wasn’t an option. Looking back if I could give my loved ones any kind of advice it would be to ” Start Yesterday don’t Start today” after you start, TRUST THE PROCESS. Take the time to get to know the person you are who you are becoming. Master what you are working toward and become a true expert. Practice good habits and routines that will keep you sharp and mental in the right areas. Learn to pray and be intentional with your prayers. God helps those who helps themselves and what’s for you will be for you, always. It won’t happen overnight however if you plant the seed, water it, show it some love, you’ll soon see growth. And to the ones already out on a journey, give yourself some Grace, be patient Rome wasn’t built in a day. your time is coming. IN DUE TIME!!!
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
There is no right or wrong thing to do when overwhelmed. Everyone has a different threshold or compacity level on how much they can take. Some can endure a lot and some people fly off the handle and lose control. When feeling overwhelmed, take a break to pause, breath and gather perspective. Some moments cause for changing your environment or cleansing your energy. Detox from certain things like some of the foods you eat, and what you are digesting whether it’s toxic music things that you are watching and even downsize the work load you take on. Too much can bring on too many different types of stress. Engaging in short walks or even working out helps. Disconnecting from social media periodically and your devices help with keeping your mind calm. Too much of anything can cause and overload.
I when I find myself overwhelmed I dial it down. Think of calm. I play calming music on YouTube, speak to the lord and cleanse my house and car. I strip down to my boxer briefs and do body weight movements like push-ups, body squats and breath controllably, and intentionality to take control back over my body, none of that huffing and lazy breathing but really breath and control myself. Grasp a picture of what’s going on and see where my positive alternative is and focus there. Release old energy and walk into what’s new or what to come. Majority of the time it depends on the circumstances.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @zeyy_korde
- Facebook: isiah sombright
