We recently connected with Jesse Zavala and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jesse, 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?
When I think of work ethic my mind instantly goes to my father. He is one of the hardest working human beings I know. He grew up as a migrant working and his Life experiences made him who he is today. He’s always had that go-getter mentality and will not stop until the job was complete. Growing up he ingrained this work ethic into me and it’s played a huge part in all of the accomplishments I’ve been able to conquer so far in my professional and personal journey.
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 full time job is working as a Forensic Chemist, however most people know me as Coach Jesse. Growing up I was involved in all kinds of sports including basketball, football, track and field, boxing and strength training. Sports and training has always been my outlet to stay in shape both physically and mentally. I started my endurance journey in 2015 as a way to mix up my training and ran my first half marathon that year. Fast forward to 2018 I completed my first Ironman distance triathlon – 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run. During my training I learned a lot about myself and what the human body is capable of. We often put up walls that limit us from reaching our full potential. This is what led me to enter the world of coaching. I wanted other people to experience what it feels like to accomplish those daunting goals and be proud of the hard work they put in to get to where they want to be.
My clients/athletes are your everyday grinders that work full time jobs while balancing training with family time and their social lives. I have coached a wide range of athletes with a variety of goals. From someone wanting to running their first 5K to 100 Miler Ultra Marathoners to a Professional MMA Fighter to Ironman Triathletes to an actress wanting to learn boxing to someone who’s goal was to hike a strenuous trail in Norway. I enjoy being challenged as a Coach, so whatever crazy feat someone has in mind, I will do everything in my power to get them there safely!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
If I had to pick three qualities/skills or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey I would pick the following – communication, thinking outside the box, and being a good human.
Part of my job as a coach is constant communication with my athletes/clients. As an introvert myself, I used to HATE public speaking or being apart of groups that required talking and opening up about experiences. However, as the years have gone by I have become comfortable with communicating and discussing things that make me vulnerable. You will cross paths with so many people on your journey that could be going through the same things you have already experienced. So, by communicating with them and opening yourself up to discuss your experiences you might help that person overcome whatever struggles they are battling at that moment.
Along with communication, as a coach I have to think outside the box every day! When it comes to coaching, not every person is the same and you can’t approach their training with a cookie cutter mentality. Most people I coach and interact with have full-time jobs, families and other Life commitments. Yes, coaching is a science, but it’s also an art. That is what separates good coaches from great coaches. Learning how to think outside the box and get creative with their programming is a huge skill to develop. By having great communication with your athletes/clients, you build a solid athlete/coach relationship and can work as a team to think outside the box and set them up for success no matter what their goal is!
The final piece of the puzzle is being a good human. By utilizing the two skills I mentioned above along with being a good human, you will always have a positive impact on your athlete/client’s journey. At the end of the day they will always remember how you treated them and how you pushed them to be a better version of themselves!
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
In my opinion, I believe it’s better to be more well rounded rather than focusing all of your energy and time on your strengths. As I previously discussed in another part of this interview I used to HATE public speaking or talking in groups. This was one of my “weaknesses” and I decided to tackle it head on. By doing so I now consider communication one of my strengths, which allowed me to then shift my focus to another “weakness” and work on making that another strength. This can be applied to not just social skills, but skills specific to sports, hobbies, etc. Never stop learning and always continue to add a wide range of skills/knowledge into your toolbox!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @CoachJesseHTX
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachJesseHTX
Scott Flathouse
