We recently connected with Suzanne Klaus and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Suzanne with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Growing up my parents always emphasized doing my best in anything that I did. In both soccer practice and PE, we had cone drills that involved running, skipping, or some other variation from one cone to another. I remember my mom telling me to never stop early; always run hard through the cone and then slow down. I am not sure why, but this one event stuck with me. Whenever I am working on a project, working out, or competing in a race I always think about this. Am I doing my best? Am I giving my full effort?
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My husband and I opened Forward Fitness, a personal training studio in Maplewood, Missouri in 2015. We opened it to create a space that is more than just a gym. It’s important to us that our members know they are more than a number. Their success and how they feel matters. We created a community where members feel supported by one another and even become friends. They also know that our coaches have their back with accountability and guidance to reach their goals. It also important to us that members don’t have to worry about having experience in the gym or looking silly if they don’t know how to do something.
I remember going to the Rec Center at Mizzou and how intimidated I was. I didn’t want to stare at a machine too long in fear of looking stupid. I only knew a few basic arm movements. I did bicep curls, tricep extensions, and the elliptical in the quiet weight room and that was it. I am passionate about helping others learn proper form, build confidence, and feel strong in the gym. It’s amazing to see someone get their first pull up or to be able to deadlift a weight they thought wasn’t impossible before.
What’s even better is seeing how their progress in the gym translates to their life outside the gym. As a personal trainer and registered dietitian, I get to empower people and help them achieve their goals and create the life they want. People are capable of so much more than they believe. It’s amazing when you see their confidence rise and they want to take on a goal they once that was too much. With consistency and work, the possibilities are endless. It’s small decisions each day that build up to massive results.
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?
Taking ownership of my life was huge. It gave me the power to improve anything in my life that I didn’t like. Blaming others only gives away power. This thought process has motivated me to think about the life I want to create for myself and my family without limits. It’s opened my world to so many possibilities. If I am willing to put in the work, I can grow my life in any direction I choose.
How do you take ownership of your life? Are there areas where you blame others? When trying to develop ownership ask yourself what actions you can take to move your life in the direction you want to head. Start small and build on your momentum.
Consistency is the key to success. In addition to running Forward Fitness, I also love to compete in Obstacle Course Races (OCRs) and trail races. Last year I ran my first 50K, or 31-mile race. Without consistent work, I would never have been able to cross the finish line. That same year I got first place in my age group at the West Virginia Beast Spartan Race (OCR), a half-marathon with ~30 obstacles. These are things that at one point I thought were not possible. It was consistent work that allowed me to achieve my goals and set even bigger ones. It’s easy to think that one day of training doesn’t matter, but when strung together with the day before and after, it adds up. It’s amazing how small actions can yield massive results when done consistently.
What areas in your life could be most improved with consistency? What’s one small action you can take daily? It’s more important to start small and be successful with your habit rather than start too big and set yourself up for failure.
Having a growth mindset has been pivotal to my successes. A growth mindset is one where even if you struggle with something, you believe that your skills are not set in stone and with practice you can become better. I wear many hats at Forward Fitness and without a growth mindset this would not have been possible. Website design was never something I thought I would be doing. However, I am now proficient enough to update our website as needed. I also do all of our strategy sessions, or initial consultations. If you asked me if I thought I would be in sales, I would have said NO with a capital N and O! However, with persistence I learned and now love to meet with potential members. A growth mindset has also helped me to not be afraid of asking questions. At one point I felt like I needed to know everything and asking a question would show weakness, but it’s doesn’t. It’s also helped give me the confidence to keep working on something that is initially hard. I can look back on past experiences and know that soon with work, I will be able to do it with much more ease.
You can have a growth mindset in one area of your life and a fixed mindset in other areas. What areas of your life do you have a growth mindset? What areas of your life do you have a more fixed mindset? If you are looking to build a growth mindset, look back at examples of something that was once hard for you that you can now do. You will find proof that you are capable to growing and developing skills.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The book Atomic Habits by James Clear has been the most impactful book I’ve read. He has so many great takeaways. One of my favorites concepts is, “When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy.” Too often we act as though happiness is a destination. I’ll be happy when I lose 20 pounds, or I’ll be happy when I win that race. Life is so much better when we don’t wait to be happy, but instead find happiness in our day-to-day habits. When we focus on the process and celebrate the small wins those big goals are more likely to be achieved.
James Clear also talks about being “the designer of your world, not merely the consumer of it.” The people who we spend our time with, and our physical environment can both drastically impact our lives. When we know where we want our lives to go, we can design our environment to make it easier to get there.
The relationship between our habits and identity are also discussed by James Clear. If a habit we are working on conflicts with our identity, we will not be successful. The example he uses in the book is a person who is trying to quit smoking. In one scenario the person identifies as a non-smoker making it easy to say no to a cigarette. In the other scenario, he still thinks of himself as a smoker making saying no to a cigarette impossible. The good news is our identities are always evolving. “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” When we make choices supporting the person we are working to become, we are strengthening our identity as that person.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.forwardfitnessstl.com
- Instagram: coach_suzanne_klaus
- Facebook: Forward Fitness
Image Credits
Your Story Photography
