We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marie Neuhaus a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marie, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
It’s my pleasure. Thank you for featuring me! If even just one of your readers benefits from a story I share, that’s a win! So, Imposter Syndrome. I’m not sure I’ve ever overcome it. I just press on despite feeling like an imposter sometimes. I pinch myself almost everyday to know that I’m doing what I’ve dreamed so long of doing. I’m a business owner. I’m a fitness professional. I get to help people get healthy & fit as my job. It doesn’t seem real! But when I feel the imposter syndrome stronger than normal, I just find something else to focus on like read health/fitness research studies, or write programming for a client, or dive into a body part for deeper understanding, or read about a body system to better help a client based on a challenge they’re facing. I do something to better my craft. To be smarter, better for my clients. For anyone who has imposter syndrome, I’d ask them why they have it? You’re doing the job, right? So do it! Just keep doing it. Learn all you can. Get better. Eventually, you’ll look back & say, “Wow, look how far I’ve come! Why did I doubt myself in the first place?!”
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself and what led you to start your fitness business?
Sure, I’d love to. Let’s start with my business. I am Haus AF Fitness, I love to make fitness fun & I love my clients. They know how much I support them from the first time we meet during a free strategy session where we discuss goals, health history, likes, dislikes, etc. I get to know each prospective client. It’s important to me that we have a chemistry so that my clients enjoy fitness training & enjoy getting fit with me. When prospective clients decide to train with me, each client gets programming that I create specifically for them based on their individual goals. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fitness. Sure, on my Instagram or Facebook pages, you see me showing 3 exercises for this or 5 moves to build that but that’s to help people who need a little inspiration. I aspire to be a Fitness Influencer so I have to cater to the masses in that arena. But when I’m able to hone in on one person at a time, that’s when customization is key. Everyone needs that customization but not everyone can afford a Certified Personal Trainer so that’s where social media can help.
It took a long time for me to start my fitness business, mainly because it took me a long time to decide to leave my corporate job. After I got out of the Marines, I found myself working my way up at a large bank & every year I’d put off opening my fitness certification book. Until at the end of 2019, I decided it was time. I was about to turn 40 & though I was good at my corporate job, I didn’t get much satisfaction out of it. I took the leap, left Corporate America & haven’t looked back since. I had huge goals for my business (I still do) but in early 2021, I found out I was pregnant & that changed the plans I had. I always say though, that everything happens for a reason. Once I knew I was pregnant, I enrolled in Pre/Postnatal Fitness Specialist & Core Confidence Certification programs to not only gain the knowledge for my future mama clients but also to better prepare myself for pregnancy, labor, delivery & postpartum.
I’ve really only just begun. My story is still writing itself. I’m super proud of the clients I’ve earned (90% are online clients) & even the ones who found me & didn’t hire me. I’m excited for the new clients I’ve yet to find & the offerings I have in the works. Developing my online presence is a huge goal of mine & one I’m chipping away at day-by-day. I’m also working on an in-person small group strength training class for women that I’d hold in my garage. I’m hoping to get that one up & running this year – fingers crossed!
My brand, Haus AF Fitness, was build out of my love of fitness & thinking of my body as my house (AKA: Haus). When I was in my 20’s, I partied hard, ate crap & smoked a pack of cigarettes every couple of days. When I decided to pursue the Marines, I literally, overnight, changed everything. I stopped drinking alcohol & smoking, started running & lifting weights, stopped eating crap, starting eating REAL food & started drinking water. I lost 30 pounds in three months. Definitely not the weight loss method that I recommend for my clients but at the time I had no choice if I wanted to be selected for Officer Candidates School (OCS). I was selected & on day three, while running the physical fitness test, I dropped from heat stroke. It wasn’t particularly hot that day so I attribute it to my body not being ready. I almost died that day. I’m so very thankful that I’m here to tell this story. The next year, I decided to pursue OCS again but this time, I took it slower. I was selected again, returned & was Commissioned. I did amazing things with my body that I didn’t think was possible. This is why I wanted to pursue a career in fitness & show people that even when you make small changes, over time, those small changes lead to BIG change. And that’s worth working for.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
As a Fitness Professional, my focus isn’t on me. Sure, I have to be fit & healthy in order to “walk the walk,” but my focus is solely on my clients. I share with them examples from my life in order for them to know that I can relate to their challenge, situation, struggle or journey, but we all walk a different path.
Hyper focus on my clients is key. Listening to them is the other. Really hearing what they’re saying & remembering. If you’re a young fitness professional, or are new to the industry, & you want to make it, you have to listen, remember & care. It’s all about your clients. Make sure they know & feel it. This isn’t something you can fake. Clients can tell. I’ve been a client & could tell when my trainer was faking interest. If you’re more interested in your own body & growth vs your clients’ success, you won’t last long.
Knowing your craft & continuing to sharpen your knowledge plays a huge role as well. Having a certification doesn’t necessarily matter to clients (all the time), but having the knowledge to train them effectively does matter. The only way you can provide that to them is by having the certification & being a lifelong learner.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents taught me to be strong, disciplined & resilient. They also taught me to always give my all, no matter what I’m doing. They never thought I was a failure if I could honestly say I did my best.
Resilience & strength blossom from hardship & challenge. But the interesting thing is, I didn’t need to experience hardship in order to have resilience instilled in me. Having the mindset to be resilient served me well once I actually did encounter hardship though.
From the time I can remember, my parents always told me that I could do anything I put my mind to. Growing up, my Dad’s favorite quote to me & my sister was “aim for the moon. If you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Altered from the famous W. Clement Stone’s quote. Everything seems attainable to me…you just have to start. You just have to try. I’ve failed at so many attempts. I’ve experienced hard times, sad times, depressing times. But in the end, I remember that I just have to keep going. I just have to try. Get up after a fall. Stand tall & try again. That’s how we learn. That’s how we grow. That’s how we get better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hausaffitness.com
- Instagram: @hausaffitness
- Facebook: Haus AF Fitness
- Linkedin: Marie Neuhaus
Image Credits
C.S. Bindner Photography
