Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Savage.
Cathy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After graduating from Boston College in 1985, and working in Corporate America for a short time, I realized that I wanted my own “gig”. I wasn’t a fan of cubicles, asking for time off and answering to someone else. I was pretty much unemployable. I always loved the health and fitness world so I decided to become a trainer on the side. My love of dance catapulted me into teaching dance and aerobics classes as well. The world of wellness, health and fitness became my passion. I competed in some of the first event aerobics competition and then, when fitness competitions started, I jumped in. I was hooked. Soon after competing in these events in the early 1990s, women were intrigued by my success and asked me to help them prepare for these shows. Having that entrepreneurial mindset, I said ‘Sure”. There were no coaches or trainers specifically preparing people for these events. I saw a niche and I created a need. Without any playbook, I started to coach women for events by helping them with nutrition, training, and stage presentation. I became their MAMA SAVAGE with tough love that extended far beyond fitness. Being a huge sports fan all my life, I studied the greatest legendary sports coaches like John Wooden, Vince Lombardi, Coach Mike Krzyzewski and more. I decided to create a TEAM of fitness athletes. They would prepare together, train together, travel yet compete AGAINST each other. Yet they were part of each other’s win. This was not the NORM in a very individualized sport but I did it anyway and we became known as the SAVAGE GIRLS.
Soon our team was winning every title and I utilized the power of this new thing known as the “INTERNET”…to build a bigger program to help coach the women who were not living near me. As a result, we were THE FIRST online virtual training of its kind and I’m very proud of that.
We were followed by months by MTV for a reality show called I WANT THE PERFECT BODY, which catapulted my international presence. This production took place long before the dysfunctional days of reality tv! The show was all about empowerment and goal setting! The Savage sisterhood was on fire with hundreds and hundreds of women joining. I started to hire coaches to help me (we now have 20 employees). My coaching started to evolve into not only fitness, nutrition, and training, but also to mindset, product development, supplementation protocol, branding and business.
Now I coach women for everything from bodies, business, finances, branding, raising babies and more. It is a lifestyle brand of coaching at its finest!
I have created a multimillion dollar empire but my greatest gift is to help women who want to follow in my footsteps. So many women want to build online businesses and I get to show them how to do this from the comfort of their home!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not always been a smooth road. I truly believe that without hardship, we cannot triumph. I have been blessed to have surrounded myself with the best people. I have had a few glitches along the way like most people. I have trusted a few people who tried to “take” my business from me, but it seemed that I always became stronger as a result. I only became better from the ones who tried to copy my protocols or take clients away. My advice for women who are just starting out is to get ready for SWEAT EQUITY. You need to work hard for sure, but more important- BE CONSISTENT. All too often, I see women run out of steam, and quit before they even get started. I also recommend that you find a really great mentor who has what you want, and who your best interests at heart.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Cathy Savage – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Aside from all of the achievements, I am most proud of the women who come back to me after 10 an 20 years and say “you made a difference in my life”. “You gave me the strength to be self-confident and to love myself”. This lights me up.
You see, what we do, here at Cathy Savage, is we help women learn about the power of self-love and sisterhood. We were the original TRIBE… the original sisterhood for the past 30 years. While we started out as a fitness company, we are so much more than that. I love to help women build their wings, and watch them soar so that THEY can influence other women to do the same. This is how we truly impact the world. I am known for TOUGH LOVE but there is more LOVE than TOUGH. I believe what sets us apart is that we have created a legacy brand. It is not about having the perfect body – it is about health for the long haul. We have put HEALTH first… before anything and as a result, our clients LOOK FANTASTIC FOR LIFE! Now we have so many women who come to us, NOT just to compete in a fitness event, but who want to become healthier for their families! I also DO NOT weigh my clients. The scale makes women crazy!! NUMBERS don’t work and they don’t tell the story of your life. We use portions that change all the time with weekly accountability.
We have customized programs where women check in each week with an ACTUAL coach virtually- we tweak their programs based on how they feel, how they are doing and their personal progress. We design programs that actually fit their life schedule.
In today’s world, it’s all about modules and no customization. We are the only ones that do this still on this level. I believe every woman’s body is different and their life is as well. Therefore, we cater their programs around their busy work schedules, their family life and their personal needs. We are always there for them for life’s challenges. Weddings, babies, divorces, tragedies, relationships- all of it. We are not a cookie cutter produced program that you see everywhere now!
We are now in the process of creating our own Fitness event called BE AMAZING Fitness Weekend. We are tired of the fitness industry portraying women as sex objects and we want to bring it back to a level of empowerment and athleticism. It is an event created BY women, FOR women! Our first show takes place this October in North Carolina and the 2019 event will take place here in BOSTON!
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Find a mentor that you can relate to. Find a mentor who has been at it, for a long time and who has achieved success. Don’t rely on “good technical effects” to find a coach. Get referrals as well! I absolutely love mentoring women who have a burning desire to help others.
Pricing:
- We have many programs that are priced based on what specifics you are looking for, starting at $99 per month.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cathysavage.com and www.cathysavagecoachingagency.com
- Email: infosavagefitness@gmail.com and cathy@cathysavage.com
- Instagram: @cathysavageofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathySavageFitness and https://www.facebook.com/SavageFitness/
- Twitter: @cathysavage
Image Credit:
Photo Credit Jason Halbert Visual Arts
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