Staci Olson - Program Director of Girls on the Run-Maine

Jessica Nolette

June 8, 2017

Nonprofit, Health/Fitness, Community

What is Girls on the Run?

GOTR is a unique life skills development program. Volunteer coaches lead teams through interactive lessons that include dynamic discussions, fun activities and creative running games. Throughout the 10 week season season the girls make new friends, learn new skills, build their confidence and celebrate what makes them unique in a safe and supportive environment.

What inspired you to become the Program Director for Girls on the Run?

I first got involved with GOTR in the winter of 2012 when a Steering Committee was formed to bring Girls on the Run to Maine. At that time, Maine was one of a small group of states that did not have a council so a group of volunteers worked together to make it happen. I worked as a volunteer for about a year and was able to help build the foundation of the council. In my role as Program Director I now help communities start teams in their area, recruit, train and support the coaches, visit with the teams throughout the season, and help to plan the Celebratory 5k at the end of the season. This season we have 700 girls at 38 sites across Maine with over 200 volunteer coaches. We look forward to continuing our growth and reaching more girls!

Working for Girls on the Run has had a significant impact on my life. The work that I do is so fulfilling because I have such a strong connection to the mission of our program of empowering girls and helping them to grow and reach their goals. I also feel so grateful to the amazing co-workers and volunteers that I get to work with each season.

What is one challenge and one lesson you've learned from your experience as Program Director?

One challenge that I have faced is that every community and every team is different so what might work well for one site, might be completely different at another, so we have to build connections with all of our coaches to make sure that they get the support that they need.

One lesson that I have learned actually stems from one of our core values which is to "assume positive intent." We are all involved because we want to have a positive influence on the girls and though logistically sometimes things don't always go according to plan, we should assume that their are good intentions behind the actions.

What are your top two GOTR memories?

I have so many amazing memories but there are a few standouts.

I was visiting with a team in Western Maine and as I was completing some laps with one girl, we were having fun and chatting and then unprompted she looked at me directly in the eye and said "Thank you for bringing this program to my school. I love being a part of it and I am so proud of myself." We know the program is having an impact but to hear a 9 year old girl share her sincere gratitude was a special moment.

The other top memory is one that I have seen multiple times at our 5k events At the end of the 10 weeks, the girls participate in an untimed, celebratory 5k. When the girls enter the final finish line chute they typically get a burst of speed. I love watching that moment when they see their goal in sight. They hear the cheers and support and fly through that finish line. The look in their eyes is one of joy and inspiration and I can never get enough of it!

What is your favorite inspirational/motivational quote?

"The only requirement of having a dream is believing in it." - Molly Barker

Molly Barker founded Girls on the Run in North Carolina in 1996 with one team of girls. Since then the organization has grown to serve girls in all 50 states and more than 1 million girls have participated. She is a true inspiration to me by demonstrating that one person really can make a difference. For many years I was unsure where I was headed in terms of a career path and the moment I first learned about GOTR was a truly life changing experience for me - I knew this was something I had to be involved in. Because of Molly's initial effort, she has given me (and so many other woman), a place in this world to have an impact and to be a part of the mission of inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.

In one word, describe yourself::

Purposeful

To learn more about Girls on the Run-Maine please visit:

https://www.girlsontherunmaine.org/

or follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GOTR.Maine/

and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gotrmaine/

Jessica Nolette

June 7, 2017

Health & Fitness, Entrepreneurship, Coaching, Social Community

Jaime Messina - Star Diamond Beachbody Coach

Jessica Nolette

June 7, 2017

Health & Fitness, Entrepreneurship, Coaching, Social Community

What is Beachbody?

Beachbody is the creator of the nation's most popular fitness and weight-loss solutions including programs like P90X Series, INSANITY, T25, 21 Day Fix, Body Beast, PiYo, and Hip Hop Abs. We have an extensive library that includes a variety of programs to help people to reach their health and fitness goals at home, whether they want to lose weight, learn to dance, build muscle, or just live healthier a healthier lifestyle.

What inspired you to become a Beachbody Coach?

I became a coach after going through a Beachbody challenge group. For 90 days I committed to one of their fitness programs, drinking shakeology, and eating right with the support of a coach and accountability of a group. The changes that I saw within myself were not just physical, they were mental as well. The way I was transformed from the inside out absolutely baffled me. I had suffered from anxiety and depression my entire life. It wasn't until I implemented health, fitness, and personal development into my life through Beachbody that I actually felt like I could deal with my health issues. I was happier, healthier, more positive, and actually smiling. Within a month of starting the program, other people could see the changes within me. It changed me so much that I wanted to pay that forward to others. I wanted people to see that they were not confined or defined by past issues. I do that now by coaching other people the way my coach did for me.

"I felt that my social anxiety and shyness defined me and that they would never change. Through making myself uncomfortable and stepping outside of my comfort zone I created a whole new me." -JM

What are one challenge and one lesson you’ve learned from your experience as a Coach?

One challenge that I have learned from my experience as a coach is that you are going to have people that sometimes hate on what you are doing. Putting myself out there and sharing a message of positivity, health, and fitness aggravates some people. I think that sometimes if we aren't ready or wanting to make changes within ourselves we can lash out at others who are so public about it. A lesson that I learned is that 9 times out of 10 it is never about you. You can't take things personally in life. More often than not the interactions you have in life are never about you, but about the other person. For example, if someone lashes out at you, it is most likely because of something going on within themselves vs. something that you did. I have also learned that it is never too late to go after what you want in life. The only time it is too late is the day you die!

What are your top two BB memories?

This is a fun one. Hands down my top BB memory is when I was given the opportunity to surprise my coach at the top coach celebration in Nashville on stage by performing a rap that I wrote for her. For someone who dealt with social anxiety their entire lives, getting on stage in front of 25,000 people and performing something you wrote was scary as hell, but absolutely amazing. The second best memory I have is from our last Beachbody success club trip. I got to go to Punta Cana with hundreds of other coaches and just hang out and chill. The sense of community and family that we have as coaches is something I had been missing in my life. I am so happy to have found it!

What is your favorite inspirational/motivational quote?

I'd have to go with "Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself". I like this one because in the past I thought the way things were was how they would be forever. I felt that my social anxiety and shyness defined me and that they would never change. Through making myself uncomfortable and stepping outside of my comfort zone I created a whole new me. If I had just wandered around "finding myself" that would have never happened.