We often talk about our dreams and goals as if they are lofty experiences that will happen to us in another life. In fact, most of us won’t achieve our biggest goals because of the fear we experience just thinking about them. Diving into that fear is far from what our ego and inner voice want us to do. Staying safe and comfortable with the daily mundane tasks feels okay. It’s not scary and, more importantly, it isn’t a risk.
When we stick to our daily life and fail to stray from the beaten path, we lose sight of the things that spark the most excitement and pleasure in our lives. Your ideas, the things that scare you, and those thoughts that seem just a little bit too wild to contemplate are where the good stuff is lying. I started Built-By-Brook as a business venture in 2017 with one client. One person believed in my ability as a trainer and coach enough to be the first. From there came the second, the third, and many others.
Built-By-Brook began as a hashtag from previous clients who wanted to support my powerlifting goals. Shortly after, I had the idea to use the phrase as a means to create my own personal training and coaching business. I turned Built-By-Brook it into a thriving coaching and personal training business in less than a few months. Was I scared? Hell yes. Am I still scared to sell myself to others and put myself out there? Of course, every day. But as I grow and learn about my talents, my passions, and my life, I realize that this is where I need to stay. Just far enough outside my comfort zone to feel a little crazy but not so far that I appear too insane to wandering eyes.
As I fuel this venture and the ideas I come up with, I consistently question myself. We have all heard of the infamous “imposter syndrome.” That feeling of fear and inadequacy in situations you are more than capable of handling and thriving within. It’s one of the several reasons we don’t chase our goals and dreams even when they are our most valued intricacies. I’ve been accomplishing goals long enough that I enter most situations with confidence but this feeling sneaks up on me from time to time and I question everything.
What makes you wake up in the morning and jump out of bed like it’s on fire? What makes you get so excited that you start speaking faster and losing your words because you can’t stop thinking about what you want to say? Come on, it has to be good. This is your passion, don’t let others confuse where your values lie. Hurry, speak faster, you’re losing their attention and this is important. What makes your heart pound when it’s brought up in conversation because you’re so elated?
Built-By-Brook is a dream come true and I’m only 22 years old. I’ve been doing this for almost 3 years now and started when I was only twenty. When people ask about training and my ideas, I get so excited that I light up and automatically feel my heart race. My goals are lofty and incredibly daunting. The ideas I have for this and other ventures are even more insane than I would like to admit. But, if you don’t act on your own ideas and your own passions, what life are you really creating for yourself and those around you?
My dreams are becoming my realities one day at a time. I constantly live in a state of life that makes me equal parts fearful and elated. I’m just crazy enough to try and just smart enough to be mindful along the way. Speaking of, here’s my latest venture. For those of you that support me and love what I do, this is for you. Whether you’re a client, a fan, family, or a friend, I hope you like this product as much as I do. I’ll be repping it every day for the rest of the summer, I know that for sure.
The idea to create a product to support my brand came about several months ago. Until recently, I was afraid that putting a product out there would give way for others to judge me and question my abilities (speaking of imposter syndrome, smh). Today, I am proud to say that after weeks of contemplation, I am putting my first brand apparel on the market. Any and all proceeds go to my powerlifting career and next competition, USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals in Chicago, IL.
Powerlifting has given me the strength and courage to be who I am at all times. To act on my ideas with urgency because I’m only on this earth for a finite time. My passion is to help others. It just so happens that Built-By-Brook allows me to follow my dreams and follow my passion at the same time. Whether you invest in a shirt, tank top, or V-neck to support me or to rock some motivational apparel, I thank you. It means the world to me. Link below:
Available in T-Shirts, Tank Tops, and V-Neck styles.