Ep.27 | Becoming The Head Coach of Fortis Powerlifting

We are making something official that’s been true for years: Liz is the Head Powerlifting Coach at Fortis Powerlifting. She’s the one writing our base team powerlifting programming, building the meet-day spreadsheets, and creating the backend systems that let us handle multiple athletes across flights and still make smart decisions under pressure.

We talk through how Liz actually grew into the role, starting with her first powerlifting meet back in 2018 and the moment she got obsessed with the why behind strength training. Her background as a teacher shaped the way she programs and coaches: clear progression, strong fundamentals, and the patience to fix one or two key things instead of trying to overhaul everything at once. If you’re a lifter, you’ll hear how great cues stay simple. If you’re a coach, you’ll hear why working with the general population can build a deeper toolbox for squat, bench, and deadlift success.

Then we get into the tough part: meet day. Attempt selection and weight calls can feel brutal when the stakes are real, the clock is running, and you’re responsible for the outcome. Liz shares how she went from avoiding platform decisions to confidently picking jumps, reading speed, and helping athletes squeeze the biggest total possible on that day, plus how experience and better anxiety management changed her decision-making.

We also share a team update: Coach Kadrin is joining the Fortis Powerlifting coaching roster, expanding what we can offer lifters who want serious powerlifting coaching and meet prep support. 

If this helped you see coaching differently, subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review so more lifters can find the show.

Transcript

Liz Named Head Powerlifting Coach

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hello there. Welcome to another episode of the Fortis After Hours podcast. I'm your co-host, Nate, joined by my wife Liz. Hey. And we have another awesome episode planned for you guys today. I bet you didn't guess that was coming. Uh, but no, I'm super excited about this episode. We're gonna be talking about, well, no, we got an introduction to make, actually, an official introduction. Uh, we're gonna be introducing the head Fortis powerlifting coach. Um, and we're gonna be talking about the evolution of Liz as a powerlifting coach for Fortas. It's me. So, anyways, yeah, so we'll we'll get the introduction out of the way first. So this is Liz, our head powerlifting coach at Fortis Powerlifting.

SPEAKER_02 0:41

Surprise! Um bet you guys didn't know that.

SPEAKER_00 0:44

Yeah, so this is kind of like Liz has already been doing the head powerlifting. This is really nothing new, guys. Yeah, it's really nothing new. It's just a classification that I felt like it was time to make uh publicly. But yeah, Liz is our head powerlifting coach. Um, and by that, meaning you guys, she uh writes all of our base powerlifting programming. So, like for our team programming, um, and you know, also has all of her own uh custom programming clients and things like this, but she writes our powerlifting programming. She does all of the back-end basically organization, um, just a simple way to put it. Planning, organization, uh, preparation. She has all of the sheets in Google Sheets, all the things to make our meets, yeah, like make our meets and uh your guys' attempts run smoothly. And she's been doing this now for quite a while. Um, so yeah, this is kind of fun fact.

SPEAKER_02 1:43

It's not Nate. Yeah, it's not me.

SPEAKER_00 1:45

Not me, guys. Um this is kind of something that she's just naturally developed into. Um, and now I guess it's finally time to go public with it.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Um it's not like it was a secret.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Yeah, it's not like it was a secret, it was just more like something we always like talked about.

SPEAKER_02 1:59

I feel like well, and I think just a lot of people assumed that it was you, yeah, just because yeah, so I don't know, you're you. Well, yeah, I'm you're a guy.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

I s well, yeah, and like in the very beginning it was just me. Um, and then you know, you came on as a full-time coach and trainer as well. Uh, but I think a lot of people, we do have a lot of people that have been with us from the very beginning, and I think they're just like used to that. Yeah. Um, but no, actually, Liz has been writing the Fortis Powerlifting program for years. Like four years, three, maybe, I don't even know. A long time.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

A long time. I feel like because honestly, I started writing it before I even worked here full time.

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:39

So and I started working here full time in 2021. So we're talking like probably like six years.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Yeah, probably six years of at least. So she's been writing for a long time, and she's been honing her skills specifically for running, you know, meet day efficiently uh for a long time as well. That's gotten so much better.

SPEAKER_02 2:55

Um, it used to be so scary.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

Yeah, that's what I want to talk about. It's just kind of like how you've evolved uh as a coach and as a trainer, and specifically into our head powerlifting coach. So

How Coaching Started For Liz

SPEAKER_00 3:08

yeah. Sounds good. Um yeah, so I think the first thing, the first thing kind of that I wanted to talk about was just how you got into powerlifting coaching. Um you really got started with that because I think that it's I think that it's like an interesting story how you got started.

SPEAKER_02 3:25

In powerlifting?

SPEAKER_00 3:26

As no coaching powerlifting.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Yeah. Um, so yeah, how did you start coaching powerlifting?

SPEAKER_02 3:33

Well, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

I feel like I'm gonna be interviewing myself here today.

SPEAKER_02 3:41

Apparently, well, okay, so I I feel like there's not like a super crazy story of how I got into like specifically powerlifting coaching.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:49

Like I really enjoyed powerlifting. So like I did my first meet in 2018 that you figured out how to coach me for. Magically. Um I don't know. There wasn't really like a I don't know. We didn't do powerlifting until we decided I was going to do powerlifting, and then you figured out how to be a powerlifting coach. Um and then I guess like I just kind of really fell in love with the sport of powerlifting. Um got more involved as an athlete in the sport of powerlifting. Um was the first thing I would say. Like I, you know, I really enjoyed it. I really was involved in like me competing, and I just really liked the process of it. And then that was kind of around the time where I started doing like some personal training at the gym, but was still teaching full-time um in Pensacola. And I just I always really enjoyed helping people like develop their strength and like find that um because I thought it was super cool and super empowering to be like way stronger than I think I thought that I could be. Um and so I think that was just something that I enjoyed doing and then helping others uh like feel that like empowerment that came through powerlifting.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

Yeah, and I feel like you kind of like you enjoy like figuring out how things work. Um, because like oh yeah, I like little puzzles. Yeah, I was gonna say at first it's just like like you know, I'd write a program and uh like you would get stronger. And then I feel like there came a point where you're like, okay, I want to know like how I'm getting stronger. And you started really like learning that.

SPEAKER_02 5:30

Yeah, I I mean, I always like learning things. So I mean that's never and I think like when I'm invested in something personally, I'm definitely going to spend the time learning more about it. Yeah. So I learned the process of how you get stronger, the different phases of training, the different like cycles that you can go through with training.

SPEAKER_00 5:47

Um Yeah, and something that I've learned over the years is that I am uh while I really enjoy teaching people um, you know, clients that I'm working with, coaching people, things like this. Uh, the there's a big disconnect for me, uh trying to work on as something that I'm getting better at, I think, as a leader, but something I was not good at, I don't think, in the beginning. And that is like teaching other people how to train. Uh, you know, like like working on that. Like I was much more of a this is what I'm doing, like, follow along. And luckily, Liz is insanely smart and was able to do that and learn at a very rapid pace.

SPEAKER_02 6:25

I think that well, I think part of like what helped me with that is like I am a teacher. Yeah, like that is what I was I am whatever, professionally a teacher. I went to college, I have two degrees, all in teaching, education, whatever. Um, so I think like taking those skills of like knowing how to teach and like how to build on things and plan things, and like it's a lot of the same like foundational blocks for teaching as it is with powerlifting. So I think that's part of why, like, and then because I was very passionate about powerlifting, I think that that kind of allowed me to like almost like combine those two things together, like the passion of educating people with the passion of powerlifting, which allowed me to really like dive into the world of powerlifting coaching, and then like help me whatever succeed at that as well.

Programming Skills From Teaching

SPEAKER_00 7:21

Yeah, I agree. And I think like the first thing that you really dialed in on was the programming because I remember you know it's easy, it's like writing lesson plans. Yeah, and I remember you really excelled at writing workouts. Liz was able to really catch on fast and uh just be very efficient with your time uh writing programming from the very beginning. Like she was able to really like I don't know, learn super quick, uh way quicker than it took me, which is just different. Like, I don't know, like if you guys have been around, you've known I'm more of like maybe like I'll do something first. Like I'm kind of like more of like a pioneer type person, I guess. Like I'll get out there and get it done. Yeah, um I'm not really sure how I'll get it done, but it will be done. And that's a that's a promise. Like it's not gonna, it'll be done well, like to the best of my abilities, but like, you know, I might be missing certain things. And what really makes us a good team is Liz is like, oh, it's not gonna be done well, it's gonna be done perfectly. And I'm like, oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:20

Oh, interesting.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yeah, okay, interesting. Um, but what's been super nice is like, you know, I do a lot of like the day-to-day business stuff and handle running the gym and whatnot. And uh, you know, Liz has been able to just lock in on like basically developing as a personal trainer and a powerful thing coach. That's it. Um, and I think because of that, she's been able to make it's just been able to be a super good like team dynamic for us and a really good um I don't know, a really good outcome, a really good uh service that we've been able to deliver to you guys because we have Liz working so hard on that.

SPEAKER_02 8:59

Yeah, and I think um part of it like just as like the evolution of it goes, whatever, like the programming stuff, like like you said, that came pretty like easy naturally to me because that comes from like teaching. Like literally, we would write lesson plans how to get from point A to point B. It's I understand it's different, but it's the same. Um, the same like concept, the same structures are applied, how my brain works for that. Plus, I like planning and organizing things. Um, when I first started though, the hard part for me, well, there was a few, like multiple hard hard parts, but like even just like simply like training people and like noticing like the nuances of like what was right and what was wrong, and like really dialing in on like specifics, like that was just harder for me. But I mean that's normal for like for a person who's like just getting started in the world of training, period. Like, you're not you're just not gonna be as good at the beginning as you will be five, six, seven years later. That's just life. And I think

Cues, Observation, And Coaching Restraint

SPEAKER_02 9:56

that's how that works.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

That's a big thing. And we've said this on the podcast before, but it's maybe been a while since we've talked about coaching. You know, I really truly believe that some of the best powerlifting coaches andor like sports-specific coaches uh can come from people that maybe have just worked with general public, just they've been a personal trainer for years prior. Because I'll tell you, it gives you, you know, when I started, you know, powerlifting coaching, like signing, you know, people up for their first powerlifting meet, focusing on powerlifting coaching, I already have a backlog of like hundreds of people that I've worked with in real life. Like I've seen their bodies moving through space, seen the mistakes they've made, seen the good things that they've done. So like I have a much like I don't know, bigger library, just as if like with Liz, like with teaching you know, kids, like she knew like all these different things to teach the kids effectively. Same kind of concept just with training people in real life. So, like when I needed someone to do, you know, uh maybe be a little bit more upright in a squat or maybe get their hips a little bit further back in a deadlift. I had like 50 different cues already like logged in uh that I could give people. And I feel like in the beginning, like that like took you like a second to like learn, which is like totally, totally.

SPEAKER_02 11:05

I mean, that's normal, yeah. That's like a normal thing for people learning things.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

My advice from that, you guys, is like make sure that you are working with like general population. I'm talking to my coaches out there. Like, I see sometimes like people they're like, yeah, I just want to only powerlift coach. It's like, okay, like that's fine, but that's a very, very small sliver of like fitness as a whole. And like you having more knowledge is not gonna make you worse at powerlifting coaching. I think that's like sometimes the funny thing is like it's like, well, I'm just looking at squat badge deadlift. It's like, okay, but there's like a lot of other stuff that you want to be doing to be a well-rounded lifter. Um, and I I do think that you know my background uh might have like fast-tracked you being able to like learn that quicker. Plus, like we it was not always easy, but we've worked together. Yeah, me training you type thing.

SPEAKER_02 11:57

And I'm also like, it's funny because you always tell me like how not observant I am, because you're not in real life, I'm not very observant. But I think like it stems again from me teaching and like being just like aware of what was going on in the classroom, yeah. And like watching all of my kids at once, and like I could tell you what they were all doing, like what they should be doing, like, and like you know, sometimes as a teacher or a parent or a coach, whatever, you're gonna pick and choose your battles. So, like, obviously, I did that.

SPEAKER_00 12:27

Um I tried this haired down thing, it's not for me.

SPEAKER_02 12:29

Okay. But even I would say, so like in the gym, I feel like probably like when I was like learning, even you know, from you, watching other people, like I feel like I was probably like observing, like, even like subconsciously, like how people were moving, what they were doing, how you were coaching them, even when I wasn't coaching yet. So like I was just absorbing all of that. Um, one, because I'm interested in it, obviously. And then two, just because that's like how my brain was was like wired. It was like trained to basically like observe the room, like know what's going on in the room. So I think like even now, I still do that because it's funny, people are like, oh my gosh, I didn't even know you were watching me. And I was like, well, I wasn't directly watching you, but like I still knew what you were doing enough for me to come and like fix the problem of what you were doing.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

Um yeah, no, I feel like you were able to really pick up on like uh cues and like just how people move throughout space, being able to correct uh things like that, not over queuing. That's another thing that I think some people make uh the mistake of is like they're just coming in and they're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_02 13:33

Especially new coaches because they they think that everyone, and I guess this is just something that I again learned probably fairly quickly, and or probably from you, but like they I think new coaches specifically expect lifters, especially in the world of powerlifting, to just be perfect in what they're doing. Like know how to perfectly squat with just a couple cues. But like if someone's never squatted before, like there's a chance that they're not gonna be doing everything or many things correctly. So, like taking the time basically to fix like one to two things at first, like minimal things, but the most important foundational things, like fixing those first and then building on that, um, rather than trying to fix all like 10 things at once. But I then I think again, stems back to teaching, like same thing with kids. You're not gonna try and teach them like 10 different things, like you're focusing on one to two things to like really dial in that like knowledge and understanding.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

Yeah, because I think you know, I think that that's a big thing with coaching and personal training in general. It's like you really want the least amount of cues, you just want the right one. All right, you want the right fit. It's like a puzzle, and you just want one piece. You don't need like 50 different pieces. Like if you just like throw a bunch of puzzle pieces on the ground, they don't look good at all. But if you can just put one piece at a time, then all of a sudden you have a beautiful picture. And it's the exact same thing with coaching, like one thing at a time, and you just like allow the person to digest it, to work towards it, to accomplish it, and then you move from there. Um, and I just think you did a really good job with that in the beginning. And that was something that I feel like you accelerated very fast, even just with like within a few months of becoming a powerlifting coach, um, and really focusing on that. Um, now the other side of powerlifting coaching is your meat day, uh basically being in front of people.

Meet Day Pressure And Attempt Calls

SPEAKER_00 15:19

That's the worst day. Yeah, it's your meat day uh calls, it is uh doing what you did today, which was the inspiration for this episode, like running people through openers. Um, you know, kind of more, I don't know, like the pressure, high pressure, pressure cookie situation. Um, game day. Yeah, game day decisions. And that in the beginning, yeah. I'll tell you like those. Yeah, this is some top secret knowledge, but we'll drop it now. So like back in the beginning, Liz was literally, she's like, I'm not doing that.

SPEAKER_02 15:54

I'm like, I wouldn't do it. What? I wouldn't make weight calls.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

Yeah, she's like, you would not make weight calls. And like, you know, these are like, you know, the people she's been working with, whatever, but like she just wasn't like comfortable with it. I don't like what was the reasoning?

SPEAKER_02 16:07

I don't know. It was scary. There was way too much pressure because like I think, I mean, it was a me thing. Like, I just wasn't confident enough in myself, I guess, to like make the right call. Even though like basically all my calls were correct, I just couldn't be the one to do it because in my brain, I'm like, well, what if they miss it? Or what if they could have done more? Or what if this isn't the right number? Or what if this? I had too many, like, I don't know, anxiety, like what ifs, like and like it was funny. If it went according to the plan of like what I had planned going into the meet, easy peasy, no problem. Like, second attempt moved like it should, perfect. We load this for the third, no problem.

SPEAKER_00 16:44

They miss the second attempt.

SPEAKER_02 16:45

Yeah, they miss it, or it's like super hard, or it's super easy because like sometimes like it's super easy, and then I'm like, well, this was what we're gonna do for the third, but maybe they could do more, but I don't want to like what if I put them to more and then they can't do it and they could have done this. Like, I just like I wasn't confident enough in like what basically like weight calls. Like, I hadn't watched enough people move. I hadn't watched, like, I don't know, like it was just definitely a confidence thing, or like a I don't know what they what's the word for that? The um imposter syndrome. Like I didn't really feel like I was like qualified to be doing this. Now put me in the warm-up room, we're good to go. I could run that warm-up room, no problem. But again, there's a plan with that. And or I made a plan of all the people that were in my rack. There was a plan of how we were getting through warmups. But oh, you put me out on that platform and try to make me make weight calls, absolutely not, wouldn't do it.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

Yeah, and I think a lot of it is just because, like, you know, before you step on the stage and you are making those wait calls in front of people for people, there's not too much of a consequence because you're in the gym, you're just doing your thing. And then like you go out there and it's like, oh, like if we if I say the wrong thing, then this person like misses, then that's like kind of on me, whatever. Um, and it's a little definitely, you know, like I said, kind of a higher pressure situation. And so, anyways, I say that because now, so fast forward, whatever you said, six years it's been, um, maybe more than that. And you are amazing at it and very confident, and you're able to go good to go, literally fly across the country uh to handle people at meets, make the correct attempt selections, make sure we are, I always say, just trying to squeeze every single ounce of strength out of that person and get their highest total they can get uh on that day. So, like explain to us kind of like I guess the journey of like how you went from that to where you're at today because it's drastically different.

SPEAKER_02 18:35

Um, I would say there's probably like multiple things. One, just like experience, like doing it enough times and watching enough people lift and just like becoming more comfortable with like what people can do.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

I feel like that's the biggest thing because I mean, yeah. You when you build reps, you know.

SPEAKER_02 18:49

Well, yeah, I have yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

Like you, I mean, you went from okay, I've only seen a few people compete ever to like now you've watched thousands of lifts. Like literally.

SPEAKER_02 18:56

And like whether it's our lifters or other lifters that I'm not even coaching, like I have an idea of like what like proper jumps are, like how much is like a normal jump, like what makes sense, what doesn't make sense, what can people typically do. Um, also there is a difference as far as like body weight goes, like what you're what like just someone's size can make a difference in what kind of attempt or jumps that they can make from one attempt to another, because that does play a part in it. So just like learning all of that, watching all of that, experiencing all of that. I mean, obviously everyone is different, but also just kind of like learning that. Um, two, I think a little bit was just like I had to. Um, as like that's true, as our team grew. Um, some meets there were just too many people. That's actually true. I think that was that's how that started. Yeah, yeah, um, it was a two-platform meet. I think it was SummerSlam, it was the first one that I had to actually start making like actual wait calls for. It was a two-platform meet. Um, I think it was SummerSlam. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

No, it was because I remember us talking now that you bring this up. I remember us talking, and you know, we're going through it, and I'm like, like, because like I'm pretty good at the that stuff, but I'm not good at the planning, and like I'm just like, yeah, I'll get it done. And Liz's like, well, there's gonna be two platforms, like this person will be going at the exact same time. I'm like, hmm. I didn't think about that. And she's like, what are you gonna do for that? I was like, I don't know. I was like, and then I'm like, and then I looked at her, I'm like, okay, well, you're gonna have to go make them. Like, I was like, I don't know. Like, she's like, so what are you gonna do? I'm like, uh, you are gonna. I was like, we gotta work as a team. Yeah, and I think, yeah, that was like it was one of those meets, and that was a good one.

SPEAKER_02 20:23

I think it was a two-platform meet, and we had like 21 lifters, so we had lifters in like every flight on both platforms. So basically, there was no one else. Yeah, there's no option. It was me. So that meet, I just like had to do it. And then, like, I mean, I'd coached at many meets before, but like basically that one was the first one that like I just had to do it.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

And I have a big baptism by fire guys for my athletes and people that happened, like um we employ like our like people that are on our Fortis team. So I'm a big like, all right, you've trained enough. Yeah, let's go.

SPEAKER_02 20:54

So I did it, and it really wasn't that bad. Like, I was like, oh, I can do this. And then I think just like each meet after that, like built a little more confidence, a little more confidence. And then, you know, there was some meets that I feel like it was just me. Like I've traveled to them or whatever, so like there was no one else. Yep, it was only me. So then I also just did it because that's what I had to do. And then I again like continued to realize, like, hey, I'm actually pretty good at this, like I do know what I'm talking about. So like just build some confidence in that, and then like you know, just a stronger understanding of like I do know what I'm doing, I am supposed to be doing this, like I am very capable of doing this. And then I mean, part two, also when I started taking some lovely medicine for my brain, um, that just helps with like overall general anxiety of things. Yeah. So then I think just having less anxiety period allows me to just be like, oh yeah, this is what we're doing. Like, I know how to do this. Yeah. So I think that probably also in the past whatever year and a half. A couple of years, I feel a couple years, however long that's been. I think that also has. Has helped along with the experience, but then just having less anxiety in my life.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:05

In social situations, in big scary situations, just being less anxious in general has helped create, like build the confidence.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

I feel like it's maybe almost like helped like free the mind. Because like Liz is like a super smart individual. Um, that's one of the reasons uh why I married her. So like she's insanely smart. And maybe before you were almost like hindered by like the social situation or the anxiety or whatever. And now you're able to just like operate at the highest level, like that you were always maybe capable of operating at, but maybe it was like stifled.

SPEAKER_02 22:38

It's like what I used to be at, like how my brain used to work.

SPEAKER_00 22:41

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:41

And then it didn't work like that for a while, and then now it works like that again. Yeah, and yeah, there's a little chunk of time where my brain didn't really work so good.

SPEAKER_00 22:50

Yeah, but then brain blip?

SPEAKER_02 22:52

It was a very long brain blip, but yes. But it appears to be um back to like how I used to feel about things.

SPEAKER_00 23:01

Probably better than that though.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

Well, maybe. I mean, yeah, I'm just like generally more confident person, I guess, now but I feel like you are. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:09

Um, so yeah, so that's kind of been the evolution of Liz as a powerlifting coach and now our head powerlifting coach. Um surprise. And yeah.

Systems, Team Roles, And Scaling

SPEAKER_02 23:18

Uh I think fun fact, girls can coach powerlifting.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 23:21

I'm just gonna throw that out there since a lot of people think they can't.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

Yeah, and also, and also like one of the reasons why I wanted to talk about this was well, and then I'm gonna explain the inspiration right at the end. Uh, but one of the reasons I wanted to talk about this was because we do still get that to this day, where it's like, I think people just like mainly assume that it's just me. And like, you guys, like, we wouldn't be able to build like this like whole space, the Fortis Power Thing team that we've grown over the years without the two of us.

SPEAKER_02 23:48

Um, it's I mean, you're you're like the face, you're outspoken, you talk to everybody. I don't, I don't do those things. I'm much quieter, I'm much more reserved, I'm more introverted. Yeah, I mean, especially in like big situations. Like, obviously, the people that I know like know me know that I'll talk to them and whatever, but definitely you are more than that.

SPEAKER_00 24:07

Yeah, I I mean we both have different roles, and basically like Liz's role like is more, like I said, just kind of like the head Powerleton coach. Like, she like understands our programming, uh, she writes our team programming, uh, she handles all of the like back end stuff, which you guys is hours, hours of work going to each meet, uh making sure that it runs smoothly. We're only able to go to these meets and handle five, six, seven, ten people all at once, and everyone does well. Um, meaning, you know, everyone has a different goal. Maybe they had something happen in the prep, but like every one of our athletes is always going to do well. Um, whether they're shooting for a PR, whether they're coming back from an injury, uh, whether they're just there to lift. We're gonna make sure they do well. And the our ability to do that, not like I don't say on command, but kind of on command, like basically wherever we want, whenever we want, is because of Liz and I working together. Uh, if it was just me, we would not be able to do that at the scale that we're doing. If it was just Liz, we also probably would not be able to do that at the scale that we're doing. Um, so it's it's a really a team effort, and that's what I wanted to highlight. Uh, like Liz said, yeah, as far as as far as my role, like not to be confused, don't worry. I'll still be coaching powerlifting. I love coaching the sport. Uh, and I love, you know, all other powerlifting team members that we've grown uh over the years, but I do a lot of other things for the business, and it is not my only focus. It is basically, I mean, you essentially powerlifting coach and then personal training slash general fitness, whatever. Um, I there's a lot of other slices in my pie of things that I do, and um that will probably continue to be that way just because that's what I enjoy, and Liz has become such an amazing key uh role of our powerlifting team. And yeah, so I'm more like Liz was saying earlier, like I I I really enjoy things I enjoy, um, or really like actually making like game day calls and decisions, things like that. Um but as far as like the day-to-day stuff, Liz does has been doing all this stuff and will continue to do all that stuff. And for me, I'm more of like uh sometimes every now and then we we come across a problem. Um, like we had an issue for Liz where she was able to be strong on some days, but not other days, and we needed a solution, and I came up with a very out-of-the-box solution. And it works well for me, it works really well, and we've used it, I was saying we've used it with other people. Um and it's been nice though, because I'll have this idea, but then Liz will really make it like practical and make it really into a system. I think that's like the best way to describe what you do is like you have so many systems built on the back end of our Fortis Powelling team so that it can run smoothly.

SPEAKER_02 27:00

Yeah, well, and like some of those repeatedly some of the things and like ideas look very simple, but like without knowing like the deep dive behind it, it's not necessarily as simple as it might look. Like there's probably a lot more that goes into it than people.

SPEAKER_00 27:12

And I think I think that's one of the biggest things. I always wanted to provide like a simple uh you know solution, so to speak, or a simple thing uh for people because as an athlete, you want just a quick plan to follow and you want to see results, and we can deliver them. So yeah, it's pretty awesome. Yeah, and we've become quite the great team.

New Coach Added And Next Steps

SPEAKER_00 27:33

So thanks for being on the team. Um speaking of being on the team, we have just expanded and added Coach Kadron uh on our Fortis powerlifting team of coaches. He is very experienced in the sport, uh, totaled over 1,700 pounds. He's coached many athletes to national and state records over the years, uh, and he's now part of our team, which is fantastic. We've posted about this, but I don't know if we've talked about it on the podcast. So we are working on expanding um with his help, and he's already kind of growing and getting some people onto his roster. So if you guys are listening to this and you're looking for a powerlifting coach, reach out to us and we'll set you up with him. Um, or one of us. But yeah, it's been really cool to build a system that I think now we can scale uh and reach more people with our overarching goal of redefining strong for everyone.

unknown 28:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:27

Because strong does not look the same for every single person. No, so I think that about does it.

SPEAKER_02 28:33

Sounds good.

SPEAKER_00 28:34

Thank you guys so much for tuning in to another episode of the podcast. If you haven't already subscribed to our YouTube, make sure you guys subscribe. That was crazy. I mean, is it crazy though? Yeah, you are not really. Uh so yeah, subscribe to the YouTube channel, you guys. Uh, we really appreciate all your support over the years. If you're already subscribed, thank you so much. And we'll see you guys in the next video. Peace.

SPEAKER_02 28:55

Bye.