Pursuing Your Passion with Jonny + Libby Diaz PH175

“I think the biggest thing that I take away are these transferable skills where, you would think that touring the country and hustling and making it happen in that way is specific to music, but it’s really not. That’s going to help us in the future with our gym, it has already as we bootstrapped the gym and figured that whole thing out, and even with our kids, just that idea of one step at a time. All you have control over is your next step. And that was all the music ever was, too, what’s my next step? What’s my next step? I never… It took me probably five years of doing music full-time to actually admit that I was a musician. I was always like, “Well, I’m doing music until I have to get a real job.” And then maybe five years later I was like, “I guess I’m a musician, I guess I should own that.” So yeah, it’s been fun to see how those skills kind of move into to different areas as well.”
- Jonny Diaz

Jonny Diaz is a contemporary Christian singer and songwriter with a number of chart topping albums, including  More Beautiful You which has appeared on several Billboard magazine charts, but his heart wasn't always set on being a musician.  He originally planned to focus his efforts on baseball, and attended Florida State University on a baseball scholarship.  As the fourth of four brothers to attend college on a baseball scholarship, two of whom have played professionally, a career in baseball seemed a natural fit.  However, while Jonny was in school, he also began to develop his musical talent.   Ultimately, he discovered that by working hard and pouring his time and energy into his passion for music, he was able to turn something he loved into his professional career.

Libby Diaz grew up in Florida and fell in love with movement mechanics at a young age when she began using functional fitness to elevate her soccer training.  She went on to play collegiate ball at Florida State University, and after graduation she slowly grew her hobby of leading fitness classes for friends into her own business.  She started small, with an outdoor boot camp, and as her clientele grew she began renting space from other facilities until it became clear it was time to go all-in and pursue her passion.

Together Jonny and Libby opened Fit Factory Nashville, a huge functional fitness gym with an incredibly close-knit community.

I first met Jonny on an airplane, and over the years we've kept in touch through social media.  I'm so impressed and inspired by the way he and Libby have charted their own course as they've established non-traditional careers.  In this episode, we chat about how they turned their hobbies into thriving careers, how they navigate the challenges of owning their own businesses, and how they create balance in their lives as parents and busy entrepreneurs.

In this episode we discuss:

• Jonny and Libby's backgrounds and how they met
• The road to pursuing their passions after college
• How Libby turned her hobby into a business she’s passionate about
• How Jonny started a career in the music industry
• How Jonny and Libby started CrossFit
• The rewards and challenges of turning their passions into their careers
• How they protect their time to create balance in their lives
• Things that have helped them navigate some of the challenges of owning their own businesses
• The power of having a mentor
• What their fitness routine looks like now that they have three kids and two businesses
• Lessons they’ve learned from the challenge associated with COVID
• Creative solutions to keep their coaches members bought into the business during COVID
• Three things Jonny and Libby do on a regular basis that have the biggest positive impact on their health
• One thing they struggle to implement that could have a big impact on their health
• What a healthy life looks like to Jonny and Libby

You can follow Jonny on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.  You can follow Libby on Instagram, and you can follow Fit Factory Nashville on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Links:

• Jonny Diaz on Spotify
• Logan Gelbrich, Deuce Gym
• BirthFit
• ROMWOD
• Whole30
• Some of Libby's favorite toe mobility: Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4

Related episodes:

Ep 01 - Rich Froning on Competition, Shifting Priorities, and Discovering His Purpose

Ep 51 - Dick Costolo on Taking Risks and Finding Fitness

Ep 41 - Graham + Savanna Holmberg: From Fittest Man, to Faith and Family

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating. I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below and on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every other Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.