Trina Gray emphasizes the importance of thriving in every aspect of life, whether in work, fitness, or home life. She shares her journey from journalism school to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, highlighting key moments where showing up hard led to significant opportunities. Trina recounts her experience as a college student who impressed a journalist, leading to published articles and internships. She also describes how her dedication to fitness classes in northern Michigan eventually led to opening her own health club. Finally, she recalls a motivational speech at a junior high banquet that later led to keynote speaking engagements. Trina encourages listeners to always give their best effort, as it can open unexpected doors and positively impact their future.

“You never know who’s watching when you show up hard—it might just be the person who opens your next door.” – Trina Gray

Topics:

Thrive Where You Are Planted: Introduction and Theme

• Trina Gray emphasizes the importance of showing up and thriving in all aspects of life, whether it’s workouts, work, or home life.
• She introduces the podcast, “Calm and Confident,” and shares her background as a former journalist and fitness instructor turned entrepreneur.
• The episode’s theme, “Thrive Where You Are Planted,” is introduced, with Trina sharing her personal story of graduating from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
• Trina explains that the lesson of thriving where you are planted has been pivotal in her career over the past three decades.

The Importance of Showing Up Hard

• Trina discusses the concept of “showing up hard” in all spaces, regardless of the size of the audience or opportunity.
• She introduces the phrase “next level of unlock” from her mentor, Brendan Broussard, to describe the next level of excellence in life.
• Trina uses the analogy of the game Ms. Pac-Man to explain the idea of unlocking new levels of excellence by showing up as your best self.
• She encourages listeners to show up in every opportunity, whether it’s a volunteer position, work, or social outing, to become the best version of themselves.

Applicability Across Career Stages

• Trina addresses listeners at different stages of their careers, from young professionals to those in transition or retirement.
• She emphasizes that thriving where you are planted is relevant at any stage of life and can lead to new opportunities.
• Trina shares her experience of mentoring people who often wait for better situations before giving their best effort.
• She encourages listeners to thrive in their current situations to open new doors and create better opportunities for themselves.

Personal Examples of Thriving

• Trina shares personal examples from her life to illustrate how thriving where you are planted has led to significant opportunities.
• She recounts her experience as a journalism student who showed up and thrived in her classes, leading to opportunities with the Wisconsin State Journal and Madison Magazine.
• Trina describes how her dedication and hard work as a student journalist opened doors to writing for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and interning at the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
• She emphasizes the importance of showing up with every opportunity and how it can lead to unexpected and significant opportunities down the road.

Starting Over and Building a Following

• Trina shares her experience of moving to northern Michigan and starting over with no connections or prospects.
• She describes how she thrived in local fitness classes, even teaching in dusty town halls and recreation centers.
• Trina built a following and a community of raving fans by showing up and giving her best effort in every class.
• She shares how this dedication and hard work led to the opening of her own health club, Bay Athletic Club, which has become an award-winning business.

Impact of Speaking at Junior High Banquet

• Trina recounts her experience of speaking at a local junior high honor society banquet, despite her busy career and family life.
• She describes how she delivered a powerful message to junior high students about making good choices and carving their own paths.
• Trina shares how her talk at the banquet led to an unexpected opportunity five years later, when a parent in the audience hired her to speak at a Nationwide Insurance conference.
• She emphasizes the importance of showing up and being prepared to seize opportunities, even when they seem unrelated to your current situation.

Commitment to Being Great

• Trina concludes by encouraging listeners to commit to being great in their current situations and to thrive where they are planted.
• She explains that this commitment can lead to a better version of oneself in all areas of life, from health and fitness to work and finances.
• Trina emphasizes that the lesson of thriving where you are planted is relevant for everyone, regardless of age or stage in life.
• She invites listeners to join her in thriving where they are planted and to show up as their best selves in every opportunity.

Connect with Trina:

Instagram | LinkedIn | Website