Daily Inspiration: Meet Jennifer Cooke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Cooke.

Hi Jennifer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
It all started when I was in high school and competed in sports. I found my love for pole vault my junior year when Pole vault was finally offered to girls in high school. This opportunity made it possible for me to compete as an athlete at Central Michigan University earning my athletic letter and also be a part of our 2002 Indoor MAC Championships. 

Shortly after college married my high school sweetheart Dan Cooke, who also competed on University of Michigan’s Track & Field team. To say we love our sports is an understatement. 

Eventually started our amazing family. After our firstborn, Madi, I started getting into coaching pole vault at Pinckney High School and it eventually turned into becoming the Men’s Track and Field Beach coach. Lugging around baby #2 Bo. But after having baby #3, Liam, I decided to take a break from coaching. I eventually got bored, needed an outlet, and thats when Zumba came into my world. I absolutely loved the class and eventually started coaching it myself which lead me to gain my GroupX certification to be able to teach more fitness classes. Which eventually brought me to TRV|FIT where I had the opportunity to own the location in Pinckney. This was an incredible opportunity and very quickly fell in love with owning my own gym, which lead me to open another location and purchase another while having our 4th baby, Kennedy. 

Owning a gym has been a blessing in my life. It has given me the opportunity to have a flexible schedule with my family as well as provide a place in our community for people to improve their health and well-being. This past year, I decided to leave the TRV}FIT franchise and go on my own, and I created our new gym EXALT FITNESS. This has given me an opportunity to carry out a vision for our members and community to help them stay committed to their health by measuring their progress over time and keeping them accountable. 

exalt.fit 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing worth doing is ever easy. When I first started coaching was a hobby for me. It got me out of the house gave me “me” time. But quickly, I figured out that I did not have all of the answers on how to run a business. 

When Pinckney first opened, we had a rough start. We had our Grand Opening and quickly were shut down due to things out of our control. This prevented us from holding classes for 60 members that had been signed up to start. It took about 2 months to secure an alternative location in Whispering Pines Golf Club in their basement which we operated for 8 months while work was completed at our permanent location. Finally, we were able to move in!! 

Opening Dexter was very exciting. I felt like Pinckney was doing well, successful and we had moved to Dexter, so it was only natural to expand our offering. Then come COVID, and we all know that story. Unfortunately, after reopening we just were never able to get going in that market and closed after 2 years of being open. 

However, there was a bright side to COVID. We had the opportunity to purchase TRVFIT Fowlerville when the owner decided to move out of state. Fowlerville has been an amazing community and is thriving. 

Going through closing our Dexter location gave me awareness that I needed additional help and support in running my gym as a business in order to keep our doors open for many years ahead. I had to change my mindset and turn this hobby into a business that was sustainable so our members could not risk their own gym closing, which I saw so much of and still do since covid. 

Knowing this I reached out to a gym owners’ mento company called Two Brain. Hired a mentor, Taryn Dubreuil, and quickly got to work understanding my business and how best to operate. Now I have a great growth mindset and have so much hope four the future of our gym. 

I think as a small business owner you have to have the mindset of being open to change even if it’s hard and get past your fears that you may upset people. Because in the long run you are trying to do what is best for you and your business in order for it to be successful. 

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Find people who will support you on your journey. My husband has been an amazing spouse encouraging me to push past my own insecurities of going into business. He saw more in me than I ever did. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://exalt.fit
• Instagram: exaltfitnesspinkcney exaltfitnessfowlerville
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exaltfitnessfowlerville https://www.facebook.com/exaltfitnesspinckney/