Samantha Morillo

I have to say, at the end of the day, it's my parents. For sure, there's people that came along the way that definitely, you know, at times of high school, college, and even my current life, but, you know, not to get emotional, but my parents are, you know, God bless they're still living to this day, so they're my biggest supporters and understanding, and, you know, gave me the real tough love since I was a firstborn child. I call myself a test dummy child, so I got all the stuff real hit hard. And I mean, for real, like, when I tell you, I can understand you can't raise kids the same way, but I'm glad I was raised the same way, because there's a reason why I'm, like, very organized, very structured, and, you know, don't have to, even though I still worry, but they always say, you're gonna be completely fine, like, you're gonna still be successful, it just takes its time. But no, I would say my parents are my biggest role models, teaching me, understanding, tough love, and also, you know, adaptation, learning, you know, at a different pace and stuff, because, you know, times have changed, mental health has changed, so the exposure to that. And yeah, they were my biggest thing. Even the best part is, like, a lot of times, like, you know, for a long time, my youngest self, like, we didn't see eye-to-eye in a lot of things first, so the fact that we didn't see eye-to-eye for many years, and then, you know, I took the time to mature and understand and learn, you know, it's definitely molded me to be who I am today, so I'll say them, for sure.

Some people just say be yourself because you have all the skill set. I always, I never, like, doubt myself too, too, like, heavily, but it's just, like, you know, I always feel like I could do more, I could always do more kind of mentality. But I think the best advice ever is just, like, you know, show what you're capable of, showcase all your skills that you can, you know, because then someone will look at it, you know, pretend like someone's... pretend you're working hard with, like, someone's watching you, you know, that's what someone said to me, because someone might catch you when you're not... when you're working your hardest, and they say, that's what we want, you know, that's what we need. That's somebody that can be part of our team, part of our organization, you know. And then another advice I would say is, like, how can you make a company, you know, grow better or become better? You know, some people just go to the job and it's like, okay, it's just there for a check, or some people go to a job because, like, you know, they're desperate for a job, you know? What can you do beyond that to make that organization, that company, that work better, easier, more efficient. And that's the best advice I would say, because then your impact can change a business in a flash. Like, my gym, the impact they have, they've been making more money, collecting more clients, from my first two years working there. And, you know, at least my bosses and managers have told me, like, you've been a great addition that you changed the game for us, you know, and kept it together, so yeah. You see it on a little smaller scale, so, with that impact, I know that I'm doing the right thing and going to the right direction, and I always want to see what can I do more about that? Like, how can we get more clients? How can I use my time valuable, you know, but at the end of the day, also get the pay that you deserve to have, you know? Because that's what we, at the end of the day, not just because of financials and things are going higher, you know, things like The Rock said it best, like, he's a billion-dollar walking company, and that was before he became a billion-dollar company on himself because that's the thing, because, like, you can do all that hard work, but, you know, receiving an income that is reported to showcase that as well, especially for a woman. If I'm doing so much of an impact, you know, it's not, like, for free only, it's also, as a woman, we gotta be attacking on here, because, you know, we have to understand there's a balance of people. There's people who do the bare minimum, cannot get paid more than you, you know?

I think the biggest advice I would say is just don't be afraid to try something and let it fall, and then you fall your face into it, because just know it's not gonna be your first time getting fired, it's not gonna be your last time getting fired. I say that because I think women, many times, are just afraid to even take the opportunity, even if it's a male-dominated world, or if there's not many women in the industry. I just say, just take the chance, because the worst they can say is no, the worst they can fire you. It's not the end of the world, because, you know, you still got your heart breathing, you've still got your mind thinking, and at least you're out there, because that's the thing, is just getting out there is the biggest thing. I just say don't be, don't be having fear or anything, because we already put, there's already enough obstacles on us on the system, there's no need to put adding obstacles to ourselves knowing, like, there's already obstacles in the system. So, knowing to take the chance and take the opportunity and, you know, really close the noise, you know, you can only control what you can control, and ignore the noise, because it's just, it's gonna hold you back. Like, that's the point I always say, like, just go for it, and the worst I can say, you know, you get fired. There's nothing. But always do it, but always do it, biggest thing with class. I think that's always biggest thing, because there's always, you know, being a, you know, a Black Latina myself, like, I do everything with class, I grew up in, you know, poverty before it, and I also grew up with privilege over time, like, you know, it's, it's so good to understand my mindset and what I represent myself. I don't sugarcoat anything, but I also know I keep myself real and understanding what it is to be, you know, respectful individual at the end of the day.

I think, like, the one common challenge is just, like, you know, being a woman in the strength and conditioning industry. Lucky for me, it's just, like, it's just the aspect of just having just a woman, you know, like, like, whatever show, you know, like I said, nothing wrong with that, judgment of that, it's just, you know, if they don't want a woman of color, that's completely fine, that doesn't hurt my feelings because I know what industry I come in. But it's not as often as it is, it's just, and it's like, you know, the people I train, even men or women, boys or girls, you know, they luckily don't feel a difference when I'm there. Like, you know, I bring an energy. Like, as a coach at the end of the day, like, I'm not, I am loud, I am passionate, I have the energy, you know, I might be crazier than even some male coaches, because there's some male coaches that are quiet as well, you know? I'm gonna bring any energy that I see in the room, and then try to turn it up as much as I can, so I'd say that's the only thing challenging when sometimes if they see a woman in a weight room, and they didn't expect somebody else, you know. But I do like changing people's minds at their first session with me, and they didn't even think about it twice. So I think that's the only part. And then the challenging is, at least for this coaching aspect of strength and conditioning, I think it's maybe a personal note, but, like, you know, since I'm an independent contractor, that it's hard to, like, you know, get benefits, you know, as soon as I'm gonna be 26, I am 26, but I have one year left of health insurance, and a serious note, like, you know, God forbid I get hurt, I gotta make sure I have health benefits just in case. And, you know, a lot of the jobs, you're independent contractor, or you're your own company, so, I think that aspect is hard for that industry, per se, some challenges, because, you know, you want to have, because coaching, they just think it's like, okay, you're just doing this XYZ. It goes beyond that. You change people's lives, you know, you change, and, you know, we're in the background, yes, and we don't get our representation, but, you know, you know, these people should have benefits as well, you know, for even doing something that's just taking care of individuals, you know? Like, we are changing people's, we are changing people's health and bodies, why not give us the health benefits that we should have, depending on the job, of course? But that's always based on the company, that's the major insurance, but that's, like, a personal essay, but challenging, I think it's being woman in this industry and, and that's about it. I think it's just the, you know, sometimes the difficulty of making sure you're doing everything right, helping somebody reach their potential, always having chaos. I think that's the only thing I say, handling chaos, because there's always chaos at this time of work, so, you know, when people try to help figure out stuff, but, you know, it's all good.

I always say I have, like, two brains that have my business life, and then I have my personal. I put a, I always try to find a separation in what I'm doing, and also find a blend, you know? Wherever I go, I kind of bring the energy, and it's not like you just allow energy, you know, just compassion and passion, you know, because, you know, like, I'm Latino, like, I'm gonna bring the so-called the romantic side of this love that I have for everything, you know? Bring a passion, because, you know, that can spark a different temperature in the room anywhere you come, so I kind of try to bring even when some people are having a dull moment, or they just think of someone just events, I don't somehow, I'm somewhere, I'm somehow a person that they vent to, no matter what, and I don't know if I have the face for it or whatever, but people will be telling me the randomest things, and I'm looking, I'm from New York, because nothing, nothing surprises me. People tell me the random stories, sometimes they need something to vent, you know, and sometimes they be just bringing my energy wherever it goes, you know, I try to make an impact because tomorrow's not promised, so why not spread it love to somebody? Why not meet someone new? I just kind of just bring a positivity.