The Importance of Showing Up with Sara B, Jessica Torro & Ryan Anderson
On this episode of Financially Naked: Stories from The Financial Gym, our host is Sara Belhouari, a Level 2 Certified Financial Trainer based in New York. She is joined by Jessica and Ryan, a married couple who have been her clients since February 2020. Today, they are talking about the importance of showing up for yourself and being open to change. Jessica and Ryan share with us how The Gym has positively changed their lives and why they plan to stay members long into the future.
Podcast Notes
When Jessica and Ryan first heard about The Gym, they weren’t sure about joining, but now feel like it was the best decision they ever made.
They found Financial Gym truly makes financial literacy accessible to everyone. Many of the trainers have had their own money journeys or were clients of The Gym themselves.
Jessica and Ryan’s first session was scheduled on leap day (Feb 29, 2020). They met in person and Jessica was really emotional the entire train ride from New Jersey. When they arrived at The Gym, she felt relaxed. The space didn’t feel clinical or scary, it was a cool environment she wanted to be in.
Jessica and Ryan were paired with Sara and it was a perfect match. They felt comfortable with her immediately and were able to put everything on the table, emotions and all.
At the time, she felt like she had no control. The first few sessions brought a lot of relief and motivation to move forward.
The outside perspective of a Financial Trainer is so valuable. If the financial journey is a road trip, your Trainer is the GPS guiding the way and you are in the driver's seat.
Since joining The Financial Gym, Jessica and Ryan have made incredible progress!
Their savings have grown 200%
They’ve paid off most of their debt
In addition, and just as importantly as the numbers, their feelings around money have transformed. Mindset is a huge part of the financial journey.
Jessica talks about how as a perfectionist, being open to other perspectives was a challenge for her. She had to be willing to do things differently.
People often ask, ‘how long should I stay a client at The Gym?’
A personal finance journey does not happen overnight. Change is created by showing up, being committed, and doing the work. If you set goals and stay consistent, you will achieve them.
Stay with The Gym as long as you’re finding value in the service. If the meetings and accountability keep you motivated, stay forever. If you are more self-motivated, three months of membership might be the perfect fit! It all depends on you and your needs.
Jessica and Ryan have been clients for a long time and share why they love working with Sara!
Since starting with The Gym, they have had constant positive progress. Some wins are small, some are big, but they’re always moving forward.
They like knowing someone is there to help them plan, no matter what comes up.
They’ve built a strong relationship over time with Sara who has a deep understanding of them and their goals. She’s a household name! Trainers really are your Best Financial Friends.
When they first started, it was about getting out of survival mode and to a place where they can live their best lives. There's security now there wasn’t two years ago.
They are proud of their money story and love to share it with others. Jessica never pushes money management or The Gym on people, but she is always happy to share when people are ready to hear it.
Advice for folks who are thinking about working with The Gym?
You have to be open, ready, and willing to commit.
Be honest with yourself and your Trainer. There is nothing to be gained by editing the truth.
If you aren’t connecting with your Trainer, be brave to ask for what you need. Each trainer has their own unique style and wanting to switch is not personal.
Showing up to see your Trainer is showing up for yourself.