“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.
