Life and Work with Tiffany Coolidge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Coolidge.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my career working in politics and running state and local political campaigns. For nearly a decade, I worked on races from U.S. Senate and Governor to state representative building grassroots organizations, creating a fundraising apparatus, pushing key messages and generating voter turnout.

These campaigns were grueling and my health and nutrition suffered as a result. After narrowly losing a statewide campaign after a year and half of work, it was time for a change. I looked at joining a big box gym and learning the ropes. I spent a couple of years working with clients, earning additional certifications and honing new exercises and techniques. The more I learned, the more I realized that the big box gyms were more about quotas than about individual results.

In order to better support the needs of my individual clients, I left the big box and initially rented space from an independent gym focused on functional strength. During that time I found I also really enjoyed boxing. I was already a huge fan of the “Rocky” movies series as a fellow scrappy underdog. I never had the best footwork, but my coach said that I threw punches with “Blunt Force,” which was a line that preceded his training montage in the 2006 movie Rocky Balboa. So, the name stuck and launched not only my fight name but my new gym, Blunt Force Training.

Today, we’ve grown to 12 trainers. For the past eight years, our 8,500-square-foot gym featuring a regulation-sized boxing ring, coupled with a unique strength and conditioning program specifically caters to the needs of my clients. Whether it’s a new mom pre- or post-baby, making athletes better or helping someone run her first 5k, everyone gets the attention and exercises that best suit their needs.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think like any small business, it’s never an easy nor a smooth road. Increasing overhead and a competitive Denver fitness market makes it tough to get ahead or stand out.

Some of my biggest challenges are balancing a family and the demands of being a full-time trainer plus running the business. During the growth of Blunt Force training, I also had my son and daughter. There’s no maternity leave as a small business owner or sick days for your kids. Luckily, I also have some of the best clients and a community that supports my vision and are invested in the success of Blunt Force. As an example, during my grand opening of Blunt Force, I commemorated the event with a tattoo of the logo on my back. To my surprise, 12 clients joined me and also got variations of the tattoos. It was such an incredible experience, that every anniversary we have a tattoo artist on-site at the gym bringing our total to 69 Blunt Force-inspired tattoos.

My advice would be to build a strong support network to support you as a working mom, a wife, and a business owner.  it’s important to seek feedback from others but not lose sight of your vision and dream.

Please tell us about Blunt Force Training.
I am really proud of my members and the community that we’ve built at Blunt Force. We have community support both in and outside the gym. Our clients share the value in helping and motivating others to hit that last repetition in boot camp or run through that final mile in a race. We take that same commitment into our local community and giving back as often as we can. From volunteering at the Denver Rescue Mission and Habitat for Humanity, clothing and supplies drives, to supporting charity races and causes throughout the year including the past two years of our Haymakers for Hope boxing team raising over $175,000 for cancer research and we’ve really come together to support individual clients who have been diagnosed with cancer, fundraisers for hurricane victims, fallen firefighters and others.

When we aren’t giving back to the community, we do what we do best, offering a unique mix of a full boxing program, a non-CrossFit based strength and elite program to maximize gains and limit injuries and the best bootcamp-based classes in Denver. We also specialize in small group and personal training.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Overall, through the relationships I’ve built in the community and with my clients, I’ve drawn inspiration and lessons learning about their small business challenges, financial opportunities, and time management, I haven’t found a single mentor in one person as much as subject matter experts or my kitchen cabinet that I can bounce ideas off of and collect advice.

I’ve also been able to marry my former life in politics and fitness by serving as an appointee and Vice President to the Colorado Governor’s Council for Active and Healthy Lifestyles.

Pricing:

• Unlimited Boxing classes $99
• All classes unlimited $149
• Free first week of Classes or Personal Training session

Contact Info:

• Address: 3993 Elati Street Denver, C0 80216
• Website: www.blunt-force.com
• Phone: (720) 663-1433
• Email: tiffcoo@blunt-force.com
• Instagram: bluntforce_training
• Facebook: BluntForceTrainer
• Twitter: BFTraining

Image Credit:
Brett Seeley

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