Jean- A Client Journey and an Important Lesson in Facing Adversity
Mike Collette • December 17, 2020
Jean Hanks is an OG Prototype member. She first joined when the gym opened, back in September of 2012. On day one she came home feeling old and defeated thinking she would never go back. It was too hard. On day 2 she found herself back at the facility. Her competitive nature dared her to give it another shot. After that second workout, she was HOOKED.
Since then Jean has participated in every program Prototype
has to offer ( personal training
, CrossFit
, Nutrition coaching
) and says it is like a second home. When she tore her ACL and had to have surgery the community and the Coaches support became important. Each Friday Jean would be at Prototype doing her physical therapy with Coach Jesse. She notes how nice and generous he was for doing it at the facility so she could be with her friends. It was her happy place.
Then everything changed. Jean got the diagnosis of Cancer at the end of 2014 and her world turned upside down. She was afraid of how this would change her fitness and needed Prototype to be her “strong place”. She emailed all the Prototype Members to let them know what was going on. She requested that they treat her as normal and urged them not talk about the Cancer at the facility. This HAD to be her happy and strong place. She showed up throughout her treatments knowing that strength would help her recovery.
Year after year Jean works at her fitness, overcoming obstacles and adversity. When Covid hit she was once again SCARED that she would lose her fitness. Come March, Jean was on vacation in St. Marten. She remembers thinking, “ OH NO, I’m going to come home and the gym will
be closed
. I will lose everything I worked so hard for.” BUT when she returned home she transitioned to all the virtual options the gym set up. She never skipped a beat.
Many memories of camaraderie, friendship, hard work and happiness floor her mind. What she always remembers, in particular, is the owner, Michael Collette. When the gym first opened he worked around the clock. He was always striving to grow and build an amazing community. Jean is a #1 fan of Prototype!
Last year she began taking THRIVE classes when that program launched. She has been a devoted THRIVER since and has hardly missed any workouts. Her biggest success this year is her consistency with THRIVE. Her advice? –
Just
show up and do what you can do. With a year of Thrive under her belt Jean has accomplished some awesome workouts. She loves seeing everyone and has seen tremendous results and improvements with stamina!
Jean also joined Prototype Empowered in July. Empowered is a program that helps women build strength and self-confidence. She has said that she is finally becoming at peace with her body and is developing a better self-image. She loves that Prototype not only helps her fitness but her mind and her emotions. Jean hasn’t missed Empowered since it began and has been a pioneer in pretty much every single one of our programs. Take a lesson from Jean!
- Try new things
- Be consistent
- Be ready to learn
- Be present
- Be willing to start again…and again and again. A beginners mindset with all things.
- Take advantage of all your gym has to offer!
What’s next for Jean? Jean has planned to row a half-marathon this coming Fall with Coach Leah and other members. This is out of her comfort zone but Jean is ready to take on the challenge!
We are so proud of you Jean and can’t wait to see you crush the year of 2021!
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