Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Cotton.
Hi Holly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After surviving cancer, I wrote a book titled “Strong. More than Muscles”. I wanted to tell a story of how being strong is not just defined as physical strength, but the strength that we need every day to simply survive life. The strength it requires to get up after we have fallen, to get up when we have been beaten, the strength it takes to have no cards left to play and still mange to win. Not only the strength to overcome our obstacles, but use that strength to help others. I wanted to create a platform to bring people together. I then created my company called Strong Squad. Strong Squad unites everyone together as a strong unit because no matter what you go through in life you come out stronger.
As a personal trainer and fitness instructor, I knew this was my awakening to help other people become healthier, to raise awareness on breast cancer and also provide a community of people who wanted to define their own strong. We sell Strong Squad apparel and fitness accessories and choose various charities to donate to throughout the year. One of the biggest things about my story that got me to where I am today was the fear of regret. I vowed after cancer I would never waste another moment in life. That truly gave me the drive to finish my book and also to help as many people as I could along the way. If that help was telling my story, creating a workout program, being an ear, giving to someone in need or simply giving motivation by being me, all that matters is that I helped someone some way.
Throughout the process of writing a book and starting a company, I have met so many amazing people. One of the key things as a health coach I found was the lack of planning skills a lot of people encounter. I wrote another book called “Day 1. A guide to organizing and executing your goals” to fill this void. My new book and e-course helps people take the dreams they have in their head and put it into a tangible sequence so that they can be successful. No matter what the goal is, knowing how to create a plan and organizing thoughts as well as analyzing why you aren’t successful (I.e. daily habits, close friends, accountability fails, etc ).
In addition to Strong Squad, I am also an MSN, Registered Nurse and a college professor. I believe I have always had a huge passion towards helping people and my company and books are my way of achieving my own goal of leaving a trail of kindness along the way. I am about to celebrate nine years of post cancer survivorship in October.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not. After I was diagnosed with cancer I was very angry and depressed. I was in the best shape of my life when I found a lump. I was just going on with life without a care in the world. My life came to a screeching halt! I had to stop working out, something I loved. I was scared to death I would die and not see my kids grow up. I didn’t know how I would be able to work and deal with being sick. After surgery, I couldn’t reach to put my hair in a ponytail or bend over to shave my legs. It was. a long and hard process to get me back to where I am physically. I also had to deal with the guilt of if I did die what had I left my kids. Not just financially, but mentally.
Another obstacle was I had no idea how to start a company. I just decided one day to make a shirt with “strong squad” on it and then start selling them. I had no idea about marketing, sales, nothing. I had a lot of trial and error because I didn’t even know where to find resources at that time. The same with publishing a book. I just started writing a book and had zero idea about publishing, global distribution and the differences from self publishing and actually being in book stores. I wasted a lot of time figuring out all these things.
Another struggle is getting people to believe in what you’re doing and supporting you. I had a lot of negative feelings at first to sort out and learn how to process so that I wouldn’t get discouraged.
Another obstacle is figuring out how to manage your home life and passion. It is difficult to be a mother/nurse/professional every day and still find time to work on my own goals. I found out late nights and early mornings would have to be a norm in order to work on my goals. I struggled with the guilt of maybe not being the mom who had time to cook homemade cupcakes all of the time, but realized that the guilt was unproductive and that we can still prioritize family life and still be successful with business as well.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My company sells apparel, fitness accessories such as bands, gloves, and I also have my books and e-course available as well. I always say that we are more than a t-shirt because I truly believe that. My heart is invested in seeing positivity. We just had our Hamburgers for Homeless event where we set up downtown and gave out supplies and food to the displaced citizens. I love that having a voice and a platform allows other people who want to give back but don’t know how to now have an opportunity to participate. I am also a fitness instructor/personal trainer so I am also able to address the physical strength aspect as well. I give nutritional advice, workouts and also focus on spiritual health on my social media pages. People don’t realize the effect that mental health issues play in fitness. Many people need that spiritual need addressed as well. So I try and motivate people through videos, podcasts, info, etc. to give information regarding strengthening the inner as well as the physical.
What sets me apart from others is my desire to genuinely make a difference. I believe a lot of people haven’t defined their passion/purpose and they just decide they want to do something. They create a logo and want to start a brand, but don’t have what the brand represents. When I talk about my company I talk about all it encompasses. I help people in need. Our profits go into the local community, not just in my pocket. I think that is becoming more rare and I have held onto that mission since the beginning and always will. I am most proud of seeing someone that sends me a pic in their shirt and sating how they defined their strong by “…”. My strong is I went to the gym for the first time since my mom died. Or I defined by strong by wearing pink for my sister with cancer. My strong is I read your book and I am choosing today to be my Day 1 and start working on a dream I didn’t think I could ever achieve. Those are some of the messages I get and that makes more proud than any amount of money.
In addition to having various designs of Strong Squad shirts on my website, we also sell hats, workout gloves, women empowering resistance bands, and other items. My books are available anywhere that sells books. Walmart, Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, Google books, etc. as it is a global distribution book. I have a new ecourse that people love. It is the same information provided in my book, but it is an interactive book. So there are questions, content is available on your phone/computer so you can access anywhere.
Currently I host a podcast on Ebony Covering Black America Podcast Network. My show is called Beyond the Fit. I talk about what it takes to be all around healthy, not just looking fit on the outside but the issues we deal with internally as well so we can be the healthiest version of ourself mentally and physically.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am definitely a risk taker. My friends often tell me I’m not afraid to fail. VERY false, but I guess am less afraid than others. I just have the thought process that I don’t want to regret not failing rather than playing it safe. As a nurse, I have taken care of numerous people who died and not once did they talk about failing. The biggest regret was always not doing something. The combination of these experiences with my own life is short philosophy has definitely pushed me to be more of a risk taker.
What’s the worst that can happen? I fail! Not scary enough for me to not try. I think that’s one of the best things about fitness as well.
Not being afraid to fail. Trying to pick up a heavy weight, or doing an exercise, running a race, doing something extreme. Fitness is definitely a way to push people out of their comfort zone, especially for me.
Another of the risks I have taken are writing a book. You spend hours and hours not knowing if anyone is even going to read your books. Investing in an e-course and not knowing if anyone will ever take it. Do people want to listen to you talk? Every video, workout or post is a risk. Some are just smaller than others.
Being a parent forces my risks to be a little more toned down because I do have two other people to consider, but I am always definitely willing to try something.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@defineyourstrong.com
- Website: defineyourstrong.com
- Instagram: hollycotton_
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/1453264591463560/
- Podcast: www.ebonypodcastnetwork.com and https://ebonypodcastnetwork.com/beyond-the-fit/
