Sara Zellner is an entrepreneur on a mission to help individuals and businesses align their priorities with their values to create positive change. She is the founder and owner of Saz Healthy Living, which provides fitness training, health coaching, and sustainable living coaching services. She is also the principal CEO of Lynz Consulting LLC, which specializes in corporate responsibility; environmental, social, and governance (ESG); and sustainability consulting. PhD-trained, Sara uses her research and coaching skills to delve into her clients’ vexing issues and assist them in reaching their goals.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

My personal fitness path began early in life. I grew up in rural Wisconsin, the thoughtful but chubby daughter of two registered nurses. At the age of eight, I wanted to get my ears pierced and asked my mom for permission to do it. We struck a bargain that if I did 30 sit-ups every day for a month, my mom would allow me to get my ears pierced. That was my first foray into fitness goal setting and planning and has fostered a passion for exercise and health ever since.

Professionally, I obtained a PhD, and my career took me into business consulting in health, wellness, and sustainability. Along the way, I realized that I could use my knowledge to help individuals in their own health, wellness, and sustainability journeys. So I armed myself with the skills to make that happen and founded Saz Healthy Living. 

What inspired you to start your business?
Over the years, I spent a lot of time working out at gyms, watching the personal trainers interact with their clients. I got to know some of the trainers, and one of them said to me one day, “Sara, you spend so much time here and you enjoy working out so much, you should think about becoming a personal trainer, too.” Until that point, I’d considered getting certified in personal training but started thinking more seriously about being part of the fitness industry.

Then I met my significant other who is also a personal trainer. Through him, I was able to live vicariously and better understand the ins and outs of creating training plans, working with fitness clients, and reveling in their accomplishments. These cumulative experiences motivated me to finally get certified as personal trainer and health coach and to launch my own business.

Where is your business based?

I’m based in Washington, DC, but all of the services I offer are virtual.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

The first step I took to start my business was to become certified as a personal trainer and health coach. The process is actually quite a rigorous one, which required me to study for three months prior to each certification exam. Because I wanted to focus on nutrition and aging fitness, I also pursued specializations in nutrition and active aging.

Once I had obtained my certifications and specializations, I developed my business plan and model, set up my website, and began marketing in earnest.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I’ve taken a multifaceted approach to raise awareness of my business, which includes creating online content through blogging and guest blogging, being active on social media, and spreading the word through personal connections. I have also created referral partnerships with like-minded health professionals to share business when possible.

 What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

I struggled for a long time with whether I should tie my professional background in environmental sustainability with my fitness training and health coaching. I wasn’t certain whether potential clients would be receptive to the fusion of these topics and prioritize them in their quest to live healthier lives.

But for me personally, the health of our environment is too important an issue in our current age to not to combine it with our personal health. So Saz Healthy Living has been something akin to my Field of Dreams—“Build it and they will come!"

How do you stay focused?

I’ve always been a self-starter, and creating to-do lists with prioritized actions is one of the solutions to keeping me organized. Also believing in the mission of my business is a motivational driver to help me stay on track with my tasks.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

I also own a corporate responsibility; environmental, social, and governance (ESG); and sustainability consulting business—Lynz Consulting LLC—so integrating environmental sustainability into my personal training and health coaching has been the core differentiator from my competition.

In my fitness training and health coaching work, the term “sustainability” has two meanings, to: 1) Create lasting and enduring health changes, and 2) Foster personal health and wellness changes that also align with the environmental health of our planet.

With my exercise and fitness training, doing it sustainably means engaging in physical activity on a regular basis and using environmentally-friendly methods and equipment if possible. I also offer diet and nutrition coaching oriented toward organic, clean foods that have a lower carbon footprint. Finally, my services explore using household and personal care products that minimize exposure to environmental hazards, chemicals, and toxins.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach in my work with clients. Lifestyle choices like using environmentally-friendly exercise equipment, eating organic food, or using non-toxic personal care products are good sustainable health and wellness practices, but they are not for everyone. Using my knowledge in sustainability and health, I work with each of my clients to explore the range of possibilities; determine what their unique, healthy lifestyle looks like; and assist them in achieving that vision.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

My most effective marketing strategy thus far has been word-of-mouth business. A referral from a former client who can vouch for my business style and my ability to help clients meet their fitness and health goals plays a potent sales role in generating new leads.  

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

It can be extremely beneficial for your business as well as your mental health to find a support network that can assist you with the development and growth of your business. Seek out online communities or business groups focused on entrepreneurs with whom you can share ideas and learn from others' experiences. In addition, there are also coaches that specialize in entrepreneurship that can serve as wonderful resources and guides.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app is the Health app on the iPhone. It’s pre-installed on any iPhone and makes it easy to track the basics of physical activity, such as your steps, flights climbed, and distance covered.

For blogs, I’m a huge fan of The Minimalist Baker. Getting fit and healthy entails not only exercise, but also eating good, nutritious food. The Minimalist Baker has a wide variety of delicious, healthy, no-fuss recipes that simplifies cooking and baking.

Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In still provides great inspiration and insightful lessons for me on how to succeed as a woman in the business world.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Beyond my love of fitness, health, and sustainability, I’m also a data geek. Google Analytics provides a plethora of information to help me track my website activity, users, and more. It’s a powerful resource to use. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

Elon Musk can be a very polarizing figure, but you can’t deny that he’s been an incredible force in business and our society. What I admire most about him has been his ability as an entrepreneur to diversify and pursue related passions and interests. Mr. Musk has demonstrated that if you have a vision for how to make a difference in the world, there’s no reason to limit yourself and not pursue that vision.

How do you balance work and life?

Running two businesses makes my work/life balance a challenge. However, I set aside time for family and friends during my evenings and weekends. I then do some self-monitoring to determine how I’m feeling about my balance. If I find that I’m feeling stressed and drained from work, then I incorporate more leisure time into my schedule.

I’ve also realized that it’s extremely important for me to have a set work cut-off time during the workweek to allow me to wind down for the evening prior to going to bed. Without this relaxation period, I find that I don’t sleep as well and my productivity suffers as a result.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I’m a big believer in practicing what I preach, so exercise is my main way to decompress. I typically work out on a daily basis, mixing cardio and strength training sessions throughout the week. Otherwise, I try to get out for a walk to burn off some steam.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

More work, more marketing, and more new clients!

How can our readers connect with you?

Saz Healthy Living website: https://www.sazhealthyliving.com/

Lynz Consulting LLC website: https://www.lynzconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarazellner

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Saz_Lynz