Courtney and Jennifer Samuel of Bodies by Perseverance
Our series Talk Shop is a career and style profile featuring personalities from various industries. They are shot on location in Cherry Creek. This month, we interview Courtney and Jennifer Samuel, owners of Bodies By Perseverance. The Samuels are wearing clothing from their closets and are photographed on location at their workplace in Five Points.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
Cherry Creek Fashion: Courtney, your background is football and tech. Tell us more about your work experience before opening the gym and what led you to create this space.
Courtney Samuel: I’ve played basketball, football and track since I was 12, so training is something I’ve been doing the majority of my life. I’m also a two time pro natural body builder, along with being Mr. Natural Colorado in 2016. Being a people person, along with my knowledge and experience as an athlete, makes for the perfect fit.
CCF: Jennifer, your background is in dance beginning with ballet at 3 years old. What was your career background and experience before starting this company with Courtney?
Jennifer Samuel: My career background was in project marketing, and operations management. I actually had a hard decision to make in 2005 and that was to take a VP Marketing role or run my own business. I’m glad I did the latter.
CCF: How did you two meet? Jennifer, what was your first impression of Courtney?
Jennifer: We met through mutual friends and there was a summer we kept seeing each other at the same places. Our first date in 2000 wasn’t very successful due to both of us going into the NFL – he was going to the Saints and I was a Denver Bronco Cheerleader (not knowing we both were). We basically said, “see you later.” Then in 2005, we saw each other out again and that evening we didn’t stop dancing or talking to each other.
My first impression was that he was good looking, nice body and seemed nice but I felt like he was not interested in me because I would watch how girls draped over him, so I kept turning on my heel.
CCF: Courtney, describe the experience meeting someone with a similar passion and then going into business together?
Courtney: Is was the perfect fit! Health and fitness are key areas for success, you have to be with someone of similar values. We are both very competitive, persistent, and do well in the spotlight. Going into business together was easy.
CCF: Tell us more about your company, Bodies By Perseverance and what types of classes are available?
Jennifer: We have personal training, group weight training sessions and boxing/HIIT. Bodies By Perseverance was started as a personal training gym and we found that in small group settings and with a trainer monitoring and coaching are very effective. We believe that these types of classes we offer have had the best success rate and are effective because they make people feel strong and powerful. Their body changes, and it also provides mental focus.
CCF: Jennifer, how do you two keep the work-life balance when you are working with your spouse?
Jennifer: Staying in communication and being engaging with each other are important to have in a healthy relationship in or out of work. Also when we’re with our kids, we focus on them and we make sure they have our attention.
We’ve tried to go on date nights when we say we won’t talk about kids or work but we fail at that because our lives and passion wrap around kids and work. We love what we do so the balance is to keep each other and the kids happy.
CCF: Courtney, what is the best and worst part of running a business with your partner?
Courtney: The best part is creating something together. We all have our days, but I’m grateful to have a business with my wife.
Bodies By Perseverance: @mybbp
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