03/10/2024
My breakup with Beachbody 💔
For the past 10+ years I’ve been in a relationship with Beachbody / BODi, and this week we learned it’s coming to an end. The company has decided to end their multi-level marketing team biz structure and switch it up to an affiliate model. While I’m not surprised, I can’t help but mourn the end of an era that had a really big impact on my life.
I was the stereotypical millennial woman that was a part of the girl boss, hustle-culture mentality. In 2012 my sister started using their products, and *forced me* to sign up as a coach on her team. We started exercising together, drinking the shakes and eating much healthier than I had been as a college student. The products, structure and community that I was part just CLICKED for me – and I started losing weight and keeping it off.
It was a time before “influencers” and I just started what I was doing on Facebook (and then Instagram). As I was getting interest from people that knew me in real life, I learned I could make some money from referring the products. And that started this “side hustle” that in 2013/2014 helped me pay off credit card debt while working fulltime in corporate America.
The following years were a WHIRLWIND with Beachbody and my business. I had this community of amazing women that were quickly becoming my best friends who shared a lot of similar values. I was traveling a few times a year with my Team and earning free vacations. I had a steady income outside of my corporate job doing something I really enjoyed. And my confidence was beaming as I was investing in personal development and gaining a following on social media.
I will always be THANKFUL for the opportunity that Beachbody gave me the past 11 years. It was a “make what you want of it” biz and I am still benefiting from the sweat I put into recruiting customers and clients in those 2010 years. That income paid off debt, funded travel, paid for my groceries, covered my rent, funded my Avalon shore house in the summers and eventually helped pay for daycare. While I will miss the weekly paycheck, I know the friendships are invaluable. (Continued in comments)
