Greg Cormier of Vernon Bridge was unsatisfied with his lifestyle and found that his desire to change was greater than his desire to remain the same. “I was broke, out of shape, and feeling lost,” he says. “I knew I had to make changes in my life.”
In 2014, he started exercising regularly and eating healthier. “Exercise led to such big change in my life, physically and mentally,” says Greg, founder of Greg Cormier Coaching.
As his discipline and self-motivation grew, a business idea was born. “Changing my lifestyle gave me the confidence to pursue a career and to help other people by offering fitness and lifestyle coaching.”
In May 2017, Greg graduated from Holland College with a diploma in Kinesiology. As well, he earned a certificate in personal training through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology and a certificate in Exercise Nutrition, became a member of Exercise is Medicine Canada, and earned his online training certification through Online Trainer Academy.
In May 2018, he took his passion, skillsets and training and launched his business with the goal of changing people’s lives through online lifestyle coaching and personal training.
“Some people don’t want to go to the gym and prefer to work out at home,” Greg says. “I design work out programs that fit their equipment and individual needs. I help them develop healthy lifestyle habits that bring them closer to achieving their goals while teaching them to aim for progress, not perfection. We do online check-ins to keep clients motivated and to make sure they are making progress and overcoming any roadblocks.
“I also design programs for anyone who prefers to work out at a gym. I am willing to meet clients in person if they are local, as well as providing regular check-ins online. I have clients across the Maritimes who benefit from the online programs I offer.”
Steps to self-employment:
Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC)
CBDC assists in the creation of small businesses and in the expansion and modernization of existing businesses by providing financial and technical services to entrepreneurs.
At the CBDC location in Montague, Greg met with Martina MacDonald, Executive Director, and Helen Antle, Business Development Loans Officer. “I was just out of college and didn’t have the income to start the business,” he says. “CBDC approved a loan which helped launch my business, and I highly recommend their services.”
He enrolled in the Successful Business Plan Writing program and the Successful Business Basics program offered at the Rural Action Centre in Montague. “The programs were very helpful because there was a lot I didn’t know about the operational side of business.”
SkillsPEI Self Employ PEI program
Self Employ PEI is an employment program which provides financial support and business counselling to new entrepreneurs during their first year of operation.
“I applied and was eligible,” Greg says. “The program was crucial in the steps that led to self-employment.”
Future plans
“As I grow the business, my long-term goal is to hire other fitness trainers to work online from their home,” he says. “This will allow me to assist more people to achieve their fitness and nutrition goals.”
For more information about Greg Cormier Coaching, contact Greg Cormier at 902-326-9469 or email [email protected].
Visit www.gregcormiercoaching.com.
Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information about Rural Action Centre, visit www.ruralactioncentres.ca.
For more information about SkillsPEI, visit www.skillspei.com.
The Self Employ PEI program is funded in whole or in part through the Canada-PEI labour market agreements.
March 2019 Issue
Page 9
by Stella Shepard