Meet Melanie Barnes | Discover Strength Franchise Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melanie Barnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always loved autonomy and being allowed to get to a goal or destination in the way that I wanted. I worked in corporate jobs, including at a Fortune 50 company, and at times I could create my own process or path, but most of the time the process was decided for me and there was little variability in the day to day. Starting my own business, specifically a franchise, was the perfect path for me as it allows me to own my own business and create my own path while also still having a proven business model and some support.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Discover Strength offers personalized strength training – One on one or in small groups of 3. What makes Discover Strength different from other fitness concepts is that they are efficient (30 minutes, twice a week), evidence based and employ educated exercise physiologists. These are also the main reasons I was compelled to open a franchise! I so strongly believe in science and evidence based workouts; I don’t have time to waste on fads or workouts that require you to be in the gym 5+ days a week. I also am proud of our requirement of a 4 year degree in Exercise Science (or closely related field) for our exercise physiologists. This means they are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their work. I love that we can offer a career with growth and learning opportunities for this field. I get excited about strength training. The health benefits are long, including but not limited to reducing blood sugar, reducing cholesterol, improving mental health and overall, reducing risk of all cause mortality by 40%. I took a big leap, going from corporate global sourcing to owning my own fitness studio. But I knew I wanted to be a part of a company that would spread “good” and make those around me healthier. When I saw that Discover Strength started to franchise, I immediately signed on. It certainly hasn’t been easy but it’s been worth it. I learned a lot about myself and the need for resiliency and grit. But a passion around your business truly helps create that drive. Strength training actually helped to build my resiliency and grit. It brings out determination and shows people they are strong! One of my favorite sayings that can be heard in a Discover Strength workout has been a foundation for me as I’ve started my own franchise – “We can do hard things!”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I definitely have my favorite spots around Gilbert and nearby areas! One of my favorite ways to spend a day with visitors is to stop at Superstition Farms; a non-profit in Mesa, very close to Gilbert. They have rescue animals such as goats, donkeys, pigs and more! Plus some local eggs, butter, etc. Then we’d take the short drive over to the intersection of Gilbert and Warner and of course get in a quick workout at Discover Strength. After that, we would need a good lunch and place to sit outside and catch up. Downtown Gilbert is my choice for all of that. There are so many options to choose from and I love walking around that area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have had incredible support from my family throughout the whole process of opening Discover Strength Gilbert. I have a toddler at home so at times, the balance was very hard. My husband, Chris, was incredible at being there for our son and encouraging me to do what I needed to, in order to ensure a successful business launch. Extended family members were also great at checking in and coming to town to help and give support! Discover Strength also offers fantastic resources and guidance to their franchisees which ensured my success as well.

Website: https://www.discoverstrength.com/gilbert

Instagram: @discoverstrength

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/discover-strength/mycompany/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverstrength/