Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Shempert.
Hi Eric, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first became interested in sports performance training while I was still a competitive athlete, playing baseball at Avila University in Kansas City. I was always curious how training in the weight room could help improve my performance on the field.
So when I graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and got my first personal training job, I was excited to work with plenty of people who also played golf and tennis.
In 2020, I took an unpaid internship at one of the top sports performance gyms in the country, Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
During my internship, I was able to work with hundreds of professional, college, and youth baseball players and learned how to coach and interact with people as well as the nuances of the human body.
After the internship was over, I ended up back in Overland Park and joined forces with Advanced Baseball Academy to run a Strength and Conditioning program known as IMPACT Strength for the Baseball and Softball players there.
IMPACT Strength has evolved to provide a quality strength and conditioning program for athletes that produce measurable results in a fun, competitive environment.
I also now work with general population clients, golfers, tennis players, wrestlers, and more on top of the IMPACT Strength athletes. I love seeing people improve and use training to their advantage, especially beyond their athletic careers.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, as expected!
My whole baseball playing career, I struggled with arm pain, anxiety, being cut from teams, and moving across the country to follow my dreams. Once I was finally done playing and decided I wanted to help others through training, I got my first job in the fitness industry.
I struggled as a personal trainer my first year, making no money and having a hard time getting results with certain clients. As I got better, the world shut down in March 2020 and I lost my job for several months. I had to train clients who were still willing online (which is much more difficult) and do odd jobs to pay rent.
It was definitely a time of uncertainty, but I did use that time to learn more about the human body and how it works differently for different people. When I took my unpaid internship, it was a leap of faith that I am so glad I took. However, as awesome as the internship was, it took its toll on my bank account, as my car broke down several times in Florida.
I returned home to Texas with not much left, except the hope of starting my own training business. This all had taken its toll on my financial situation, mental health, relationships, and outlook on the future. I knew I still loved sports and could help people with raining.
After realizing just how much money it would take in overhead and rental costs, I moved back to the KC area with the opportunity to work in an established facility. While I am usually a big fan of a rocky road (ice cream, at least), these struggles have forced me to be a better planner, have better systems, and work on my problem-solving skills.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Strength and Conditioning Coach, Personal Trainer, and whatever my clients need me to be that day.
Sometimes I need to be a comedian, therapist, salesperson, teacher, sports coach, or friend. I help others see how training the right way can get them amazing positive results not only in the gym but with carryover for the rest of their life.
For one hour a day, I help educate people on what the other 23 hours of their day need to look like to really maximize their potential results. I specialize in people who play sports, especially sports requiring rotation and mobility like baseball, tennis, softball, golf, and more.
I am known for helping people achieve goals on the playing field, but take a lot of pride in improving the quality of someone’s life by improving strength, movement capabilities, or reducing the aches and pains that life brings us.
I’m most proud of all the relationships I have built with past and present clients everywhere I’ve been. I’ll remember the weddings, graduations, birthdays, and other special events more than any weight room numbers when it’s all said and done.
What sets me apart from other similar businesses is not only the ability to be dynamic, open-minded, and learn new things to solve more problems for my clients, but also remembering that each person is a human being and needs something a little different.
If it takes more of my free time to learn how to work through something for one of my athletes, no problem. Some days it feels like I learn more from the people I work with than they learn from me.
What does success mean to you?
Success is doing what you said you were going to do.
If you have a goal and you accomplish it, (or something far greater than the original goal), it doesn’t matter how you got there or what struggles you went through, but that you did what you set out to do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @impactstrength_
