It’s no surprise that Robin “The Fitness Queen” Arzón’s motto is “do epic shit.” As the vice president of fitness programming and head instructor at Peloton, a 26-time marathoner, a brand ambassador for Adidas, a New York Times bestselling author, and, not to mention, a former lawyer, she does epic shit every day—and makes it look way easier than it actually is.
Arzón lives every day like it’s her last, and that’s because she almost did experience her last. A traumatizing brush with death (she was held hostage at gunpoint) when she was 20 served as the impetus behind her joie de vivre approach to life. She has become an inspiration to thousands with her enthusiasm and message to live life to the fullest.
Here, we ask Arzón to share her sage advice for anyone considering a huge career shift, how she pushes through negative thoughts or moments of doubt and persists, and the changes she hopes to see in the health, wellness, and fitness industry.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: You left a successful law career to start working in the health, wellness, and fitness space—what was the catalyst behind this career shift? What advice would you give to others considering such a huge career change?
ROIN ARZÓN: While practicing law, I developed a double life as an athlete. I counted down the hours until I could run again. I needed to live for more than an hour of joy a day.
My career transition advice:
1. Take an honest inventory of your current skillset and circumstances. How do you need to level up?
2. Plant all the seeds. Do not ask to “pick someone’s brain.” Instead, offer help to those who you admire and seek mentorship from.
3. Move your body, your office furniture. Shake things up for a new perspective.
4. Just start. Fear is paralyzing. There will never be the right time to level up. Use fear as fuel. Fear is your friend. Jealousy shows what you care about. Fear shows what you have to work on. Act it out. Don’t figure it out.
5. Discomfort is your biggest ally. Nerves mean you care.
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you find new roads and switch gears to find success?
Hurdles are jet fuel to a hustler. Recalibrate your focus and go back to the tips above.
You are a brand ambassador for Adidas—how do you choose what brands to work with? How do you manage those partnerships?
Brand partnerships are marriages, not dates. Adidas was an obvious synergy in how they elevate the everyday hero in sport, especially for female athletes. I was also drawn to their mission to change the narrative for young girls in sport. We put strength on a pedestal. I left law to monetize and leverage who I am, how I view movement and push the conversation forward for how the everyday person can do epic shit. That's my North Star. When you know your mission, everything else falls on gut instinct.
“The most successful people don’t fear failure—they fear mediocrity.”
How do you define your personal fitness brand in a way that stands out?
Do epic shit.
As a 26-time marathoner, you know a thing or two about persistence. How do you push through negative thoughts or moments of doubt?
Our inner voice is the most powerful conversation we have. When you tell yourself "I can’t, I won’t, historically I haven’t," then you’re stuck. You might as well reframe that story. The most successful people don’t fear failure—they fear mediocrity. A lot of people want that finish line but they aren’t willing to work for it. I am not that person. I actively revere and seek out discomfort.
What do you wish more people knew about your job?
I only make it look easy.
Peloton has changed the in-home fitness game—how has working on an online platform changed the way you work?
The scale and breadth of our Peloton community are powerful. We are part of a family of over 1.4 million strong. I've never been part of a sports team in my life. I didn't play sports as a child and never identified as an athlete until adulthood. Peloton is the ultimate, global sports team. Everyone is welcome. Everyone has the opportunity to level up through a connected fitness experience on their bike, tread, mat, and phone.
What is the best advice you have been given? Or a favorite piece of #realtalk?
Complaints are not a conversation. Nobody owes you shit.
Your New York Times bestselling book Shut Up and Run is a guide to help anyone achieve their running goals. What is the next big goal you are working toward?
My next book about the hustler's oath, confronting fear, and using discomfort as a launching pad. And making Peloton the biggest wellness brand on the planet.
What changes do you hope to see in the health and wellness/fitness industry?
The democratization of wellness by improving access for all communities. Empowering more people to step into power through movement. I want to eliminate every barrier of entry for someone to reach their strongest self.
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