Confidence Classic: Being Yourself Is Your Biggest Advantage with Cody Rigsby

Embracing individuality and the unique qualities of one's identity are central themes for instructor Cody Rigsby, who shares his experiences and insights.

Cody Rigsby: Extrovert Living Authentically

Cody Embraced His True Identity to Inspire Others Despite Initially Hiding It

Growing up in the South as a young gay boy, Cody experienced the pressure to conceal his true identity. He recalls instances like turning down Britney Spears music in his car to avoid judgment. Despite these challenges, Cody now stresses the importance of living authentically and confronting one's own falsehoods, explaining that honesty is crucial for joy and happiness. By showing up as exactly who he is, Cody hopes to serve as an inspiration for others, especially young gay men, to also be their genuine selves.

Cody Believes Embracing Uniqueness Helps People Shine

Heather celebrates Cody's transparent self-description, "opinionated homosexual," on his Instagram handle as a courageous act of openness. He argues that by embracing uniqueness, individuals can truly shine. Cody's circle of friends in New York, particularly within the gay community, instilled in him the confidence to be comfortable in his own skin. His best friend Quentin and another friend John Michael stand as examples of living authentically, having encouraged Cody to express his true self unapologetically.

Cody Credits His Unapologetic Self For Success as a Peloton Instructor

Cody's Expressive Personality, Interests, and Quirks on Peloton Resonate With His Audience

Cody Rigsby's success as a Peloton instructor is ascribed to his genuine nature and distinctive qualities, as noted by Heather Monahan. She points out that Cody's transition from just an instructor to a notable personality with an agent and potential future opportunities is rooted in his ability to express his individual traits audaciously. Heather's son, ...

Cody Rigsby's journey from dancer to renowned Peloton instructor illustrates how embracing new opportunities, even amid challenges like a global pandemic, can lead to fulfillment.

Cody's Shift From Dancer to Peloton Instructor Shows how Embracing Opportunities Leads To Fulfillment

Heather Monahan introduces the story of Cody transitioning from a high-pressure dance career to becoming a master Peloton instructor, highlighting Cody's view of his career as stepping stones, with each role a shift toward new opportunities.

Cody Hesitated With Peloton but Embraced It, Showing Resilience and Stepping Outside His Comfort Zone

Cody discusses his initial reluctance to join Peloton. He recalls the inauthentic networking and the desire to be seen, which ultimately left him dissatisfied in the dance industry. Seeking better pay and feeling used by the dance sector, he was working multiple jobs. The Peloton opportunity seemed like just another gig to make money, but it came through a connection at a club where Cody was working.

During a week of silence, a challenge for someone as communicative as him, Cody found value in pausing and connecting with himself amid the frenetic pace of life in New York. It was during this reflective time that he started to see the breadth of Peloton’s potential impact.

Covid-19 Posed Challenges, but Cody Inspired and Connected His Community Using His Platform

The pandemic brought a new set of challenges. When Covid-19 hit, the initial uncertainty and misinformation heightened fears. Peloton temporarily closed its studio for several weeks, yet as they gained more insight into keeping safe, Cody's fear diminished. He felt pride in how New Yorkers navigated the crisis, seeing the community come together to protect one another.

Cody embraced his role during these times, realizing his ability to inspire and connect his community through Peloton, providing joy and hope. His reciprocal relationship with Peloton members reinforced a sense of community. He appreciated New York's less crowded spaces and adapted by joining movements like Black Lives Matter and having socially distant gatherings.

New online classes, including meditation and dance cardio, were parts of his and Peloton's pivot to adapting new content for those confined at home.

Trusting Skills ...

Heather Monahan champions the significance of public speaking for personal and professional growth, based on her two decades of experience in sales and communication.

Heather's Public Speaking and Sales Experience Enhanced Her Communication Skills

Decades of Speeches Have Honed Heather's Abilities

Starting at 21 years old, Heather began leading sales meetings which involved delivering speeches for about an hour. Over 24 years, she has honed her public speaking skills through the frequency and variety of her speaking engagements, ranging from large stages to local schools. Heather speaks about adapting to different speaking environments and audiences, even shortly after giving birth, which has dramatically improved her public speaking skills, demonstrating the positive impact that diverse experiences can have on communication skills.

Techniques for Effective Speeches

In terms of techniques, Heather reflects on the importance of practice, recounting how she rehearses at home, in front of a mirror, records herself, and critiques the recordings to improve. She finds that the best speeches are those delivered off the cuff about subjects she's confident and knowledgeable in. Adopting Chris Voss's technique, she leads with objections to preemptively address audience concerns and create a sense of trust and safety. Part of her preparation routine includes visiting the speaking location beforehand, dressing in power colors, writing notes on her shoes, bringing lavender for nerves, and listening to a motivational playlist.

Heather Urges Others to Practice Public Speaking and Embrace Feedback for Continual Improvement

Seeking Speaking Engagements, Even Unpaid, Offers Valuable Experience and Exposure

Heather encourages people to seek various speaking opportunities for experience and exposure. She shares her own experiences from the radio business when she was expected to speak as part of her job. Despite not being paid for these engagements, she accepted them, donating her time, and as a result, she gained invaluable experience speaking in front of diverse audiences and in different environments.

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