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Friday 7 March 2014

DIVA DIVERTENTE

i am hoping to be able to highlight some special person that has resonated with me in some way: this is my first try and i think you will like what i have to say...there will be people that inspire and there will be people that you remember and then there will people that make you smile. This is one of them...


DANIELA DUVA director of operations @ SURVIVOR BOOTCAMP and DIVA DIVERTENTE.(italian: entertaining)

I first met Daniela during a Canfit conference in Vancouver. She had signed up to one of my seminars. We went around introducing ourselves and giving everyone else in the room our ‘elevator pitch’. Her smiley eyes and confident posture resonated with me: you know how you go to functions, attend meetings , listen to seminars and generally network to meet people: some people you meet and try hard to remember their names you somehow forget them the moment another face presents themselves or you get on with your busy day. There are those few, however, that for some reason that is apparent or sub conscience, you remember them and everything they said about themselves. It was not the exceptional, fabulous, superstar life they were telling you about, but rather the random things they said were said with passion, with vigour, and just that kind of personality you want to know more about, you want to be friends with or made you smile.
    Daniela is truly a self made woman, struggling in her early adult life with single mom duties and mixed directions in her life. Her history and reasons for getting into the fitness industry are NOT typical: out of desperate need for childcare and money, she did what she had to do to SURVIVE. Daniela’s SURVIVOR BOOT CAMP lives by it’s name. Although she bought the franchise with that name, it instantly became part of her. Anyone can enter the fitness industry and it seems at times it is saturated with many non inspiring ‘professionals': WHY? Probably taking things too seriously, forgetting about the real purpose of this ‘service’ industry and making fitness a chore for most people. Her success in her endeavours centres upon HER and what she projects to her victims: her smile, her energy, her humour and her confidence. All these things come out and make people just want to be with her. 
When asked about ‘why do you think you are so successful?’
Daniela said: “it’s because I’m fun!”, not the special exercises, nor the after burn and calorie consumption, or even the before and after photos…people follow her classes and want her to be the leader, the motivator, the pusher, the person who you don’t mind getting insulted by now and then when you deserve it. 
Daniela Duva has the bonus of being Italian, so am I  this perhaps is why I have a slight genetic affinity for her. Italians have SURVIVED many wars, famines, natural disasters: SURVIVING is one of our chromosomes. We all know that everyone wishes they were Italian. The humour and class that Italians are famous for come through with her. It was a nice cup of coffee I had with her. Had a fun talk and had some useful tips on networking. Daniela’s generous nature and just overall energy filled the room. Her bootcamps are held mostly outdoors and are jam packed with drills, intervals and most importantly PEOPLE.
Some days when it is pouring rain, your taxes are due, and your cute puppy just soiled your new rug, think about how you can SURVIVE this too, look at everything you do as something DOABLE. Don’t ever take yourself too seriously, and most importantly BE FUN!

GET MORE OF DANIELA
WINNER OF BEST BOOTCAMP 2006 - 2013!