Michael Smoak believes that success is simple. The 28-year-old health content creator visited the UF campus Wednesday evening, with students filling the University Auditorium awaiting his advice on how to achieve personal, physical and career goals.
Smoak answered questions through a Q&A-style panel about his experience in college. He encouraged students to use their resources to build networks, which he said influenced his own career path.
Smoak went on to say that while success may not be easy to achieve, it is “easy to understand,” which applies to his slogan: “Success is simple.”
“Do the obvious,” he said. “You want to get good grades, start by showing up to class. You want to build an amazing physique. Start by going to the gym.”
Smoak began her career as a content creator more than two years ago, posting and sharing advice on health, fitness and nutrition, according to a post on her LinkedIn.
He then found Higher Wellness, a coaching community that consists of exercise plans and coaching calls. She also has a health and fitness podcast that currently has over 800,000 followers on Instagram.
As he spoke more about his experience, Smoak discussed the struggles he overcame. As a child, Smoak said, she was overweight and struggled with her body image.
When he reached a point in his life where he became “fit,” Smoak said, he realized the importance of showing up for himself. He also realizes how the people who treat him are different.
Smoak said she saw people around her struggle with the same issues she did as a child, and she wants people to know success and physical fitness don’t have to be complicated and out of reach.
“I just want people to understand that it’s not to be hopeless,” he said. “They can only put together the obvious things, the obvious business for a long time.”
Smoak also discussed how social media has fueled the rise of fitness trends that spread misinformation and the impact of unrealistic goals like the 75-pound challenge and the carnivore diet — expectations he calls, “ceiling goals.”
Smoak instead encourages students to find their “floor.”
Enjoy what you read? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox
“Find your floor, find something you can do every day,” he said. “It takes minimal effective change to produce big results if you’re willing to stick with the minimal impact of change for an incredible amount of time.”
Alexia Andrews, a 22-year-old UF graphic design and mass communications senior, said she has been following Smoak’s brand for a while and appreciates his advice on confidence.
“Be brave,” she said. “Nobody knows what they’re doing, and nobody cares.”
Ayush Sharma, a 19-year-old UF biomedical engineering sophomore, said he looks up to Smoak. Sharma said he was excited for the opportunity to hear and see Smoak in person.
“This event is quite inspiring,” he said. “It was really inspiring to see him not just repeat these quotes that I had heard from him, but build on them to really extrapolate the data.”
Sharma said his favorite quote from the seminar was, “Difficult, but not complicated”.
Yuliya Tsoy, 19-year-old UF finance freshman, skeptically came to the Q&A with her friend with minimal knowledge of Smoak’s background.
Tsoy said he’s been creating content for two years, and he left the Q&A with confidence and new lessons.
“It’s pretty interesting for me to see other content creators,” he said, “I’m actually inspired by his speech today.”
Contact Alabama Weninigar at aweninegar@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @AlabamaW40513.
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today can help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.
Alabama Weninegar is a first-year journalism major and The Alligator’s Spring 2026 University General Assignment Reporter. He also works a part-time job at Wyatt’s Coffee in town. In her free time, she enjoys watching her favorite shows on rainy days or re-reading the Twilight series.
#Fitness #influencer #encourages #students #find #floor #Spring #Accent #event #Independent #Florida #Alligator