Life as an Entrepreneur

Like many others in the health and wellness industry, I work at a variety of studios and for multiple managers.  As fitness instructors, it is difficult to find full time work at any one studio so we are usually the people who hustle around the city from gym to gym teaching.  Over the last few months I decided to take my work one step further and run my own events. Since being involved in the running of other events for other companies in the past, I was ready to take the leap and try it for myself.  The weeks and months leading up to the events have been the most exhausting, yet most rewarding.  However, I recognize that this is what I have chosen to do. I don’t talk about this part of my work as often because I am focused on the actual work I do. But, I am learning to embrace the ups and downs this whole entrepreneur life is all about.  I decided to share what I have learned with all of you tonight to give you more insight and hopefully some tips if you are planning on starting a project, event, or business of your own.

1. Have a strong support system. If it weren’t for my family and close friends, I do not know where I would be today. Sounds cheesy and I know everyone says it but it is seriously necessary. I have lost track of the number of phone calls over the last few months - whether it be to bounce an idea off of someone else, or to call in a panic that no one will be coming to my event. I am truly thankful for those who haven’t given up on my ideas and have supported me in my new adventures.
2. See who walks the walk. In order to run events and have them successful, you need attendees. I have received countless notes of encouragement from so many people, yet I haven’t felt as much support as I originally perceived to have. I quickly realized that some people like to talk more rather than show actual support.
3. Support others in the industry. I make an effort to attend events if I can. Of course I have to have a genuine interest in the event itself to go, but make time to see what else is out there. You can support others who are also trying to figure things out like you, and learn from their events. Show up. Support others. Grow the community. At the end of the day, those in your industry should be on the same greater page as you, trying to reach a common goal. For me, it is all about having people be their best self. If that can be accomplished by me and a few friends going to another event, so be it!
4. Celebrate others. This has been particularly true for my panel discussions. I recognized that I am not an expert in every single topic we have discussed during my event series. So, I invited others who have experiences I don’t have to come and share. I want to lift others up who are doing awesome things and learn from them too. In order to give my best self to the world and my community, I want to learn from the other people around me. I see other women in the fitness and health industry not as competition, but as my professional community. We can be teammates supporting one another to reach higher, rather than afraid someone will outshine us in the process.
5. Just do it. I have had my confidence come and go these last few months worrying if people will attend my events to hoping sponsors will team up for different projects. At the end of the day, I go back to my mission and my why. Once I remind myself why I am doing it, I put my head down, grind through, and have some pretty awesome experiences happen! It takes hard work. Things don’t fall into place unless you do the work to put them there. As I have learned from the Joyous Health Business course I have been enrolled in the past 6 weeks, get shit done!

Tomorrow evening we close out with my final event of 2017. I have big dreams, ideas, and plans coming for 2018. After tomorrow night I look forward to reflecting on what I have learned in order to help me grow for the next year ahead. I am grateful for the connections I have made this past year, the sponsors who have made my events possible, and the exceptional community of women we have created through it all. That is what it is all about! Building community through connection and self-discovery.

Be fierce.  Be strong.  Be vibrant.

Rachel

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