Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrei Mellas, Owner of Adapt Grow Fitness, located in Novi, MI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Adapt Grow Fitness is an all-inclusive online wellness lifestyle brand with an emphasis on fitness and nutrition programming providing highly motivated clients a personalized and custom approach to getting the body of their dreams. My clients that achieve the best results all have one common trait: a great work ethic.

Ready to show up and do the work. They are autonomous and are looking for the right way to get started to save both time and money - and headaches. The majority of people I speak to have analysis paralysis. Too many options. Which prevents progress and makes action sticky, and makes habit formation difficult. Investing in your health does also mean there needs to be some money available which does present an issue sometimes. But I am more than happy to work my services into anybody's budget. With this type of business model, my success is inextricably linked to my client's success.

I love working with and meeting people from all walks of life. In fact, I get the question often, "who is my avatar?" Well, anyone and everyone who has a desire to learn and work with me. I meet everybody exactly where they are at on their fitness journey and do not cherry-pick my clients. I believe that is done in bad faith. I believe I have skills and experience which transcends simply situps and pushups and if someone is willing to do the work. I am more than happy to support and help in that endeavor.

Tell us about yourself

I am doing what I love every day. I found my passion in life, fitness, wellness, and seeing how far I can push myself in my athletic endeavors. I have created a means to share that part of myself with the public by opening myself up to work with motivated clients to share in their journey. Most people have no idea how much potential they have. So in my own special way, when I am able to bring some of that forth and out, then that is the intrinsic reward. Seeing someone change and smile because they overcome their excuses and feel good about themselves again. That is the juice worth the squeeze.

I launched my company in the middle of a pandemic. I founded AGF in Oct of 2020. I saw millions of people going through a crisis and immediately jumped into action. If I can help 30 people locally, how many people can I help globally? With the mass adoption of software like Zoom, I saw how much potential I had to work with many more people than I currently was. It was obvious to me what I needed to be focusing my energies on.

What motivates me each day is I know how bad it hurts to be in a spot you do not want to be in. Tired, depressed, unhealthy, scornful, apathetic. I know the pain well, so all I strive to emulate is to be the person I wish I had been when I was going through my own challenges. Compassionate, friendly, but stern and effective also. People come to me when everything they tried has not worked. At that point, it is time to get strategic and serious about transformation, change, and starting down the path of habit formation.

What motivates me each day is knowing I have that I can do good in the world and help people find the light in themselves. That keeps me going when times get hard.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment, I would say, is seeing the transformations and results. I do not do myself any favors, but I like to underpromise and overdeliver. I do not grandstand or make massive declarations. I am far too aware of how unpredictable human behavior is. Seeing my clients put in the work and the weight falls off, and the muscles and inner strength grow a really awesome feeling. The growth both externally and internally in the individual is truly a special experience. It is nice to see how empowering exercise and healthier living can be. To be a part of someone else's journey in that way, Is really a treat!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Well, besides the massive learning curve of having to learn and adapt to many new, ever-changing situations. Many of the problems that arise are temporary, so there is no playbook. So being honest about where you are is important to help mitigate the risks of choosing correctly. Paid ads are expensive and very unpredictable. Understanding your market and human behaviors is a lifelong process.

But really, the best answer I can give is one word: UNCERTAINTY. When you choose to own your own business, everything depends on your ability to dance with uncertainty. Every day is new, and problems and challenges grow like weeds. So to have intestinal fortitude and faith and a willingness to fail often and hard. It is something that I feel is glossed over when all we do is study the winners.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Passions -- it really does have to be something you love. Money is not a good motivator. Fitness is something I love and will be doing with no social media channels and no phone. It is just a part of me, so find that puzzle piece in your own life.
  2. Honesty -- no good decisions are ever made with incomplete information. Be honest if you do not know and work from there. Pretending you have all the answers is one of the worst things you can do to the probability of success.
  3. Surrender -- sometimes the best thing you can do is surrender to all of it. Control is something that does not come easy with a business with many moving parts. A lot of unintended consequences surface the more complex things become. Surrender and trust the process; you will probably be wrong in a good way. Go for it anyway; that fear you feel is good. Even if you fail, you will know that you attempted something and in its own special way that is redeeming on some level - all things being equal. In today's post-modern digital age, it has never been easier to be a creator. "Either you are becoming an entrepreneur, or you are working for one."

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I would like to share that I am happy you read my thoughts, and I would love not only to work with new clients but to collaborate with as many business owners as possible. I am working on creating an offer for business owners so that besides 1-1, I work with companies with 50-500 employees. The data and science are robust and happier, and healthier employees work smarter and harder and produce at a higher level. That is my new market.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.adaptgrowfit.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adaptgrowfit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adaptgrowfit/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreimellas/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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