Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kemi Asani, Founder of AFROBEAT FIT®, located in Providence, RI, USA.

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

My business is AFROBEAT FIT, and we are the movement of the Diaspora! We work specifically with busy people, employee resource groups, and organizations to foster balance over burnout with Afro dance, fitness, and wellness experiences. Since 2016, AFROBEAT FIT® has hosted over 600 small and large-scale virtual and in-person experiences!

Tell us about yourself

I am of the West African Diaspora, born in the United States, with parents hailing from Nigeria and Liberia. My personal story began after receiving corrective hearing surgery and when she started dance/training at the age of 2. I also spent years navigating the terrain of standard schooling and acquired a Master's in Public Administration while working within the realm of Higher Education. For years I balanced working in the area of academic support services and, most notably as the Director of Diversity & Inclusion, while also dancing professionally in Providence, Boston, and Atlanta. My first encounter with entrepreneurship was in the first grade. My older sister forced me to sell stickers with a substantial profit margin. I later explored the road of entrepreneurship on a more serious level through various business ventures during my Undergraduate years of college. The interconnections of my life eventually led to me leading the movement of the Diaspora: AFROBEAT FIT.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been learning the importance of boundaries. I am the business, and if I am burnt out and overworked, it bleeds into the candor of the company.

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

One of the most difficult things about being a business owner is navigating our new normal, which means constantly pivoting in ambiguity.

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

  1. Don't start a business unless you have passion, grit, and perseverance. A 9-5 may be easier and provide more stability.
  2. Start small and operate in the simplest capacity. Never scale aggressively unless necessary.
  3. Your "why" will be your fuel on your hardest days. Never lose sight of your purpose and why you are doing what you are doing!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I also am a firm believer in speaking life over ourselves and can check out my affirmations on my Instagram page @kemiasani. Continue to speak life over yourself as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://afrobeatfit.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afrobeatfit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrobeatfit/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/afrobeatfit
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemiasani/

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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