Inspiring You to Go Beyond Better

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea Lawson, owner of Balance In Motion, located in Richmond, BC, Canada.

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

Balance In Motion offers strength training programs aimed to help individuals safely and fully recover from their injuries so that they can focus on building strength to support their life endeavors and fitness goals. Typically the clients that are most drawn to us are working through some sort of current or previous injury that is getting in their way. Age ranges from youth to people over the age of 70!

Tell us about yourself

My career journey started in 2008, and my goals actually did not include being a business owner early on. I was just really excited about injury rehab and, at the time, general fitness. Right after my undergrad, I quickly became obsessed with trying to help people overcome injuries and achieve goals they didn't realize were possible via strategic strength training. This is how Balance In Motion was born and how it still operates. Early on, I told myself that I would go back to school once I stopped learning or feeling excited about what I did. Long story short, fifteen years later, I am the sole owner of Balance In Motion, have a team of 10 incredible coaches, 2 locations, and over 200 clients, and feel extremely grateful for all of the opportunities that continue to come my way.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Surviving COVID! But maybe not for obvious reasons. There was a time during COVID when I really had to question if Balance In Motion, or BIM as we call it, was what I wanted. I was one year into opening my 2nd location (7 years into my first), and going into the lockdown was already on the brink of total burnout. Walking away, with no questions asked, was admittedly tempting, given all the circumstances. However, when I truly thought about my why there was no other option but to give BIM all the fight that I had. That fight keeps BIM open but only to a certain extent. What really kept BIM alive was my incredible team, my clients, and the foundation that had been slowly built over time. This is something that I feel not only proud of but honoured that I get to be a part of.

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

Costs. No one wants to dig into their numbers weekly because often scary things live there that is hard to know how to deal with. However, leaning into the looming problems (that we all know are there!) to create structure and strategy is essential for keeping a business operational, sustainable, and prosperous.

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

Understand or seek help to understand your financials as soon as possible. Don't procrastinate about this! This will make or break you.
Reach out and find mentors, especially those who are doing what you want to be doing. You'd be surprised by how willing successful people are to help and/or share.
Build a team and learn to empower them. Let go of trying to do everything yourself. It is possible that other people can care enough to help run your business as well as you do. Or at least very close if you all share the same core values.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://balancemotion.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.lawson.334
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrea.lawson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BalanceMotion/

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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