Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea Isabelle Lucas, Founder of Barre & Soul Academy, located in Boston, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm the Founder and CEO of Barre & Soul Academy, the world's most authentic and comprehensive Barre Teacher Certification. Our clients are leaders who want to make a positive impact on their communities. Some are just starting out on their wellness careers after starting families and looking for a flexible, healthy, and rewarding new career. Many are existing fitness teachers who have completed other certifications but feel like something was lacking and want a deeper dive so they can become truly excellent at their craft.
Tell us about yourself
I started teaching barre part-time 15 years ago while bouncing back from an abusive situation while raising two small kids. It gave me so much strength at a time when I needed it most. This is one of the things that led to me eventually making a full-time career doing what I do because I deeply believe this platform is an incredibly effective way to have an empowering impact on other women! I started Barre & Soul studios in 2013 after having some of the industry's best mentors. In 2017 I studied with Esther Fairfax, whose mother, Lotte Berk, was barre's original inventor. In 2018, I launched Barre & Soul Academy to share this knowledge with the world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Starting my business with only a couple thousand dollars in the bank and growing it to a multi-million-dollar empire was more than I ever expected, and I'm humbled by that. I'm also really proud to have gotten my business through the pandemic without even having to close any studios and grateful to be still standing. But I think the biggest accomplishment will always be the knowledge of the ripple effect my business has created in the lives of our Team and Community - something impossible to measure but deeply satisfying.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Constant risk-taking! It's a requirement of the job, and it can be daunting. My motto is "take the biggest risk you can stomach for today." Some days it might be a small step, but all those steps add up.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Keep your overhead low, hire great help as soon as you can, and be honest with yourself when a relationship has run its course, and it's time to move on. You'll be doing yourself and the other person a huge favor in the long run. I define great help as anyone who's coachable, willing to work hard, and passionate about your business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://barresoulacademy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarreSoulAcademy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barresoulacademy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/barresoul
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barre-&-soul/about/
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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