Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris Leib, owner of Movement Professional, LLC, located in Ardmore, PA, USA.

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

Movement Professional, LLC is a hybrid physical therapy clinic and strength and conditioning gym. We work with individuals of all ages that are looking to safely improve their resilience to the obstacles of life. Due to our doctorate-level education as physical therapists, combined with our extensive experience as strength and conditioning professionals, we often work with clients after a recent injury or with a history of injury that is looking for someone they trust to safely get them stronger and fitter.

The intention of Movement Professional, LLC is both to assist individuals in maximizing their potential for physical activity and become an active voice for the health benefits of the quality movement. Physical activity and the ability to move well is a fundamental pillars of experiencing happiness in life. Too often, however, the ambition to "move well" is overshadowed by the desire to "look good." Favorable physical appearance is highly subjective and can be achieved by healthy and unhealthy means. MovementProfessional, LLC strives to keep quality movement as the priority in an effort to allow clients to move more frequently, at higher intensities, and in more skillful ways creating positive physical changes that are in line with overall well-being.

Tell us about yourself

Upon graduating with my physical therapy degree from the University of Scranton, I started working at a physical therapy clinic that also happened to be located in a fitness center. While there, I began to take on some personal training clients outside of my clinical hours as a therapist. As I got more experience working in both settings, I noticed that the two fields were extremely complementary. Over time, I gained confidence in my knowledge and expertise as a hybrid "movement professional" that was uniquely qualified to help improve clients' fitness while keeping them safe.

For nearly a decade, I continued to work in various physical therapy clinics while maintaining personal training clients separately. While working as a physical therapist, I was always employed by someone else, and my salary was predicated on what the employer could afford to pay me based on what health insurance plans were reimbursing.

As a personal trainer, I was paid directly by the client, which allowed me to make substantially more income per hour. Understanding this, it soon became evident that I could make a comparable income working on my own as long as I could find clients that were willing and able to pay for my services directly without my rates being limited by health insurance plans. This direct fee-for-service model allowed me to offer higher quality one-on-one care to physical therapy patients, which allowed me to create value for those individuals looking for something outside of the traditional physical therapy model.

Now nine years into running this practice, it has been so rewarding to be able to grow long-term relationships with clients without having to deal with health insurance plans limiting care.

What motivates me today is the drive to help optimize the quality of life of each client I work with. I have worked with many of my current clients for years, some for as long as I've been in business. During this time, I have developed deep relationships with these individuals and am as invested in their health as I am in my own.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Self-publishing two books.

  1. Longevity Through Movement
  2. Mobilize

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

Maintaining structure and discipline to take on tasks that help the business to grow. It's easy to limit the job to just working with clients without planning tasks that will build the business over time. Being my own boss means I am the only one holding myself accountable. That continues to be an ongoing process.

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

  1. Keep overhead low at first. Don't get yourself in a ton of debt. Otherwise, you will likely work out of desperation as opposed to a place of patience and acceptance. Desperation may make you veer from your passion just to make ends meet. Start slow and let the business build gradually.
  2. You're ready now! I never felt ready to be a business owner. It was and continues to be a process. You can prepare all you want, but there is no better way to learn than on the job.
  3. Stay true to your vision. Don't get lost in comparing your business to others. Focus on what you do best and what you're passionate about, and work won't feel like work. It takes a ton of work and long hours to build a business. When it's something you love, that time will fly, and you'll be amazed at how productive you can be.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://www.movementprofessional.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movementprofessional
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movementprof/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/movementprof
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-leib-2053aa83/

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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