Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Galit Friedlander, Founder of GoGalit, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

I run two businesses that are very interconnected: personal training and teaching dance. For personal training, I tend to attract professionals 30+ who are looking for a motivating trainer who can work around their schedule and get them to their health and fitness goals. For dance, I take all levels and most often get two ends of the spectrum: absolute beginners who want strong dance fundamentals and grooves for when they go out and professional dancers. I also work for the WNBA as a lead choreographer for the LA Sparks.

Tell us about yourself

I once heard, “your purpose paves your path,” and I fully believe that! I didn’t realize until nearly a decade ago how much teaching and training really lights me up! I got into dance when I was about 12, and by age 16, I was assisting a teacher at my studio and coming up with my own choreography. As I got more serious about dance, I wanted to learn how to cross-properly train, so I started learning about fitness and then fell in love with it too! Everything I learn that adds value to my life is something that I want to share. I want people to feel great in their lives and bodies. When I was a professional dancer in Los Angeles, I noticed that my best days were when I was teaching dance. Simultaneously, I started getting requests for me to share my fitness regimen, which I had developed over the years. That’s when I embarked on the journey to becoming certified as a personal trainer, which felt natural as I have a very trained eye for form from years of dance.

What motivates me each day is the possibility of joy. I want to experience as much happiness as I can and spark that for others. Staying active goes way beyond the body; it is a crucial component of mental health. Whenever I am about to train a client, I get excited by what our time together can do for them. This is the same for teaching. I also know that this is a marathon. So, I understand that I will go through many different waves of emotions within a week, month, year, and even hour!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Retention. I will focus on personal training for this one. I have clients who are excited to continue working with me way past when people tend to quit. When I became certified as a trainer, I read that clients, on average, will stay with a trainer for a few months. I am proud to say that many of my clients stay with me for years and return after taking breaks. I’ll tell you what I think does this: I put my all into each client. I’ve seen trainers who do whatever it takes to stack up clients. This isn’t bad. However, I believe it’s easy to get burnt out and less focused on the individual if you’re prioritizing quantity over quality.

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

The ebbs and flows. There are times I have so much work that I wish I could clone myself. At other times, things slow down to the point where one wonders if being overbooked was a fluke.

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

  1. Get clear on your why. What is a ‘why’ that is powerful enough to get you through tough times?
  2. Make sure you are set up for the marathon. I’ve seen a lot of people quit very early. You can set yourself up financially by putting money aside to support your time when you focus on the business. You can set yourself up emotionally by listening to motivational voices and telling yourself, ‘I got this!’
  3. Refine, refine, refine. Moments that feel like failures are some of the best lessons. I learn by doing, and jumping into your solo career will provide feedback. That feedback is an opportunity to keep doing better.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.gogalit.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalitInc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gogalit/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galit-friedlander-9a5741b8/

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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