Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Martin Voslar, founder of Iron Lab Strength & Conditioning, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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

I founded Iron Lab with one purpose. Help people love how they look and feel so they can live their best lives. It pains me to see people giving up on having the body, health, and fitness abilities they dream of, and as a result of that, they may question their lack of success in other areas of life.

Tell us about yourself

My life changed because of fitness. I was a very weak and out-of-shape teenager who hated physical activities. However, I dreamed of being strong and powerful. I had doubt and no clue how to do it, but I didn’t give up. Over the years, I’ve noticed I got stronger and fitter, but most importantly, my mindset and outlook on life changed. I started seeing opportunities where before, I could only see limitations. Fitness, particularly strength training, created who I am today. I am living the dream of helping people go through the same transformation and realize that they can do anything they put their minds to, and fitness is just a tool to unlock the mind's unlimited potential.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

About 90% of all personal trainers will quit or change careers within a year of completing their certification. That is a pretty scary statistic, so I’m glad I was the 10%. The biggest success I see is that I still haven’t given up on my dream of building a company that will change how the industry is perceived and create an example that a profitable business could also be a great place to work and treat employees and customers at the highest standards.

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

Especially at the beginning, when you’re a solopreneur, you may feel you never have enough time to complete your never-ending “to-do list.” So time management is a crucial task that must be mastered to progress.

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

  1. Have a clear vision of what you’d like to accomplish. Especially what is your WHY, why do you want to build your company, and how will it change the world and the world of the clients you help. This will be your “motivation” when you feel burned out or stuck.
  2. Surround yourself with like-minded people. If you can’t afford to hire a part-time contractor/employee who shares your mission and values, at least surround yourself with mentors and colleagues who are ambitious and driven like you. Being an entrepreneur can be a very lonely place, and many people will never understand what you’re going through.
  3. Always keep working on your personal growth. Both personally and professionally. How can you be better at your job, your particular skills and knowledge that would translate how to help your clients achieve better results? But also, personally, are you leading by example in all aspects of your life?

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

You’re a special breed. Being an entrepreneur is not easy, and you know it. You chose the hard way, and it will pay off. Your vision is to change the world because of your unique gift and idea. So go for it, never stop, never give up, always look at how you could do things 1 % better, and surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who share your passion and drive. You are changing the world and owe it to yourself to keep going because you WILL succeed, but only if you never quit.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ironlab.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martin.voslar.5
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinvoslar/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mvoslar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-voslar-iron-lab/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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