Supporting Others in Reaching Their Goals

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Lewis, owner of Step Forward With Lewis, located in Northampton, England, UK

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

Step Forward with Lewis is a fitness club with a difference. We started out on our journey as a running club, catering to all abilities. Then in September 2020, we launched as a full-time business, offering everything from balance classes for elderly clients, school PE and exercise for those with dementia, heart issues, or in-care homes to personal training, as well as boot camps, boxercise, strength and cardio, and running sessions. From our inception as a running club, our ethos has always been based around people getting out there and covering whatever distance they want. However, they can. That means we cater to runners, joggers, walkers, wheelchair users, and those who are deaf and hard of hearing, or visually impaired. That attitude exists through everything we do now. We don't care if you're a gym buff or have barely mustered the energy to crawl out of bed for 20 years – everyone is welcome, and we believe we can help anyone improve while having fun in the process.

I am a fully qualified personal trainer, fitness instructor, boxercise trainer, OTAGO strength and balance qualified coach, and running coach, so you can guarantee the best possible advice and training. Things do not end there, though. Step Forward With Lewis produces the inspirational 'Running Tales' podcast, and we have our own range of merchandise. We are also involved in community events, partnering with charities close to our hearts, and we put on virtual races so you can participate wherever you are in the world.

Tell us about yourself

I started Step Forward with Lewis as a voluntary group in 2018, and it has grown from there. The idea is to create a relaxed, fun, and inspiring atmosphere for people of all abilities to train in. I am passionate about running, from being a parkrun director to having completed 17 marathons. In 2018 and 2019, I was shortlisted for Volunteer of the Year at the Northampton Leisure Trust Sports Awards.

I am a qualified coach in running fitness and a running leader with English Athletics, a Level 3 Personal Trainer, a Level 2 Fitness Instructor, and Boxercise Instructor. I have also completed qualifications in Deaf Communication in Sports, Visually Impaired Guide training, and as a Mental Health Champion for English Athletics, but most of all, I am a person who loves motivating others to look after themselves physically and mentally.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Getting out there, doing it, and grabbing hold of every opportunity. When I started Step Forward With Lewis, the plan was to simply hold fitness and running classes with some personal training. But having the ability to diversify and grab new opportunities has seen the business go from strength to strength. I never imagined when I started Step Forward With Lewis that I would be running preschool classes for children and working in care homes offering strength and balance sessions for people with limited movement and dementia. These days, I couldn't imagine not doing those classes, and they have become incredibly important for the business - but I won't be standing still with this year seeing me train to be a kickboxing instructor!

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

The hardest part of managing the business is managing your time - there are never enough hours in the day! It is so different from the 9-5 of working in an office, and even on a normal day, sessions can start early in the morning before people head off to work or in the evening after they've clocked off for the day. And that's all before you have to deal with inquiries at 8 pm during the week or any time of the weekend! Of course, the flip side of that coin is while you don't get to switch off so often, you're doing something you love.

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

Be brave and go for it. The first step is the hardest, so get out there and make it happen.
Do something you really enjoy. Running your own business is challenging, comes with a lot of work, and there will be tough times, so make sure you're doing a job you love.
Push the boundaries. When you're stuck in someone else's business, you have to follow their rules even if they make no sense! But this is your business, so you can do what you've always wanted to and make it work for you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://stepforwardwithlewis.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stepforwardwithlewis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepforwardwithlewis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sfwl_fitness
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3XlqX1Y

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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