Never Hunt Alone - ORKA Performance

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Taylor Evernden, Co-Founder & Director of Performance at ORKA Performance, located in Calgary, AB, Canada.

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

ORKA Performance is an athlete rehab & performance company located in Calgary, Canada. We are a team of athlete development coaches, physiotherapists, and sports medicine doctors aiming to deliver an integrated service from injury to the athlete's return to sport and beyond!

Tell us about yourself

I grew up playing soccer and knew I wasn't going to make it as a professional, so I started racking my brain for ways that I could stay in the game. Coaching the game was my first transition, and then I quickly discovered the Strength & Conditioning side while doing my Kinesiology degree at the University of Saskatchewan. My sister went through two ACL surgeries as a high-level athlete, and that really sparked my interest in ACLs and all things rehab. I landed a job at a soccer club here in Calgary as the Head of Sport Science and worked there for three years before realizing that I wanted to chase something bigger.

I quit with no other job and started training a few Irish Dancers out of 2110 Fitness. I quickly knew that this wasn't sustainable, so I started tapping into the network I developed while playing and coaching in Calgary. I met Ash Gooch at 2110 and landed our first six teams with Calgary Rangers. From here, it was full steam ahead, and we transitioned into a bigger facility out of The Edge School. During this time, we got up to 35 teams, but I continued to see this gap between rehab and return to sport. Very few organizations in Canada were integrated into nature, and I knew this would be a huge focus for the next few years. Then COVID hit. We moved everything online and used this time away from the gym to plan, plan, and plan some more. There was one person in this city that would be perfect for executing this plan, and luckily enough, he was thinking the same thing.

I met my business partner, Travis Gaudet, while we both worked for that soccer team in YYC. He was the perfect person to partner with on this venture. We were already sending athletes back and forth, so it made sense. In my opinion, he is one of the best therapists in Canada. We decided part way through the pandemic that we were going to open a facility that could take an athlete from day one post-injury through to a return to sport. What a journey this was. The lessons were endless. Fast forward to today, and we're privileged to work with 50+ teams, have a team of 4 amazing physiotherapists, seven athlete development coaches, and one spectacular sports medicine physician. Now that we are one year into our new facility, it's really our amazing athletes and clients that motivate us every day. Seeing their commitment to excellence and how they navigate very difficult rehabs is truly inspiring. I leave work every day beyond proud of all of them.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is playing a small role in all these athletes' rehab + performance journeys. Over the years, I have worked with a lot of athletes. When a wedding invite comes through, or an invite for a round of golf, or they just pop by the facility to say hi, you can only hope that you've left a mark on them, and this is hopefully the sign. This is truly the best part of coaching.

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

Balance. When you own a business, it's way too easy to work for 15 hours a day, seven days per week, because oftentimes you're so passionate about it that it doesn't even feel like work. On the flip side, this can impact relationships and family time. Learning to find that balance is important, and it's something that takes continual effort. It's becoming ok with the fact that the business won't crumble without you there, and taking time away is important.

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

1. . Just do it. Starting a business is a massive risk when you see the stats of businesses that don't make it. But if you don't try, you'll never know the outcome.
2. Find help in areas that you are not trained in. I have to give a shout-out to Karl Goodman from AA in Sydney because the resources and information he puts out to facility owners like me are priceless. You really need to be a generalist in all aspects, and finding mentors like this can make a world of difference.
3. Step back every now and again and appreciate what you have built. It's easy to be in the trenches 24 hours a day, but it's pretty amazing sometimes when you take a step back and see the effort and work that has gone into making something successful.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.orkaperformance.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orkaperformance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orkaperformance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tevernden11

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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