Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jes Rubin, General Manager of Point Loma Sports Club, located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Point Loma Sports Club is a 24,000 sqft facility in San Diego, California. Within the facility is a massive weight room with free weights, cables, cardio, and several key equipment pieces, as well as a huge Functional Training Arena with lifting platforms, turf, basketball courts, and a large variety of functional training equipment. We also have a specialized yoga studio and indoor cycle studio. A month-to-month membership to the club includes full access to the entire facility, all classes and small group training, and amenities such as towel service, parking, infrared sauna, showers, and lockers.
People are looking for a place in San Diego, outside of home or work, to be recharged...and be part of a positive experience. Everything here is top of the line, from our equipment to our classes to our programs and our staff. We welcome every member with a smile. We treat people as we would a respected friend of the family. Our mission is to never lose sight of what is really important...to create an experience so positive for our members, guests, and co-workers that a life of abundance is a natural result.
Tell us about yourself
My story as a business owner is a little different than most. My dad actually founded Point Loma Sports Club in 2012, and one of my very first jobs was working there as a front desk receptionist at age 15. My dad was a serial gym owner, and as a child, I spent most of my days at his other club, running around and playing with the equipment. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree; in my work life, I quickly learned that a career in the health and fitness space was the only thing I could see myself doing.
Through the years, I worked my way up to a management position at the club, working alongside my dad and learning from his unique business and leadership skills. I admired that he put so much passion into everything he did, and it truly was reflected in the success of the club.
In November 2020, after navigating one of the most challenging times for businesses (especially gyms), we lost my dad after a year-long battle with terminal cancer. My motivation, above all, is to continue to carry on my dad's legacy. He created something incredibly special and put his entire life into building a place where people could come to elevate and uplift every part of themselves.
Point Loma Sports Club is not just a business to me; it is my life and has been since I was 15 years old. I look forward to going to work every single day, and every part of the job is rewarding. From seeing members transform and accomplish their goals, working alongside our amazing staff, and even the tough work and decisions is all a gift and an honor!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I feel my biggest accomplishment thus far has been navigating the business through the pandemic. When the second shutdown happened, mandating that all gyms cease indoor operations, we were on the phone with a tent company within 20 minutes, and by the next day, we had a fully functional gym set up in our parking lot with over 100,000lbs of our gym equipment. We were the first gym in San Diego to implement this, and we were able to continue to cater to our community in a safe way. To this day, we have had zero reported COVID cases at the club, and I am really proud of the way we handled things throughout the entire two years. Seeing how grateful our members were to still be able to work out at the club and be a part of the community during the most stressful times made everything worthwhile!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is hiring the right people that support our vision and are motivated to grow with the club. We believe that our members can never be happier than our staff; therefore, finding happy, friendly, motivated individuals is the priority in our search for candidates.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Never stop learning. Take the time to listen to the feedback of people you respect, and maybe even find a mentor to help you through the process.
- Take the time to really get to know your staff and find out what motivates them.
- See every challenge as an opportunity for growth. As my dad would say, instead of "can I make this happen," say, "how can I make this happen." Have fun with it all!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.plsportsclub.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PLSportsClub/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointlomasportsclub/
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.