Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ranil Harshana, Owner of LIVE FIT CENTERS (PVT) LTS, located in Dubai, UAE.

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

It is separated into three sections.

  1. Live and virtual consulting for general fitness and corporate wellness - Livefitonline.com
  2. Tennis Fitness - Juniors, recreational, and professional players for high-performance training and coach education - Tennisbpm.com
  3. Strength and Conditioning for Combat Sports via strengthattack.com

Tell us about yourself

I was born in South East Asia, and when I began my journey in fitness in 1996, it was in its early stages when we needed information when we had real books and get trained under real mentors whilst still juggling multiple jobs to pay for my education, training, and travel, although everyone I knew laughed at me, anyways, as a risk taker, I made the decision over the years, it's about internal happiness or am I going to do a job I don't like earn and retire or do what I like with challenges and struggles and love what I do 24/7.

What motivates me to wake up is the fact that I was able to change my life and health, which impacted the general population as well as elite athletes worldwide.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Founded three businesses that are my true passions in life.

  1. I was able to train, coach, and mentor numerous clients and athletes from Asia, South East Asia, Central Asia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.
  2. Trains and coaches Guinness World Record athletes, multiple Olympians and Paralympians, Asian, SEA, and world champions.
  3. Author and International Speaker.

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

  1. Recruiting a genuine, educated, and passionate team.
  2. Accounting and financing.
  3. Marketing and promotion.

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

  1. Hire a good accountant, marketing expert, and lawyer (it will save your hard earned money going down the drain)
  2. Choose your team and staff based on your vibe, passion, and vision, even if it means paying them a higher fee, as I had so many failures hoping that they would change or could be coached.
  3. Only train and coach in your niches for me; it's general fitness and wellness, tennis fitness, and combat fitness. In my early years, I tried to be everything, which was a waste of energy, money, and passion. I had to learn the hard way.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website(Wellness): https://livefitonline.com/
Website(Tennis): http://tennisbpm.com/
Website(Strength): https://strengthattack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranilharshana/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ranilharshana
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranilharshana/

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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