Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with James Rehak, Founder of SOBO Strength and Performance, located in Baltimore, MD, USA.

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

SOBO Strength and Performance is a Personal Training studio that offers one-on-one training, Small group, large classes, Physical Therapy, and Massage Therapy.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Sparrows Point, MD, about 15 min from downtown Baltimore. Initially, I struggled with sports and athleticism. I was a chubby, awkward kid until I decided to make a change. At around the age of 12-13, I decided I was tired of being bullied and made fun of for being chubby and awkward, so one day, I started training and never stopped. I ran a few miles every day. I completely stopped eating fast food, soda, and candy. I got a small weight bench and some weights in my bedroom, and I would lift weights after running for about an hour every night. I wore a hole in the side of my dresser where my barbell would rub it while benching. I did that every day for about two years, and it turned out I was a fast responder to exercise. I brought my body fat percentage down to the single digits and packed on muscle quickly.

Suddenly, I was a popular kid based solely on my looks; that's always bothered me. I was still pretty unathletic, though. I always played baseball and was pretty good at that, but I struggled whenever I played anything else. So I fell in love with the practice. I started wrestling, playing football, and Lacrosse. Whenever I learned a new skill in practice, I'd go home and practice it for a few more hours by myself in the backyard or my room until it felt smooth. This led to me being captain of all the teams I was on, being recruited to play Football and Lacrosse in college, and finally, Rugby up until 2018. All of that came from enjoying the process of learning new physical skills. I majored in Exercise Science in college and loved every aspect of that major. I always knew I was going to be a trainer. I started working at Merritt athletic clubs in 2010 and stayed until 2020.

When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, I realized this was my opportunity for growth. I wasn't alone in that realization. Long-time friends and colleagues Tony Strittmatter, Ally Melnick, and Glenn Squirrel were also ready to take the next step and joined me. Our goal at SOBO is to provide something South Baltimore/Locust Point is sorely missing a dedicated Personal Training studio staffed by highly educated, accredited, and motivated Coaches that know how to build programs and experiences for every level of individual no matter where they are in their fitness journey. We have all invested much money, time, and sweat to perfect our craft. Personal Training sadly has become a revolving door of unaccredited fitness enthusiasts who only know how to train themselves but force their training style on every client regardless of the individual's injury history or ability level. Not here. We meet you where you are and build you up day by day and brick by brick to help you achieve whatever goals you may have.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment so far would have to be making my dream a reality. I've always wanted my own gym so that I could run how I feel a gym should run. It has not been an easy road, but nothing worth having comes easy. It's been a steep learning curve. I've never owned a business, and suddenly I am the owner, Janitor, IT Specialist, Marketing, HR, and handyman of a business. I am not exceptional at any of those things, but I am learning quickly.

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

The hardest part is the balancing act that is necessary for being a business owner. As of now, I am a Husband, Father, Gym Owner, and Personal Trainer. All those things require hours of my attention every day, and it's up to me to ensure I bring the same level of care and attention to each. At the end of the day, everything starts and ends with you. Thankfully the other coaches I have at the gym help me in any way that I ask when I get too overwhelmed. Life would be much harder If I didn't have them and, of course, my wife Megan to lean on when I need a hand.

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

  1. Find multiple mentors in whatever industry you're interested in. Take them out to eat or shadow them at their work and ask all of the questions, even the obvious ones.
  2. Keep your ego in check. It's not supposed to be easy. You aren't supposed to be an overnight success. Earn your wins and learn from your losses.
  3. Get at least 8 hours of sleep, eat foods that will make you a more effective human, and stay hydrated. Everything is hard enough; those three things are easy to control and are way more helpful when the sh** inevitably hits the fan.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://sobosandp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sobostrengthandperformance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobosandp/

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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