Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sean Wells, Owner of Solid State Fitness, located in Greensboro, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is a Personal Training service dedicated to promoting health, fitness, and longevity. While we're open to all ages, we cater most frequently to busy 35-and-over professionals seeking a one-stop shop for effective exercise and eating plans.
Tell us about yourself
My motivation for starting Solid State Fitness was a greater need for accessibility and practicality in the training industry. The idea is to take a step beyond certain athletic or aesthetic goals of the "Boutique" fitness approach and instead elevate the profession into the realm of Public Health.
For me, this aim is the first and best purpose of professionally designed and supervised exercise and eating programs. Making all of us healthier is a crucial step in making our world a better place – we've demonstrated this model can succeed, and the hope is for others to follow.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think this would be a tie between some of the more substantial and rejuvenating weight losses (there have been several in the 50-to-100 pound range) and the significant restoration of physical capacity in others — we have worked with several post-PT patients with great results. In both cases, we're talking about people achieving things they'd begun to believe just weren't possible. In terms of accomplishment, that's about as good as it gets for a trainer!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the biggest challenges is practicing patience when it comes to your actual achievements and successes while at the same time being fairly relentless in driving yourself toward those goals. It's really the rare occasion that you can afford to take your foot off the gas.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't kid yourself about being ready when you really aren't - to own a business in a certain industry, you must first be a truly outstanding worker in that industry.
- Treat your business budget like you're making an indie film - get as creative as you can, find all possible workarounds before making purchases, and only buy it if you really (really) need it.
- Word of mouth beats advertising. Period.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://solidstatefitness.us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solid-state-fitness/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm4bcvF9Cx-jx86dErNDkag
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.