Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tom Green, Founder and CEO of TG Fitness, located in Guildford, UK.

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

We provide health and well-being services for disabled people and people with chronic illnesses.

The core values are:

  1. Develop holistic training methods to support disabled people upholding the Equality Act 2010.
  2. Provide information and advice so that everyone can learn the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle.
  3. Support the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and elicit behavior change by informed decision-making.
  4. Act in the best interest of our clients.

Tell us about yourself

I have been in the Health and Fitness industry since 2008, either through work or study, and I have a passion for sports and exercise and their role in maintaining health and well-being. This is in large part due to a fatiguing condition called myalgia encephalomyelitis (ME) that I had through my mid-teens and early 20's. During this time, my perception of my ability to achieve anything was at an all-time low. So, with incredibly low self-efficacy, I knew I needed to do something or risk losing my mental health to the condition. I began a training program that started with standing up from bed a few times a day to walking around the local area. I now personally train up to 9 sessions a day. I have a strong desire to help others relieve the symptoms of conditions that often seem impossible to overcome.

A burning desire to help others through similar situations led me to study for a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance and Personal Training, followed by a BSc in Exercise and Health Management. The bachelor program taught me the importance of a holistic training method involving nutritional, psychological as well as physical training techniques.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I've been privileged to work with some remarkable clients over the years, and I'm honored to have been able to help them through challenging times and help them achieve a greater standard of living and quality of life. I will always remember the feeling of securing my first client, who I'm pleased to say I still work with 13 years later.

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

Finding the right people to help the business grow, but once you have found them, the future is exciting.

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

  1. An employee works for a fee, and an entrepreneur works for free. I remember the excitement I had when creating an innovative training program that would benefit so many people that had been marginalized in the fitness industry, but I spent many hours working to develop it and all of the supporting structure of the business before I saw a penny. The knowledge I gained during this time is far more valuable to me now than any amount of financial remuneration.
  2. Invest in your clients. The people I work with a start because they have the desire to be healthier but stay because of a relationship built on trust, openness, empathy, and a genuine desire to build them up, not just physically but mentally.
  3. Network. This didn't come naturally to me, but the opportunities I have had as a result of talking with like-minded people and businesses exceed the social discomfort of putting yourself out there.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.tgfitness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TGfitnessUK
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tkgreen/

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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