Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Heather Cloud, founder of The Pilates Party, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The Pilates Party is a virtual fitness studio created for high-achieving individuals who prioritize their health and know that maintaining their physicality is non-negotiable. Our clients are busy professionals who see their workouts as self-care and understand how important and liberating it is to have a professional lead them through their exercises.
The purpose of fitness is to help you feel good in your body, support your life, and propel you through your adventures. At The Pilates Party, we are dedicated to finding movement to support your lifestyle and combat any repetitive or negative strain that may impose on you throughout your day. We want you to feel like your strongest, most confident self so you can live an energized, pain-free, and spectacular life.
Tell us about yourself
Though I'm a fitness professional, I've never been obsessed with working out. Pilates has carried a supporting role for me since I was ten years old. I had a fairly regular Pilates practice throughout my life, but I never paid attention to it nor saw it as a passion of mine until over a decade later when I realized that I was looking forward to my workouts more than any other activity.
Once I had started my comprehensive teacher training, I wanted to help my clients find that same positive anticipation when it came to their workouts rather than feeling like it was another chore or something they "should be doing" or "had to do." I also noticed that I loved seeing how the work I did with my clients on the mat seeped into their lives outside of the studio.
As far as the creation of The Pilates Party goes, about a month into the pandemic, I was reading a book that asked me how I was supporting my community. I thought that it wasn't applicable given the state of the world, but upon deeper reflection, I realized that I was able to offer my friends, family, and clients something that could benefit them in more ways than one. Not only could I give them a safe and effective workout from the comfort of their own home without compromising their health, but I could provide them with a community and some form of structure in a very lonely and uncertain time.
After the first class, I got such positive feedback from my community that I knew these classes were something we all needed and craved.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was taking the plunge and simply starting my business. It was a terrifying thing to do at the time because it came with so many unknowns. Starting a business is a big leap, but then adding a global pandemic into the mix and it's a recipe for uncertainty.
However, I couldn't stop thinking about making my virtual studio and quickly understood that the apprehension and nervousness I was experiencing was a sign that creating this space and community was something worth doing.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
When I started my business, I began by wearing all of the hats. Not only did I become the Lead Pilates Instructor, but I was now the CEO, CFO, Chief of Marketing and Advertisement, Head of Customer Service, and everything else in between. Juggling my time between those roles was overwhelming, and I had to learn how to create and implement systems and hire out to keep my business running smoothly.
It was - and continues to be - an incredible challenge to pass on tasks that others can do better than I can, as well as set boundaries on the amount of to-dos I set for myself and my company.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
You never have to grow your business alone, so my three top tips for starting a business are:
- Delegate. Hiring out/delegating is one of the best time hacks I've found. No one is expected to complete every task perfectly in a short period of time, so why would you want to put that pressure on yourself? For me, my accounting and bookkeeping were the first things to be sent out. The amount of time it would take me to learn and perfect the ins and outs of my numbers would be astronomical. Instead, I have people who I trust deeply who can do it all in a fraction of the time without any frustration, and I know that it's being done correctly.
- Network. It's easy to feel like you're in a bubble of solitude and that you're the only one experiencing the trials and tribulations of entrepreneurship. When I began networking, not only did it grow my client load, but it also gave me a community of other small business owners in various fields who were working or had worked through similar issues that I was having. With networking, you can build camaraderie and begin to make connections with people who may come in handy down the line. You may also find support or friendship with others who can relate to the things you're going through.
- Collaborate. Collaboration has been one of my favorite parts of owning my business. It has opened my eyes to how other people see their businesses, and it has given me a chance to expand my offerings. It's a fun way to get out of your routine and allow your zone of genius to work in a new way.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thepilatesparty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.pilates.party
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.pilates.party/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thepilatesparty/
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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