Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meredith Witte, Founder of The Playground, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The Playground is a virtual fitness studio with over 200 on-demand classes, including yoga, strength, meditation, corrective exercise, cardio, dance, and more! With functional, educational, and just plain fun classes, The Playground is a one-stop shop for all things movement! Members of The Playground are people who want to get strong, feel good, and reignite the innate childlike joy that is possible when moving their bodies.
Tell us about yourself
I've been a private yoga instructor and strength coach for 7+ years. Many of my private clients came to me with pain, discomfort, and unhappiness in their own skin but were skeptical of movement as a cure. It has been the greatest joy of my life to see my clients transform into physically strong and confident, mentally grounded and present, total movement enthusiasts. And this is where the idea of The Playground came from. I wanted to spread this message far and wide - working out doesn't have to be a chore, but in fact, it can be the key to happiness.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is staying true to myself and to the goals of my business within the fitness ecosystem. There are so many ways to take shortcuts with click-bait style marketing that preys on people's insecurities, especially in the fitness industry. But that's not what The Playground is about. So while it might take longer, I trust that the right people are finding their way to the studio.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part about being a business owner is that you have to juggle a lot of different roles, many of which you are not trained in. For example, I get to program and teach all of the classes on The Playground, but then I am also in charge of designing the set, setting up the lighting, setting up the camera, editing the footage, creating the thumbnails, and so on. I've also had to learn how to be a marketer and an accountant, and a website designer. It can be a lot, but I've had so much fun in the process.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just START. The pressure to have everything figured out before you begin can be crippling. My first few classes (dare I say my first 25?) aren't actually in the studio anymore, but that's okay because I was slowly developing my style and my voice as a virtual coach. The same goes for marketing - my strategy is totally different now! But I had to experiment in order to get where I am today.
- Prioritize your self-care. It can be so easy to let your business take over your life, but if you fall into this trap, the product will suffer. Create boundaries with your work schedule, ensure that you're getting good quality sleep and eating nutritious meals, and make sure you get outside every day. These little things allow you to skyrocket your productivity in your work life and feel happy in your personal life.
- Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was any successful business. Things take time. Try to always remind yourself that wherever you are in your process is exactly where you need to be.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://movewithmer.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplayground.fitness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-witte-79a46ba0/
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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