Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Josh Hewett, owner of Top Form Fitness, located in Barrie, ON, Canada.

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

I'm a fitness professional and coach who helps my clients improve their health, fitness, performance, appearance, and overall wellbeing. I take a "holistic" approach to wellness, not only focusing on exercise and nutrition but also integrating breathwork, somatic awareness, and mindful movement to support physical, mental, and emotional health. I also incorporate muscle testing and corrective exercise to address muscular imbalances to reduce discomfort. I work with a variety of clients of all ages, but the majority of my client base are busy professionals between 35 to 50 years old who are looking to balance their work and family lives while improving their overall health and fitness.

Tell us about yourself

I first became interested in strength training and nutrition when I was 17 years old. I was self-conscious about feeling skinny and weak, so I began to explore the world of fitness and exercise to develop a healthier relationship with my body. This interest soon became my lifestyle, which evolved into my passion. I began competing in a variety of strength athletics events, completing various personal training certifications, and eventually completed my degree in Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario. To this day, I find great enjoyment in studying and learning more about the human body, nutrition, physical and mental conditioning, as well as personal growth and development. But my primary motivation is to share my experience and education by being of service to others. I find it extremely rewarding to know that I've played a role in improving someone else's quality of life in some way.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One of my most significant accomplishments as a small business owner and solopreneur was transitioning my practice to being fully home-based. Several years ago, we purchased a new home, and I transformed the basement into a fully equipped training studio. Within a couple of years, my client base had grown to a level where I was able to stop commuting to the fitness facility that I had been working out of and move to working with clients full time out of my home studio, as well as at their homes and online. This greatly reduced my overhead expenses and travel time while allowing me to spend more time with my family. I feel like freedom is one of the biggest potential benefits of working for yourself.

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

Of course, there have been many challenges related to running my own business over the years. An obvious recent example has been navigating the challenges that the COVID pandemic introduced to the fitness industry. Ironically, this was also a tremendous catalyst for many positive changes in my business, including the shift to establishing my home studio as well as growing the online training aspect of my business. At the risk of sounding cliché, I believe we are made stronger by that which we overcome.

That said, I still struggle with finding the balance between work, personal time, and family time. When you are self-employed, it can be easy to let your 'working' life slip into other areas of your life. It's important to set boundaries to protect your time.

It's also important to manage one's emotions related to the ups and downs that are inherent in any business. I sometimes find myself feeling a little overwhelmed when I'm very busy working with a full client load, but then, in contrast feeling somewhat anxious during 'slower' times. It helps to remember to work 'on' the business when you're less busy and to focus on working 'in' the company when you are fully booked.

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

There are many things I've learned about myself and my business over the years, but if I had to choose three simple tips to offer others who are looking to start and grow a business, they would be focused on the following three questions:

  1. What are you good at? (Talents).
  2. What do you enjoy? (Passions)
  3. How can you add value? (Service)

So, let's look at how to answer those questions...

  1. Master your craft: The field you choose to focus on for your business should be related to your natural talents, abilities, predispositions, and personal experience. In this way, you are setting yourself up for success. Once you've chosen a direction for your business, learn as much as you can about that specific area of focus, starting with the fundamentals. Remember, if you want to become a master, first master the basics.
  2. Follow your passion: By choosing to do what you love, you will significantly increase your quality of life as well as the likelihood that your business will thrive. Your clients can sense whether or not you enjoy what you do. They can also tell if you practice what you preach. Follow a path that resonates with your own interests and live what you teach. Remember, building a business requires significant effort, but if you enjoy the process, it can feel like an "effortless effort."
  3. Be of service: To create abundance for yourself, you need to offer considerable value to your target audience. Consider what unique 'problem' you are going to solve and who your ideal client will be. Always focus on adding value rather than on chasing the money. While you may begin with a broader or more general focus, I suggest ultimately refining your offering to a very distinct and specific niche that resonates with you. This is actually something that I'm still working on myself for my own business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If you're reading this, I wish you success, abundance, fulfillment, and satisfaction in your own business endeavors. I encourage you to trust in yourself and to let go of the false sense of "security" that is often associated with working for someone else while embracing the freedom that comes with being your own boss.

One final piece of advice I'd like to offer is always to coach yourself first. As you begin to focus more on working with your clients, don't forget to make time for your own personal growth and development. Constantly evolve in every way possible. This is about living fully, not just "making a living."

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://top-form-fitness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TopFormFitness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topformfitness/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/topformfitness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/topformfitness/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.