I am often asked how I started with barre fitness studios. I actually have always loved health, nutrition, and fitness. My real dream had always been to own something like Canyon Ranch before I knew about Canyon Ranch. But come on – I didn’t have millions of dollars for built out and operating capital. I barely had $50,000! But I had a fair amount of financial and business savvy….
You see, I spent the first 15 years of my adult life as a financial advisor. In San Diego, I worked with some of the coolest clients -with some really amazing businesses (if only I were allowed to tell you who). But despite working with amazing clients, and a wonderful team – I still was unhappy in my job. I literally was dying inside – a day at a time, and I was becoming a first class B–ch – and an unhealthy one at that!
Despite going to the gym 4-5 times a week, I was up to a size 10-12, and always tired and grumpy. Then my husband, Mike, and I went to a Christmas party and ran into one of my friends who had just started teaching barre. She looked amazing and invited me to take her class. I went with another friend. I walked out and said, “That was one of the hardest things I have ever done, I can’t wait to go back.” She said, “That was one of the hardest things I have ever done, I’ll never go back.”
I started taking classes 4-5 times a week, and in less than a month – I was a size 6. It was amazing! I told Mike, “If every girl knew this, every girl would do this.” I then started to think that maybe it was a good idea to open a studio! The thing is, I am still a finance girl through and through. I don’t make a decision unless it makes financial sense to me.
So, I started investigating opening my own studio. In part two, I will describe the process I took in determining what I wanted to do. But I want you to walk away from this today with one thing in mind, if you are dying inside, little by little, chasing someone else’s dream, and building someone else’s life – maybe it’s time to make a change?
If you have dreamed of opening a barre studio, I challenge you that you do NOT really want to partner with a large barre franchise. If your dream is to own your own business – you probably want more freedom and flexibility than a franchise will allow.
But I want to ask you today:
- Are you happy in your job?
- Are you doing something that excites you?
- Can you see yourself in your current career for the rest of your life?
- Do you dread Mondays?
Life is TOO SHORT to be living a life you don’t enjoy! It’s too short to be working in a job that doesn’t feed you. If you are like me and really needed to make a change, I want you to know – I get it! It is SCARY to leave a job that seems secure. It is SCARY to do anything different than what you already know. But most people will tell you, it is WORTH IT!
For more information on Studio in a Box – Opening a barre studio without the rules and fees of a barre franchise – then get more information now.
If you are interested in how I started investigating businesses, and made the transition from a successful finance career to being self employed, come see me tomorrow! I look forward to sharing with you!
