Meet Carolyn from In 2 Life Fitness

In 2 Life Fitness offers Personal Training and Group PT sessions to the local community. Our aim is to help as many people as possible to lead fulfilling lives for as many years as possible, so we offer assistance with exercise as well as nutrition and mindset

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What does being business ownerr mean to you, and what motivated you to start your business?

I love working for myself, but it can be hard work. You never work 9-5 but you do the extra hours because you love what you do. I love the fact I am making a change in people’s lives – that is a big commitment and having their trust is something I don’t take lightly.

I set up my own business after working in the corporate world for over 25 years (yes I started early!!! ). I had my own weight loss journey which impacted my life in so many positive ways that I wanted others to feel as good as I did. Being a mum I think it’s important for parents to realise they need to be selfish sometimes and spend time on themselves, so they can be there 100% for their family too.

What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?

I have an amazing business coach who has guided me in the past 2 years. I was able to use his knowledge and expertise to go from working in my garage, to now owning my own Studio and employing 2 other staff members to help as many people as we can.

What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

Setting up my own Studio was a big step for me, with extra commitments, overheads and so much more paperwork, but knowing I am still in business after 3 years is probably my biggest professional accomplishment. Many small businesses fail after 12 months, so I guess I have succeeded that way!

What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?

Don’t get overwhelmed!!! It is really easy to have 20+ tasks that need to be done on one day, and not know where or how to start. I was advised to choose the top 3 priorities, and work on those one at a time (and clear the desk of all others). Once those 3 are complete, then select the next 3 and so on. It really does work.

What has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?

I actually don’t do a lot of marketing, so I have been lucky to continue to grow. All my advertising is via Facebook, using paid ads and local pages to promote our services and special offers. I also work with other local businesses and cross promote which is a win-win for both businesses.

What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?

While you need to put in a lot of hours as a business owner, you also need work/life balance. I am not sure I have that exactly where I want it yet, but I know that it is much better than it was this time last year and will be a continuous work in progress. Delegation is important.

Do you have any new projects coming up?

We run four 8 Week Body Transformations each year. Our first one for 2016 has just commenced, but our next one will start in April. I am so proud of the results our participants are seeing in these challenges. Our last winner has lost 65cm over 2 challenges, and not only changed physically, but I have had input in changing her confidence, her outlook on life and ability to do more than in the past. She is now a wonderful role model for her daughter.

If anyone would like information about our 8 Week Challenges, Personal Training or Group sessions they can visit our website.
www.in2lifefitness.com

What do you do for fun/relaxation?

I actually exercise whenever I can! Setting up a business took me away from ‘my’ time for a while, so I am now getting back into it. I also spend as much time on weekends with my family and watching my daughter develop within her netball games.

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

Patience – never give up. If you really want something then keep working towards it.
Resilience – you will get knocked down 100 times, but you need to get back up 101.
Network – have a good group of people supporting you who can do tasks for you, freeing you up to spend time building the business.

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

There is so much competition in my area, and big businesses make it difficult for us to be competitive. I know that we provide a quality service where we treat everyone as an individual, and we care about the people more than the $, so for me it’s about knowing I am doing the right thing and hope that client’s can see that service, caring and results are more important than $.

What makes you happy?

Seeing my family happy, watching my daughter growing into a caring and loving lady, and seeing my clients get amazing results which change their lives.

What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?

Family time. Up until this year I had to be at work every night. That meant a lot of missed after school activities, bed time for my daughter, long weekends away and more. I owe them a lot!

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

I admire many of our local small businesses that are run by mums. I know the hard work and sacrifices made to run a family and a business, so good on you ladies, and keep up the great work.

Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?

I’d love to see us continue to grow, and eventually have additional locations.

How do you measure your success in business?

By the number of clients we are able to help and the results they see. Happy clients will stay and will also talk with their friends!

Do you have kiddies?

I have one daughter who has just started high school, so we are settling into the new routine and environment as a family. She loves netball, and dancing and knows I can’t dance. She loves to choreograph dance routines for us both to do together, even though she is 200% better than me!