Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jed Cabilete, co-owner, and COO of Academy of Lions, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The Academy of Lions was built on the vision of "Building Community Through Physical Culture and Mindful Living." Co-founded on the foundations of general physical preparedness and CrossFit, the Academy grew into a multi-disciplinary, class-based focused training facility. Our classes not only focus on the broad audience that wants to do Cross-Training or Metabolic conditioning, but we also provide specialized class-based programs for niche community members, such as our Master's program for 50+ athletes, Baby & Me classes for post-natal families, and Lift Up program for individuals recovering from substance abuse and mental health utilizing fitness as a method for healing and recovery.
Tell us about yourself
My background leading up to the Academy was actually quite different than most people realized. At the time, I was coming from working in corporate offices and the video game industry and had not been in the fitness and health industry since I stopped teaching dance (Breakdancing, Hip-Hop). I also took over from my predecessor in 2017 but started at the Academy volunteering my time helping their back-end business model.
What led me to take over (and ultimately what has been motivating me) has been the community. I've met and developed great relationships with members who have been here since the beginning and still continue to join alongside new members. The diversity of personalities makes this business a continuous new journey that is exciting to me, and it always feels great to support their health goals and see them succeed.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Before the pandemic, I was able to lead the team in producing our highest capacity and revenue targets in the history of business and was on track to expand the business. But of course, the last 2 years had other plans :).
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The continuous drive to evolve and grow the business is one the hardest things to remain consistent in. The pandemic only heightened that difficulty, but I found as an entrepreneur and business owner, striving to keep to the highest standard takes a lot of energy, time, and resources. It gets daunting and stressful.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Take the time to build out your business model but don't get stuck in analytical hell. Nothing can be planned to perfection.
- Trust, invest, and protect your team. Be a leader, do what you need to do, but build and teach a team that can help you accomplish your goals.
- Take time to rest. There is nothing wrong with working on your pride and joy, but there is something wrong with letting yourself run out of gas and not enjoying everything else. Allow yourself to recover and receive all other aspects of life to then come back to your business with a better mindset and energy to tackle your tasks.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.academyoflions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/academyoflions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/academyoflions/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/academyoflions
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.