Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chantelle Beasley, Owner of Aradia Fitness, located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

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

We specialize in alternative fitness, specifically pole dancing, and aerial hoop. Our customers are over the age of 18 who want to participate in movement practices that are fun, fulfilling, and empowering.

Tell us about yourself

I started my very first studio when I was 19 years old. I took classes as soon as I turned 18 and fell in love with the sport almost immediately. My first studio opened 11 years ago, and I have since then bought and built three more locations - with four altogether currently.

My motivation for doing what I do is the way in which pole made me feel. I wanted to bring that feeling to others. For the first time in my life, I found myself enjoying physical activity, and it didn't feel like a task I had to talk myself into completing. I began learning things that I never knew my body could do, which increased my confidence in all aspects of my life.

So many of our students learn this about pole, as well - and seeing how it changes the dynamic of their lives continues to inspire me to keep going.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Honestly, all four of my studios surviving the pandemic is one of my biggest accomplishments. My studios were closed for over a year in combination. The fact that we were able to pull through when so many other small businesses had to close was one of the most difficult things our business has faced to date. I truly wanted to throw the towel in when we were faced with multiple closures.

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

You think you get to choose your own hours, only to find out that you actually work 24/7. Hah! One of the most difficult things I find personally is the lack of boundaries a business owner can typically have with their business. If we want to earn any kind of an income, we sometimes have to be willing to put in 60-80 hours a week, especially at the beginning of building a new business. When you finally get some downtime, your brain automatically reminds you of all of the things you COULD be doing to make your business better - there's no end, and sometimes you really have to focus on setting limits and boundaries in order to create a healthy work/life balance.

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

  1. Do not tie your self-worth and self-identity to your business. Create boundaries. This is why I answered the fourth question in the way that I did - I did not have these boundaries, and my identity became my business, and I have found out how heartbreaking this can be over the years. Taking every 1-star review, every negative comment, as an attack on my self-worth as a human being. It's taken a lot of work to disconnect my self-identity from my business.
  2. Find good people to hire and work with! Do not do it all yourself because you can't. If you want to grow your business, you will need help delegating tasks. Make sure you treat these people like gold because that is the value they will bring to you and your business!
  3. This will be industry-dependent but stay on top of social media trends. Social media will be your number one advertising tool, and if you're still stuck on running Facebook ads and not willing to move to a different platform, such as TikTok, you will get left behind.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Create boundaries, and have FUN with your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://edmonton.aradiafitness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AradiaYEG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aradiayeg/

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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