Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mo Wolfe, Owner of Evolution Pilates, located in Port Washington, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a classical Pilates studio and host site for the Real Pilates Teacher Training program. We opened our doors in 2003 and love transforming people's lives with Pilates. Our clients are really everyone. If you have a body, you are our perfect person!
Tell us about yourself
Mo started the studio after a 15-year career in magazine publishing. Pilates was a hobby at the time, and she decided to open a studio that reminded her of the vibe she felt in California, where she was first introduced to the method. Warm, welcoming, and ever encouraging.
While we love to see the fit bodies that come in and out of our studio, the greatest joy comes from bringing people back from an injury or eliminating chronic pain. Having a mix of both and some pro athletes in the mix keeps us very motivated.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is coming out the other end of the pandemic stronger than ever. The fitness industry was hit harder than any other industry and got no support whatsoever from the government. We came together as an industry, helped each other, and made the best of a terrible situation. So many studios closed.
To be open and thriving and have a new resolve for what I will and will not allow in my place of business is a huge accomplishment. We are still plagued by staffing shortages, as is the rest of the world, but hopefully, our teacher training program will help mitigate that down the road. We just need patience.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
While so many people got a break during the pandemic, I have not had a break in over two years. The buck stops with you at the end of the day. You are responsible for everything, even things that are not your fault. Owning that and trying to manage it when times are tough is hard.
We used to be open seven days a week. With the staffing crisis, something had to give - I was tapped out. Sundays went. We will bring them back when we can. But it still hurts my heart.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Timing will never be perfect - you need to just start.
- Have a plan - a goal without a plan is just a wish. Adjust the plan as you go, but plan.
- Stick to your guns - whether it be budget, pricing, or policies. Constant change or flip-flopping is not a good look. Be firm, consistent, and kind. Business is business - for an owner, it is always personal, but most of the time, the issue at hand is not. Don't make things personal.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life. But if you do, make sure it is for yourself!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://pilatesevolution.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpilatesny
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evpilatespw/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pilatesmo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolution-pilates-port-washington-ny/
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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