Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with LaRue Cook, owner of LEC Fitness, LLC., located in Woodbridge, VA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We help women of all ages improve their strength and conditioning to help improve their quality of life! Whether that is through dealing with chronic conditions, recovering from acute conditions or injury, or proactively reducing their risk of some of the health conditions that are attributable to aging, such as Osteopenia/Osteoporosis, Weight Gain, or Sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass due to the aging process. We also help female athletes of all ages, all sports, all levels of competition improve their performance and reduce their risk of injury through safe, effective, research-based sport-specific strength and conditioning. For far too many years, women who enjoyed playing sports were not viewed as true athletes and thus weren't given the same level, if any, of strength training to help them on the field of play as their male counterparts. We are dedicated to resolving that disparity.
Tell us about yourself
My interest in how the human body functions, health, exercise, and sport all came very organically. At the ripe old age of six, I started visiting my local library every Saturday to get books on those subjects. I enjoyed pouring over them all week, even though I didn't fully understand everything that I was reading. This passion, this interest manifested itself in later life as I went on to get my undergraduate degree in Health Science.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I have been so very fortunate to have worked with a wide variety of wonderful clients throughout my career. I'm a firm believer in forging both a business and personal relationship with my clients as we are working together on such a personal area of their lives. From an adolescent girl with Junior Rheumatoid Arthritis to an eighty-year-old woman needing strength training to improve her balance and self-confidence after total hip replacement, and everything in between, helping people in this important aspect of their lives is my professional calling.
My work in these areas has led to some wonderful professional recognition that I am very proud of. For example, I was selected as one of only two fitness professionals to serve on the Board of Examiners for the National Board of Fitness Examiners. Additionally, I was one of only ten fitness professionals worldwide highlighted by the Exercise is Medicine Program for my work in medical exercise (helping clients needing healthy exercise to improve their quality of life). Lastly, I am very proud of having the opportunity to spread the message of wellness and exercise to people I might not ordinarily get to work with, through my published writings and through my innovative online training platform.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Managing your time. As a person in private practice, I wear many hats, make that all the hats! While I love working with my clients, I must also make sure that I pay attention to my other business responsibilities, such as marketing, accounting, purchasing, etc. These are all "necessary evils" of being a business owner and require building an internal structure so that none of these important functions fall by the wayside.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Follow your passion, and you'll never truly work a day in your life! Also, take the time to truly investigate and organize all of the things necessary to set up your business prior to starting. And third, know that nothing in life is a straight-line progression! There will be bumps along the road; expect them and do not get discouraged.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
One of the most satisfying decisions I have ever made professionally is my decision to work full-time on my own business. While owning and running a business is not for everyone, if you never try, you'll never know.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lecfitness.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LECFitness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larue-cook-a049a08/
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.
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