Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alexandra Craig, Owner of Personal Level Fitness, located in Columbus, OH, USA.

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

We are a private one-on-one personal training studio that truly cares about our client's physical, mental and emotional health. We design our programs based on sustainable habits that a person can do forever. We believe that people can achieve their best selves when in a positive and accountable environment.

Tell us about yourself

I wanted to have a studio that focused on the individual. Everyone is different and needs to be approached as such. The environment should be comfortable! I want them to share their struggles with us so that we can help in the most effective way possible. Exercise and nutrition isn't everyone's favorite thing to work on. But, with an awesome team and individual approach, we can help clients achieve more than they thought they could. We are helping people live longer, teaching them to get up off the floor without help, giving them confidence, and helping them become healthier and stronger by losing body fat! It is amazing how wonderful it is to be on the preventative side of health and wellness.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My amazing team of fitness coaches and awesome clients. We take our job as fitness coaches very seriously. We are here to encourage those who have lost hope. I have seen many clients start a program with very little hope that they will ever be stronger, get up off the floor, take a long hike, or even be able to change an eating pattern. My team is so encouraging and positive that clients can't help but succeed. It is amazing watching clients do what they thought they never could. It is also amazing helping my team become their best selves as coaches!

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

Finding the right team members. I am picky about what I want and how I want training to be done. I want members of my team to feel the same. It is always tough when someone doesn't pull their weight or have the same attitude as the rest of the team and myself.

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

The first tip is to visualize what you want and set expectations. Things don't happen overnight, but you must be clear about where you want to go. The path isn't going to be a straight road, but it should always be going in the direction you want it to go. I knew that I wanted to help people become their best through exercise and nutrition. I wanted to change people's lives! I started as one individual trainer with 30 sessions a week and now have a team of 6-7 trainers and over 250 sessions a week!

My second tip is always to be learning. I have been in the fitness industry for 25 years, and I learn more every time I hire a new team member! I never get too comfortable or feel like I have hit the top. Whether it is training, selling training, teaching nutrition, etc. I am always learning.

Lastly, adapt or die. I have seen a lot of crazy things over the last 20+ years, from recessions to COVID to different business/ fitness fads. We do what we do best with basic common sense principles that don't change. For example - treat others as you want to be treated. We truly care and show it with genuine smiles and questions to go above and beyond to help our clients with whatever they need. However, if something is out of our comfort zone and it makes sense to change a process or add a service, we give it a shot! Then we work through it until it becomes flawless, and we become the best. I didn't want to do online training, but we had to adapt when COVID shut us down for three months. We figured it out quickly and perfected it. Now we have the ability to train clients who go away for the winter, go on vacation, or would still like to stay at home.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

There will be bumps in the road. Expect it and push through to learn a valuable lesson that will help you grow and serve your clients better. When you are doing what is best for your clients, team, and everyone involved in your business, you will succeed.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://personallevelfitness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/personallevelfitness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personallevelfitness/

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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