Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Vanessa Sandoval, Owner of Ready Sweat Go, located in Monrovia, CA, USA.

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

Ready Sweat Go is a boutique Pilates studio located in Monrovia. We specialize in reformer Pilates and offer instruction in both private and small group settings. At Ready Sweat Go, we believe in fitness that feels good. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where you can receive quality workouts from attentive and encouraging instructors. The nice thing about Pilates is that the method can be adapted for anybody, and the wide range of clients we serve proves that. Man or woman, old or young, very active or just getting back into shape...anyone can benefit from a consistent Pilates routine.

Tell us about yourself

My first experience with Pilates was when a friend convinced me to buy a Groupon for a nearby studio and try a class with her. One class, and I was hooked. I loved the way Pilates made me feel, both physically and mentally. About a year later, I found myself enrolled in a Pilates teacher certification course. Originally, it was just something fun to keep me busy and help me deepen my own practice, but before the course was over, I knew that I was going to open my own studio one day--and I'm so glad I did! I consider it a huge privilege to be able to share my knowledge of Pilates and the body with my clients to help them get stronger and feel better on a daily basis. When I see someone have a lightbulb moment or master something that before seemed so out of reach, it is extremely gratifying to know I was a part of that process.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

At this point, I'd have to say my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is surviving the pandemic. When it first started in 2020, Ready Sweat Go was only three years old. We were a fairly new business in an industry that faced one of the longest forced closure times. I'm extremely proud of the way we were able to pivot to virtual Pilates classes and figure out a way to offer our services to our clients, even when we couldn't be in the same room physically.

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

One of the hardest parts of being a business owner is building a good team. You can't always be the only contact point for the business, so you depend on your employees to communicate your brand and your vision to every person who walks through your doors. It takes time to find the right people who share your philosophy and who want to be a part of the success of the business. I feel very fortunate to have a great group of women with me right now, but I've also learned to constantly be on the lookout for talented instructors to join the team.

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

  1. Don't wait for everything to be "just right" before getting started--you may never feel ready. If you want to start a business, at some point, you just have to go for it and trust in yourself and the process.
  2. Give yourself permission to change your mind. You can't always predict what will work for your business, so be willing to try different things. If something doesn't go the way you expected, know that it's okay to stop what you're doing and try something else.
  3. Set boundaries. This is a tough one--especially when you are just starting out. It can feel like you have to say yes to all of the opportunities and be constantly working in order to succeed. Boundaries are healthy and necessary! I definitely struggled with this, but becoming a mom really helped me see the importance of taking time away from the business and has made it much easier for me to say no to things.

Where can people find you and your business?

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

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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