Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tyler Merren, Founder of ReVision Training LLC., located in Fort Wayne, IN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
It's never been more important than today to have access to good instruction for fitness in order to improve health, and despite the growing global base of knowledge and digital access to fitness, there is a group of people, probably someone you know, that is being left behind. Think of all the apps you have seen for fitness, the YouTube channels dedicated to exercise, or the digital displays on the treadmill at your fitness center; what do all of them have in common? If I put a blindfold on you, all of these things would become inaccessible instantly. The large world population of people who are blind, many of them being your elderly relatives or neighbors, are being left out of the fitness technology boom. That is until ReVision Training LLC developed the ReVision Fitness Program. A totally audio/text-based fitness training program available on IOS, Google Play, and the Web. This is a program that breaks down those barriers and gives people who are blind or visually impaired fair access to fitness knowledge, workouts, plans, and more, in order to promote a healthier and more fit lifestyle for all.
Tell us about yourself
I was born with an eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which led to me eventually being totally blind in my mid 20's. Despite this challenge, I became a Personal Trainer after receiving my bachelor's in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University. I have competed for the USA Paralympic Team in 4 different Paralympic Games, winning a Bronze and a Silver medal for the USA. I am a motivational speaker, a father of 4, a husband of 20 years, a business owner, and more. Our life's challenges don't define us unless we let them, but we can use them to shape us into the people we want to be.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Taking the knowledge that I have accumulated over the years and packaging it in an accessible way so that it is available to a population that has not had true access in the past. It's one thing for me to find success despite my blindness, it is another to bring others along on the journey with me, and that is something I feel so accomplished with.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The sore neck from all the weight of the many hats being worn. :) My business is young, and so eventually, I will be able to place those hats on the heads of others, but for now, I know what this needs to be so that people who are blind get the resources they need.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Tip number one is to make sure you understand the need you are fulfilling, the problem you are solving, and the people you are serving. If you create a business to solve a problem first, the profits will follow. Second, embrace the grind. When doing anything worthwhile, understand that it often means a long-term methodical approach to your work that will make you feel like the tortoise instead of the hare most days, but remember, the tortoise always wins the race. Finally, number three, don't hesitate to recognize when you don't know the answer and you need some help to figure it out. Starting a business involves way more than you might realize at the beginning, so understand that learning from those around you and asking lots of questions is the best way forward.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Blindness is a disability that can affect anyone at any stage of life. Supporting this program will help give those in this challenging situation a better resource for fitness.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.revisionfitnessapp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tyler.merren.1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/revisiontyler
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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