Betts Fit High Impact Sports Bra | Personal Trainer To Entrepreneur: The Pros & Cons

It’s been almost 2 years since I hung up my fitness trainer shoes to become a full time entrepreneur and what a ride it has been! The true origin of my entrepreneurial journey and endeavors began in 2008 when I launched my health and fitness company Cbetts Fitness.  Being a trainer had it’s highs and lows like any job. The pro's for me were:

1. Changing people’s lives for the better
2. Being able to be outside most day
3. Ability to be active all day

If you really enjoyed your clients, it was also great to be surrounded by hardworking individuals with a positive outlook on life and who were like minded.

However, somedays the weather was bitter cold and took a toll on my body. The down side was almost the opposite:

1. The energy needed to get through the long days easily became scarce
2. Working with unmotivated clients

I found the unmotivated client type terribly draining, because for better or worse, I am someone who easily absorbs the energy of those around me. Waking up at 5:30am to train individuals before their workday started and not getting home until 8:00pm after training clients after their work hours was beginning to take its toll. Despite all this, I would still muster up the energy to go play soccer in the evening with my Olympic Club teammates. However, I was so frustrated that I rarely had the energy to do all the things I loved and made me feel fulfilled.  

Right around the time I was reaching a breaking point and considering other work options, I had an epiphany. The funny thing is - these very long hours reminded me of something I was always frustrated with as an athlete and as a personal trainer. The struggle of living in a compressive sports bra day in and out was not comfortable or healthy. However, it was a necessity because I constantly needed to demonstrate how to perform certain exercises and because I trained clients outdoors most of the time, I was constantly on the go.

My life as a trainer taught me so many wonderful things and led me to studying neuroscience (something else that inspired the idea to create a more supportive yet comfortable sports bra for women on the go).  

I remember the day I began prototyping my first sports bra SO VIVIDLY.  I was lit up from inside out with so much excitement, as I knew I was onto something great.

Little did I know what I was about to get myself into. I figured that I had run my own business for the past 7 years, so starting a new one wouldn’t be to hard. I mean I come from a family of entrepreneurs, this is in my blood. What I quickly have come to find is that these two businesses couldn’t be any more different.

The all encompassing nature of Betts Fit Sports Bras is the biggest difference. From needing to seek legal protection (patents), to setting up production, product development (prototyping, sourcing, pattern making), creating a strong marketing and sales strategy (website development, photography, video demo, story creation, gaining PR) funding, market research, beta testing and so on and so on.

Additionally I started to find my new life as an entrepreneur to be a very lonely ride. I was used to being around people day in and out. When I got home from personal training I couldn’t wait to have alone time. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to sit in peace and quiet.  

Now I crave social interaction! I now have to plan time to see friends and family, which can be challenging when I have so much on my plate. One thing for sure is that the life of an entrepreneur is never boring. It is truly like you are on the longest roller coaster ride of your life.

However if you think you are cut out for it, here are the truly amazing benefits of running your own business.

• What you put into it is what you get out! You are the one who reeps all the benefits of all your hard work.
• It is never boring! Besides the early on isolation you experience working for yourself.
• High risk = high reward! Up to you as to whether this is positive or negative.
• It is a constant challenge!
• You can set your own schedule/hour and have the freedom to do what you want, when you want.  

One thing I know for sure from my working experiences is that no job is perfect. Whether you are working for yourself or someone else there will always be give and take.

This journey has tested me and pushed my limits in ways I could have never imagined. I am just so excited to have made it through the last 3 plus years and finally have an amazing product. I couldn’t be more proud that the Betts Fit Sports Bra has received tremendous feedback from fit models and volunteers, and has the potential to change women’s lives for the better.  

Stay tuned for real time updates on ETA of our pre-order deliveries coming your way in the next month and for some very exciting personal news of a new addition to our team.

Be sure to follow Betts Fit on Facebook and Instagram to show your support, and to see the Betts Fit Sports Bra in action!

Cheers,

Catherine