I WAS My Limiting Factor.

Being a business coach and small business owner, I feel like there are conversations that we all have from time to time. Most of these conversations have an underlying theme or tone. We want to grow but don’t know how to remove ourselves from the day-to-day operations. We want to lean into the teams we have built, but those of us in service industries feel the weight of disappointing the clients we serve directly if we step into the role of Owner/Leader.

Here is my story and the lessons I have learned so far.

What is a limiting factor?

A limiting factor is a condition, circumstance, or factor that restricts, constrains, or hinders progress or achievement. - I wouldn't say I like the sound of a limiting factor. It is an influential element that places a limit or barrier on the desired outcome or potential. In various contexts, such as personal development, fitness, or goal attainment, limiting factors can manifest as internal or external challenges that impede forward movement or restrict the ability to reach one's full potential. These factors can include self-doubt, fear, lack of resources, negative beliefs, limited time, or external circumstances beyond one's control. Knowing a personal limiting factor is a great place to start for overcoming fears, challenges, and obstacles. This awareness can act as a truth tablet, so we can see ourselves and dive a little deeper into the truth of what could hold us back and how to come up with a plan to grow out of the limiting belief.

Now, for the hard part of my truth…

It was not my beliefs; it was me… I was the limiting factor for the growth of my business.

Buckle up - this is a long story.

I founded Momentum in 2005. I thought I could help the world reclaim their health and wellness and believed that exercise was a tool that I could use to help people not be so sick and dying all of the time. As I evolved as a trainer and learned to be a business owner, I fell into the trap of working increasingly to “help” the business and to help more people. I was training six days a week. I averaged roughly 65-75 training hours per week and desperately played secretary, catching up on business responsibilities after hours and on my one day off during the week. I don’t want to know how many hours that added to my work week. I don’t think there was a stopping point. I was the sales team, the janitor, the website developer, the marketing expert, and the fill-in when one of my team needed a day off. I would occasionally take a 3-day weekend, but for most of my career - from 2005 - 2019, I was the hustler and everything else in between and more for my clients and my team. I knew I needed to dial back my training hours so I could focus on my team and the development of my business. Still, every time I talked to my clients about a transition, I heard, “It’s great that you want to do that, but I still want you to train me,” or “I am ok with you dialing back - as long as it’s not during one of my training sessions.” I was worried about taking a vacation because it was inconvenient for one person or another, and I was convinced that I had created a life I didn’t need to vacation away from. I relentlessly pursued my career and used dating as a distraction. I couldn’t have focused on building a healthy relationship while I had terrible boundaries with the business I had convinced myself was my entire life.

Through the years, I grew my team, expanded the business, opened a second location, realized I didn’t have the staff or systems in place to operate both sites successfully, closed the second location, recouped some loss, expanded my primary location again, made some great hires as well as brought some people on to the team who shouldn’t have been brought on board in the first place. Releasing them back into the world was the biggest win ever, and I realized after the fact that they hurt me the most because they only brought value in the way of a lesson for me. Throughout the entire time, I was learning lessons and desperately trying to duplicate myself. I wanted a team that was as passionate as I was. That was a loft illusion. What I needed was a team that I could lead. I needed to surround myself with people I respected and inspired. I needed a team that I could put systems in place to help with their success.

Back to the year 2019 - It was the summer, and I went to a conference designed for studio and club owners. “Finally!” I thought. Something intended for those of us who have smaller models and who don’t rely upon people purchasing memberships and no show to make money. It was great. Sitting in a breakout session, I realized that I was failing my business because I wasn’t willing to step into my owner/leader role. After all, I worried I would be letting my clients down. Keep in mind that I loved my clients. I still do. I love them from a place that knows they are a part of my story. They are a part of my family. They will forever be part of what I have spent my entire adult life building. After the three-day conference, I took one day for myself to “relax,” and then I was ready to get back to work, but I intended to get the systems and people in place to scale back my training hours so I could grow this baby!

I started rewriting my mission, vision, and values. I began defining roles for my team. I started figuring out which hours I would focus on the business and the ones I would say no to the training hour. I even set a date to implement my new schedule.

Then, COVID happened.

I got a letter from the state that ordered us to close our doors for the foreseeable future. I thought, “How is this happening?!” I couldn’t ask my team to put themselves in danger, and we had a lot of clients who refused virtual sessions, so I went old school. I worked every day for 168 days in a row. I was training people in parks, their homes, and their driveways. I was in survival mode because I never thought my business would be in jeopardy after so many years of business. I said “yes” so much that I forgot about my plan and was barely keeping my head above water, trying to keep up with the demand being placed on my schedule. I was back in a natural state. One that was familiar to me for my entire life.

Survive.

I wanted to thrive but didn’t know how. I wanted to believe that I was doing good for my business, but the reality was that I was hurting the business. I was limiting our growth because I was grinding myself into the ground and didn’t have anything left to be a good leader, much less a good business owner.

Fast forward - May 2021. All the hustling, grinding, and carrying the weight of the world finally did me in. I was the camel, and the last straw finally broke my back. I had a central spinal cord injury and lost motor function in my left leg. When it happened, I was out of town and had the classic Kill Bill - “Wiggle your big toe” moment, but mine was flex your calf. From my glute, through my hamstring, my calf, and into my foot - I was numb, burning, aching, and couldn’t flex my muscles. Five days later, I saw a doctor who told me I needed surgery. Three ish weeks later, I had surgery to relieve the pressure from my sequestered L5S1 and started recovery. I also had some medical issues going on at the same time and needed a hysterectomy seven months later. (I will provide more content to the relevance in a bit.)

Blessing in disguise...

This was the best thing to happen to my business and a blessing in disguise because I needed a hard stop to justify my stepping into the owner/leader role of the company. Every day, multiple times a day, people would ask me, “When are you going to get back to work?” It was like a knife through my heart every time. I felt like I was letting people down, and even though I needed the time to heal myself, the story I told myself was that I was wrong and wasn’t worthy of the time, the space, or the transition in my career. How many people do you know who have done the exact same job for 16 years?

While focusing solely on the business and serving our clients through my team, I saw my company proliferate. I occasionally felt (and still do) the pressure to take on some training hours, but I don’t because I think it would do more harm than good. This is where the hysterectomy came in handy seven months after my back surgery. It forced me to stay out just long enough that the “when are you going to get back to work” questions became less frequent, or I was not tuning into them the way I did at the beginning when it was like salt being poured by the gallons into my open wound.

I stopped questioning my existence and was focused on what I could create for myself and my life for my future.

The injury has helped me talk with and relate to struggling people. I have been able to use my story to help others and will continue to do so as long as there is breath in my body.

Here we are in July of 2023, and my business has continued to thrive without me directly serving our clients. There are days that I miss training because I was good at it, and it was fun. As 40 is rapidly approaching, I do a lot of reflecting and know I can continue to grow, create, and serve others. I am thankful for my ability and plan to use it for as much good as possible.

The lesson I have applied to my business and if I were to give the younger version of myself advice is:
1. Write down your processes for everything.
2. Create clear and duplicatable systems so that someone else can easily do your job at 80% of what you can do.
3. Don’t be so afraid to let other people down all the time. If you allow people to complain and are willing to give - they will take what you allow.
4. The more you do for others doesn’t prove your worth or value.
5. Surround yourself with people you are proud of daily. Don’t waste your time on people who are projects - that will burn you out.
6. Charge what you are worth—every Time.

If you want to know more or would like help doing and being better for your business, text me - at 904-504-9894 - let me know that you read this blog and it resonated with you. We can see if business coaching is right for you and your business.