We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cortney Zwirn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cortney below.

Hi Cortney, thanks for joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I became a registered nurse back in 2018. And at that time, I had no idea the aesthetic world existed. I thought Botox and lip fillers were only something celebrities did! So naturally, I started my nursing career in the emergency room. I tried a few different departments such as ER, labor and delivery, mother/baby, and surgery. Overall, I absolutely loved my job and loved helping people.

In October of 2021, my husband and I opened our own CrossFit gym. A coworker came to us wanted to rent a space inside our gym to open her own Aesthetic side hustle. I was completely oblivious to that world but it sounded cool, so we let her do her thing! She brought me on as an injector in 2022 and I did it here and there to help her out. She moved the summer of 2022 and I started taking all the clients and I quickly realized I was pretty good at it, and I enjoyed it way more than being at the hospital!

I decided to open my own med spa in March of 2023 and it was hands down the best decision I ever made! Sometimes I wish I had opened sooner had I known how much I was going to enjoy it, But honestly, the timeline in which everything took place was absolutely perfect. I got several years of critical care nursing under my belt which does help me on a day to day basis. And I have received some of the best experience and training since getting into Aesthetics in 2022! Opening Sango Aesthetics Med Spa was definitely one of the best decisions ever!

Cortney, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I always grew up playing sports. I played high school and college softball. After graduating college, I started to look into other ways to please my competitive side and that’s how I got into CrossFit. My brothers owned a gym in NC and I became a member in 2012. I was instantly hooked! And it was something my husband Joey and I could always do together.

Fast forward to 2018, the Army moved us to Tennessee. I joined a local gym and started coaching there and it was then my husband and I decided we would one day open our own gym! We brought that vision to life in October of 2021 with CrossFit Sango! We couldn’t imagine our lives without the gym and all of the friends that we have made since opening the gym. Every single day we get to watch people achieve goals they never thought were within reach and that is the best feeling!

As for Sango Aesthetics, I touched on that a little in the other question. It’s hard to choose which one I am more passionate about, because they both hold a special place in my heart.

The thing I am most proud of is how hard my husband and I have worked for what we have built. Nothing was handed to us. We built both businesses from scratch. Yes we had friend that instantly became “customers” but we have put so much time, effort, energy, and money into the businesses and it has paid off. Every day we get to change people’s lives. Whether it is in the gym or at the med spa and there is nothing that can beat that feeling.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Absolutely! I started as a part time injector maybe 4-6 hours a week. And now it is full time. After opening my own med spa, I had to fully commit to Sango Aesthetics. I quit the hospital in August of 2023 and put all of my time and energy into the med spa. I knew that was what it was going to take to make it what it is today.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I hear from people all the time, “You are the busiest person I know!” “How do you get it all done?” “Why do you work so much?” Growing up, my dad always taught me a handful of amazing life lessons.

1. No one has ever died from hard work. This one has shaped me throughout my entire life. Whether it was in college softball, working in the hospital, or owning the two businesses. It is isn’t easy, but it also won’t kill you!

2. If you want something done right, do it yourself. This has been both a blessing and a curse! I could do everything myself, but I would go insane. I do have trouble relying on other people for help. But I am not a superhero! I do ask for help and I ask for it often. But I do this because of the teams we have! At the gym, we have the most amazing coaching staff and they always have our backs! And at the med spa, I literally would not survive without Kara!!

3. Never expect a handout. This one speaks for itself. Nothing in life is going to be handed to you. And if you want it bad enough, you have to be willing to do what it takes to make it happen!

It is important that my son knows what hard work looks like and where it will get you in life. I want to be the person he looks up to and be someone he is proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.sangoaesthetics.com. And www.CrossFitsango.com
• Instagram: @sangoaesthetics @crossfitsango

Image Credits
Elevate Media