We recently connected with Donna Fisher and have shared our conversation below.

Donna , appreciate you joining us today. Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?
Starting in 1999, it has always been my husband and I working this business as a side job. It did cross our mind a couple times over the past 20+ years to add on, expand or move into a more full time business but as many other things in life it was never the right time. Fast Forward to 2019 an opportunity presented itself that was hard to walk away from.

The existing Pilates studio I was training at full time was closing and the clients and other teachers were looking to me to figure our what the next step would be. The pressure to find a suitable location, affordable price, staffing, equipment and jump through all the hoops of building out a space I needed was quite overwhelming as many studio owners understand,

I built the budget around 3 full time teachers and 3 part time teachers, with room to grow. My hopes were to provide a one stop wellness shop for clients that used multiple modalities for self care and maintenance so they were not driving to several locations.

Starting out I made many mistakes and still making them but learning, growing and adapting to those mistakes is what helps keep you going. Knowing now what I didn’t know then I would of structured the budget different and of course I could never of anticipated a pandemic almost wiping me out.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I began my career of teaching and training in the health and fitness field in 1990. I hold a BS in Exercise Physiology from the University of Florida and various professional certifications including Romana Pilates, ACE, AFAA, & Biomechanics by the Cooper Aerobics Center, where I was the Private Pilates Director for ten years.

Previously I worked in Occupational Therapy, specializing in pediatrics, for five years before committing full time to fitness and teaching throughout the US and numerous countries.

Now my days are full training clients and running a wellness center that has a unique design putting body work and high level training under the same roof.

Our specialized staff tag team clients based on their specific needs. Some come in with injuries that need to be addressed before they can begin training and some are ready to go!

Our staff constantly confers about how to shepherd clients toward their goals, often switching off as people’s needs change.

The benefit is the mindshare between muscle activation technique, chiropractic, Pilates, yoga, nutrition and personal training experts.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
When I opened FBH 3 years ago I decided to do something different to help me manage my team better. Finding a way to get to know the person for who they were and what they brought to the table personally and professionally led me to the Ennegram. I had each person that worked at FBH take the test and this gave me insight into what kind of team I had and each persons different strength and weaknesses.

It also allowed the team to know a little about each other and how they were structured instead of always trying to guess and figure people out. This greatly increased morale and the ability to work in a environment so so many different personalities. Our Motto: Community over Competition helps lead the way for group cohesiveness.

Have you ever had to pivot?
In 2019 my daughter had a unexpected episode with bilateral paralysis of her legs and in the same month we were moving homes and studio. I can vividly remember thinking about all the decisions I had to make and it required a mental shift for us to make it through. You begin releasing control, accepting help, delegating more, lower expectations for a short time and leaning into your circle. Looking back it seems almost impossible to have coordinated so many moving parts at once but when you stop to look at all the hands on deck it is doable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fbhwellness.com
• Instagram: fbhwellness
• Facebook: fbhwellness
• Linkedin: Donna Fisher
• Youtube: fbh wellness
• Yelp: fbh wellness
• Other: IG traveling fitness fashion bus now part of FBH wellness @ bffbus_stop

Image Credits
Ross Stewart