Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bea Cornelius. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Bea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
I have always enjoyed physical fitness. It has been a positive outlet for stress relief and is my self-care. I remember being at my local rec center exercising and being stopped/asked on numerous occasions by different people if I was a personal trainer or if I taught classes. I had recently taken a step back from my career as a software engineer due to prioritizing my younger son’s developmental delays. Exercise was my therapy- it allowed me to refill my own cup so that I could be ready to pour into my family members’ cups.
After getting my son settled into his learning and support service pathways, I began studying for my group fitness certification. I taught my very first class on his birthday. After several months, I began studying for my personal fitness trainer certification. A year after teaching my first class, my accountant called and asked what I was doing- meaning he wanted to know about the additional income I was generating. The following tax season, my accountant called and told me I needed to form an LLC.
I have operated my business like a “big” business even though I fall under the “small” business umbrella- clearly defined pricing, policies and boundaries have been in place since day one. I evaluate and modify them as needed, but for the most part they are the same since day one.
One lesson that I have learned from my husband is that “NO” is a complete sentence. If a client is showing red flags (e.g. habitually late with payments, not respecting my time, or serial cancellations)- I am not afraid to kindly let them know that we aren’t a good fit. I also keep firm boundaries in respect to my personal/family time so that I am not giving my family my emotional and physical leftovers.
I pay a tax professional to keep my books, manage my payroll and take care of all the IRS-related responsibilities that come with business ownership. I consider myself an exceptional trainer, but I am a horrible CPA- so I have help beyond my scope of knowledge. Paying a tax professional allows me to focus on what I do and do best- helping clients reach their health and wellness goals.
Bea, 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 have enjoyed being active since childhood- having played softball throughout grammar, middle and high school in addition to marching band. I am upbeat, optimistic and always ready for a challenge! You will often find me lifting weights, running or practicing martial arts.
I wholly believe that fitness is more than looking good at the beach- it’s about long-term quality of life. As such, beyond my fitness professional background, I am a brand ambassador for a nutrition and wellness company.
I am a self-professed life-long learner, having successfully completed continuing education credits in the areas of perinatal fitness, sports conditioning, mid-life fitness for women and osteoporosis.
The majority of my clients are professionals with busy schedules who need the flexibility to train at a time/place convenient to them. I write customized workouts that target and address their fitness goals, while honouring any injuries via modifications. For example, I have a client who has vertigo- all of their core work is done without them being flat on their back.
I have had clients come to me with PTSD from other trainers who have taken more of the “drill sergeant” approach. They are concerned that I will shame or demean them as they have experienced in the past. I work to build a trusting, supportive rapport with my clients. Don’t get me wrong- I THOROUGHLY challenge my clients LOL! They do burpees, 5 minute planks, pushups, jump squats, and wind sprints, but without me yelling belittling “motivational” phrases at them. I have been fired during workouts, but re-hired during the cool downs more times than I can count LOL!
Have you ever had to pivot?
In March of 2020, I, like the rest of the world, was concerned about coming into contact with people. Even the cleanest gyms see hundreds of patrons go through the doors- the shared equipment, and inevitable close contact with heavily breathing strangers were real concerns.
I pivoted to a concierge personal training model- I put a small gym in the back of my vehicle (weights, kettlebells, hurdles, battle ropes, sandbags, slam balls, mats, etc) and began going to my clients’ homes. This allowed me to sanitize equipment between clients, limit physical touch and shared breathing space. I also launched an outdoor, body-weight boot camp class to appeal to people not ready for the commitment of one-on-one training.
It’s been 4 years and I have continued to offer this service model. It allows me to keep my operating costs at a minimum and keep my clients’ comfort levels high.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Three words: WORD OF MOUTH. Seventy-five percent of my clients are word of mouth referrals. My clients and their results have been my best form of advertisement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beaboldfitness.com
- Instagram: @beaboldfitness
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrDH6GexFfLZ3s4d5s-K5A
Image Credits
Bea Cornelius
Sean Cornelius