We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Diana Smithson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Diana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Being a Stay at home mom was my desire when I started having children. All along, I knew I would need something to keep me busy when they were all in school. I started to work own a small personal training mobile business shortly after my youngest started kindergarten. Only working for 2-4 hours a day was the perfect intro to what would become something much bigger. Fast forward to the onset of Covid when almost all fitness studios were closed and I no longer had a place to train my clients. I took to mobile training in their homes and really loved the impact I had on my clients, both physically and mentally. Seeing the growing need to help people rehabilitate their mindset surrounding physical limitations, I set out to achieve a certification in Orthopedic Exercise. Learning how to help my clients achieve more than they imagined sprang my thoughts into impacting more people. After a while, I got tired of driving and Covid restrictions let up. I was still limited in my time to train clients as I wanted to be with my children when they came home from school. After talking with a previous employer, who became my mentor, she asked when I was opening up my own studio. The thought never crossed my mind. But time and attention to all the details of running a business became all I could think about. Before I knew it, I was announcing that I would be opening a small group and personal training studio.

The hours of micromanaging my construction staff, training clients in their homes and other fitness studios made owning my own physical location look very appealing. I knew the work would be hard and challenging, but I was ready for the change. 10 months from the sign of lease contract on the space to opening day, and fast forward to a year later, I couldn’t be more happy to be a business owner. I am able to build my own schedule, determine my own growth and take care of my clients the way they need to be cared for. Working for someone else doing tasks that aren’t relevant to my skills and passions wouldn’t make any sense. I prefer to work hard and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

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?

As a personal trainer and orthopedic exercise specialist, my passion is to help all people enjoy quality of life through functional training and movement. There is so much need for people to transition from physical therapy back into fitness without reinjurying themselves and that’s where I come in. I teach functional fitness in a way that helps my clients see that they can still progress with their fitness goals while they’re waiting for the limitations to heal. I also enjoy helping my clients continue to function with everyday life skills as they age and muscle mass diminishes.

I became interested in fitness when I was pregnant with my 3rd child because I realized how much better I felt than my other mom friends who sat around all day. I had experienced movement and recovery far greater. I knew it was attributed to my ability to modify where necessary but still keep moving. I wanted to give this gift of knowledge to others. I set out to help others run their first race, prevent knee surgery by dropping weight, become a firefighter, be able to run a farming business successfully, etc all with clients who had limitations. Working through the mental block was the biggest hurdle, but I wanted to skills to teach them more.

I want all my followers to know that the body is meant to be moved and used for good. We can’t sit around and expect life to be good to us regarding our health. We have to take a proactive approach!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients is definitely word of mouth. I am unique in the fitness industry because I provide value that a lot of trainers do not. I have extensive education and continue to receive education that will help me benefit my clients. I have open and honest communication that helps them feel like their goals and lifestyle choices matter to the fitness program I have designed for them.

At the beginning of growing the business, I utilized marketing avenues such as Facebook and google ads, but I find the quality clients come from word of mouth.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I utilize automated emails 2 times a month for all of my clients. This helps remind them of the resources I have to offer them such as nutrition, change in class times, free body scan day, etc.

I use messaging through my website portal to check in with my clients that haven’t been in for a while, those that need a pick me up mental boost, or check in with how much clients are feeling after their training sessions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.strongertodayfitness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diana.strongertodayfitness/?next=%2F
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strongertodayfitness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strongertoday/