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

Nathalia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?

Why would one make the choice to fail? Only when the obstacle is not “in the way” but “is the way”. Two years ago, I faced a pivotal moment in my business. I knew that whichever path I chose, I would succeed, but I also knew that the path that would make me the happiest – was by far – the harder one. So, I decided to take a leap into failure. Now, I am aware failure is inherently a part of any entrepreneurial story. What I didn’t know was my first failure would be the death of my then thriving business.
In 2017 a friend and I opened a Pilates studio as business partners. We thrived. Our first year we were successful enough to open a second location. We employed a dozen staff members and were actively looking to relocate into an even bigger space. Then, the world shut down. The pandemic hit and everything changed.
We pivoted and did what most companies did. We went online, turning our space into a film studio. When the time was right, we reintroduced private sessions (6 ft apart, of course) and eventually got back up and running at full capacity. We did it; We survived the worst of the pandemic!
At the time, I was nine months pregnant. I had strategically set up a proper maternity leave so the studios would run smoothly in my absence. Unfortunately, my trusted business partner pulled the rug out from under me when I was at my most vulnerable. In one fell swoop he shattered not only everything we spent years building, but our friendship. Two days before Christmas, and mere weeks before going into labor, I received an email notifying me he wanted out of the company. However, it was immediately clear he had no plan in mind, except to make it as difficult as possible for me to continue in any capacity. He wanted me to fail. It took months, tens of thousands of dollars for the lawyers, just to end up dissolving the business.
Instead of simply navigating my new role as a mom, I spent the early days of motherhood burdened with the tasks of business dissolution. As I checked off a never-ending to-do list I was simultaneously processing the huge losses I experienced. In waves they came; the loss of a good friend, the end of a partnership, the despair of what could have been, the stolen time I should have had to recover from birth and learn to mom, and the impending doom I felt at the thought of losing clients and my team as I knew it. It was overwhelming.

As a new mother I felt a sense of fierce determination to protect and provide for my family. I knew that I had to create something even better than what we had before. I wanted to protect my employees, who had become family. I wanted to continue to serve my clients, who had become friends. I wanted everyone to know they mattered; they weren’t going to lose their job or their place to practice, or the community we built. It was going to be okay because I was okay. I would do everything in my power to create something even better.
It was challenging to grieve and close a successful business while simultaneously building a new one from scratch, caring for a newborn, and healing my body. Looking back, I am proud of myself for choosing the more difficult path and trusting that it was the right way. I couldn’t have done any of this without the unwavering support of my husband, family, employees and community.
The experience was traumatic, but it taught me the value of perseverance and determination. I learned that failure is not the end, but an opportunity to start again and create something even better. Often, the harder path leads to an even more magnificent view from the top.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada; a desert girl at heart, I now reside in the Pacific Northwest. As a child I was a natural entrepreneur and teacher. I have always been inspired by movement. Learning, practicing, and teaching is what I whole-heartedly love. Dance was my first exploration of free form movement. I was sidelined with an injury which led me to Yoga. I taught for several years and ultimately was searching for more. My love for biomechanics and endless creativity of physical movement is what drove me to Pilates.
My life-long passion was to create an inclusive movement community where every body can find the joy in its evolution. A place where one can celebrate all that their body can do while learning the movements of the body.
My desire to create a studio that allowed for a fresh and vibrant take on the practice of Pilates; where every body is welcome to move without fear of judgement, making this work achievable for all was the soul of The Pilates Hub. This is more than a studio; it is a vibrant community centered around making sure everyone feels supported. A place where all bodies are good bodies.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

It’s a simple answer. Do what you do well and they will come. Client word of mouth is our most effective strategy for growing our clientele. Using our services to create advocates for our business allows for clients to sincerely and organically recommend our business. We as people are 10x more likely to try some thing out if it’s been recommended by a reputable source and from someone who is loyal customer. If our service is top notch and we have pleased customers it’s an easy marketing tool.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business” by Gino Wickman “The People Part: Seven Agreements Entrepreneurs and Leaders Make to Build Teams, Accelerate Growth, and Banish Burnout for Good” by Annie Hyman Pratt     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pilateshubseattle.com
• Instagram: @pilateshubseattle
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Bianca Sciotto Photography @bianca.sciotto