Too often in our society, people picture men in their heads when they hear words like, “boss”, “entrepreneur”, or “CEO”. Being a small business owner has put me in touch with so many successful female business owners and entrepreneurs that when I hear these words, I often picture a woman or I just don’t assume anything at all. Women are obviously just as capable as men when it comes to the business world and it is high time that women business owners and entrepreneurs are more visible in the media in our society. This is where the idea for Women in Business was born. Women in Business is a bi-monthly feature that highlights female entrepreneurs and business owners. Not only is it a fantastic opportunity to learn more about small businesses in various fields, but it is a great shopping guide for supporting small businesses.
An Interview with Maddy Owens
You are the owner of Fit and Fabulous, a healthy lifestyle brand offering guided workouts and a community of supportive women focused on health and wellness. What led you to decide to start your business and what keeps you motivated to keep it going?
My passion for health and wellness developed during my early childhood. When I started training women in Miami, Florida, I learned more about the difference between the male and female bodies from a physiological standpoint. My Fit and Fabulous brand promotes women to live a Fit (look good) and Fabulous (feel good) life. It was created to fulfill a need I found in many women’s lives.
We all wish we could stick to a health regime over a lifetime, but can’t find the time or energy due to varying reasons. A 60-minute workout takes more than 60 minutes because you still need to get dressed and commute to and from the gym. Working out on your own is not as effective if you do not know what you are doing or how to push yourself. When it comes to working out in groups, some women are intimidating by the men pumping iron and even more women lack the confidence to workout around people altogether. Most workout programs are only for a certain length of time.
All of these obstacles are infecting women all across the nation. With obesity being the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States and fast food restaurants on every street corner, I was compelled to do something about it. My business allows women to work out at their own pace and in their own space, while receiving the nutritional guidance they need to succeed. Not everyone has time to get to the gym, especially if there are kids at home, but everyone can login to their online account and follow along a workout program. My current in-person bootcamp classes are just a small jumpstart to a much larger movement.
You have an incredibly supportive family and amazing friends. You also have achieved a great amount of success in your career. How do you stay balanced with your career and personal life?
Balance is not easy, so I definitely owe all of the balance in my life to my family and amazing friends. Everything that I have achieved in my career thus far has required me to impact or provide a service of some type to an individual person or group of people. If I did not have anyone to engage with or affect, then my work would be purposeless. I often receive messages from complete strangers who share small testimonies that directly or indirectly resulted from something with which I was involved. Those are powerful reminders that my career would not exist if I did not have supportive people in my personal life.
What was the best piece of advice you were given? Did/do you follow it?
The best piece of advice that I was given was a quote by Lee Ann Womack – “If you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance”. I have followed this not only literally, but also figuratively. I recently told a friend of mine that I just want to make my dash dance. My time here so far is 1986 – present. The ‘start’ reads 1986. As long as the ‘stop’ is written in letters and not numbers, I am going to make that dash dance.
Excessive stress is a health issue for many entrepreneurs. How do you handle stress related to your career?
I handle my stress with physical activity. I dance and/or workout seven days a week. Many times my exercise works proactively and manages my stress. When I stress excessively, I turn on music and choreograph, or I will go on a long run. Nothing is more relaxing than spending 60 minutes in a deep stretching session relieving every muscle group in my body.
How do you define success when it comes to your business, your health, and your personal life?
My definition of success when it comes to my business is helping 100% of my clients reach their fitness goals. The number does not matter to me, the success story matters. In my health, I want to being able to move and shake my entire life! When it comes to my personal life, I will feel successful when my days are filled with excitement, impact, and fond memories and when my nights are filled with peace knowing I did all that I could.
What upcoming projects are you working on that you are excited about?
I am really looking forward to expanding the online presence of my brand – www.iamFitandFabulous.com. This platform will create a worldwide fitness community that empowers and uplifts one another, drastically improving everyone’s chances of achieving their goals and creating habits that will last a lifetime. My virtual personal training services were a real hit in the past and I look forward to bringing them back. The launch of live streaming fitness classes that can be taken in the comfort of your own home is in the works. I am also looking forward to launching my first workout DVD series and nutrition component in the future.
Where do you see yourself and your business in five years?
I see myself changing the way people look at health and wellness and contributing to lowered obesity rates in America. I see myself training a family of Fit and Fabulous Coaches who will pour into their local community in all major cities across the nation. I see my business growing as a brand with live fitness classes in multiple locations throughout the United States. I see my online website innovating the fitness world. I see a social network of women who are all on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle – sharing their fitness journeys, inspiring each other, and holding each other accountable.
What are some things that small business owners can incorporate into their daily routines to live a healthier life?
All small business owners can agree that finding enough time to devote to their health is easier said than done. One of the easiest things to incorporate without taking time out our daily schedule is drinking more water. Having adequate water dramatically affects our physical performance, so we should consume 64 ounces per day. I teach my clients to drink 4 water bottles per day – one upon waking up before getting out of bed, and the other three with each meal. This is a simple habit that can be incorporated into anyone’s schedule to live a healthier life!