Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Natalie Naaman, Founder of Natalie Naaman Fitness & Wellness Ltd, located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a personal trainer and mindset coach who works both online and offline. I help individuals become Healthier, Happier & Stronger mentally and physically every day.

Tell us about yourself

I've not always been in the health and wellness industry! In fact, I used to be quite the opposite, working in nightlife and definitely not being "healthy"! Back in 2013, I fell extremely unwell and was diagnosed with Encephalitis, where (to cut a long story short!) I almost died. This was the initial trigger to working on myself mentally and physically, and in 2018 I eventually decided that a career change would be on the cards. I took my PT qualification but didn't do much with it at first, other than training a couple of friends who lived locally in return for some testimonials to help get me started eventually. When the lockdown happened, I started to host free online workouts for my close network, which resulted in launching my Healthy Happy Strong Squad, which is my online community of almost 1000 members. I understand that lockdown was extremely difficult for many, but for me, I loved it. I really used it to my benefit in many ways, and it helped me launch my brand officially and efficiently! I also used the time in lockdown to work on myself at the same time, doing a lot of intense personal development work and coaching with the Proctor Gallagher Institute (working directly with Bob Proctor himself as well as one of his top consultants, Mandy Evill for 18 months) and this is where I learned most of what I know now in terms of mindset development which I now pay forward to my own clients. I am so grateful for the time I had in lockdown as I truly believe that this was where my true purpose was discovered, and in turn, my business and brand were truly formed.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I believe that I have the ability to truly change people's lives on a daily basis, and this, for me, is the biggest accomplishment that fills me with gratitude. I feel so lucky to have the tools and knowledge to help people gain confidence and self-belief, and working with my clients on their mindset at the same time as their physical body is a really beautiful thing to be able to do.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

You have to be disciplined and consistent on the days when you really don't want to be. It doesn't matter if you're feeling unwell, feeling tired, or have personal things going on which are a challenge. You have to get up and show up every single day, and particularly when you do what I do, you have to give your positive energy all of the time, even when you really don't feel like it! I rarely have down days, but I'm still a human, and when I do have those down days, work can be really tough.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Stop waiting and just do it. You'll never be "ready," so the sooner you just start, the sooner you'll achieve your goals. Don't let the negative people talk you out of it - the people that will tell you that you can't are the people who don't have the self-belief within themselves. Don't let the lack of their own self-belief ruin your dreams.
  2. Make sure you really enjoy what you do. I'm extremely passionate about what I do, and it's my passion mixed with my consistency that gets the results. You have to have both. I don't believe you can create something sustainable if you don't enjoy what you do; it will be short-lived.
  3. Nothing changes if nothing changes. If you want your life to look different and if you want to feel different, you have to do something different. If not now, when?

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.natalienaaman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/healthyhappystrongsquad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nat_naaman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-naaman-63b56531/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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