Your Name: Michelle Densmore
Business Name: Lucky13Fitness, personal fitness training and classes
Type of Business: Personal Training
Business Location: Burlington, Massachusetts, United States
Website www.lucky13fitness.com
Twitter @Lucky13FIT
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky13Fitness
Reason for starting
I created Lucky13Fitness in 2010 as a way to combine my education in the mental health field with my passion for fitness. As a Licensed Certified Social Worker and Certified Personal Trainer working in a commercial gym, I observed so many frustrated people that showed up every day and went through the motions but weren’t seeing optimal results. I saw the need for a type of personal training that goes beyond the amount of miles run or weights lifted in a gym. I wanted to approach my clients goals in a more holistic manner; behavior change, focus on nutrition, & developing a healthy lifestyle are also critical to success. This type of training had no place in a “big box” commercial gym, so I decided to branch out on my own and open a personal training studio that accommodated my style, philosophy and vision. Today, Lucky13Fitness is a place for clients to sweat, share, and work toward being their best selves.
How do you define success?
My definition of success is meeting goals while living an authentic and balanced life. A person may pursue goals in several areas over the course of a lifetime relating to his or her career, family, fitness, spirituality, financial wealth, or personal growth. I believe that true success comes not only from attainment of each of these objectives, but from doing so in a way that feels genuine. Making time for one’s own self care and growth creates a more focused, driven, and motivated person overall. The most successful business owners, parents, and athletes I know all make time for themselves so that they may sustain a life in balance. In my opinion, a person who has amassed $20 million in wealth but has poor health, social connections or self-worth is not as “successful” as a person who has amassed $1 million and has health, happiness and balance.
Biggest Success
My biggest success, to date, has been training for and completing an Olympic distance triathlon while simultaneously opening my business. During the 24-week triathlon training I had to learn how to budget my time in order to satisfy all of my goals. I had to learn how and when to say “no” to invitations and requests that did not serve my purpose and that were counterproductive toward my goals. I was humbled both physically and emotionally by the process; I had to give 100% of my time, energy and focus to each task at hand in order to complete it successfully. Both the triathlon and the opening of my business taught me a lot about endurance, both in sport and in life. I learned that being able to fuel my body, mind, and spirit for a great distance and journey is the key to reaching the finish line. I learned that there will always be obstacles along the way and staying the course during those times is key.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
My top challenge related to opening my business has been starting over. Working in a commercial gym for 2 years gave me an opportunity to build a clientele. Choosing to leave and open my studio was like stepping out into the unknown. In my new location I must rebuild my brand, my reputation, and my name. Without a large marketing budget, I must do most of this on my own with grassroots efforts. I must start over again and develop relationships with the people of the community to earn their trust and their business. This process is a slow one, and one that will see most success with continued effort over time. I am committed to this process and know that being authentic by “walking the talk” will be a huge contributor to establishing myself as a top fitness professional in my area.
Who is your most important role model?
My most important role model is my grandfather. He truly embodied the American Dream. He moved to the USA when he was 21 from Lebanon with little money and even less language. He started a business selling fruits & vegetables in Quincy and eventually opened Hajjar’s Big & Tall Men’s Clothing, which has expanded to 5 stores. His generosity and compassion was education in action. He showed me what it meant to be tenacious, kind, loving, and brave. I strive to achieve what he did in his 85 years.