
Chloe Reynolds
5 things I've learned in the first three months of starting a business
So it has officially been three months since I introduced Group Fitness Training to the world and 2 months since I launched my first products. Time flies when you're having fun, eh? Launching a new business in the middle of a pandemic was always going to be a challenge. especially when the people my products are aimed at had no real use for them at that current time. Although some of my plans have been halted due the crisis, I've achieved a fair bit since May. So, what are the 5 biggest lessons I have taken away from these first few months in business?
1. You can’t expect to be an overnight sensation It's very easy when starting a business to look around at other people's success and think "why isn't that happening to me?" Whether you are starting out as a new personal trainer and struggling to attract clients or launching an online coaching program, you can't ever expect to have millions of people lining up to buy your product or service from the get go. First, people need to know it exists before they can buy it. You need to work on building an audience online and work out a marketing plan to get yourself out there. You can't just put up one Facebook post and call it a day! Good things take time to build. The "overnight sensation" you are comparing yourself to probably had years of struggle behind the scenes before they made it.

2. There’s going to be a lot of people questioning you
Taking on business debt during a pandemic? Launching products for fitness instructors when gyms are shut? Chloe, are you crazy?!
Although I've had a tonne of support from friends and well wishers over the last few months, I've also had a few people question whether I know what I'm getting myself into. I'm sure there have been a lot more people who have also thought it and not said it to me. But, that's ok. When you decided to do your own thing, not everyone will understand. Not everybody is built to have their own ventures. Some people prefer to work a "normal" job, take their paycheck, clock out at the end of the day and use the money they earn to enjoy their life. Cool. That's what they want to do.
I don't ever want to do that. I want to be passionate about what I'm doing. I want to do things that will make a difference. So, people may question and doubt, but if you are convinced you are doing the right thing, that's all that matters.
3. Putting things out for the whole world to see and criticise is terrifying
Anybody that knows me personally will know I hate pictures of myself and I'm really not a fan of posting selfies on social media. I knew this had to change when launching my business. I had to be unaplogetic about what I was doing. At the end of the day, I know that the thing that sets me apart from my competitors is that I am a small, one woman business. I am my brand and the face of my business, so my face needed to be out there and my work needed to be up for criticism.
What did I discover? After the first few terrifying posts and videos, it wasn't that bad. I feel a lot more comfortable taking pictures for my social media now and talking in front of a camera is getting easier every time I do it. What you find terrifying to begin with will soon become less scary and one day you probably won't even think twice before doing it.
