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Name: Lisa Druxman
Business: FIT4MOM, a personal fitness network and resource for mothers
Industry: Health & Beauty
Location: San Diego, California, U.S.
Reason for starting: After the birth of my son in 2001 I felt a deep personal desire to connect with other new mothers, and pursue a career that would foster healthy motherhood while promoting a community of inspiration and support for moms. I created Stroller Strides that year with the goal of offering all moms an opportunity to get in shape, meet other moms, and have fun while bonding with their babies. Today, I’ve helped more than half a million moms nationwide find their own personal “Strength for Motherhood” and I’ve been able to create additional programs under the FIT4MOM brand name: Fit4Baby, Stroller Barre and Body Back.
In my 20s and 30s, I was a Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Fitness Manager and General Manager at a 5-Star health club, learning every aspect of the business. As a GM, I was tasked with everything from marketing to budgets. This hands-on experience prepared me to run a business and gave me the drive to really want to own a company. I always had so many ideas for improvement, but they didn’t fit the corporate philosophy of the club I was at. The best part of owning your own business is getting to walk your talk!
Related: Read about another fitness entrepreneur here.
How do you define success? I think everyone’s definition of success is different. My personal success has been creating a career that’s supportive of motherhood, and that enables me to share that passion and help women nationwide realize a similar dream. Having the ability to be a mom first and foremost, and a business that fuels my passion feels pretty amazing!
Biggest Success: For me there isn’t one specific “success” I would consider the most important. It may sound cliche, but I believe FIT4MOM as a business is my biggest success to date. I am so proud of what we do for our clients (giving women the strength for motherhood at every stage) along with giving our franchisees and instructors rewarding career opportunities that still allow them to enjoy valuable time with their families. In this day and age, many women feel external pressure to choose between professional success and their families. Through FIT4MOM I’ve created a vehicle that enables moms to fulfill their passions on all levels, which I think is an amazing accomplishment!
Related: Read about another mompreneur here.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? FIT4MOM is a company for moms, by moms. I’ve strived to create career opportunities that are supportive of motherhood for our instructors, franchisees and employees, and I am so proud to have empowered women nationwide to accomplish something great, like owning their own businesses, without sacrificing their roles as “mom.” That’s why I designed the FIT4MOM franchise program to be conducive to the lives of women who want a successful career that doesn’t force them to sacrifice time with their families. That said, motherhood is our greatest blessing and can also be our biggest challenge. It’s tough to grow a business when motherhood always comes first. I encourage moms to divide the hours of the day up so there is time carved purposely for work, family and themselves. The trick to great work-life balance is to be purposeful and have a plan! It’s a challenge we’re overcoming every day!
Who is your most important role model? I admire Linda Resnik, the queen of “POM,” Teleflora, Fiji Water and more. She was one of the first mompreneurs! She is a master marketer and an inspiring entrepreneur. I also admire women like Robyn O’Brien, who is more of a health leader than a business leader. Her concerns for her own children’s health have spirited her to be a leader in shedding light on our food supply.
[box_light]Website www.fit4mom.com
Twitter @fit_4_mom
Facebook www.facebook.com/CORPFIT4MOM
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/FIT4MOM/[/box_light]
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Edited by The Story Exchange