When people walk into one of my studios today, they see a business owner. They see two fitness studios, a team of dedicated coaches, classes filled with strong women and, now, a podcast. What they don’t see is where it all began.
They don’t see the young mom who simply loved helping people. They don’t see the woman who was nervous to teach her first strength class, questioned whether she was good enough or experienced enough and had no idea that saying “yes” to one opportunity would change the direction of her life.
The truth is, none of us starts where we finish. We live in a world where success is often measured by what people have accomplished, but we rarely discuss what it took to get there. We celebrate the finished product without appreciating the years of uncertainty, mistakes, sacrifices and growth that happened behind the scenes.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t have a master plan. I wasn’t working from a five-year business strategy or dreaming about opening multiple locations. I simply loved fitness, enjoyed encouraging other women and believed that if I showed up consistently, something good would come from it.
One class turned into another. One opportunity led to the next. Before I knew it, Lift & Glitz wasn’t just a place to work out — it had become a community.
Along the way, life wasn’t always easy. Like so many people, I experienced setbacks that tested me personally and professionally. There were times when I questioned myself, wondered whether I was making the right decisions and felt that giving up would be the easier choice.
But every challenge taught me something. It taught me resilience and patience. Most importantly, it taught me that growth doesn’t happen when everything is going your way. Growth happens when you choose to keep moving forward, even when you can’t see what lies ahead.
That’s why I always encourage women to stop comparing their beginning with someone else’s middle. We spend so much time looking at people who inspire us and assuming they were somehow born confident, successful or fearless. They weren’t.
Every entrepreneur had a first customer. Every athlete had a first workout. Every speaker had a first audience. Every business owner had a first day. Every successful woman you admire has a chapter in her story that almost nobody knows.
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my journey, it’s this: Don’t wait until you feel completely ready. You may never feel ready.
Start the business. Take the class. Apply for the job. Launch the idea. Have the conversation. Take the first step. You never know where one small decision might lead.
Looking back, I never could have imagined that teaching one strength class would eventually become my career and passion, giving me the opportunity to affect the lives of thousands of women throughout our community.
Everyone starts somewhere. The question is: Where will your first step take you?
Rachel King is the owner of Lift & Glitz Training Studio in Northfield, NJ. With 13 years of experience in the fitness industry, Rachel holds certifications in Personal & Group Fitness through ISSA and is a Zumba Fitness Instructor. A proud single mother of two, Rachel balances her professional and personal life with grace and determination. She earned her BA in Communications from Stockton University and resides in Northfield.
