the demands of management with the needs of my personal training clients. I wanted to go back to what brought me into the business: building people up and helping them grow. I started a mobile personal training business, which was just starting to become popular in the city. It was a perfect time for me to get into the game.
What was the most challeng- ing part of self-employment? Operating my own small business was both exciting and intimidating. When you are your own boss, your success is entirely up to you. You have to have the mental discipline and fortitude to learn from setbacks and mistakes. It takes time to find the right groove. Being a mobile-based company, logis- tics such as travel time between cli- ents, traffic, and unforeseen circum- stances can be stressful. If you are sick, there is no one to cover for you. While there were many learning ex- periences in my first year, I feel fortu- nate that the transition was relatively
smooth. My reputation in the industry played a key role in obtaining clients, and my schedule was full just a short time after starting up.
What is your current position? Fitness director at luxury fitness club TEN X Toronto.
What enticed you to come back into a fitness club role? While I achieved great satisfaction from working in my own business, I felt it was time to be a part of something bigger. In short, working for your- self can sometimes be lonely. I missed building and managing creative and supportive teams. Being fitness director for TEN X Toronto presents a wonderful new challenge and the opportunity for personal growth. Servicing both a pri- vate club membership and hotel guests is unique in the fitness industry. This role allows me to get my creative juices flowing in both personal training and group exercise programming.
What career advice do you have for new graduates? Be passionate, authentic and the best version of yourself. Continue to learn and to grow. Our
industry is constantly evolving; stay- ing on top of trends will help you de- velop and also network. Practice self-care to avoid burnout.
Carrying a busy client load, teaching multiple classes and spending time on continuing education can be taxing on your body. Treat yourself with the same love and respect that you show your best clients. Your body and your business will thank you. FBC
Paula Comfort has 20+ years of experience in the fitness industry. Most recently she was man- aging director of Fitness for Spa Chakra Inc., a luxury spa and health club company where she started the division. Previous roles include area vice-president of The Sports Clubs of Canada/ Bally Total Fitness. She is currently a partner in her own consulting company, 360 Impact Group. Contact her at paula@360impactgroup. com or 416-565-6025.
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