2inspire Inspirational Woman: Michelle Brewster Founder of Supachick

Meet Michelle Brewster, The Founder of the online fitness plan website SupaChick.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

For me one working day is never the same as the next; being an online fitness trainer is not a 9-5 job. Because my online business is available 24/7 all over the world, I often have to work in the evenings and on weekends. However, it’s important to ensure I have downtime, so I do manage myself quite rigidly to ensure I have a healthy work-life balance.

Being a fitness entrepreneur didn’t come about by chance; I am passionate about my own health and wellbeing as well as my clients’, so every morning I get up early and head to the gym before my working day starts. I find it energises me for the day ahead, and and allows me thinking time. I train holistically, practicing yoga and meditation to help with my flexibility, mobility and mindset.

My first task once I’ve warmed up is spend an hour catching up with the health and fitness social media community, replying to follower comments and questions on the SupaChick website and updating my social media pages and website with my daily post or blog.

Each of my clients has a tailored 4, 8 or 12 week cycle which they follow, so a large part of my day is spent sending workout to them, through my partner application Bodireel, along with conducting Skype calls with my clients, attenting meetings with key business influencers, and ambassador work for companies I’ve partnered with.

I love the flexibility and variety my job gives me, but the best part is the rapport I have with my clients, the journey we take together and helping them to achieve their goals.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

After I gained my Masters in Business & Management I soon qualified as a Fitness Professional. In this role I worked privately with clients and it was here that I found my true passion for helping busy women to find a healthy balance between fitness, wellness and lifestyle.

I wanted to utilise my experience in both customer facing and product operation management, to reach more women worldwide, and help them achieve their goals through an approach that truly worked for them.

I am dedicated to supporting women embrace the true meaning of Supachick: it’s about recognising ageless beauty, inner radiance, and an undeniable belief in oneself through confidence, wellness - and being Supa.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

My greatest accomplishment was building the courage to become an entrepreneur. Being the founder of my own business and successfully bringing SupaChick to market- changing woman’s lifestyle for the better – is undoubtedly the thing I am most proud of.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

The health and fitness industry is becoming more and more saturated, particularly the UK, USA and Australia, where many of my clients are based. Finding a way to differentiate SupaChick from others, keeping it fresh, relevant and competitive, has been my biggest challenge so far.

The tailored programme and app, along with the educational blogs and female fitness hub on my site have achieved this, but it is an ongoing challenge and I am determined to continue to evolve to ensure SupaChick stays at the forefront of the virtual personal training world.

What are your future plans for the business?

As well as continuing to grow SupaChick to reach as many woman as possible worldwide, I also want to eventually work with the elderly, children and male clients, to help embed wellness into their lifestyles too.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

The only thing I would have changed was to have done it sooner; I spent too many years thinking about this life long ambition without putting any of these thoughts into action -until now!

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Life is too short to be stuck in a rut with no end goal. I want to inspire women to have the confidence to believe that they can do anything - because they can.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Aspire to be the best at what you do, and never stop learning. The health and fitness industry is so fast-paced - the minute you stop learning is the moment you fall behind the competition. Learn from your peers, read educational articles to stay aligned with your goals, enrol in courses in which you are passionate about and focus on your speciality – do whatever it takes to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Two entrepreneurs I really respect are Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler, of SoulCycle. They were determined to find an alternative to the fitness routines which felt too much like hard work. Combining inspirational coaching and high energy music, they  designed a workout to benefit both the mind and the body. Today, their workouts engage and empower riders in a way that leaves them mentally and physically stronger than when they arrived. The first studio was opened on the Upper West Side and in 2012 they made their way to California, opening the first west coast studio in West Hollywood. Now SoulCycle operates in 62 locations nationwide, and is continuing to grow.

Julie and Elizabeth were just regular girls with a shared passion and vision and they have achieved so much by simply staying true to their dream. To me, that is truly inspirational.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.”

– Oprah Winfrey

More details about Michelle and SupaChick can be found on her website: www.supachick.com