Jess Glazer: Driving Entrepreneurs Towards Positive Impact

 

Jess Glazer

 

My brand helps Empower others to extract what they know, identify who/how they can help, create programs and products that offer solutions to problems, generate leads through organic marketing, and create a larger impact; in turn rewarding them with an incredible income

 

What was the inspiration to start this business?

I can’t pinpoint a specific moment or thing that inspired me to start this business because it was sort of an accident. I went to college for my doctorate in physical therapy but dropped out during my first year of grad school to work through an eating disorder I had been battling. I then spent 8 years teaching elementary school physical education/health and working as a personal trainer on the side. During my time as a teacher, I got heavily involved in personal development and self-love, which turned into a handful of “cute side hustles” like hosting monthly women’s fitness field trips, international retreats, and running online support groups/challenges. One thing lead to another, I left my job as a teacher and turned my “cute side hustle” turned into a six-figure business online. As my digital training business grew, so did the interest of my peers asking for help to teach them “how” I did it. So, I unintentionally started business coaching them and after a year of doing both health/fitness and business coaching, I decided to go all-in on business coaching. Looking back, my inspiration for all my choices has come from leading with impact, listening to what others need, and teaching what I already know. It’s no surprise that two of my company's core values are “give back” and “education”.

When you started your business, did you ever envision that you would be where you are now?

Absolutely not, not even close. I thought I was either going to be the next Jillian Michaels or have a booming digital on-demand platform/community in fitness.

 

Was there ever a time that things didn't fall into place, struggles, or challenges? What were they and how did you get past it and grow from the experience?

There are always challenges and still today I deal with things not falling into place. What I’ve learned is that it’s simply business; it’s not a roadblock or reason to quit, it just comes with the journey of entrepreneurship. To give you some more detailed examples: I’ve had clients take my products and repurpose them as their own. I’ve had friends poach my clients right out from under me.

I’ve lost money, joined courses that didn’t give me what they promised, cried more times that I can count, had sleepless nights, fights with loved ones, and hundreds of difficult conversations. Learning to have grace with myself and ask for help, having a support system and being able to lean on others who understand what I’m going through are really the main things that have helped me grow.

What was the biggest lesson you learned while starting and growing this business?

A few things that I’ve learned: “Ego is your biggest overhead” - Chris Harder,

always come from a place of compassion, all feedback is neutral, it’s not about you it’s about the client, you’ll never be ready and there is no such thing as perfect, fail fast and mess up often, hire a coach, ask for help

What would you tell a FEM that is struggling in her business and feel like it's too difficult?

Remember, building a business is like harvesting a garden. It takes time and so much of what needs to be done can’t be seen because it’s happening underground.

Never compare your garden to someone else’s because you may be starting off in a desert with no nutrient-dense soil and no rain, while they’re starting with seedlings already planted and they may only need to water their garden.

Just focus on one thing at a time and trust the process. Nothing grows overnight.

What continues to inspire you to keep on growing your business?

My clients and their own breakthroughs and success. Nothing is more motivating than when one of my clients has a win.

The concept that I can help people pay rent, send their kids to college, put food on the table, quit the 9-5 jobs, retire the spouses…it still doesn’t feel real.

It’s what gets me out of bed every single day.

Final advice for those thinking of starting a business or looking to grow their current business?

You’ll never be ready and it’s always going to feel scary.

Stop and think for a moment. If you were to give it a try and it didn’t work out, what would be the worst-case scenario?

Is it something that you may already be doing (like for me, the worst-case scenario was that I would go back into teaching at a school); if so…. Ask yourself this, “How does it feel to wake up every day and live in your worst-case scenario?” There is always another way.

What are you waiting for? Just start!

To connect: @jess.glazer / jessglazer.com

Blog at FemCityComment