I’ve done something recently that has scared me.
After nearly 10 years working as a personal trainer in a big box gym, I’ve resigned. I’m moving my business into my private studio and I’m going all in.
On paper, it makes complete sense. I know the direction I want my business to go in, I know how I want to work with my clients and the type of experience I want to create for them. Having my own private studio gives me the freedom to coach in a way that fits my approach and allows me to give my clients the support I believe they need.
So why does it feel scary?
Because it’s a big change.
For nearly 10 years, I’ve worked in an environment where there are always people around. I’ve had the familiarity of the gym, the members, the conversations and the feeling of being part of something bigger. I’ve built relationships and a business within that environment, so walking away from it is a big step.
Now I’m stepping into something very different. My private studio is quieter and more personal. It’s one on one, and the people who will see me there are my clients. There is no big member base around me and no large gym environment to fall back on.
I’m excited about what I’m building, but there is still a little voice asking, *What if this doesn’t work?*
We often know we want change, but change is uncomfortable
I think this is something we can all relate to.
Whether it’s changing jobs, starting a business, moving house, changing our relationship with food, starting to exercise or finally making some time for ourselves, big decisions can feel overwhelming. We can spend a lot of time thinking about all the things that could go wrong.
What if I fail? What if I can’t do it? What will people think? What if I regret it?
So we stay where we are.
Not necessarily because we’re happy there, but because it’s familiar. And familiar feels safe.
But here’s the thing I’ve been reminding myself:
If you want something to change, something has to change.
You can’t create a different outcome while continuing to do exactly the same thing.
You don’t have to feel confident before you make the change
I think we sometimes have this idea that confident people simply aren’t scared. I’m not sure that’s true.
Maybe confidence isn’t about not being scared. Maybe it’s about being willing to move forward even when you are.
I’m certainly not stepping into this next chapter without any fear. I’m stepping into it because the direction feels right, even though it’s unfamiliar. I don’t know exactly what the next few months will look like, and that’s part of the scary bit.
But I also know that staying where I am simply because it is familiar wouldn’t move me towards the business I want to create.
And I suspect this is true for many of the changes we want to make in our own lives.
You might know you need to get stronger. You might want to start running again. You might want to make exercise a regular part of your week. You might know you’ve spent years putting everyone else first and that it’s time to make some space for yourself.
Knowing what you want is one thing. Actually making the change is another.
Staying where you are is also a decision
Sometimes we focus so much on the risk of changing that we forget there is also a cost to staying exactly where we are.
If you don’t change your habits, your routine stays the same. If you don’t make time for yourself, everyone else continues to get your time. If you don’t start building strength, you don’t suddenly wake up six months from now stronger.
And if you keep waiting until you feel completely ready, you might be waiting for a feeling that never arrives.
Change doesn’t have to happen all at once. It can start with one small decision. One training session, one walk, one conversation, one boundary or one hour in your week that is yours.
Small changes can build into something much bigger, but at some point you still have to take that first step.
So, I’m taking my own advice
I’m leaving something familiar after nearly 10 years and stepping into something new.
I’m excited, I’m nervous and, if I’m honest, I’m probably going to have moments where I question whether I’ve made the right decision.
But I’m also very clear about why I’m doing it.
I want to build a business around the way I believe I can best support my clients. I want to create an environment where I can focus on the individual in front of me and coach them in a way that fits their goals, their body and their life.
Sometimes moving towards what you want means being willing to leave what you already know.
That’s the uncomfortable bit.
But perhaps being scared doesn’t always mean don’t do it.
Sometimes it simply means this is new.
And new things can be scary.
They can also be exactly what we need.
