I co-founded EBOOST in 2007, which means I’ve been an entrepreneur in the world of wellness for nearly a decade. What I’ve learned in that time is that some people make some seriously misguided assumptions about entrepreneurs in this space.
So in this post, I’d like to set the record straight. Here are five things people assume about health and fitness entrepreneurs—and why they’re wrong.
1. They’re just in it for the money
I can’t speak for every health and fitness entrepreneur out there, but I can speak for myself and many others when I say the following: Most of us genuinely care about improving the lives of our customers.
In fact, this ethos is built right into the core of EBOOST’s mission. That’s why it features prominently as the opening sentence on our “About Us” page:
At EBOOST®, we make sure everything we create helps people feel great and do more.
This also explains our obsessive commitment to quality. All of EBOOST’s products are designed by a team of experts with more than half a century’s worth of combined experience working with dietary supplements and natural wellness products. We don’t put anything on the market until we feel confident that it will serve the mission outlined above.
Sure, entrepreneurs need to make enough money in order to sustain their own health and lifestyles. But for most of us, improving the wellbeing of others is at the forefront of what we do.
2. They were “born” entrepreneurs
This is a myth aboutall types of entrepreneurs, not just those in the health and fitness space. People assume there’s something special about entrepreneurs—that we’re born with something that distinguishes us from “normal” people, or that said “normal” people could never do what we do.
But in reality, we’re just normal people who had an idea and decided to act on it. John McDonald and I had done a lot of other things before we founded our company in 2007. During that time, we had become fans of European effervescent vitamin products and had the idea to create products that offered the same nutritional benefits plus a natural caffeine boost.
That one simple idea sparked our first product (the EBOOST® energy + vitamins powder) and, eventually, the company that we run today. There was nothing “remarkable” about it—it was just the result of a lot of dedication and hard work.
3. They know everything about health and fitness
A lot of people automatically assume that health and fitness entrepreneurs are the end-all be-all of wellness information. But the truth is that the best entrepreneurs realize that they don’t know everything—and then recruit a team that, together, knows how to make the best possible products and provide the best possible information to its customers.
EBOOST is a great example of this. As mentioned above, our product development process relies on the input of a team of experts. Combined, they possess a wealth of knowledge about health and fitness. Individually, we could never accomplish as much as we do when we’re working as a team.
4. They never struggle with their own health or fitness habits
You’d assume that a professional housekeeper keeps their house spick and span, right? In the same way, it’s easy to think that entrepreneurs who work in the health and fitness space effortlessly eat right and stay on top of their physical fitness.
While it’s true that I try to live the healthy lifestyle for which I advocate through my company, that doesn’t mean that I’m superman. Like most people, I still struggle sometimes with finding the time to work out or choosing the leafy green salad over Shake Shack. Remember when I said that entrepreneurs are human? Same goes for the fact that we have to work to make healthy decisions—just like everyone else.
In fact, that’s partly why John and I created EBOOST products. We wanted to provide an easy way for people to get the nutrients they need, even when their lifestyles make it difficult to meal plan.
5. They know exactly what comes next
When people see someone running a successful company (in the health and fitness space or otherwise), it’s easy to assume that they have the whole “running a business” thing down—that they know exactly what they’re doing, where they’re headed, and how to get there.
But in reality, much of entrepreneurship involves flying by the seat of your pants. Sure, you’re able to make more informed decisions as time goes on and you know more about your products, audience, business leadership, and so on. But I guarantee you that even the most confident-seeming entrepreneurs aren’t exactly sure of how they’re going to achieve all their goals. Heck, they may not even be totally clear on what those goals are, since company objectives often evolve and shift over time.
When I co-founded EBOOST in 2007, I had an idea of what I wanted this company to become. But back then, I might have laughed if you’d told me that within a decade we would:
- Become a nationally recognized brand used by celebrities and professional athletes including Jillian Michaels, Kelly Ripa, Keith Rivers, Oprah Winfrey, and Heidi Klum
- Be featured in national media outlets such as Good Morning America, O the Oprah Magazine, Vanity Fair, People, Men’s Fitness, and The Today Show, and others
- Become a pioneering brand in the world of nootropics
Especially in the ever-evolving health and fitness space, entrepreneurs simply can’t predict the future of their companies with absolute certainty—and sometimes, that’s a very good thing.
So there you have it—five myths about health and fitness entrepreneurs, debunked. What it all boils down to? Entrepreneurs are people too. And if you come across anyone espousing these myths, I hope you’ll set the record straight.
