Most people who decide to open a fitness business have some past experiences in common. For instance, they’ve probably been a personal trainer. Maybe they’ve held management positions with an employer and risen high in the ranks.

Thinking like a trainer and a manager is important. But to really succeed, you have to assume another role and think like an entrepreneur.

This mindset is crucial so you can make better decisions for the success of your business. It’s about how we see ourselves. It’s about the stories we tell others about who we are. And it’s centered around critical thinking and decision making.

Here’s an overview of what I mean.

Why It Matters

Entrepreneurs quickly learn that they’ve got to do more with less, that time is crucial, and that decisions add up to consequences good or bad. It’s the difference between owning a job and owning a business.

So think about the essential qualities of a successful gym owner. How do you go about making smart business decisions? What questions drive your critical thinking and problem solving?

Remember that, if your leadership doesn’t develop, then neither will your business.

Essential Qualities

A successful gym owner has:

• Stakeholder awareness. Who they are and what their perspectives are. What’s your goal with them, and how do you want them to feel?
• Strong communications skills
• Information gathering and staying informed
• Presence – How you’re seen and heard
• Adaptability – Making changes in real time as needed
• Critical Thinking. It starts with self-guided questioning. What’s happening right now? What possible changes are coming? What am I missing?

How an Entrepreneur Thinks

Leaders are always thinking about how to grow and develop these critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

They follow a framework for making smart decisions that’s based on knowing their purpose, limitations and risk, and then developing a plan.

I hope this gets you thinking about how, with a slightly different mindset, you can start thinking like an entrepreneur to grow your business into something great.