These entrepreneurial ladies have been best friends since ninth grade and formed Fit Chicks to create a comfortable space for women to feel healthy and happy about their bodies. Their much loved fitness boot camps have sprouted across Canada and they continue to grow their brand with everything from private training to developing a sports clothing line. 

What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?

Amanda: My typical Thursday starts with the man leaving for work and me trying to figure out which workout I want to do to start my day with while I eat a breakfast of yogurt and fresh fruit. I like to get my workouts done early so I can focus on work stuff. Post workout and shower I am ready to take on the world, this is about 10:00am. I start by checking emails and answering back any calls that have come in during my sweat session, I also start to look at the projects on my desk to decide which one inspires me for the day.

Right now our new clothing line (coming out very soon) is my main project and it takes up much of my daily attention and time. Around 1PM I stop for lunch, this is my favorite and largest meal of the day. I always try to stop working while I eat and just enjoy some down time for about 30 minutes. This is also my time to look at what is happening in Hollywood- I can’t help it I need to know what Angelina and Brad are up to!

After lunch it’s usually a call with Laura, my business partner, to go over some new ideas or business ventures we want to take on.  The day ends around 5 or 6PM when I start searching far and wide for inspiration to create new, original exercises I want to try out.  I also regularly search for music to download for our classes. 8PM is dinner time with the bf and then we generally chill out with a walk at night and an episode of House or Dragons Den. I get to sleep around midnight when my eyes shut halfway through the bf telling me about some new car part or hockey thing.

Laura: When my iPhone alarm goes off in the morning, I tend to hit snooze a few times before making it out.  I check my email from bed, then get up, throw on some tunes while I brush my teeth.  Make my breakfast which is usually the same thing everyday –  eggs, avocado and coffee number one (I am a self proclaimed caffeine junkie!). I eat my breakfast while I check email, tweet and get set up for the day.  Get dressed and head into “The Coop” aka our office.

Owning your own business, everyday is different. I could be working on a new project like our health and weight loss challenges, doing the shot list for our workout DVD or running a focus group to see what cuts women like best for our new clothing line.  Drink coffee number four (I actually have cut down!) and a have lunch which is usually a salad with chicken.

I call Amanda to have a half BFF catch-up chat  and half work stuff chat.  After finishing at the office, I head home throw on my sweats, do a high intensity interval workout or a quick run. Quick shower and then sit quiet or lay on my bed for 10 min before heading to teach my FIT CHICKS Bootcamp.  Sitting quiet or having quiet time is extremely important. It may seem like a strange ritual but it does wonders to help me transition from “work brain” to “chick sergeant” and my top priority is giving chicks an awesome class. I drive to class and teach back-to-back crazy sweat sessions.

I usually hang around and chat for a bit with the chicks. Drive home around 9:30pm, and have a snack (addicted to Greek Yogurt and pumpkin right now). Check email again while I eat.  Facebook stalk some people and then try to be in bed by midnight.  I need about 8-9 hours of sleep to function properly J 

What was your first job out of school?

Amanda: My first job out of school was working with House of Blues Concerts Canada as Manager of Sponsorship and Advertising; this was a dream job for me at the time. Besides fitness, music has always been my passion and weakness! I spent my time there lunching with amazing corporate connections, having dinners in the presence of some of my all-time favorite musical artists and spending late nights drinking with staff and friends at the Molson Amphitheatre. After some of the metal festivals it was hard not to stay for more than one cocktail.

Laura: After college, I went to work as a Marketing Coordinator at a corporate training company in Calgary.  The corporate world isn’t really my cup of tea.

What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

Amanda: The first skill is my ability to teach fitness classes. Even as one of the owners of FIT CHICKS I still teach classes in the Annex area and am required to be on the top of my game every night.

Patience, it is hard work running a business but I just try to be as patient as possible with myself and with the process

The ability to delegate, I am improving on this skill every day. It is extremely important to surround yourself with super smart people you trust. It’s also important knowing you don’t always know best. 

Laura: Acting Skills.  When teaching bootcamp classes, you have to be high energy to be able to keep your class motivated and inspired for a full hour of sweating up a storm. Sometimes, you aren’t feeling well or are distracted, but you have to get into the “Chick Sergeant” role and run a fun, kick-ass class that they love to hate. 

Flexibility.  From a workout to a business plan, you have to be able to think on your feet and change direction / plans if needed.  

Not to take things personally.  I’m a bit of a perfectionist so when something doesn’t work out, it can be a hard thing to take (even though some of the best things come from initial failed plans!)  

What do you love most about your career?

Amanda: I love the fact that I can see women changing around me every day. I get to meet some amazing people in class and outside, it is always so inspiring to hear their stories and see what the  new found confidence that comes with taking control of their fitness and health brings to their lives. 

Laura: I honestly love almost everything about my career.  Love being my own boss and working in my PJ’s if I want. Love being creative, working on my time (whether it be 2pm or 2am) and not having someone else creating my schedule.  I love meeting fabulous new women every month and helping them reach their fitness and weight loss goals.  Seeing them getting stronger, healthier and more confident.  Also, helping peeps meet new peeps. It is so hard to meet new friends as we get older. I get all warm and fuzzy when I see 2 chicks from bootcamp making plans to go for a coffee or workout together outside of class (I’m a little cheesy like that J )

Do you have any warnings?

Amanda: My warning would be that if you are not passionate about what you do then running your own business is not ideal. It takes a lot of passion, energy and time to make things happen and you have to want to put in the work. There are days I work for 16 hours straight but it never feels like work because I simply love it. You just have to love it and it will happen.

Laura: Beware of the energy suckers!  There are always people in your life that just take your energy and time (we all have them!).  You need to recognize them and even though it may be hard, get rid of them! All they will do is drag you down – personally and professionally. Stick with people that bring positivity and value to your relationship.

If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

Amanda: Don’t laugh but I always wanted to be a backup dancer for Janet Jackson or a dolphin trainer at Sea World. OK go ahead and laugh.

Laura: I LOVE travelling!   Dream job for a year…host of a show on the Travel Network or National Geographic.

Fit Chicks blog: http://www.fitchicks.ca/blog/
Twitter: @FitChicks