Building a Thriving Fitness Coaching Business: Insights from Deirdre Slattery

In the ever-evolving fitness industry, balancing business growth with personal life can be challenging. Deirdre Slattery, owner of Deirdre’s Fitness, has been navigating this space for decades, and her journey is filled with valuable lessons for fitness coaches and entrepreneurs alike. Recently featured on the Trainer Revenue Multiplier (TRM) podcast, Deirdre shared her insights on how she grew her business, maintained balance, and continues to create an impact in her clients' lives.

Here are three key takeaways from her inspiring journey:

1. Defining Your Niche for Sustainable Growth In the early stages of her career, Deirdre, like many fitness coaches, worked with a broad range of clients. But she soon realized the importance of defining a niche. “When you start, you are open to everyone, but figuring out who your people are is key to long-term success,” she explains. Specializing allows you to focus on the specific needs of your ideal clients, positioning you as an expert and creating a tailored experience that yields lasting results. For Deirdre, her niche evolved into working with busy female entrepreneurs, helping them find balance in their lives while achieving their fitness goals.

2. Quality Over Quantity One of the most impactful lessons Deirdre learned is the importance of prioritizing quality over quantity in her business. As she juggled personal and professional responsibilities, she realized that spreading herself too thin meant delivering less value. “It's better to serve a few clients exceptionally well than to try to work with too many and offer less impact,” she shares. By focusing on a select group of clients and delivering high-quality service, she has been able to build deeper relationships and offer better, more personalized coaching.

3. Balancing Life and Business Achieving balance between personal life and business growth is a common struggle for many entrepreneurs. Deirdre advocates for putting yourself at the top of your to-do list. “Filling your own cup first allows you to show up better in all aspects of life—whether it's for your business, your family, or your personal goals,” she says. One of her most effective strategies is focusing on small wins. By stacking healthy habits like starting the day with a walk or breakfast, she finds it easier to maintain momentum and achieve larger goals. She encourages her clients to do the same: start small, stay consistent, and celebrate every win.

The Path to Continued Success Deirdre’s success didn’t happen overnight. It came through years of trial, error, and constant learning. With the help of TRM, she’s refined her systems, built concrete business processes, and shifted from working in her business to working on her business. Her advice to aspiring fitness coaches is simple: “Find a mentor, define your niche, and always focus on the quality of service you provide.”

Ready to Learn More? To dive deeper into Deirdre’s journey and gain even more practical tips on building a sustainable and impactful fitness business, tune into her full interview on the Trainer Revenue Multiplier podcast. Listen now [insert link] and take the first step toward transforming your fitness coaching business today!