LESSONS I WISH I LEARNED EARLIER

LESSONS I WISH I LEARNED EARLIER

Overcoming adversity as a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated arena, Meghan Jarvis always felt like she was in a BMX race against all the boys growing up.

To understand how someone grows "thick skin," develops boundaries, a can-do attitude, and understands their worth, was a journey that Meghan Jarvis started long before she even hit the playing field in business.

For Meghan, it started before the age of seven.

Navigating the male-dominated space

As a BMX racer, one of the first hurdles for Meghan was becoming a Canadian National Champion and world-class BMX bicycle racer.

"Life consisted of hanging out with the guys, racing in the world champion circuit in a different state or country every weekend, and learning how to stick up against the bullies and haters that come with being successful," she said.

"I was a complete tomboy, and my youth was spent playing any sport I could get my hands on, again, one who would compete. At first, it would trigger me when I would be called certain titles like a tomboy, and I would get defensive."

"Over time, it became my superpower. Holding my head up high, showing up and going harder than my male counterparts, only to get the same fair treatment, became a gift instead of a curse.”

Meghan used her skills and abilities to outweigh politics, and even at a young age, she could see the work and path it takes to make a profound change in the world.

"My passion for sport led me to become a university basketball player in Canada, which led me to play semi-professional in Australia," Meghan said.

"I explored and grew in new territories of life, such as building a new network and life of my own in a country that is the furthest away from my home in Canada, learning who to trust, who not to trust, and to trust in the process. This is where utilising the courage and confidence instilled during my trials and tribulations as a professional athlete in my youth started to pay off."

Pivot, but don't give up.

One must open many different "doors" or career paths when finding your true passion.

If you're lucky, the average person goes through seven careers in their lifetime now.

For Meghan, this stage of her life was all about opening many other doors to see which one was a good fit.

"Although some businesses or careers often seem to be the bee's knees, they can sometimes turn into the exact opposite," she said.

"Initially, I believed that becoming a lecturer at a college or university would be my dream job.

"So, as the universe often does when you ask, I was offered a position to be a lead lecturer at a fitness college after meeting another Canadian on a surf road trip.”

That dream job became a Monday-to-Friday prison sentence, but it was the push for Meghan to enter the world of entrepreneurialism. She created a fitness app with a large team and group of investors.

"Our fitness app - Buzvil - became global, but it still wasn't generating enough income to be self-sustainable without investors," Meghan explained. "I had to pivot."

"I went into distributing equipment to gyms with whom we had partnered to build the app, which helped their coaches build a wellness company that was all-encompassing."

"During my first seven years as an entrepreneur, I pivoted over five times and felt like giving up over ten times. However, in other areas of life, I have, when it comes to health and fitness, my thick skin and true passion shone through."

"You'll know what you're doing isn't right for you because if you're not able to push through when it gets hard, and you're not passionate, that is when people quit. Your passion will outweigh the adversity, and you will grow an even thicker skin."

Speak your truth and stop caring what others think.

She could offer the full package once Meghan is aligned with state-of-the-art health and fitness technology, equipment distribution channels, and gym/building design software with some of the world's leading teachers and facilitators.

"Low and behold, one beautiful afternoon at the YOT yacht club that I was an ambassador for at the time. I told the right person at the right time that we could provide all those elements," she said.

"I received the largest contract I could have dreamed of to roll out gyms across Australia and New Zealand, and my second company was born."

"However, if I hadn't told the gentleman what I did or if I worried about what he might think of me if I pitched him my idea, it would have never come to fruition."

"After speaking my truth on that particular occasion, having the full package behind me from pivoting so often and not caring what he thought of me if I did pitch, I landed the biggest contract of my career."

"Remember, you never know who you're speaking to or who's listening, so treat the janitor like the queen."

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