This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Cantera, co-owner of The Little Gym of Salt Lake City. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I quite literally took my first steps at The Little Gym near where I grew up in Salt Lake City.
From the time I was a toddler until I was a teenager, I absolutely loved going to the gymnastics and play space. My sister and I went every Friday night, and often had our birthday parties there. Other activities, like ballet, were more structured, but The Little Gym was a place for me to have fun.
Courtesy of Sarah Cantera
By the time I was 14, I was too old to participate in programming at The Little Gym. I wasn’t ready to leave it behind, though, so I started working there. At the time, I thought I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up; I was a bossy older sister who liked being in charge.
Before long, I realized that my love for the gym could lead to a different career.
Another young woman believed in me
Around that time, a woman named Betsy bought the gym. She was only 26 herself and had been working in the gym since she was 16. I looked up to her and was impressed by the way she taught herself everything about running a business.
When I was 16, Betsy took me with her to the national conference for The Little Gym. The fact that she put that belief in me was amazing. By then, I knew I wanted The Little Gym to be my career, and after the conference, I was determined to work as hard as I could to make it happen.
I went to college, even though I probably didn’t need to
When I got back from that trip, I started taking on more responsibility. I wanted to show the gym’s managers that I was capable, even though I was young.
My family expected me to go to college. I knew I wanted to own a Little Gym, but affording to start my own business felt far off. In the end, I don’t think I needed a college degree, but going was a good experience.
While I was in school, I helped open a Little Gym in a nearby community. After college, I moved for my now-husband’s job, and I helped run gyms in Chicago and New York City. Those experiences were invaluable in preparing me to run the business.
I tried applying for loans, but couldn’t get one
I reached out to Betsy once I knew I’d be moving back to Salt Lake City. I was excited to work at my home gym, but she had an even better proposition: she invited me to buy into the gym as a 50/50 owner.
Courtesy of The Little Gym
I knew immediately that I wanted to do it. I had no reservations, but I wasn’t sure how I could make it work financially. I spent about seven months talking with banks about getting a small business loan, but wasn’t able to get one to buy into the business.
That’s when my grandparents offered to take out a home equity loan for me. Accepting that offer was scary: I knew that my decisions would impact my grandparents’ lives. And yet, I felt confident I was ready for this step, and that Betsy and I would be great partners.
Betsy now treats me like an equal
As an owner — especially a younger owner — I’ve had to learn I can’t please everybody. I love our members, but they definitely share their opinions, and sometimes argue with me because they know I can make decisions.
Betsy has known me since I was a kid, but she treats me like her business partner, not like a child. We meet at least once a week to talk about business and life. We have a really great relationship on both fronts, and I’m so glad to have her as a mentor.
I can’t wait for my own children to be at the gym. I felt like I grew up in this gym, but they really will. That’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.
