Lotte van den Berg began her career with a passion for fitness and nutrition, working as an instructor at a gym in Arnhem. While sharing her expertise, her desire to expand her influence grew. “I taught classes at the gym in Arnhem and, in the meantime, also started giving online nutritional advice.” The COVID-19 pandemic, however, forced her to halt her activities and consider a new approach: “And then COVID hit. I couldn’t teach classes anymore… So that was a good moment to ask myself: ‘What now?'”
A New Direction
The decisive turn in Lotte’s professional life began with a recommendation from SamenZP, who suggested she contact Lizanne Jakobs of Brilliant Work. This contact would bring about a significant shift in her career. After their first meeting, Lizanne began helping Lotte sharpen her business goals and ambitions. Their collaboration was intensive and productive: “And that’s how I basically had the first conversations, and the initial pen-and-paper sketches for my own fitness business were created on her table.”
Lizanne, known for her ability to help entrepreneurs focus and structure, went beyond just discussing business plans. She challenged Lotte to think more deeply about what she truly wanted to achieve, not only professionally but also personally: “What do you want? What’s your biggest dream? And we started peeling back that biggest dream into sub-goals. That’s how I gained more and more confidence and clarity to work on my ambitions.”
The effect of this approach quickly became clear. Lotte, initially overwhelmed by the sheer scale of her ambitions, found a new direction by systematically ticking off smaller objectives. Within a year of their collaboration, Lotte saw a long-cherished dream come true: “Within a year, through all these small steps, I simply had my own sports school, with all the bells and whistles!”
Strong Development
Under the guidance of Brilliant Work, Lotte developed not only her business but also her personal skills. She learnt how to find the important balance between work and private life, and how to deal with unexpected personal setbacks, such as her divorce during the start-up phase of her new company. She describes this as a period of intense personal growth: “Honestly, I had to drag myself out of bed every day. And even though I really got energy from working with my clients, it eventually wore me down. The balance was really lost.”
Sale of the Sports School
That’s why she decided to sell her successful business. Lizanne also advised her on this. Lotte’s enthusiasm and determination had led to the creation of a unique and attractive fitness concept that drew attention within the industry. “I’d set up such a cool concept,” Lotte recalls, a statement that captures the essence of what she had achieved. Her innovative approach and the successful implementation of her ideas had not only built a loyal customer base but also attracted the interest of investors who saw the potential of her business.
These investors, impressed by what Lotte had built, approached her with a proposal that was both flattering and validating. They expressed their appreciation for her work and their confidence in the potential of her business: “We want to take over everything from you.” This offer was not only proof of the value of her hard work and perseverance but also offered Lotte the opportunity to consider a new chapter in her career. After weighing all the pros and cons with Lizanne, she made a decision. She accepted the offer. After the sale of her company, Lotte has remained active in the fitness industry as a part-time coach. In addition, she has a position with another employer.
The Impact of Coaching
Lotte reflects on her experience with Lizanne and the impact of their collaboration: “I often toyed with the idea of cancelling the appointment with Lizanne. She made me think about things I really didn’t want to think about. But every session pushed me further; she really held a mirror up to me. Yet, we also had a great connection and often laughed together during the coaching sessions. Especially when things were difficult, that gave me the energy to keep going.”
As an experienced entrepreneur with a successful journey behind her, Lotte van den Berg has valuable insights and advice for anyone who wants to walk the path of entrepreneurship. “A good coach can not only help you translate your dreams into concrete plans, but also offers an external perspective that can be essential for your growth.”
Additionally, planning ahead and thinking long-term are indispensable for sustainable success. “It’s important to regularly pause and reflect on the future direction of your company,” Lotte advises. “Ask yourself questions like: What if this scenario plays out? How do I prepare for unexpected challenges?”
