Sharon Polsky is the owner and main trainer at UNLEASHED Women's Fitness Studio. She has been an accountability coach, personal trainer, and group fitness instructor for over 20 years. She holds numerous fitness and nutrition certifications/accreditations, is a certified professional life coach, and a certified diabetes reversal specialist. In addition to her professional accomplishments, holds the title of Ms. Fitness Southern California, and is currently a Pro Fitness Competitor with Paul Dillett’s World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation. She can be found online at www.unleashed4women.com

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I was a former athlete, swimmer, and equestrian, which started my love for fitness. I used fitness to pay for college and stumbled back into it 10 years later; when I opened up my Fitness Studio - UNLEASHED Women’s Fitness in Long Beach California.

What inspired you to start your business?

Fitness was not accessible to most women. It was either not convenient or not affordable or not fun. I wanted to create an affordable, fun, and convenient place for women to get in shape. I call it your third place. Your home is your first place. Your work is your second place. UNLEASHED is your third place. That place that you go to regularly and is your home away from home.

Where is your business based?

UNLEASHED is in Long Beach, California.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I worked in Corporate America for many years in outside sales; initially, I started UNLEASHED as a Tax Write Off that evolved into a successful business. I fell in love with helping women and 20 years later I have my dream job. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

The best way to raise awareness for UNLEASHED has been collaborating with Women-Owned Businesses. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

If you asked me 5 years ago what my biggest challenge was, I would have said raising awareness about UNLEASHED; but now it's COVID. Within 72 hours of California Stay at Home order, I created UNLEASHED Live your digital fitness studio. I needed to create a safe place for my clients to continue their journeys. 

How do you stay focused?

Being inspired is my secret sauce to staying focused, and I am inspired by my clients every single day. Women of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds are getting in shape and improving their health; and that inspires me. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

I don’t try to differentiate my business from the competition. I don’t even know what the competition is doing today. I just know that I have to follow my heart and do what is right for my clients.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business? Believe it or not, direct mail campaigns are still the most effective marketing tools that I still use after 20 years. I have dabbled in digital but the ROI was not nearly as effective as direct mail.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

I have 2 pieces of advice that I wish I would have learned early on. One, stay true to yourself and don’t get distracted by what others in your industry are doing. There are plenty of customers to go around and you don’t need their customers; create your own. Two, learn to say NO!!! You can say no politely to customers, employees, etc. unapologetically and once you learn to say no you will find that you are far more successful in your business. It creates those necessary boundaries to ultimately be successful. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite book of all time is Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. It is a TOTAL game changer.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I use a lot of tools from Facebook to GoSite to Efit Financial, and they all serve a purpose, but my best business tool is me…. My ability to persevere. My personal GRIT!!!

Who is your business role model? Why?

My dad was an incredibly successful real estate developer and built his business from scratch. He was born to immigrant parents and is a self-made man. His success strategy was hard work and business on a handshake. I adopted that philosophy and I don’t regret it for a minute. 

How do you balance work and life?

I’m not exactly sure I have a great work/life balance but I am committed to my day off. I do not work on my day off. That was something I had to learn after about 10 years of business and now I am FULLY committed to my days off.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Sleep…..I am fully committed to sleeping 8 to 10 hours every single night and no I am not lazy, but once you read Why We Sleep you will fully understand why.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I have 2 plans…. I am working on evolving UNLEASHED Live, your digital fitness studio. I am also working with strategic partners in the industry, like Helix Lateral Trainers, to help them evolve. We have a new challenge with COVID but we also have a new opportunity to help people during these difficult times. So it is time to pivot and make fitness accessible to everybody no matter the challenges that they are encountering. 

How can our readers connect with you?

If you are looking for an accountability coach for health/wellness, weight loss, or reversing diabetes; then I am the right coach for you. My email is sharonpolsky@gmail.com