As moms, we all try to fit in some time to exercise. Not only for our mental health, but also to get back into those clothes we stare at longingly in our closets. But reality hits and you’re left trying to figure out how to manage your infant, and later mobile baby, while you exercise. If you’re like me, exercise usually is a few minutes between the end of tidying up and before the end of nap.

Then I found Morgan Kate Fitness, a women’s only functional fitness studio that offers Mom and baby classes. I’ve been visiting this facility twice weekly since early May and I’m so sad I didn’t discover it sooner. Morgan is not only an inspiration and a smoke show, she’s also a brilliant entrepreneur and devoted mom to 20 month old Caleb.

We spent an hour chatting about motherhood, hustle and balancing it all. We may or may not have both cried at multiple points through the chat, but that is just a testament to Morgan’s passion and drive to succeed. If you’re in Hamilton, go meet this lady. She will push you to great things.

Britt: So, you’ve basically managed to build every mom’s dream place- a comfortable, non-intimidating fitness facility where you can work on your fitness goals while your baby plays safely. Tell me how you started this amazing place?

Morgan: Before Caleb was born, I was working as a head coach at another private training facility. I decided to take a full mat leave from my job, but about 6 months in, I realized I couldn’t go back there. I was spending so much time working on someone else’s dream, when now I had a reason to build my own place. I was already spending after hours time working, but now it would take away time from my son, so why not do it for myself?

Britt: At 6 months old? That’s a challenging time to take on anything else, other than figuring out how to be a mom. What was the greatest challenge of building your business while taking care of Caleb?

Morgan: Time Management FOR SURE. Caleb was on a great routine, so we were both really well rested which helped me a ton. I really had to change the way I operated, and I really took the Naptime Hustle to heart. Although I was guilty of pushing the limits of balance. There were times that I was in such a good flow and he was safely playing in his play pen, but then I’d hear a fuss, and a little more fuss, and then a little more fuss. Until finally I forced myself to stop the flow and step away. Which is hard when you’re 150% in entrepreneur mode to stop and switch to mom mode.

Britt: Now that Caleb is a bit older, and now that you’ve actually launched your business, how is the time management going? Working on your business before it starts is one thing, but now you have to find time to work IN your business as well.

Morgan: Even when Caleb was small, I got really good at working non-traditional hours. I would get up before everyone or stay up much later. Now he’s in a day care and I feel like I have SO MUCH time to work. Its so much easier to work when he’s at day care, and I’m much more efficient. I also have a more definite division of my time and I’m not tempted to keep working once he’s home.

Britt: I’m guilty of that too, but its all a learning experience. So tell me, how do you keep balance in all your roles?

Morgan: I’m always striving for balance, but as a working person who loves what they do, it’s sometimes hard to stop talking about work. I’m so lucky I get to do what I love, and I have so much gratitude for my family for allowing me to do this. Not everyone gets to have a passion that can be their work and provide for their family.

Britt: I think that’s the ultimate entrepreneur goal right there! As an entrepreneur who has it figured out, or at least looks like to us, what advice do you have for those moms thinking about taking the leap into working for themselves?

Morgan: You need to have courage and work ethic to be an entrepreneur. I remind myself that all my hard work is for me, but all the risk is on me too, which just makes me work harder. And while the risks are less now than when I started, I’m always mindful of how much risk we all took on to make this happen. I always operate from a place of gratitude and when things get hard, I think of my son. He is why I’m doing this. He is why I’m so much more confident as a businesswoman now than when I started. He is fearless and primal and I try to embody that in how I approach my business.

Check out Morgan and her awesome studio at www.morgankate.com and in person at 730 Upper James St, Unit 5 Hamilton Ontario.