The Funny Thing About Growing an Empire

As most of you know, I’m the proud Founder of a company called Hot Mama Health & Fitness. We “build community through family fitness”…meaning we support, empower, inspire and motivate parents to get active and be healthy role models while also providing a space for Mamas to go to get safe and loving support for the ups and downs of Motherhood.

My days are filled with spreadsheets, writing, timelines, troubleshooting, supporting, developing, digging, worrying, pushing, inspiring and sweat. Because yes, I still find the time to workout. I still work from my home office, so I do all of this with my kids interrupting me on the daily (hourly?). And, even when I’m “done work for the day”…it’s literally 5 steps away. (I really cannot wait to get an office outside the home!)

But, here’s the thing: Every now and then, I look up and I look back. Every now and then I need to remind myself that all the effort, the sweat, the frustration, the doubt, the worry and the fear are all worth it. And, it usually comes around this time of year. 

Here’s the funny thing about growing an empire: people you don’t know love what you do even if they don’t know that you’re the one doing it. Now, I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense, so bear with me, I’ll give you a few examples of what I’m talking about…

I started Hot Mama out of my garage…you need to know that so that when I tell you the rest, it might help you understand where I’m coming from. So okay, there I am 5.5 years ago inviting women into my house to destroy it (because…well…kids) while I make them sweat in my garage. All good. Fast forward 5.5 years and here we are…30 franchises strong, 1000’s of women in the Hot Mama community, more asking to join and programs I’ve developed and designed changing lives on the daily.

That’s not the funny part.

Here’s the funny part. Me…walking in a mall past a gorgeous Mama that I don’t know and she’s wearing a Hot Mama hoodie. Me…driving in a city I’ve never been to behind a car that has a “You’re following a Hot Mama” bumper sticker. Me…seeing photos on Facebook of my Hot Mama logo getting placed onto Christmas ornaments and Mamas LOVING it. Me…reading post after post about how our Hot Mama programs have changed and improved lives and inspired families to get active, together. Me…walking into a restaurant and someone asking if I’m the “OHM” and asking for a photo.

That’s the funny part for me.

I mean, it’s awesome and all, it’s just so very odd (and extremely humbling) to me. I’m not at all trying to make this seem like I’m the most amazing person out there, I absolutely realize I am NOT, but whoa…sometimes knowing the impact Hot Mama is having and the growth we’re seeing is incredibly humbling and it makes me feel…proud…and shy.

Now, for those of you that don’t actually know me, I’m super shy. So to know that sometimes people are a bit nervous to meet me seems silly and crazy to me. I’d LOVE if you came up to chat with me. I’d LOVE to hear your story. I’d LOVE to hear how your Main Mama has impacted your life and how Hot Mama “saved you” from postpartum depression. THAT is why I do what I do.

So, keep posting. Keep doing crafts with our logo. Keep inspiring others to join and be a part of this incredible Hot Mama Movement. Because I’ll be here behind my computer grinding it out and finding new ways to support you, your family and your health.

Those ornaments you make? That swag you wear? The posts you make? Well…they mean the world to me. Without all of that, I would have questioned myself 100 times more than I do. So thank you. Thank you so much for taking the time to love Hot Mama and SHOW it. Thank you for taking my logo and doing cool things with it. Mostly, thank you for the unending support to your Main Mama and to Hot Mama…there are no words grand enough to demonstrate my love for each and every one of you.

When I started Hot Mama I simply wanted to help Mamas in my community. With your help, your belief in our company and your desire to spread the word, I remain inspired and motivated to continue to dig and drive on and inspire millions around the globe. 

Those ornaments. They get me every year.

Thank you. With all I am. Thank you.

Love,
Your OHM, Lindsay