Determination, willingness to learn and business ethics, these are three of the most vital skills needed to achieve success in the world of entrepreneurship according to Mr. Alvin Ho, owner of Fitivate, a holistic health and wellness platform designed to provide the community with free and easy-to-access content from health professionals.
Learn more about Fitivate, its humble beginnings, its goals and how the company and its people work their way to achieve success.
Getting Started
How did the idea for your business come about?
Fititvate’s platform was conceptualised on the basis of providing the community with free, easy to access and comprehensible holistic wellness content from the relevant professionals in the industry. We are a team of healthcare professionals that produce content that encompasses fitness, nutrition, medical, and mental wellness on a easy to navigate website www.fitivate.com
What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?
Always yearning to create something novel in the area I am always passionate about. I am always determined to look to create a wellness ecosystem where experts can share their knowledge with the masses in the most convenient way possible.
How did you come up with the name for your company?
I want individuals to stay motivated and keep fit. Hence the name Fitivate.
Did you raise funding for your venture?
No, right now the company is entirely self funded
How did you build your customer base?
We actively outreach to potential entities in the sports and wellness industry to establish meaningful partnerships in content development and ultimately brand awareness.
How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
We leverage a lot of social media, digital marketing and telemarketing to outreach our services. But ultimately, the most successful way to start off any partnership endeavour will be to show that we are consistent with our content development capabilities. This can only be done through relentless research for new topics and content, formulating the optimal way of delivering the content that we have developed over our platform.
What kind of culture exists in your organization, and how did you establish it?
Each of us are clear in our roles and responsibilities, but never shy in going over the beyond to help one another in achieving our common goal. We encourage innovation and ideas, making specific efforts to review and realise those that are deemed useful and achievable.
Getting Personal
How many hours a day do you work on average?
Typically 6 to 8 hours. But as things are more flexi, I can actually spread these hours even through the evenings.
Can you describe/outline your typical day?
After settling the family in the morning, such as sending the kids to school and wife to work. I will review the tasks ahead for the day. Typically I will first look through any tasks that are required for the team members and disseminate them accordingly before focusing on the tasks I have on hand. I will usually spend the last one to two hours of the day settling the publications required for the platform for the following day.
How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Other than not conforming to fixed office hours, and having to work through weekends, I would say income would be another factor. Unlike the cushy and good paying job I had as an engineer before, I take in much lesser as most of the time, the focus will be to conserve our funds to seek ways to expand the business. Especially when we are still at the infancy stage of the business.
What motivates you?
That Fitivate encompasses my passion and hard work. The fact that I have a fabulous team to work with and that possibilities are limitless as long as we keep on preserving and seeking new ways to grow the business
How do you generate new ideas?
Through case studies of other competitors, to see how we can do better, but really is to put our heads together as a team, analyse, generate and deliberate over ideas that we can churn out.
What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
The greatest fear will always be the whether the platform can gain enough traction and whether we can achieve the near and far term goals that are being set. To tackle these fears will be to consistently review the direction and progress of the business, and make changes at the right time so as to steer the business back into the right direction.
How do you define success?
I would define success not so much through solely the revenue standpoint but rather whether the business has made a meaningful impact to the society.
Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Yes, to be willing to change and accept new ideas. Versatility plays and important part in entrepreneurship. If something isn’t working, we need to be flexible enough to accommodate. Perseverance and self confidence are also important factors as well.
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
How it has changed my character. I find myself more tenacious and outspoken through the course of this entrepreneurship journey of mine.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
When platform users come up to us as tell us how useful our content has been to them and encouragement to keep on doing the things that we do.
Tips and Advice for Others
What piece of advice would you give to anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
To be bold enough to test the idea/s that you have. Make detailed competitive analysis on the industry and business. Have trusted partners that you can work closely with. However, rather than quiting your day job, try out your new idea on a smaller scale, review and renew the direction to see it’s feasibility.
If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Not really.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Determination, willingness to change and business ethics.
What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule?
Changing your work environment once in awhile, like working in a café or somewhere different away from the office, sometimes, it can bring new eureaka moments.
What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in?
Be in the know, always keep yourself updated with the latest news and ongoings of the industry. And most importantly is to network. Immerse yourself with likeminded entrepreneurs.
Miscellaneous Questions for Entrepreneurs
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My idol has to be Dwayne Johnson. Not only is he a successful rags to riches icon, being in the health and fitness line, someone like him, with all his commitments, is still able to maintain and be one of the fittest person alive. That is impressive.
What business-related book has inspired you the most? (or, What is your favorite book?)
Shoe Dog.
Interview Summary
According to Mr. Alvin Ho of Fitivate, success cannot be measured merely through revenue, but rather, to the impact you have made in the society as well. To people who want to start their own business soon, being brave and bold to test the ideas you have in mind is the key.
Wishing Mr. Alvin Ho all the best for Fitivate.
