We had the good fortune of connecting with Riza Ayson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Riza, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

The reason why I became an Entrepreneur was because I suffered from the work life balance working a corporate job in sales for Tribune Television. However, I didn’t realize that it was going to be HARDER to get the work life balance working for myself– if I didn’t have boundaries.

Working for myself, I was able to do something so fulfilling and that I loved to do. I wake up ready to go to work and I am excited for my day and to see this community that I have built over my 10 years in business. But now that I am my own boss- I didn’t realize that now it would be a 24/7 job instead of a 8-5er.

The first few years– it was exceptionally hard to find the work life balance because I was building my team, my membership and learning the ins and outs of a owning a franchise. As I gained more experience and felt more comfortable in my role, I could then delegate more and hire a manager that helped me to be able to take some time away from the gym and give some of my responsibilities to my staff and give up some control.

Today I find myself able to keep an eye on the gym, be there for my family and also find time for my self care so that I can be the best version of myself for my kids and family. I do this by making sure I get my own workout in, go to hot yoga a couple of times a week and find time for journaling and meditation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

If you were to have told me when I was in college that I would be a gym owner I would have told you how crazy you were! I graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a major in Marketing and Advertising and during my college years- I taught step aerobics and worked in the rec center to get me through school. Right after graduating, I worked for an advertising agency for a couple of years before dabbling in media where I worked for ABC26, Tribune Television in Ad Sales as their Regional Sales Manager, then transferred to NOLA.com to work in the online space when the internet started to take off!

This is when Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans and both of the homes I owned at the time flooded, I lost almost everything I owned and I was forced to move out of the city. I was also going through a divorce at the time! It took me 8 months to gut the homes, sell them and move out of New Orleans where I spent a little bit of time traveling until I landed out west. California was the only place that I had family and there were too many signs leading me that way.

So I started over in Los Angeles, California and landed a job with a company called Internet Broadcasting– where it merged all of my experience in one! I was helping television stations optimize their websites by selling ad banners on their sites. I would travel 3 weeks out of the month to different tv stations all over the west coast. Finally one day, a few years later– I was tired of being in airports and hotel rooms. I was ready for a change.

Through all of this- I had continued to do what I loved to do the most- teach fitness classes! Everything from spin, step aerobics, weight classes and even aqua aerobics. I just loved being active and doing races. I LOVED running at the time! I also met someone and had moved down south to Orange County and eventually got re-married. I

I then became a mom and gained 20 pounds with the birth of my daughter Layla at the age of 39. Despite the fact that I had been in fitness for many year, the weight would NOT come off. That is when I tried kickboxing and I lost  the 20 pounds in 3 months! I got hooked and shortly after- I signed the franchise papers and flew to South Carolina to get trained to be a franchise owner!

I never thought that would be my path to get here. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur and be my own boss and that dream came true. In the process, I had so many people doubt me and tell me that I wasn’t “qualified” to own my own business but I just didn’t listen to the noise and I charged full steam ahead! I figured it along the way, got through COVID and all the craziness and am entering the 10th year of business!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Pacific City in Huntington Beach- this is a great place to go get coffee, lunch/dinner, drinks or shop and they always have great little events here. It’s like an outdoor mall but they have some great eateries and the public places to hang out and even bring your computer and work are fantastic! It’s across the street from the beach so you could always get in a beach walk to Huntington Beach Pier!

Crystal Cove/El Moro Canyon Hike- if you love the outdoors and hiking– you will enjoy this hike and the views!!! This is a spectacular place to see the coastline and enjoy the mountainous areas and the ocean.

Seal Beach to PaddleBoard- I love OEX Paddleboarding shop right on PCH! There is a bay right there where you can rent a board and paddle on the sound side (no waves!) and go through the marina. There is a little beach you can paddle to and rest but paddling through the neighborhoods back there is so cool to look at all the beautiful homes there!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This Shoutout is dedicated to my family- especially my children Ethan, Layla and Cameron and my parents Rogelio and Yolanda Ayson.

Website: https://www.9round.com/locations/ca/fountain-valley/brookhurst-st

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9roundbrookhurst/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rizaayson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/9roundcali

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/9round18595BrookhurstStreetFountainValleyCA

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/9round-fitness-fountain-valley

Image Credits
Photography by 130Down Photography

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