Ellen Hoffman makes big moves in her small business

Name: Ellen Hoffman

Location: Dallas, Texas

Business: The Movement Loft

Tell us about the Movement Loft.

The Movement Loft is a studio and concept that combines dance, yoga, meditation, and movement practices with the mission of developing a community through movement.

What inspired you to start the Movement Loft?

I knew I needed to do something creative, and movement has always been a big part of my life. I was a dancer growing up. I've been teaching yoga, dance, movement, and stretch for a decade now. All of that culminated in this idea of providing people with a space where they can find balance. 

How do you take care of yourself while building a business?

Balance is really important. Your business should not trump your needs. In order to build a lasting business, you need to take care of yourself and create balance. Understand your boundaries—how many hours you are comfortable working and what projects you should take on. Find a partner or vendor to help you. Work-life balance is what gives you the energy to sustain a business.

What was a challenge you encountered as a business owner, and how did you overcome it?

Mindset is one of the biggest challenges to overcome in business ownership. It determines how you view everything that happens in your day-to-day. You can look at your profit and loss and never see enough money coming, or you can continue to work through all the different pieces in their own timing. It’s important to be your own hype person. You're not missing the mark because you're setting your own mark. It’s important to bring that self-talk in and frame whatever scenarios come at you in a way that you're able to digest and work through issues.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a business?

Utilize tools to streamline your business operations, so you are spending your time effectively. It will save you so much time and allow you to focus on what truly matters for yourself and your business. If I'm organized going into something, then I can prepare for it. Even if things don’t go as planned, it allows me to have some grace to accept it. 

When challenging situations arise, pause to assess how you are doing. Don’t forget to appreciate how far you have come—you are doing well. It’s okay if you are still on the journey. It’s important how you talk to yourself—frame scenarios in a way that you are able to digest and work through them.