Jamie Walker

Entrepreneur

I'm bursting with ideas!

Airbnb, TaskRabbit, Urban Sitter

Entrepreneurship is challenging! Fortunately, many of the challenges of entrepreneurship are also the rewards. I think one of the most rewarding parts about entrepreneurship is being able to see your vision come to fruition and having the freedom to do something you're really passionate about.

However, the road is bumpy and lined with obstacles at every turn. Overcoming the bumps in the road and the major obstacles can be very frustrating at times. But in the end, the lessons you learn along the way are so rewarding.

In short, I think rewards and frustrations go hand in hand for entrepreneurs. You set out to achieve something, experience road blocks and then figure out how to do it and feel great when you see it come to life.

It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it!

The number one mistake that entrepreneurs make, especially at the very beginning, is to expect everyone else to be as dedicated and passionate about the vision as they are. It can be very taxing and discouraging to wear as many hats as you need to but I think it's important to try to find a balance between the various duties you must tend to, set a schedule, and stick to it. And always remember that if it were easy, everyone would be doing it!

The top three lessons I've learned as an entrepreneur are as follows:

1. If it doesn't work, stop doing it: if it's wrong, don't waste your time or your money on trying to make it work. Just stop, learn from it and move on.

2. Follow-up is king: follow-up should not be taken lightly. Businesses are built on relationships. And building relationships is all about the follow-up.

3. Don't be afraid of tough questions: tough questions and tough people were put on this Earth to make us better leaders. You don't have to have every answer, you just have to know where to look for it.

I'm so glad you asked! My other two passions in life are running and yoga. I am currently on a mission to complete my first 100 miler. I have run several 50 milers, 100Ks, but have yet to complete 100 miles. I've attempted two 100 milers thus far and made it farther than I ever thought possible (80 miles) and have learned so much along the way. I think the third time will be the charm.

I also really enjoy practicing yoga. Like ultra running, yoga never ceases to challenge and humble me.

Jamie Walker is the CEO and co-founder of SweatGuru where she leads business development and marketing for the San Francisco-based start-up that will launch in Fall of 2013. Jamie and co-founder, Alyse Mason-Brill, bring more than 15 years of combined technology, marketing, and entrepreneurial experience to SweatGuru, their second joint venture.

Prior to SweatGuru, Jamie and Alyse have owned and operated Fit Approach, a wildly popular San Francisco boot camp, blog, and online community whose “Sweat Pink” motto has inspired more than 8,000 global members and 35,000 monthly visitors to lead healthy lifestyles. Before she was bit by the start-up bug, Jamie spent seven years in Silicon Valley working in high-tech corporate communications with enterprise software and consumer technology companies such as Salesforce.com, Workforce Software, Jigsaw, blinx and others.

A NASM and Yoga Alliance certified instructor, food-loving vegan and avid ultra marathoner, Jamie’s passion for health extends into everything she does. She has been featured in Forbes Woman, Trail Runner Nation, The San Francisco Chronicle, BlogTalk Radio and more. She is a featured speaker and yoga leader at conferences such as BlogHer, FitBloggin, IDEA World, and CaptialOne 360 Entrepreneurship classes. She is also an IDEA Fit Inspired Advisor. Jamie holds a degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.