Many successful entrepreneurs can point to a defining moment that changed the direction of their lives.
For Kayla Curtis, it wasn’t a single moment.
It was a series of closed doors.
What began as a life centered around athletics, coaching, and supporting her husband’s football career eventually led her down an entirely different path—one that included entrepreneurship, multi-unit franchise ownership, real estate investing, product development, and leadership on a scale she never imagined.
In this episode of The Franchise Woman Podcast, Kayla shares how resilience, curiosity, and an athlete’s mindset helped her navigate uncertainty and create opportunities where none seemed to exist.
The Unexpected Education of a Coach’s Wife
When Kayla married her husband, she had no idea how much exposure she would gain to leadership, business, and high-level decision-making.
As a college football coach’s wife, she participated in recruiting visits, donor events, and university functions where she found herself surrounded by successful leaders and business owners.
Rather than simply attending these events, Kayla became curious.
She asked questions.
She listened.
She studied how successful people thought and operated.
That curiosity would eventually become one of her greatest entrepreneurial assets.
The Power of Proximity
One of the most valuable lessons Kayla learned early was the importance of proximity.
Being in rooms with business leaders and donors expanded her vision of what was possible.
She realized that many of the people she admired had built businesses of their own and created opportunities through ownership.
Instead of assuming success was out of reach, she began asking:
How did they get here?
What did they do differently?
What can I learn from them?
Those questions became the foundation for her future entrepreneurial journey.
The Athlete’s Mindset
Throughout the conversation, Kayla repeatedly returns to one concept: the athlete’s mindset.
For her, being an athlete wasn’t simply about sports.
It was about learning how to:
- Embrace discomfort
- Develop discipline
- Build resilience
- Pursue excellence
- Continue moving forward despite setbacks
She believes one of the greatest advantages athletes possess is becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Growth, she explains, almost always begins with uncertainty.
That mindset would prove critical when life took an unexpected turn.
When Every Door Closed
After years in collegiate athletics, Kayla and her husband found themselves facing a difficult transition.
Coaching opportunities disappeared.
Interviews led nowhere.
One door after another closed.
With two young boys and a desire for greater stability, they faced a decision.
They could continue waiting for another opportunity.
Or they could create one.
They chose the latter.
As Kayla explains, they simply decided to bet on themselves.
Finding the Right Franchise Opportunity
The search for a business wasn’t straightforward.
The couple explored numerous possibilities, from service businesses to healthcare-related concepts.
Eventually, a portfolio of seven Orangetheory Fitness studios became available.
The opportunity aligned perfectly with their backgrounds.
Kayla held a degree in exercise sports science.
Her husband brought years of leadership and coaching experience.
And perhaps most importantly, Orangetheory provided something they deeply valued: a proven system.
The franchise model offered a playbook for success while still allowing them to leverage their strengths as leaders and operators.
Scaling Through Leadership
Taking over seven studios at once would seem overwhelming to many entrepreneurs.
For Kayla, success came down to structure.
The existing business had strong leadership systems in place, including regional leadership, studio managers, and head coaches. Rather than trying to do everything herself, Kayla focused on supporting leaders and empowering others to succeed.
Her leadership philosophy is simple:
Serve first.
Support people.
Provide tools and resources.
Then allow great leaders to do what they do best.
It’s an approach that has helped create sustainable growth across the organization.
Motherhood as Leadership Training
One of the most compelling parts of the conversation centers on motherhood.
Kayla believes becoming a mother provided some of the most important leadership lessons of her life.
Motherhood taught her:
- Patience
- Multitasking
- Perspective
- Resilience
- Prioritization
She describes motherhood as the ultimate leadership training ground.
Managing a family, raising children, and navigating life’s constant demands prepared her to handle the complexities of business ownership in ways she never expected.
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Kayla’s journey wasn’t without hardship.
Both pregnancies were high-risk.
She experienced kidney complications and extended bed rest that dramatically altered her active lifestyle.
For someone whose identity had long been tied to athletics and activity, the experience was incredibly difficult.
Yet those challenges ultimately became sources of strength.
They forced her to develop patience, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of her own resilience.
Today, she views those experiences as critical building blocks in her personal and professional growth.
The Importance of Self-Care
One of Kayla’s most important messages is especially relevant for women balancing family and career responsibilities.
She emphasizes the importance of putting on your own oxygen mask first.
Too often, she explains, women prioritize everyone else’s needs while neglecting their own well-being. The result is exhaustion, burnout, and diminished effectiveness.
By prioritizing personal health, purpose, and fulfillment, leaders become better equipped to serve everyone around them.
It’s not selfish.
It’s necessary.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When asked what advice she would give women considering entrepreneurship, Kayla’s answer is refreshingly simple:
“Do it scared anyway.”
She believes many people spend years waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the perfect level of confidence.
That moment never arrives.
Instead, she encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to:
- Find mentors
- Ask questions
- Shadow successful people
- Take action before feeling fully ready
Confidence, she explains, is built through experience—not before it.
Final Thoughts
Kayla Curtis’ story is about far more than business ownership.
It’s about resilience.
It’s about growth.
It’s about embracing uncertainty and believing in yourself when no one else can make the decision for you.
Her journey reminds us that success often begins when we stop waiting for permission and start creating our own opportunities.
And sometimes, the most important step is simply taking the leap—even when you’re scared.
Because as Kayla demonstrates, some of life’s greatest opportunities are waiting on the other side of uncertainty.