The Magic of Being You: Beth's Business Story

Today, in 3 minutes or less, you'll learn:   

1. From a small Instagram following of 300, Beth Reading grew her Pilates business to 479,000 followers in under two years by focusing on authentic connection rather than complex strategies.  
2. Her success formula centred on owning her voice, engaging personally with her community (responding to every message), and creating content based on actual audience conversations.  
3. Beth's story proves that business success doesn't require perfection - it comes from showing up consistently, serving with heart, and letting your genuine personality shine through. 

Today, I want to share an inspiring story that will give you hope, encouragement, and valuable insights for your journey. 

The journey of Beth Reading, the founder of My Pilates Time, is a perfect reminder of how possible it is to create a business that not only lights you up but sincerely serves others. Beth’s mission is to help women care for themselves, move joyfully, and rediscover a zest for life through Pilates. Her online classes bring that vision to life, and the community she’s built is a testament to her passion.  

I listened to Beth’s story on a Mums with Hustle podcast in August 2022, and so much of what she shared then has stayed in my thoughts since. I have enjoyed following her on Instagram over the past few years and have been in awe of her phenomenal growth. In March 2022, Beth managed a small Instagram following of around 300 people. She showed up authentically, taught in community halls, and served with her heart. Then, when she committed more to her growth and showed up and published more on Instagram, within just five months, she grew her following to a jaw-dropping 90,000—today, she’s at 479,000!   

What was the secret? Beth didn’t rely on fancy tactics or overwhelming strategies. She embraced her unique voice and focused on connection. Here’s how she did it—and how you can too:   

1. Own Your Voice and Be Confident: Beth learned to honour her authentic self, showing up just as she was. She found that people didn’t just want Pilates—they wanted encouragement from her. There was no need to overcomplicate it. Focus on helping someone, take it step-by-step, and trust that what you have to share is valuable.   
2. Engage with Your Audience: Beth sees every interaction as an opportunity to connect. She sparked conversations, asked open-ended questions, and responded to every comment and message. Whether on social media or via her weekly newsletter, Beth consistently nurtures her community. She writes to hundreds of ladies every day, and she loves it. It’s about creating a relationship, one message at a time.   
3. Keep It Simple and Fluid: Beth’s content strategy is beautifully simple—she listens. She usually decides on content based on conversations she had the day before. There’s no need to complicate things with rigid plans and schedules. Stay flexible, allow your business to ebb and flow, and trust your instincts.   
4. Let Go of Perfection: Imposter Syndrome? Fear of not being good enough? Beth’s been there but realised that perfection isn’t the goal—progress is. When she let go of the pressure to perfect everything, she saw growth and learned that success doesn’t have to feel heavy. It’s about doing what you love and helping people along the way.   

Beth’s journey is proof that with heart, connection, and a willingness to show up as you are, you can grow a community and a business that supports your dreams. I loved her reflection in the podcast: “Once you just, you do let it go and you see the growth, it’s not as heavy as you think. It’s because you are doing what you want to do.”  

Beth’s story shows that success doesn’t come from being perfect but from being you—showing up, connecting with your audience, and serving them with love.   

So, mama, what’s holding you back from starting or growing your own business?  

Take a page from Beth’s playbook. Share what you have, don’t overthink it, and most importantly, have fun while you’re doing it.   

Your success story is waiting to be written. And it starts with being beautifully, authentically YOU!