Side Hustle to Full Hustle with Cadence Dubus
We are officially in the second to last month of the podcast. So, I decided my final topic would be around side hustling and entrepreneurship, which, you can imagine, are subjects near and dear to my heart. The Financial Gym has taken me on an 11-year entrepreneurial journey, and it would have started as a side hustle if I was allowed to coach people on the side from my day job as a financial advisor. In August of 2013, I made the wild decision to jump full force into an entrepreneurial journey without testing it via a side hustle. While I’m thankful for the journey, I would advise everyone else to start with the side hustle before it becomes the full hustle.
So this month I’m going to share with you stories from side hustle through full entrepreneurship and everywhere in between. Joining me today is Cadence Dubus, who combined her love of dancing and her need to make money into a career in fitness that started from instructor to multi-gym owner to virtual business owner. Like me, Cadence didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur, but she’s become an amazing one in her own right. I am inspired by Cadence’s strength and tenacity, and I hope you are too.
What are we drinking?
Cadence – Black Tea
Shannon – Homemade sparkling water
Podcast Notes
Cadence’s Journey to Entrepreneurship
Cadence comes from a family of artists and creatives and moved to NYC to pursue a career in professional dance. Like many other dancers, she worked as a nanny as a way to make ends meet, but she wanted to earn money another way.
She decided to become certified to teach Pilates. Her goal was to earn money in a way that complimented her dance career. She started by teaching classes at many studios, cobbling together a full-time job through many small gigs.
Things changed when the studio where she earned the bulk of her income let her go after she covered for an employee taking paid leave. This experience made her realize how vulnerable she was in the employment system and what inspired her to build something of her own.
Cadence did not have first-hand business experience when she decided to open her own studio. She knew that she liked teaching, wanted to do it on her terms, and had so much knowledge from teaching around New York.
Building a Pilates Business and Community
Cadence found her first retail space next to a charming cafe on a cute block and was inside within six weeks. After a potential business partner backed out last minute, she had to find funding elsewhere. Her family and Sam’s Club provided her with the loans she needed to get started and renovate the space.
She carefully researched pricing and offered packages that would cover overhead costs. People would pay for 6-12 months of membership up front, which helped cash flow the business. Eventually, she was able to secure bank loans.
She opened a second location, which took much longer than the first studio. She wanted to create brand and financial stability through this second location. While that space was not financially profitable, it became a community hub, which helped her pivot into the business model she has now.
Cadence had always wanted to expand into online offerings, and the Covid lockdowns expedited that process. She was able to pivot into virtual teaching, and that adaptability and forward-thinking approach allowed her to grow, even in difficult times. Now that the business is virtual, it is more profitable than ever.
Lessons and The Future of Brooklyn Strength
When you build a business, it should align with your personal goals and vision. For Cadence, closing the physical studios was not a failure. There are challenges that come with commercial real estate, and Cadence learned a lot.
Now more financially stable, Cadence no longer wants the burden of debt or the stress of maintaining physical locations. Her focus is shifting to income streams that don’t require her to teach in real-time as much.
Looking ahead, Cadence is working on a book proposal, growing her podcast, and continuing to develop her online presence. She’s also thinking about the balance between the in-person community and the flexibility of virtual work.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is the importance of listening to yourself. Eleven years ago, I heard the words “Financial Gym” in my head and it was like a light bulb went off and it wouldn’t turn off until I did something about it. Side hustling and entrepreneurship frequently start with a little voice in our head that I believe is our soul speaking to us and sending us on a journey we were always meant to go on. The journey may be rough, it will have a number of twists and turns and pivots along the way, but no matter how hard it gets, you’ll be thankful you listened to your soul all day long.
Random Three Questions
If you were to start another business, what would it be?
What is something you’re currently binging?
If you are given $20,000 to travel, where would you go?
Connect with Cadence
Website: brooklynsrength.com
Instagram: @brooklynstrength
Podcast: Busy Body
Substack: Substack Newsletter
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook Page, and let me know what you want to hear.
As many of you know, other than running this podcast, I’m the founder and CEO of The Financial Gym, and we are celebrating 10 years of this journey. Now more than ever, I see the importance of the work we do every single day. Rising inflation, the return on student loan debt, high-interest rates on loans and mortgages, and volatile stock markets make it a time where, now more than ever, you need a best financial friend to help you make the best choices along the way.
At Financial Gym, you get paired with a Certified Financial Trainer, who we call your BFF. Our team has coached clients through every financial season, whether they were living paycheck to paycheck or headed into Financial Independence and Retirement. As a reminder, we work with individuals, couples, or business owners.
The exciting news of 2024 is that Financial Gym now has a sister company, FG Advisory Services, available for people looking for more traditional financial advisory services like asset management delivered by a team that looks and behaves nothing like a traditional financial advisory services company. We literally have a solution for you, no matter where you’re starting from. So what are you waiting for? Head over to or send friends to financialgym.com to get started today. Our warm-up calls are free of cost and judgment, so you have nothing to lose.