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A Conversation with Pascal Maluvius on Fitness, Business, and Growth

In an interview with Branding-Magazine.com, Pascal Maluvius, a personal trainer and self-employed entrepreneur, talks about his journey into self-employment, the challenges he faced early on, and his vision for the future. Mr. Maluvius offers professional services in personal training, group fitness classes, and corporate fitness in Achim near Bremen and the surrounding areas in Germany.

Introduction – Getting to Know You

Please introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you, how old are you, and what do you do?

My name is Pascal Maluvius. I was born and raised in Bremen, a small city in Germany. I come from a working-class family—my father was a bricklayer, and my mother worked as a waitress. I am 30 years old and work as a personal trainer.

What did your career look like before you became self-employed?

Before becoming self-employed, I worked at a private gym as a fitness instructor and in sales. I also completed my apprenticeship there in sports and fitness sales, and after graduating, I stayed on for about four more years.

Were there any experiences that strongly shaped your path?

While working at the gym, I advanced as far as my position allowed. Over time, I realized that there were limited opportunities for further professional development. I began focusing on ways to work more efficiently rather than simply increasing workload, with the goal of saving time and resources.

After sharing my ideas with the gym’s CEO, I noticed a change in the working environment, and the situation became increasingly uncomfortable for me. It became clear that my approach and critical questions were no longer aligned with the direction of the company. At that point, I realized it was time for me to move on and seek an environment where my perspective would be more valued.

This experience became a turning point for me. I realized that I could provide high-quality service as a fitness professional and that my expertise would be better applied in an environment where my work was appreciated. As a result, I began developing a plan to transition into self-employment.

Why did you choose to become a personal trainer?

I chose the path of becoming a personal trainer because I enjoy seeing people smile when they reach their goals with my help. Watching clients improve themselves and grow into the best version of who they can be is incredibly rewarding to me. I truly enjoy helping others succeed—and even when people continue to win without my direct support, it’s still very satisfying to see.

Was this always the plan, or did it develop over time?

Training and supporting others has always been my passion. I started my gym journey at the age of 15, and as I began seeing results, people started asking me how I did it. That’s where it all began. When friends followed my training plans and achieved their own results, I received a lot of positive feedback. Looking back, that was the real start of my path as a personal trainer.

The Step into Self-Employment

Do you remember the moment you decided to start your own business?

I clearly remember the moment I became self-employed—it was terrifying. At the same time, I was surrounded by friends and a mentor who believed in me and pushed me forward, not only as a personal trainer but also as a person.

What ultimately motivated you to take that step?

What truly drove me was the fear of spending my life stuck in a 9-to-5 job, working endlessly and still never being able to afford a home or anything meaningful. I was living paycheck to paycheck, constantly worrying about making it to the next month. Saving money was impossible—I was barely earning enough to survive.

In that moment, I realized something had to change. And that realization pushed me to take the risk and create a different future for myself.

How would you describe your first year of self-employment?

I would describe my first year as an absolute success. I earned the same amount of money as I did in a 9-to-5 job, but with something far more valuable—freedom. I can plan my days the way I want and decide how much I work.

Exciting, overwhelming, or a mix of both?

I expected it to take at least six months before I started making money, but I earned my first income within the first 30 days. It was an exciting year, but also a draining one. Everything was new territory, and I knew I still had a lot to learn.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during your first year as an independent personal trainer?

I’m not an expert yet when it comes to business, but I’m committed to learning, growing, and becoming better every step of the way.

Were there moments of doubt?

Yes, I had my doubts, because self-employment comes with ups and downs. One month you feel like you’re doing well financially, and the next month you barely make any money at all. Those moments were challenging and definitely got to me.

I’ve always been very self-critical and skeptical of myself—it’s just part of who I am. But I’m fortunate to have a loving fiancée and truly amazing friends who support me and stand by me through everything.

Which skills did you suddenly have to learn beyond coaching and training?

Funny enough, I had to learn a lot about marketing, video editing, and even proper budgeting and calculations. I’m still not an expert, but I believe I’ll manage and continue to improve over time.

For me, it’s all about repeating what works, learning from the mistakes, and growing with every experience.

Support & Resources

What kind of support or resources did you rely on during your startup phase?

In the beginning, I was able to secure a government startup support program from the state of Lower Saxony. It served as a safety net, allowing me to cover basic living expenses for the first six months in case my business didn’t work out. In that sense, I didn’t jump into the deep end without a life jacket.

I was also fortunate to have a wonderful mentor who was very clear and honest in his guidance. He believed in me even before I fully believed in myself—just as my fiancée and close friends did.

During my time as a trainer, I invested heavily in networking and attended many events to connect with like-minded people who shared the same vision: freedom through self-employment.

Looking back, was there anything that helped you especially—or something you wish you had access to?

To be honest, I don’t think I would change anything. If things had been different, I might not be where I am today. Both the challenging times and the good ones shaped me and helped me grow into the trainer—and the person—I am today.

What surprised you most about starting your own business? Something you didn’t expect at all?

It really surprised me that I had customers right from the start. It almost felt like people were waiting for me to become self-employed. I didn’t expect to make money immediately, but it worked out better than I had imagined.

People genuinely enjoyed training with me, and there were months when I didn’t have a single time slot available. That feeling was incredible.

Marketing & Business Growth

How important is marketing to you as a personal trainer?

In my opinion, marketing is the key to gaining customers. The more you invest in it—both time and effort—the greater the return. Marketing is essential. If no one knows about your product, no one can buy it.

What role does it play in your overall success?

I see marketing as the superstar in a movie. Without the star, the movie wouldn’t get attention—and without marketing, the product wouldn’t either.

How did you approach marketing in the beginning?

In the beginning, I focused on creating an Instagram account and slowly building it up. As my following grew, more people started reaching out to me through direct messages. I also created a website, which I found to be very important—it helped present myself professionally and build trust. A website shows people that you’re serious about what you do.

Next, I printed flyers and personally distributed them in my hometown. I learned that the more you talk to people you don’t know, the more confident you become—and that confidence directly improved my ability to sell my services.

The final step was building partnerships with local clubs. Through these cooperations, many more people got to know me much faster. Overall, I learned a lot by doing. And I have to say, I was fortunate to have a very strong mentor who taught me the importance of marketing from the beginning.

Did you handle it yourself, learn as you went, or work with professionals?

Overall, I learned as I went along, and I was fortunate to have a great mentor who taught me the importance of marketing.

Are there specific strategies or channels that worked particularly well?

To be honest, I didn’t have a specific strategy at the beginning. I mostly did what I saw around me in everyday life. In today’s social media world, you can do marketing on a small budget—but you shouldn’t expect overnight success. It usually starts very slowly, especially when you’re doing everything yourself.

Were there any marketing mistakes that turned into valuable lessons?

Looking back, if I had had a bigger budget, I would definitely have hired a marketing expert. That would have saved me from many beginner mistakes I made while learning marketing on my own. A professional would have approached things much more strategically.

One of my biggest mistakes was not planning properly. I jumped in without a clear plan, and that caused some things to fail—mainly because of poor time management. But now I know exactly how not to do it.

Every step teaches you something, and every mistake becomes a lesson that helps you move forward.

What kind of support would you expect from a marketing agency today?

If I were to work with an agency, I would expect strong service, real results, and a good personal fit. In my opinion, if an agency doesn’t truly understand me and my values, the collaboration won’t work.

When you want to grow, it’s essential to have a professional on your side who aligns with your vision and energy.

Looking Ahead & Advice

Where do you see your business today, and where do you want it to be in the next few years?

My business is still running strong, and I’m very happy about that. Over the next few years, I see it growing into a personal training gym in my local area. If that happens, the business will become scalable on a much higher level than I originally imagined.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs or first-time founders in the fitness or service industry?

The advice I would give to anyone is to believe in yourself. Take action and see where it leads you. Stop talking yourself down and be kind to yourself. Never stop working on personal growth, and you’ll move closer to where you truly want to be.

Life can be funny sometimes. Even when you feel stuck in the mud, if you keep moving forward, there is joy waiting ahead. Don’t stop walking your path and don’t lose sight of the vision you carry in your mind.

If you had to sum up your first year of self-employment in one sentence, what would it be?

It was tough at times, but incredibly satisfying in the end.

(Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)