Farell Biekman

Health and wellness have been a trend for a while, some even think Amsterdam is Europe’s new wellness capital. Living a healthy lifestyle can help you stay focused, happy, and reduce risks for illness. Farell Biekman, the founder of Level PT, started his company to help people get more out of life. 

Read on to learn more about Farell, his fitness and fysiotherapie business, and how the coronavirus outbreak has impacted Level PT.

Hustle Amsterdam (HA): Where are you from?

Farell Biekman (FB): I am from the Netherlands and live in Capelle aan den IJssel (near Rotterdam.)

HA: Tell me about your business? What is your mission? 

FB: We assist entrepreneurs and top and recreation athletes in the field of vitality, rehabilitation, training, and (business) coaching.

Our ambition is to make society more aware of health and vitality. We want to provide people with the skills to get more out of life. That has a different meaning for everyone, and that is exactly what makes it so fun and challenging for us.

HA: How are you handling our new “normal” due to the coronavirus outbreak? What impact has it had on your business? How has the transition to working remotely been for you? Are you being strict with a routine or taking it day-by-day? 

FB: The coronavirus outbreak has had a major impact on our business, as it has on many other companies as well. The positive side to it is that we were able to reflect well on our business. This has enabled us to develop new services and optimize processes within the company for existing services. As an entrepreneur in a world that is constantly changing, you have to continuously use your creativity in order to stand out with your company.

HA: Why Level PT? What brought you to fitness and fysiotherapie?

FB: The basis of Level PT lies in the fascination for the human body and mind. I started as a fitness instructor in 2007 and often had many questions about why we do certain exercises that no one could answer logically. We don't focus on random trends. We focus on well-founded advice and responsible training.

HA: What is the current state of Level PT? Do you have 6 and 12-month goals for your business? 

FB: We have a very stable base. The short-term goal is growth in brand awareness and in turnover.

Even during the current circumstances, we have made a big investment in a new system which upgraded the tools we offer our clients and added some different features to help track their progress.

HA: What kind of obstacles do you face in your company? How do you handle them?

FB: The current obstacle is that we have to move to a larger space, but we cannot yet make the step in terms of turnover. We have now invested in a full-service marketing agency that will guide us in our journey to grow.

HA: What has been your most successful moment so far? And how do you celebrate your wins? 

FB: One of my most successful moments so far is finishing my education to become a physical therapist while keeping my business going. Of course, I celebrated this with family and friends.

HA: How have you accomplished what you have? Did you go to business school? Did you wing it? Fake it ‘til you make it? Get really lucky? 

FB: I grew into it. I started my own business as a personal trainer and went from there. At that point, I took it day by day, slowly growing into becoming a real entrepreneur.

HA: Did you fundraise for your business? 

FB: No, I did not.

HA: How big is your team?

FB:  At the moment I work with one other trainer; she is also a physical therapist. If needed, we also work with other freelancers, but not on a regular basis. 

HA: Do you have a favorite motivational quote? 

FB: Repetition is the power of the result.

HA: What 3 tips would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs? What do you wish you had known before you started? 

FB: 

1. Start a business in something you really like.

2. Stay eager to learn.

3. Surround yourself with people who have a similar mindset and focus.

HA: How would you describe your working style? 

FB:  I don’t really have a specific style. I think the most important thing is that you are able to adapt when challenges arise. 

When my schedule is organized, I can completely focus on work and forget everything around me. 

I am also still a dreamer. I have a lot of creative ideas that pile up in my head, which can sometimes make me feel like I’ve lost my helicopter view. When I feel like this, I will sometimes get up at 4 AM to work out my ideas so I don’t experience any distractions. It also gives me a nice feeling to see the rest of the world wake up while I already got a lot of work done. 😉

HA: When you’re not working on Level PT — where can we find you? 

FB: You can find me on a terrace chilling in the sun or at a nice restaurant. I sometimes also like to relax by reading articles, books, or studies. When I have some spare time, I like to play video games, make music, or watch Netflix.

HA: How do you find work-life balance while being an entrepreneur? 

FB: I make time to do something I really like, so there’s not always work on my mind. For example, reading a book or playing a video game with some friends online.

HA: What is your passion? 

FB: Helping people get more out of life.

Connect with Farell on LinkedIn, follow Level PT on Instagram @levelpt, and give them a “like” on Facebook.