Shannon Miller, a marquee player of the 1996 U.S. Gymnastics team dubbed the "Magnificent 7," holds the title for most decorated U.S. gymnast with a total of seven medals from the 1992 and 1996 games. After missing a chance at the 2000 Olympics, Miller moved on to entrepreneurship—bringing her spirit and passion to something she had always thought about throughout her athletic career.
“I’ve always wanted to start my own company,” she says. “I think being an entrepreneur is similar to having the Olympic spirit. You need to be passionate about what you do every day.”
She earned a degree in entrepreneurship and marketing from the University of Houston in 2003 and a law degree from Boston College in 2007. She started her own health and wellness company three years later, naming it Shannon Miller Lifestyle.
Cancer Diagnosis
The business launched in July 2010 offering a variety of products including fitness DVDs and books; as part of the brand she also did a radio and television show. In October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month, Miller interviewed women affected by cancer on her radio show and was deeply touched by their stories for survival. These stories, later, ended up saving her life.
Just before a routine physical scheduled for December that year, Miller called her doctor to postpone the appointment. While on hold, she thought back to the conversations she’d had with cancer survivors and decided against cancelling.
“It was at that appointment that my doctor found a cyst on my left ovary the size of a baseball,” Miller remembers.
She went in for surgery in early January 2011 and learned the tumor was cancer. Chemotherapy started two weeks later and lasted nearly 12 weeks, a very painful experience, she says.
All the while, her business stayed alive with the help of her business partner and two office employees. In March 2011, Miller was given a clean bill of health and is cancer-free today.
Business Challenges and Advice
Back at work, Miller says she’s faced several challenges, but her largest is a product of her own personality.
“Control is a huge issue for me,” she says. “I’m a type-A personality; in gymnastics I was the one on the balance beam, I had the control. It is different in business and I am realizing that I can’t control everything. I’m learning to delegate little by little.”
Today, Miller travels the country speaking on fitness and offers free programs and content on her website. She is passionate about helping women make health a priority.
“Women tend to put themselves last,” she says. “I want to share with women that it is okay to take time for themselves. That is our primary message."
Miller also says these are the most important guides to success in small business:
Network with successful people in your industry and ask them to mentor you
Make sure to set goals every day
Enjoy the process
London Olympics
Miller heads across the pond this week to watch the Games in London and will work as an analyst for Yahoo! Sports. How does she think the U.S. gymnastics team will do?
“I will be shocked if the girls don’t bring home gold this year,” she says. “I think the guys could bring home gold, too. It is going to be exciting to watch.”
What life experiences have contributed to your business?
Photo: Getty Images