The Moment series, where highly successful people reveal the critical moment that changed the trajectory of their lives and careers, discussing what drove them to make the leap into the unknown.
"I never saw my body respond to a workout like this, and I was running 50 miles per week," Mahlum, 42, tells CNBC Make It. "I felt like my skillsets around branding, building communities and fitness gave me the ingredients to make something work." She had no savings when she started Back on My Feet in 2007, and being a CEO changed her habits, she says: People relied on her, so she lived more frugally. She stockpiled money, hoping to avoid starting from scratch again — until Pilates came along.
CNBC Make It: What convinced you to pour your life savings into a Pilates business after a single workout? When I started Back on My Feet, I was broke. I had nothing to lose. This time, I put literally every dollar I had into the studio, which was nerve-wracking. It was so flattering. I only had $175,000, and taking the money felt smart. But I had a realization: If I take this money, all I'm communicating is that I'm doubting myself. I'm setting myself up to fail.