Meet Griffin Hill | Pure Barre Owner & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Griffin Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Griffin, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
This concept has always been tricky for me because I’m someone who likes to run 1000 miles/minute. From the time I was a kid, I filled my schedule to the brim and loved being busy, even on days that didn’t involve traditional work. Over time, I think I’ve come face-to-face with both burnout and limitations, which caused me to change my rhythms and adapt accordingly. As an adult, when it came time to open my second Pure Barre studio, I had a frank discussion with my staff and let them know that I wouldn’t be able to be a constant team player in the future; I’d need to be the boss, and that would change the way I was involved in the day to day events of the studios. In the same year, I gave birth to my first baby, and balancing motherhood, work, and life became a new challenge. And yet, I think that it allowed me to be more focused in my decision making and more protective of my rest or time away because I had to be. I allow myself more “time off” these days, even though my schedule contains more responsibilities, but I think it’s the only way to function and function well.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own 2 Pure Barre studios in Colorado Springs, CO, and I opened my first studio 6.5 years ago when I was 22 years old and had just graduated college. It was far from easy, as I was in a brand new market where I knew no one and had no personal connections to rely on when building the business. I hustled, I lived in that studio every day, and I slowly built an amazing team who has become the life of the business. I have learned that business never really gets easy, and you will never hit a point where you feel like the challenges are over and you can relax. So, you have to change your mindset and your perspective if you ever want to be able to disconnect and not let the successes or failures of your business determine your emotions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would grab coffee at Switchback Roasters, and the breakfast sandwich is one of my favorite meals in the city. I love taking friends to iconic spots like Garden of the Gods or hiking in Cheyenne Canyon, and new spots like Coati or Kinship Landing make for a great brunch or lunch. Without fail, 503W is our favorite dinner time restaurant, and we are sure to visit or get takeout probably every week. Most of my friends come to work at Pure Barre with me while in town, and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is my favorite summer spot to take our toddler! My husband and I also own PlayWilder, a children’s Montessori furniture company, and our warehouse and all of our employees are local, so it’s fun to visit and see the building happen!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to my husband, Ross, who has been my best friend since I was 14 and always encouraged me to take more risks and go after every dream, no matter how big.

Website: www.griffinmckenzie.com, www.purebarre.com, www.piklertriangle.com

Instagram: @griffinmckenzie @pbcosprings @playwildertoys

Image Credits
Ashlee Kay Photography and BSchwartz Photography