Marlo Grover is the founder of G. Pump, an aerobics-inspired workout program that she launched on the beaches of Sydney in 2017.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I’m Marlo, the founder of G. Pump. It’s fitness reinvented and I’m currently travelling around Australia creating aerobics-inspired workouts on our iconic beaches!
My career background was not at all a straight line, but I’ve done a 360 over 10 or so years and landed on my purpose in life – which is bringing joy to people. I grew up as a classical ballerina, worked my way up the corporate ladder in the world of digital marketing, media and web development and launched a made-to-order fashion label in 2018 when I was looking for a creative outlet that accidentally turned into a business!
After learning the ins and outs of the fashion production process, establishing a digital brand, growing it and tasting solopreneur life – the pandemic hit.
G. Pump was a fitness offering I had launched on the beaches of Sydney in 2017 when I needed a physical and mental outlet from my current role. I didn’t want to do a burpee, push a tyre or be yelled at by some bloke in cargo shorts.
I put a pause on the brand before I got married, the universe wanted me to explore a few more things before I came back full circle to the G. Pump offering. Aka became a spin instructor, dog walker, TV extra, fashion designer – before the pandemic in 2020 presented an opportunity to relaunch the brand. It’s been good vibes and sweaty times since then!
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
My husband and I bought a Land Rover Defender at the beginning of 2021 after being locked inside for all of 2020. We were craving adventure, life, and sunshine! So every morning I wake up in our tent, currently in Queensland. We walk our 2x whippets at the beach, stretch, sip a coffee and I plan out my day ahead!
Today I’m filming a G. Pump workout so I hit play on the Spotify playlist and familiarise myself with the beats, I write out my workout on my prompt boards, check the wind and tide reports for the beach I’m shooting at. I’ll spend 30 mins engaging with my audience on Instagram and send any new followers a personalised welcome message.
Then I’ve got some admin, emails and a ZOOM call to do. After shooting I’ll spend the afternoon editing all the footage ready for the G. Pump studio next week. G. Pump is featuring on the morning show tomorrow morning, so the rest of the day will be prep for that! Every day is a good vibes mixed bag.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
G. Pump is good vibes on-demand. My pump squad can hit play on a workout anywhere in the world, at any time that suits them. I run the business in the same way. As long as I’ve got internet access and my workout set up, I can create content from anywhere in the world.
It’s why Hugh and I decided to hit the road in the first place, if we both run digital businesses that don’t need a bricks and mortar location – why would we stay in Victoria that’s constantly yo yoing between lockdowns?! We took matters into our own hands!
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Work-life balance is interesting, because I love my work and being joyful is part of my life! I manage ‘work’ in chunks throughout the day, but if I’m in the tent at 9pm editing some content then that’s what I need to do.
If I’m on Instagram at 7pm engaging with my audience that’s what I need to do. I’d rather not burn myself out during the week and spread the workload out over my weekend. If getting up an hour earlier on Saturday means I get through a whole bunch of outstanding things that puts me in good stead for the week ahead then that’s what I’ll do.
I’m obsessed with G. Pump and running this business. I am so passionate about it, it doesn’t feel like work, but I acknowledge I do need to put aside time to rest. And for us, sometimes that means laptops close by 12pm on Thursday to head to the beach for beers.
I think it’s steering away from the old-school 9-5 and finding what works for you. Times are changing, the way we work needs to as well!
5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
Expecting consistency.
Obsessing over the competition.
Being prepared to flex and pivot as you need.
Not taking life or business advice from anyone that hasn’t done what you’re trying to do.
Started selling myself more, being unashamed to put my hand up for things when they’re there for the taking!
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
My all time favourite movie AND book is Eat. Pay. Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s just brilliant.
Jane Fonda is my idol, and I have been attempting to read her autobiography for 6 months now. I love it, but I struggle with reading. Every night I fall asleep to Stephen Fry reading me Harry Potter and that’s how I unwind, it’s a complete indulgence and I love it!
I used to listen to a lot of business podcasts, but it made me too panicky “Should I be doing that? That didn’t happen for me, did I do it wrong? Am I an IDIOT?!” so I enter with caution.
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
WillyWind is my BFF. Without it, I’d be setting up at beaches blowing a gale, getting washed away by the tide or rained on during a workout! I can run my business off my phone so that’s VITAL.
Splice is a content creator’s best friend. Want to create IG worthy content in a second? Download it now! And Instagram is the holy grail. A free marketing tool that has global reach, umm HELLO!
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
The first bo$$ babe that came to mind is Emma Issaccs the founder of Business Chicks. 6x children and a life split between LA & Australia. How? HOW!?
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
I think, for so long we’ve worked the way our employees have needed us to without stopping to think about how it affects our wellbeing. If you want to see change, you need to be the change!
Don’t start a small business if you’re looking for better ‘work/life’ balance you’ll work 100x harder than you’ve ever worked in your life but if you want a job that you can do at any odd hour of the day around school pick ups and the rest of life, then go for it!
Five hours of productivity dialled in work beats nine hours of distracted, shitty outputs.
If you’ve got a passion project that you’ve been thinking about taking full time, now is the time to do it. Day one or one day!
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