Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmelle Banks.
Hi Carmelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi, I’m Coach Carmelle. Almost a decade ago, I started my company, it was originally named Swim By Carmelle, but now is SwimsCool- which provides at -home private swim lessons to kids of all ages on the Westside. This after many months of working as a nanny and doing various admin jobs. I was at the turning point in my life where I had decided to no longer pursue my childhood dream of being a doctor, –also this was after caregiving for my Mom, who later passed away of pancreatic cancer when I was 26. I was exploring different career paths, what activities I enjoy, and what I was naturally good at. I had always loved the water and wanted to share that passion with kids. I swam competitively and played water polo at Santa Monica High School, plus I was a lifeguard and swim instructor in college, so teaching kids to swim felt like the next logical step.
Fast forward, I started teaching swim lessons to a handful of preschoolers in Santa Monica and turned my part -time job into a full time business. I didn’t know how to build a business, but I’ve always dreamed big and in the past created vision boards that inspired me to visualize the life I wanted. So, I made a collection of magazine cutouts, with powerful words, pictures, names of cities, as a visual representation or roadmap of how I envisioned my business to be. From there my journey and vision started to unfold and expand in ways better than I could imagine.
I developed a swim lesson curriculum that included a comprehensive set of skills that empowers kids to not only swim independently but also handle unexpected situations, like accidentally falling into the pool. I combined my extensive training from my experiences as a lifeguard, my time on the swim team, and even my participation in water polo, along with important water safety techniques and Red Cross water safety instruction. Thanks to the support of parents and referrals, my clients grew exponentially, reaching beyond Santa Monica to Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Culver City, and other nearby areas.
As my clients grew, I realized I needed help with the business side and earned my master’s in business at Pepperdine. This allowed me to create a roadmap and a formal business plan for my long-term goals instead of just improvising.
Nine and half years later, I have expanded from teaching learn-to-swim classes to preschoolers, to offer parent-and-tot sessions, advanced swimming lessons catered to swim team preparation, swim camp and lifeguard training for older kids. I carefully carved out a unique and vibrant niche within the Westside, thanks to a strong network of wildly supportive clients. This incredible support has even led to the amazing opportunity of gaining the business of famous moms and dads, luxurious hotels in Beverly Hills, and other dedicated professionals who value what I bring to the table. It’s been a lot of hard work, but I see it as a great realization and manifestation of my dreams!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t describe my journey as relatively smooth or without its bumps along the way. But I have certainly experienced times filled with incredible blessings and truly magical opportunities, with ideal clients landing in my lap when I least expected it, and the stars and planets lining up in my favor.
Like most entrepreneurs building a business for the very first time, it has been a blend of beautiful moments, rewarding experiences, and fun, along with the inevitable complications, messiness, and the underlying truth that it is all incredibly imperfect.
I’ve faced ups and downs, setbacks, and a lot of hard life lessons. Wearing many different hats as a solopreneur—and balancing the roles of being the scheduler, marketer, social media manager, salesperson, and bookkeeper, to name just a few while also spending countless hours coaching kids in the pool has certainly been challenging. Dealing with a multitude of things that are completely out of my control has not been easy. Not to mention, I have been grappling with ongoing difficulties financially, particularly as a seasonal business that relies heavily on the warm summer months, and I have found it quite challenging to build a reliable and dedicated team.
There have been times of struggle that certainly made me question my path. Yet, I truly love teaching and coaching kids. Watching a toddler learn to swim on their own is truly a magical experience. Likewise, witnessing an older child mastering more advanced skills——while building that invaluable confidence, competence, and independence in the water simply fuels my passion. There is genuinely no greater feeling than knowing that these young swimmers are embracing their abilities and enjoying the water safely!
I deeply believe with my heart that this dream has been placed in my heart for a reason, and I will be able to overcome whatever challenge, struggle or obstacle I might be facing along the way. My faith and conviction gives me both strength and hope as I navigate each step of the process. Building a business means constantly learning and growing. Growth is rarely a straight path; it twists and turns, but my journey is uniquely mine.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I offer private at – home swim lessons for children ages 1-17 years old, all year round, ranging from learn to swim for beginners, parent and toddler group sessions to advanced swimming classes. My methodology is uniquely designed as a progressive skill-based approach, incorporating fun, play-based exercises that make the process of learning water safety and swimming effective and incredibly enjoyable.
I specialize in teaching kids of all levels, whether they are just starting their swim journey or tackling more advanced strokes and skills. I have a deep passion for coaching preschoolers, particularly because I am acutely aware that drowning is the leading cause of death for children between 1 and 4 years old in the United States, a fact that drives my commitment and mission to water safety. However, with my background as a swimmer and playing water polo, I am highly skilled at teaching older kids who are eager to learn proper strokes, get ready for camp swim tests, or dive into more competitive swimming.
What am I most proud of? Well, this journey is not just about swimming; it’s about fostering confidence, safety, and independence in kids, and I couldn’t be prouder of the lasting impact. My pride as an entrepreneur shines so bright after nine transformative years, dedicated to ensuring water safety and nurturing confident young swimmers. My mission goes beyond just swim lessons; it’s about making a real difference in reducing childhood drowning statistics. Each child who conquers their fears and becomes a strong swimmer is a testament to the positive impact I am making.
Building a loyal client base is another source of pride. Delivering consistent quality and excellent service has fostered strong brand loyalty. It feels incredible to know that families repeatedly choose me for their kids’ swimming journey.
Stepping out of my comfort zone to embrace business ownership has been a thrilling adventure. Investing in myself through business school, persevering through various challenges and obstacles, and fulfilling my dreams has been truly transformative. I am excited about what the future holds, and scaling my company to make an even greater impact!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Right now I don’t have any particular podcasts or apps I listen to regularly. However, I have been genuinely inspired by a select few spiritual teachers who have made a significant impact on my life and business journey. Gabby Bernstein truly caught my attention with her uplifting messages, while Amanda Frances, whom I discovered on YouTube and later manifested as one of my clients, has been a source of motivation and guidance on the topic of financial empowerment. Additionally, I have been attending Rev. Michael Beckwith’s church, Agape since I was just a kid, and his spiritual teachings resonate deeply with me.
One of my favorite books is Deepak Chopra’s renowned book, “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success,” serves as a timeless guide to harmonizing inner peace with outer success. I have also found great wisdom in reading biographies of business leaders. like Bob Iger ‘s ( The CEO of Disney) biography “The Ride of A LIfetime.”
These brilliant individuals’ valuable insights on topics ranging from spirituality and business to personal development has helped empower me, embrace my leadership and inner power, overcome the various obstacles, and live a purpose-driven life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helloswimscool.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swimscool_la
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwimsCoolLA/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmelle-banks/
