Rosemary Conley's faith was crucial as she fought back from business setbacks.,,,
Fitness legend Rosemary Conley has revealed the story behind her inspiring return from heartbreaking business collapse to rejuvenated health icon.
Born-again Conley, famous for her TV fitness regimes and multi-million-selling diet books, is celebrating 50 years in business.
Now aged 75, she still leads an exercise class and has retained the passion for fitness that saw her create a business employing more than 200 people and with over 500 franchises. Millions of pounds were raised for cancer research and other good causes.
By 2014, though, everything changed. Up to 25 per cent of franchisees pulled out, a new magazine bombed, a low-fat meal range struggled and an internet TV channel was bleeding cash. And then the credit crunch hit.
“It was time to send the next issue of the magazine to the printers but we could not pay them for the previous issue,” Conley reveals in her new book, Through Thick and Thin. “I realised we had come to the end of the road. I felt sick.”
The business went into administration so, although it still bore Conley’s name, the company was no longer hers. Breaking news of the collapse to her employees was another blow.
“I knew they would be upset, even angry, but what happened next was a shock. Understandably there was a barrage of questions but I was not expecting the personal attacks like bullets from a firing squad. I spent three and a half hours fighting back tears, trying to answer their questions.”
She was helped through the traumatic time by her faith, established 20 years earlier.
“I became a Christian in 1986 when I asked the Lord into my life,” Conley recalls. “I surrendered totally to him and from that moment on I have tried to live my life his way – not mine.
“I know that as soon as I had prayed, kneeling at the side of my bed, something very dramatic had happened. When I awoke the next morning I knew that my sins had been forgiven, and that I was reborn and ready to live a new life. I had no idea that my life would change so dramatically.”
Dramatic changes seem to be the norm for Conley, both in her business and those she’s inspired in others by selling more than five million books.
Now she’s doing it again starting, literally, by getting her own name back.
“One of the hardest things when our company went into administration was that someone else could use my name. I had prayed that one day I would get it back. I was so grateful.”
The new book is part of her comeback too, and has caused her to reflect on God’s faithfulness.
“I am immensely privileged to still enjoy such an exciting career, helping people to be healthier and fitter, and I love going around the UK to speak about business, staying in shape and eating well, or telling my story of how I found faith in God.”
Through Thick and Thin, published by SPCK, is now available in bookshops.
From New Life Newspaper issue 335.
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