The PT Mentor
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • Business Bootcamp

The PT Mentor Blog

For all things health and fitness business

Contact Us

Silent successes (client achievements)

13/4/2022

0 Comments

 
Often our clients don't notice the changes in their bodies. Obviously large amounts of fat dropped don't go unnoticed but there are a plethora of subtle changes which also occur as we work with our clients that, if we don't stop and celebrate them, they can become the new norm and before we know it can almost be disregarded and the opportunity for acknowledgment potentially lost!

Allow me to elaborate....

  • Drinking more water
  • Sleeping better/longer
  • Stronger/more control in particular movements (not lifts)
Picture
  • More alert
  • More productive
  • More creative
  • Better relationships
  • Less headaches
  • Better skin........the list goes on
As Peter Drucker quite rightly said, "what get measured, gets managed." So my question to you is, what are you paying attention to and what are you specifically measuring so that you have regular opportunites to celebrate with your clients so they can also participate in their own successes.

​Clients will not always see what we see

We are the movement professionals right? That's why our clients came to see us in the first place. The things we take note of are possibly 'invisible' to our clients. They don't have the same lense to look throught that we do with our years of experience. Sure, we can communicate these things to them but even then they may not see it the way we do.

e.g. I have a lawyer who has been a long term client and he loves to run. We do plenty of single leg work of course and one of the go to's is a suspended single leg (side) lunge (yes we do reverse as well!). His hips have been travelling sideways on the left leg far more than they did on the right. 'Pelvic Drift' I referred to it as. He couldn't see or feel it. I had to video this for him to see just how much drift there was. Week by week this improved. We did plenty of other things but came back to it last night. And hey presto, no drift. This is an example of the silent success. He has gained strength but also proprioceptive adjustments (software not hardware) in how he moves which are the harder things to define. Using video, then a side by side comparison of before and after and YES, CELEBRATION time. He'd cracked it - more importantly he could see the change.

​What are you observing and what are you celebrating? I'll leave it with you...
0 Comments

Your best self - how do you turn up?

11/4/2022

0 Comments

 
When you turn up what version of yourself do your clients get?
Are the things that make you you in their very best form?

Do the genes that make your DNA align to form the most effective version of yourself or do you sometimes find they it may create a second rate version of you?

This concept may not be a new one to you but are you turning these characteristics that could be seen as second rate into first rate people experiences for your clients, friends and family?

​This is where is get interesting.
Picture
Next time you find yourself thinking you carry a certain 'negative' trait, you might like to see it as a strength. Perhaps your arrogance is boldness, your bullying is directness, and your emotional temperament is your passion being expressed. It is, if you turn up as the best version of that in your life and work. This takes good self-awareness and extraordinary compassion, whether the subject of attention is you or someone else.
This requires you to be equal parts empowered and humbled by the fact that much of your strengths are built from your shadows. All you have to do is bring the positive version of these to the table/work/people every day.

Do you have the ability to judge and discern the difference. If not then this can be a beautiful 'work on' for you to raise that self awareness. If you do then no reason to not bring this enlightened version of yourself to the party each and every day. People will get the best version of you - why wouldn't you want them to experience any other version?

Keen to hear your thoughts...
0 Comments

Who do you think you are?

23/3/2022

0 Comments

 

Who do you think you are?
What will people think?

​These can be two of the biggest limitations in many humans. Both of these beliefs are hidden deep in the recesses of our minds. They rise to the top pretty quickly when we decide that we want more. When we decide we want to have, do, or be more. However, it’s not helpful when fear gets in the way of your greatness.

What are your fears?

Admitting to the world that you are an expert is a big step. That fear may well get in your way. Failure, looking silly, or being judged are all very relevant fears when you are putting yourself out there. Being ‘known’ as someone who knows something will amplify this fear to another level!
Picture

You’re an expert though – right?

Maybe you are a certified expert. You might have spent years studying or working at something that gives you the expert status. You might be a keen observer of humans, someone who has collected many experiences in your time on the planet. Perhaps you arrived in this world with a fire in your belly and a need to help, change or transform people, behaviours, or organisations.

So who are you? What are you?

So who do you think you are? It is such a great question! How do you describe what you do? How do you explain your world in a professional or personal setting?

Pitch Yourself

Getting a ‘sentence’, an ‘elevator pitch’ or a ‘positioning statement’ about yourself is a start - putting it out there is a whole other story. I wrote about a similar theme in my recent blog about being certain of yourself.

Put yourself forward

‘Coming out’ professionally and telling the world that you have something to offer is a brave thing to do. It goes against the ‘I don’t matter, don’t mind me’ training that most of us have received growing up.

Commit

Committing to running a business pushes you even further. It puts your name above the door. It deliberately positions you as the main act!

But…

What will people think of all this? What will they say? How will they react?

Go get ‘em

Fear is usually created by stories that we have created in our heads. This fear gets in the way of our greatness. Telling ourselves stories of what others might think or do in response to our world is not useful. What is useful is the realisation that what other people think of you is none of your business. You need to be in the business of being great. Of being fearless. Of doing whatever it takes to get your message to the world. The world needs you. All you need to do is to do the work!

Inspired by Lisa O'Neill CEO at Thought Leaders

0 Comments

The “No” repertoire

8/3/2022

0 Comments

 
In my last blog I referred to the essential list by Greg McKeown. In this blog I go into a better detail in one of the chapters that relates to saying no. essentialists don't just say no occasionally. It is part of their regular repertoire. To consistently say no with grace, then, it helps to have a variety of responses to call upon. Below are eight responses you can put into your ‘no’ repertoire:
1. The awkward pause: instead of being controlled by the threat of an awkward silence, own it. use it as a tool. When a request comes to you (obviously this works only in person), just pause for a moment. Count to three before delivering your verdict. Or if you get a bit bolder, simply wait for the other person to fill the void.
Picture
2. The soft no (or the no but): I recently received an email inviting me to coffee. I replied: “I am consumed with writing my book right now :) but I would love to get together once the book is finished. Let me know if we can get together towards the end of the summer.”
Email is also a good way to start practicing saying “no but” because it gives you the chance to draft and redraft your “no” to make it as graceful as possible. plus, many people find that the distance of email reduces the fear of awkwardness.
3. “Let me check my calendar and get back to you” One leader I know found her time being hijacked by other people all day. A classic non-essentialist, she was capable and smart and unable to say no, and as a result she soon became a “go to” person. People would run up to her and say, “could you help with X project?” Meaning to be a good citizen she said yes. But soon she felt burdened with all of these different agenda’s things changed for her when she learned to use a new phrase: “let me check my calendar and get back to you” it gave her the time to pause and reflect and ultimately reply that she was regretfully unavailable. It enabled her to take back control of her own decisions rather than being rushed into a “yes” when she was asked.
4. Use email automatic replies. It is totally natural and expected to get an auto response when someone is traveling or out of the office. Really, this is the most socially acceptable “no” there is. people aren't saying they don't want to reply to your email, they're just saying they can't get back to you for a period of time. So why limit these two holidays? When I was writing this book I set an email auto reply to the subject line “in monk mode”. the email said:
“Dear friends, I'm currently working on a new book which has put enormous burdens on my time. Unfortunately, I am unable to respond in the manner I would like. For this, I apologise. Greg”
And guess what? People seem to adapt to my temporary absence and non-responsiveness just fine.
5. Say, “yes, what should I deprioritise?” Saying no to a senior leader at work is almost unthinkable, even laughable, for many people. However, when saying yes is going to compromise your ability to work at the highest level of contribution to your work, it is also your obligation. In this case it is not only reasonable to say no, it is essential. One effective way to do this is to remind your superiors what you would be neglecting if you said yes and force them to grapple with the tradeoff.
For example, if your manager comes to you and asks you to do X, you can respond with,”yes I'm happy to make this up the priority. Which of these projects should I deprioritize to pay attention to this new project?” Or simply say, “I would want to do a great job, and given my other commitments I wouldn't be able to do a job I was proud of if I took this on.”
6. Say it with humour: I recently was asked by a friend to join him in training for a marathon. My response was a simple “Nope!” he laughed a little and said, “Ah, you practice what you preach.” Just goes to show how useful it is to have a reputation as an essentialist!
7. Use the words “You are welcome to X. I am willing to Y” For example: “you are welcome to borrow my car. I am willing to make sure the keys are here for you.” By this you are also saying, “I won't be able to drive you.” you are saying what you will not do but you are delivering it in terms of what you are willing to do this is a particularly good way to navigate a request you would like to support somewhat but cannot throw your full weight behind. popularly like this construct because it also expresses a respect for the other person's ability to choose, as well as their own. It reminds both parties of the choices they have.
8. “I can't do it, but X might be interested" it is tempting to think that our help is uniquely invaluable, but often people requesting something I don't really care if we're the ones who help them as long as they get the help. 

Saying no is its own only leadership capability. It is not just a peripheral skilful. As with any ability, we start with limited experience. We are novices at "no." Then we learn a couple of basic techniques. We make some mistakes. Learn from them. We develop more skills. We keep practicing. After a while we have a whole repertoire available at our disposal, and in time we have gained mastery of a type of social art form. We can handle almost any request from almost anybody with grace and dignity. 

Saying "No" allows us to focus on our "Why" and all essentialists are focused on this. Grab a copy for yourself it's a great read.
0 Comments

What are you reading right now?

23/2/2022

0 Comments

 

2 books a week!!

I was watching a video on someones website yesterday and the lady mentioned that she didn't have a traditional education but managed to get herself a degree with no school quals. Since then she has started and runs her own business.  And yes, she read 2 books per week. That's right - 104 books a year. How many do you get through in a year?
Bill Gates is famous for taking himself off for a week or 2 and just reading books so he has time to 'think'. 
Picture
This empowers him to do what he does so well combined with his sheer genius and bloody mindedness. 

I ask what you are reading because it is fairly well accpeted that reading provides knowledge and knowledge is power right? Weeeell, not necessarily - depends what you do with that knowledge.

 am currently making my way through an incrediable book by Greg McKeown called 'Essentialism'. 
It's about boiling down all the things we need to get done to the most important things so we can get on with life and make the most impact. It's about saying 'no' more than 'yes' and understanding why. It's about having criteria to live by (see my blog on values) and using them to guide you to the essentail things in life avoiding the worthless things which can so easily distract us from our main purpose. 
Some of the questions he asks are as follows:
Have you ever found yourself stretched too thin at home or work?
Have you ever felt both overworked and underutilised?
Do you feel busy but not productive?
Do you ever feel like you're contantly in motion but never getting anywhere?
If you answered yes to any or all of these then the answer is to become an ESSENTIALIST. I won't spoil the content so you can get a copy for yourself and make your own way to becoming an essentailist. You will probably find, as I did, that there are many things in there you are already doing, but there are also many you may not be. My craft needs refining. Thank you social media for being the contstant in there that seems to stick out like dogs balls in terms of getting in the way of getting things done.

I highly recommend the book. See if you can build up some momentum to reading more than you already do. 2 a week is a tall order but I am happy with one a month.
If you are stuggling to get time to read that much then you really do need to get the book and read it as it's princiles will enable you to have more time and therefore live the life you really want to live as well as work. Enjoy.
0 Comments

Continuous or intermittent?

9/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Are you a life long learner? Is that one of your values? Education, learning, upskilling - call it what you want but, is it something you do continuously, or intermittently? 
That's what I want to talk about today
There are no actual rules to these things. You can approach life and business however you want to, but depending on your goals and where you want to be there may be some unwritten rules that can exponentially explode your success by following them. 
Deciding on a pathway of learning that takes care of pretty much 100% of what you need to know in your industry makes life a great deal easier so long as you plug in the times that you need to be studying and the times you may need to travel and attend sessions in town or even out of town (that's the fun stuff!)
Sticking to this routine will bring ever increasing knowledge and wisdom to your 'game' so long as you commit. Don't commit - and the cumulative effect doesn't take effect. 
The Cumulative Effect:
Try putting your money in the bank or into a fund and taking it back out within a few months. Nothing, nada - nicht! You'll have taken advantage of very little. Your money will not be worth much more than when you invested it. Things only increase in value if you leave them alone and they keep on gaining value over time. The same goes for your education. If you do a little now and a little at the end of the year - the accumulation of knowledge and wisdom is sparse and you'll have a bitsy approach to your learning.
The Rhythm Effect:
By setting a rhythm to your learning you will be laying neural pathways that will become embedded over time and make the process easier and easier as time passes. Have you ever tried ice-skating? It's the kind of activity you do once in a blue moon at a party of on a random occasion - you never really do it enough (unless your an enthusiast) to get any good at it. The same goes with learning and self education. If you only do it intermittently you will only ever feel like a beginner.
A Way of Life:
If it becomes a way of life as part of your journey through your career then, like our clients, you make it a lifestyle choice rather than an add on that "must be done" at some point! Don't leave your education to chance. Don't wait until the last minute to cram something in to tick a box that needs ticking for your registration. Look at it holistically as a facet of your life. Choose your values carefully and see if that learning value is in there already. Then lean into that and find your thing. Whatever flavour that may be but find it, embrace it and turn it into a lifestyle choice. Make it an immovable object in your week, your diary or your planner - whatever tool you use to stay on track. 
Once you do that you will then benefit from the cumulative effect, the rhythm effect and the way of life that comes from being a continuous learner rather than an intermittent one. 
I am preaching from a position of experience here. I got to that place where I couldn't see where the growth was going to come from in my business. I had no learning process. I had no routine. Once I found what I was looking for, that routine has become a habit. That habit has become a lifestyle and that lifestyle has meant one of vast learning and growth. Once I would not trade for anything. It will stand me in good stead, it can't be unlearnt (technically it could!) but it can be improved upon with more learning and refinement. 
Picture
What's your plan? If you don't have any ideas on how to implement this but really want to, hit me up for a free chat HERE.
0 Comments

No direction without movement

26/1/2022

0 Comments

 
I was out boating over the summer break and got thinking about business while helping my daughter learn how to manoeuvre a boat. What struck me when I was instructing her was that I kept saying, "there's no steering if you're not moving forwards" and after I had said that a number of times is stuck.
I couldn't get it out of my head!
When we are moving forwards in our business, even if that is simply crawling, we have some cash flow, we have some power to make decisions and we can be nibble in those decisions and change direction if we need to. 
Picture
If we sadly get to the point where business has got so bad we aren't even moving forwards anymore then we have no rudder, or engine to steer us back on course or at least in the right direction of safety, or better cash flow or new projects.

HOW DO WE KEEP MOVING FORWARDS I hear you say? 
Well there are lots of ways. You need to find what works best for you. The brain sees movement forwards as a less stressful event than standing still - literally moving forwards puts the brain into a different state which provides an environment for it to thrive, reduce stress and think creatively. If you can stay in this state your brain will start figuring out solutions to your problems. 
Picture
If a sailing boat has no wind it doesn't matter whether it has a rudder or not - it's going nowhere. That boat can either wait for the wind to pick up or find some other way of propelling itself so it can steer again. Many small vessels carry a small outboard as a back up, this can be the new wind in it's sails - or the new wind in your sales! [See what I did there?] 
What is your back up engine - what is going to keep you moving forwards? 
Start physically moving then allow the mental game to catch up your brain will surprise you. What it can up with when you give it space and time to be creative. 
An unpredictable market requires unpredictable behaviour.
I'm obviously referring to Covid here but it could be any kind of disruptor that has thrown your business off course. The key is finding that forward momentum that I am alluding to in my metaphors about boats!
How many income sources do you have in your business?
Is there more than 1?
​If not then this would be the place to start. Spreading the risk in your business by having a number of different sources will be a great place to start building resilience into your business and allowing you different cash flow volume at different times of the year so if one changes the others will be there to support your change of direction or just weather the storm of that change. Whatever you choose I recommend working on it now. If the wind doesn't return to your sails then you are likely to end up on the rocks! Unless you know a friendly 'coast guard' that will save you, then these are the things we need to be considering in our businesses.

​I'll leave it with you.
0 Comments

Intentions

19/1/2022

0 Comments

 
This is the time of year that people seem to go hell for leather on goal setting or working on some kind of resolutions. [Which I blogged about this time last year] 

Caution first!
Acts of love are more powerful than acts of will
​When we get into the goal setting mode it can be heavy and cumbersome and feel like we have to carry this burden of action and follow up with us everywhere we go. Beating ourselves up in the process if we don’t achieve all the things, we said we would. 
Picture
When the 'should’s', the 'must’s' and the 'have to’s' start taking over your mental space you know you’re onto a loser. A life by design, doing the things you love will automatically being the energy required to do the job, without all the force of goals and structure. No discipline required. Do the things you love with the people you want to when you want to.

But what and how?
Sit quietly and listen
Take time out from the noise and the heavy structure of the day and find time to create your own internal noise rather than the external stuff that surrounds us daily. Get a sense of what is true for you and what is not. The sense of direction you get comes from a place that is true to you. You can trust in it and use that to your advantage. Then every other decision, goal, or intention you set will be grounded in the clear honest signal deep inside. Trust the silence.

A way to take action?
Be gentle as you move
There is a physiological tussle in behaviour change and personal development. So being kind to yourself as you would your clients is a great way to start. The science backs this up. I have blogged about him before but BJ Fogg at Stanford Uni who wrote the book ‘Tiny Habits’ explains that starting and staying small on new action is the best recipe for success.
What can you ask yourself before embarking on a new path if that is what you have planned? Equally if you are doing more of the same these questions, from Lisa O’Neill CEO of Thought Leaders, are equally as valid:
  • Is it true?
  • Is it kind?
  • Is it useful?
And before taking an action – she asks, “what would love do?”
The considerate quality of these questions is a great base to work off for both yourself and your clients – success looms….go get it!
​
[Inspiration kindly received from Matt Church at Thought Leaders]
0 Comments

Don't quit yet!

1/12/2021

0 Comments

 
It's been said that 2022 is the year of The Great Resignation! Would you put yourself in that category or would you be a sticker. Holding your nerve and working towards staying in business for yourself and your family?
Lots of people are considering not working how they have worked in the past and doing things quite differently or at least making some changes that mean things run differently for them.
Could this change be your liminal moment. Shifting things to a new paradigm that now works better for you than it did "BC" - before COVID.
Business may never be the same - if you like the hybrid way of doing things that may stick for you and be your everymore...
Picture

How are some people choosing to quit the old paradigm and how might that be an opportunity for our industry?

  • Companies are choosing to not turn up to offices that are uninspiring.
So what does that mean for us. How can we better serve these people who are now not doing a traditional 9-5 with the double commute. Perhaps they can come and see us more easily. Perhaps we can work with them online and off line as a combo.
  • We are choosing to no longer attend meetings that waste time and showcase mediocrity.
​​If organisations are getting smarter about how they manage their time - we must too. How can we stop wasting time with meetings and other supposed important tasks that may not really be adding value to our days?
  • We won't stay at school or go to Universities where the teachers and lecturers treat us like an inconvenience to their day.
If tertiary institutions have had to adapt and some of these are the oldest in our country (and other countries) then they are adapting to a new environment which demands up to date inspiring ways of connecting so the work can still get done but with smarter ways of engaging students so they still thrive and get their quals but in a much more tech savvy way.
  • We don't want to stay in relationships that drain us, we want to be in those that sustain us.
​Do we stay put because of the fear of being alone? Do we want to move forwards so that we can be free to express ourselves how we want to without the fear being pulled down for it? Recruiters are reporting a massive talent shortage and finding that people are wanting to do more meaningful work with those they really want to do it with - not just to get the paycheck but to make a difference.
  • We don't want to do work anymore that has very little meaning.
If we don't feel like our work matters we will move on. That sense of purpose is so important for getting through the tough times. Over and above all other things it' keeps us sane and resilient when conditions make it difficult to do that thing we do. Work is personal and what we are doing has to matter. If all it's about is making money, forget it we are out. Money was always a currency of meaning, value, and honour. It's just lately (last few hundred years) it's become something else.
2020 was the year that the world changed. The pandemic folded time and forced innovation and forced practical solutions quicker. The obvious ones are flexible work hours, working from home or homing from work as I like to put it. Buying local and the larger supply chain logistics import reliance come undone. 

Choose your response in a given situation and lead from the front - showing others how change can be a doable thing for everyone everywhere, regardless of industry. 

Which cat are you?

Picture
0 Comments

Being certain about yourself - when all else is uncertain!

24/11/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
As a leader and business owner I have had more uncertainty over the past 18 months than in the whole 27 years of being in business or working for a business.
There has been no certainty. Here in little (young) NZ we are still sitting at the point where we wait for more certainty to appear from Govt and it's associated departments that allow us our freedom to trade and travel, or whatever else you do!

"In a world of uncertainty, we need to be certain about ourselves"

We need to be certain of our strengths, certain of what we want, about the direction we are wanting to go in. Having an aura of certainty makes others feel safe - our clients and families will feel this from us.

People with certainty have the ability to live with passion, focus, purpose and persistence. They allow no doubt. They keep going until they can’t and then they get a new plan. 

Setting a direction is the job of a leader - it does not mean than you cannot change direction - in fact its vital that you do. Being vulnerable and adaptable are also key strengths that sit nicely beside certainty.​

We can only be certain of certain things. What are you certain of?

Are you certain that you offer a wonderful product or service?

Are you certain that you are surrounded by clever, dedicated people?

Are you certain that you have enough support so you can do your job without unnecessary stress?

Are you certain of what you need to achieve before the end of 2021?

Are you certain of what you want to achieve by the end of 2022?

Creating a list of my certainties allows me to be more open to the uncertainties. You will have heard the phrase, "control the controllables". Doing just that will give you more power of intension and purpose and take away some of the power that uncertainty may bring with it.
You have but 5 weeks left of 2021 - what will you do with it? Commit to finishing off 2021 with a bang and start looking at what 2022 is going to look like for you...have at it and have fun!
Gratefully inspired by Lisa O'Neill
0 Comments

To discount or not to discount?

6/10/2021

0 Comments

 
​It has become natural in society to ask for a better price. To haggle or barter in a market to see if you can get the product or service for less. In some cultures, bartering is part of the game of merchandising.
​
In the Great Market of Istanbul, you would never accept the first price, to do so would dishonour the game of bartering or haggling, that is part and parcel of the cultural experience. The merchant pretending to be offended at the request for a discount is equally part of the melodrama of the great bazaar. That should not happen here.
Picture

"Discounting your value is an erosion of conviction or a demonstration of commitment."

​Discounting your value is an erosion of conviction or a demonstration of commitment. In other words, it's not about what the final price is, it's how you got there. I, for example, may reduce my day rate if you buy 10 days; in doing so I am rewarding your commitment to me. And in this case, I should never go lower than my minimum acceptable day rate. More often than not though, a person in charge of procurement has a checklist of questions and procedures and one of them is to ask for a discount. If there is no increased commitment from the other side, don't discount and even if there is, don't discount lower than your baseline hourly/day rate. Resist the instinct to lower your fees. Be cool, stand in your value, know your worth and be willing to walk away if it's a deal-breaker.
0 Comments

You wouldn’t trust an ‘everything’ restaurant

29/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
When it comes to differentiating your business from the competitors it's more difficult than it sounds. We all pretty much do the same thing. So how do we make ourselves stand out from the crowd. What tips and tricks can we employ to help our business rise to the top.

​Niche is the word of the day. It's about finding those skills that you enjoy using and honing in on who your target market is. when you've done this work it should be easy to prepare marketing content and material to talk to this audience and create leads for your business.

​The Mexican restaurant selling Italian food or whatever combination seems slightly wrong can easily be a mistake we make in our fitness businesses if we don't take the time to identify our core strengths and walk away from the extra services, we think we should provide when in fact not providing them is the crux of the matter and the recipe for success.
 
There are not many downsides of taking the time to really hone in on who your customer is and what your business provides. this can be compared to sharpening your sore before cutting down the tree. If we just try and cut the tree without sharpening the saw it's going to take twice as long. 

Let’s do a side-by-side comparison of niching down in your business pro’s and con’s I think it will speak for itself:
​Pro’s:   
Con’s:
  • Easier to identify clients
  • Clearer on marketing message = better targeting
  • More clients as they now know what you stand for
  • Less time wasted on tyre kickers
  • May need another PT = leveraged income
  • Become a leader in your speciality
  • The smaller the niche the bigger the market
  • Limit your competition
  • Online visibility goes up – SEO likes specifics
  • More referrals – like attracts like
  • Takes time (initially)
  • Can’t see a downside
  • Can’t see a downside
  • Can’t see a downside
  • Can’t see a downside (unless you don't like busy!)
  • Can’t see a downside
  • Can’t see a downside
  • Can’t see a downside
  • Can’t see a downside
  • Can’t see a downside
The list could do on….
 
If you haven’t sharpened your saw lately take a leaf out of Abraham Lincoln's book – he said “If I had 6 hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first 4 sharpening the saw.” Take that approach to your own business and you’ll be amazed at how things turn out.
 
First looking at what you do – specialising in ‘that thing’ then pushing that one clear message out to the audience you know will be your customers.
0 Comments

Building Rapport - master this build your business!

22/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is a key skill in our industry in fact probably one of the most important. When we meet prospects who could become clients it's really important that we build rapport in a short space of time so that we connect with a potential client, and they see us as an ally and someone they feel they can work with.
There are some key tips and tricks which I want to share so that you can use these to help build rapport on an ongoing basis have more success in landing prospects as clients and have a bigger business as a result of more clients.

Here are some areas to take note of when building rapport. These can be abbreviated to G.E.E.V.S.
General Posture gestures:
  • facial expression
  • body position/form
  • gestures/movements
Eyes:
  • movements
  • blinking
  • connecting/disconnecting
Expiration/inspiration:
  • rate of breathing
  • amount of breathing (depth)
  • pauses
  • location in body
Voice:
  • speed
  • volume
  • tone
  • timbre
  • words used
  • other sounds
Skin:
  • muscle tone
  • pulse

Options for building rapport...​

​Matching: same position as the other person (e.g. cross right leg over left). Less intense makes you seem similar so they can decide separate from you e.g. in sales to avoid buyer’s remorse a decision points in at decision points in counseling.
Mirroring: mirror image position EG your left leg crossed over right there right crossed over there left. More intense; makes you seem like a “reflection” of their own experience.

​Simultaneous: match action as the person does it e.g. body posture, crossing uncrossing arms/legs
​Sequential: match action after they do it e.g. speech/gestures

​Direct: match behavior with the same behaviors of yours (e.g. breathe in time with them)
​Crossover: match behavior with a different behavior of yours (e.g. your foot moves in time to their breathing). use when direct matching is unsafe for your body e.g. asthma

​Individual: match/mirror pace one person
​Group:
​
a) identify the report leader the person others unconsciously copy and match them
b) build rapport with previous group leaders who had report
c) ask the group to do something, and do it with them

​Start learning these, start looking at them in your friends and family and start using them with potential clients if you're not already instinctively doing some of these things, you probably are, but there's always things to improve upon.
 
Go get ‘em….!
0 Comments

Purpose – Do you have enough in your life?

14/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Purpose is an interesting topic that can be seen differently by different people but really, it’s a simple concept. 
What gets you out of bed?
Have you found the thing that lights your fire every day?
Some days can be difficult and other days can be a total joy but if you have purpose then the highs and the lows tend to be closer together giving us a far more even keel in mood and happiness. 
Picture
​Marcus Aurelius said: “Just remember you can endure anything your mind can make endurable by making it in your interests to do so”
If you have purpose, you can find the ease in the discomfort or you get the mindset right. That can come when you have a strong sense of purpose in what you do. 
​Have you found that thing?
Have you been tested in this way?
Did your sense of purpose help you get through this?
​“The more you know who you are and what you want the less you’re going to let things upset you” This was a line from Bill Murray in the film Lost in Translation.
What the writer is referring to is that sense of clarity and wisdom or self-understanding. But how do we achieve this especially when we are young? When we may not have got the understanding of who we are yet this can be difficult but there are 3 ways in which we can find purpose in life, and these are: 
​1.Gradually over time (this is the slow game, gaining wisdom over time)
2.Event which forces out purpose (e.g. family member gets sick and needs support)
Learning from others to speed up your understanding (e.g. mentor, professor, older family member)

Goals can sometimes be the obstacle to success but a sense of purpose decouples these things so we can focus on the purpose or general direction in life – therefore we don’t get so hung up on the goals and pursue the purpose. 
Does this sound like you or are to a strong goal orientated person?
 
Are you more organic and just use your general sense of purpose to guide you towards what you consider success?
 
I’m keen to hear your take on this….hit me up with a comment below.
0 Comments

How to make progress when you can’t make progress!

6/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
​It’s a tricky one, eh?
​When we’re locked down you can do all the online things for sure but for me it doesn’t feel like things are moving forwards. The day to day isn’t the same, of course, but it can be easy to fall into the trap of not doing anything, to giving up or giving into the inertia that comes with not being able to see clients on a daily basis.
 
This can then lead to over thinking and questioning what you are doing. 
Is this the right work to be in?
 
Should I find something more Covid proof?
 
How to I keep the plates spinning when there is little to no cash flow?
​When it seems like there is nothing to work on or to push ahead with on a daily basis the brain can become stagnant. Much like the body, if we don’t keep moving and thereby giving our brains the endogenous neurochemistry it needs to help us feel good and want to do more, we won't get that kick of motivating transmitter dopamine (among others).
So how do we progress when we can’t
Well, you’ve probably heard the expression, ‘fake it til you make it’ or perhaps, ‘be the thing in the world you want to see’. You’ll need to work out which of these or some other type of ignition works for you. We’re all different so keep searching if these don't work for you. You get the idea though. To trick our brains into wanting progress we must fool it into thinking we are making progress through tasks and small endeavours. 

​Start with the things you can control. A lot of energy and stress is consumed when it doesn’t need to be when we sweat on the things we cannot change.
 
Look at your business take a critical eye to it and see what things you think you can do today or over the coming days to make it better than it already is.
This is the Kaizen way – continuous improvement. Tiny steps taken continuously so that when added together, make a significant difference.
 
If you want to publish more articles, then structure a plan so you can see how well you are doing. See this pic below as a great way to give yourself accountability and structure to your goal of getting published more often. 
Picture
If you have less grand plans than publishing then think about the things you do every day that could be improved let’s just brainstorm some ideas right now:
  • Updating your new client welcome letter
  • Updating your rates increase letter
  • Updating your Par-Q or pre-screen form
  • Add some services to the footer on your pre-screen form
  • Set up an online booking system to save you texting backwards and forward, I use Calendly you can even take payments using PayPal or Stripe 
  • Getting your logo updated on Fiverr.com – cheap and easy
  • Creating PDF books for your website again using Fiverr.com
  • Creating online courses for clients to pay for – Coursera/Thinkific and many more platforms out there
  • Take a look at Zapier – you have to buy a subscription but there may be processes you can automate in your business that you currently do manually
This list could go on and on but if you want to take stock so you can make progress take a look at my Business Diagnostic tool which asks you 60 questions about your business and helps you identify what areas could be improved on.
This way you’ll have the gun loaded and ready to fire when we get to level 2 of lockdown with a newer shinier business ready to rock and roll.
 
If you’d like any help with that hit me up for a free chat no strings attached. I just love to help people and if one more PT can be even more successful then my WHY will have been answered. 
0 Comments

Cutting your cloth to ‘fit’ V2

1/9/2021

0 Comments

 
You may remember back in November 2020 I talked about ‘cutting your cloth to fit’. Well, I’m back with version 2.0!!!
If you need to reference that last article because you missed it, here it is now before you read on today.
The title of that last article was obviously a metaphor for managing your expenses to suit your turnover but what if you fixed your turnover challenges instead of dropping your expenses – or even better, did both.
What if you had a growth in sales and also trimmed some of the ‘fat’ out of your expenses which have been ‘coasting’ along happily because your sales were buoyant up until we got locked down – or for that matter had any unforeseen event that had a negative knock-on effect to your sales.
As that first article talked about trimming out some of your expenses of changing more of the fixed costs to variable ones is a great start but if you need to be more ruthless take a deeper look.
Picture
​E.g. #3:  I recently decided to let go of a domain name I have never used but had in case I wanted to mirror my website with a slightly different suffix. GONE. $38 odd less per year, not much but it adds up.

​
E.g. #2: I am an audible subscriber but I have allowed my monthly credits to accumulate so much I had 6 waiting for me to cash in on a book that I am not yet ready to read. I have put that on hold for 90 days saving me approx. $48 (3 months x$16)

It’s not much but it all adds up and over time can make the business super lean when I want it to be, just by taking a magnifying glass to the small things. I once had a boss – actually he was my bosses, bosses, boss! He said, “take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.” He was kind of right, if you manage the little things in your business the larger things will by default be taken care of…it stuck with me.
 
Back to the sales ideas to boost your topline (sales) now you have taken care of the expenses. 

In no particular order:
 
1. Send an email to 5 prospects asking what it would take to close a sale
If you’re not sure why someone’s not signing on the dotted line – ask them. Often it’s an easily fixable issue that opens the door.
2. Ask an existing customer for a referral
Good customers refer good customers. Ask a customer “What is the primary benefit you got from using our product? Do you know anyone else who would benefit from it?
3. Upgrade a customer
Would you like fries with that? Small, medium or large? They want what you’ve got now is your opportunity to add more value to their experience and your sale.
4. Go back over messages/emails
There may well be lots of leads you have let go of or clients who have slopped through the cracks over time. Now is the time to follow up and see where they’re at. You’ll be surprised how many just ‘got busy’ and never bothered to come back to you. ‘There’s gold in them there hills!’
5. 10 cold emails
“Cold” anything is a numbers game. Do it often enough and you will get something out of it. Cold email (or Linkedin) messages need to be super valuable to get any cut through and they are still worth it if you can scale it
6. Package your knowledge and give it away
It gives people who could use your services a small taste of what it would be like to work with you and has been extremely effective in attracting new clients.
Collect old blog posts, customer correspondence – anything that can help your prospect. Package it up, give it to them and make sure you have a method to follow up
7. Test a new product on an existing customer
Those ideas for a new product or service that are swimming around your head? Call an existing customer and ask “If I did this? Would you pay this?” The idea isn’t validated until they’ve paid you.
8. Approach a partner
Who’s got your customer? I’m working with the local physio that recently changed hands I approached the owner and am presenting to the whole team in their October monthly education meeting. Approach someone who has your ideal client, and you can bring complimentary skills to the relationship. Make sure it works both ways.
9. Pitch a journalist
Getting covered in the media is far easier than most people think. Look at who is writing about your industry and get in touch with them. If you can provide an interesting angle, stats or insights that the journalist can’t get themselves you will get covered. Media will not explode your business by itself, but it can be used to build credibility with customers and partners.
10. Run a trade in offer
This tactic isn’t just for car dealers. Contact a customer who has had your product or service and offer to trade it in for the newer/bigger/faster version you can provide now. You are in the incumbent supplier and in most cases it’s harder to move away and change but you need to keep adding value.

​With these in place and a diary appointment to remind you to do them over a week or even 10 days you will find some opportunities to either boost your bank balance now or certainly over a period of time with consistent effort.
 
Go for it…
​

0 Comments

Service beyond compare

18/8/2021

0 Comments

 

The Brilliant Barista

Picture
​Everyday heroes serving the public with a smile and a welcome and a product that has already been prepared as you approached the building.
 
I like to walk my dog. My dog likes to be walked. I see this is a win win. My opportunity to get out and do some exercise my dogs’ opportunity to get out and get some exercise, not only that, but I stop at my local coffee shop/bakery for my favorite cup of Joe some mornings. it's got to the stage now the barista sees me out of the window and has already made my coffee by the time I go in to order it, how good is that service.
How could you replicate this kind of service in your business?
What opportunities are there to wow your clients when they turn up for their session?
What are they not expecting that you can deliver?
​
These questions are all worth pondering. there are bound to be more questions you could think of in which you could differentiate yourself from your competition just by wowing your clients when the opportunity arises. Knowing what your customer likes asking, recording memorising even awesome simple steps to making your service stand out from others.
 
I go to other coffee shops but I don't get this sort of service So what is it that this place does differently what is it that this barista goes above and beyond compared to the other baristas. They are all baristas they all serve the same basic product but where do I want to go when I'm thirsty for my cup of Joe you guessed it the brilliant barista.
 
Not only do I get my cup of Joe there is a dog bowl for my dog she's pretty happy to find a bowl of fresh water when we get there however far we've walked she has a thirst on! The simple tasks and easily executed it's a matter of having a system and working the system and ensuring everybody in the business knows the system - simple as that!

​Times get to work start a list of things that you deliver as part of your service but could elevate them to that level of delivering a wow. Examples that have worked for me in the past are:
  • a gift, something they like and I've talked about in the past, small, but thoughtful
  • tickets to their favorite show
  • a meal voucher at their favourite restaurant
 
You get the idea it's personal it's not generic. Generic would be a towel, a water bottle - unless they have their name stitched into them it's the same thing, you'd give everybody, so give it some thought, and you'll be surprised how much of an impact it makes.
 
Good luck - Stay safe
​
FREE OFFER:
While NZ is locked down I am offering FREE 30 mins catch ups so you can off load, ask questions, pick my brains or chew over a new business idea, whatever it is feel free to reach out so we can have a chat
0 Comments

Are you lost or at a crossroads?

4/8/2021

0 Comments

 
​Are you lost? I know I was I don't mean lost as in I didn't know where I was, but as in, what are my next steps in business.
I looked at the option of franchising.
​
I settled on a mentor and an educational programme that took me to the next level and to an award! There are no right or wrong answers when you decide which way to go at that crossroads you just need to take one step decide what your goals are and keep moving forwards. There will be potholes along the way. There will be road bumps along the way.
Picture
Until I got help I felt as though my world was getting smaller. Once I had that help and support my world got bigger and bigger and bigger now it's a matter of deciding what not to do as opposed to what to do - that sounds big headed by what I mean is, when your brain in in growth mode it seeks and spots opportunities and actively looks for ways in which things could be done better or ways in which to grow.
​
At the crossroads, I felt as though I'd exhausted my technical skills and myself in the process! So not only was I tired I also lacked the motivation required to take the next steps.

this can be tough this can be demotivating this can feel as though the business you have is the wrong thing for you because it's made you tired exhausted even and lacking the will to go on, I don't mean in a dangerous way but just lacking the motivation to progress.

Do you have this feeling? Are you at that point of wanting more but not having the knowledge on how to get it?

Reach out for a free chat - Let's Talk
0 Comments

Do you have an unconscious bias?

14/7/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sometimes you are convinced that 2+2=5 when others will tell you different. This is known and an unconscious bias - you come into a situation with a fixed belief and hold onto that even though you are being told or shown different.

There are different kinds of bias. They are as follows, but before listing these various types of bias let's take a look at what it is. 
Oxford Languages states that a bias is, "inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially in a way considered to be unfair"
We don't see our biases that's why they are described as unconscious, we grow up with them so our 'norm' can seem to be the way the world works but often we'll meet people with different world views and quickly see that in fact we don't see things the same way so in situations where we need to bring a neutral mind to a situation we often don't!

Back to that list of different biases!
1) Affinity Bias - "birds of a feather flock together" we will generally befriend and socailise with people like us. We will feel most comfortable with those who look and sound like us. 
2) Confirmation Bias - Finding information that supports our agenda or world view.
The Venn diagram to the right gives you a great visual of what confirmation bias does to our perspective on life.
Being able to see this is happening is a great skill and one what will assist us to work with many more people objectively and with unbiased clarity of our role. 

Picture
3) Labelling Bias - How they look, dress, show up externally. It's so easy to judge. But I remember a car sales man tell me about a farmer that turned up at the show room looking for some help with a car and no one gave him the time of day. He went elsewhere to the showroom of the guy telling the story and bought 3 cars on the spot. He was dressed shabbily and unkempt but the sales people in the first showroom judged his ability to pay on his appearance! WRONG! Never assume...
4) Selective Attention Bias - Surrounding ourselves with those who are similar to ourselves. This has a lot in common with the affinity bias. We feel 'safe' being around those that look and act like we do but this can narrow our field of vision when it comes to working with people of all creeds and backgrounds. 

There are other biases like the 'weight' bias, this can be common in our industry. We see people who are over weight and can start to judge them as lazy. We know how much work goes into looking good and we may think over weight people just don't put in the work. There may be an element of truth, there may not, but until we get to know people we don't know their story. There may well be very good reasons why people are the way they are. 

Respectful Care
Respectful care delivers care that exudes acceptance, absolute worth and autonomy. This allows the client to open up and feel heard when you are working with them. If you have overcome all the biases in the book you will be free to serve and make real differences in peoples live....
0 Comments

If you’re not growing anywhere, you’re not going anywhere!

7/7/2021

0 Comments

 
We know this to be a truism. A fact of life. A statement of truth. When we take time for our own learning we create value for ourselves and our business.
How much time do you allocate to your learning each week?
​This could be as simple as listening to a podcast. It could be as formal as being part of an ongoing education programme that provides structure, accountability and support to your learning.
How important is learning to you?
Picture
If learning is not one of your values then it's quite possible that you don't have a regular routine that helps you grow and build your knowledge base to improve yourself and your business.
Should learning be one of your values?
​It sounds a bit corny but if you're not growing anywhere, you may well be staying in the same place that you've been for the last year. So, do your years just repeat themselves? Is it a case of what works now should just keep working for you? Perhaps it does perhaps you're completely content and don't feel the need to increase that knowledge however this may become self-limiting after a while.
 
The world keeps moving. You can't deny that technology research current thinking will become yesterday's thinking very soon. so if we don't spend a little time and perhaps a little money keeping up with what's changing we could get left behind. Have you had one of those experiences where you realise what people are talking about you know nothing about? has that experience made you turn inwards and think about what you need to do differently?

As Daniel Pink put it in his book “Drive,” “human beings are motivated by purpose, autonomy and a drive towards mastery,”
If you're not learning then what is your purpose where is your autonomy and are you getting closer to mastery?

By creating a culture of learning in your business you are setting up the opportunity for continuous improvement much like the All Blacks have done finding those 1% opportunities and multiplying them by 100 gives them double the improvement they had the previous year it doesn't even have to be 100 in your business it could be 10. What 10 things can you think of that could be improved? Some of those you can probably do yourself and some you may need help with but overtime the incremental change that it makes to your business will be significant and your business will not look like it did 12 months ago.
 
I urge you to take a critical look and see what could be changed or worked on day to day week to week. A little time of reflection can reveal huge opportunities that can be chipped away at over time.
You just have to start
 
Good luck
0 Comments

Have you got ‘the how to’ covered?

30/6/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Whenever I create a new process alright myself instruction steps on how I achieved it so that I can look back and be consistent each time I do it again.
 
Do you do this in your business? Space it's a great way to start creating the manual to your business. Once you have all the processes in your business documented you have a manual. This can allow you to go away on holiday this can allow you to franchise your business this can help you unburden all of the things that go around your head each day.
It doesn't have to be complicated a single sheet of a four is enough for a process. Examples of the sorts of processes that may occur in your business could be:
  • onboarding new clients
  • communicating payment terms
  • planning a new program
  • posting items to clients
  • social media posts
  • writing articles
  • ordering and creating uniforms
  • use of logos (including colours)
  • cold calling potential clients
  • farewelling leaving clients
  • database management including use of things like MailChimp

The list could go on, but the rule of thumb is, if it happens day to day - document it. Having records of how all the things happen that occur in your business is a great way of turning your job into a business it means that the business is not reliant on you alone. This practice is good business practice keep doing it and you'll be surprised how much you've created.

If you need help with a manual hit me up I'm happy to help
0 Comments

What makes a great coach/PT/Health Expert?

23/6/2021

0 Comments

 
I was approached by year 13 student who was very keen to get into the health and fitness industry. She wanted to come and shadow me, but I suggested we had a chat first and she was ready she had all the great questions lined up I was impressed with her intelligence was impressed with her preparedness and her willingness to find out more about an industry that she was extremely interested in but didn't really have much knowledge about. 

​In this blog I want to explore the 10 top things so I shared with her that makes a great coach so here goes:

Picture
1. Be prepared to work hard, really hard, in your first 2 to 3 years – new start ups don’t succeed without some blood, sweat and a few tears!

2. No you don't have to be amazingly fit and strong to be a great PT you just have to have a reasonable level of fitness no Arnold Schwarzenegger’s necessary here.

 
3. Get a mentor or coach to work with you at least initially but ongoing would be ideal it's great to have someone in your corner someone to bounce ideas off, ask advice from, and perhaps have a shoulder to cry on!

4. The hours can be long but if you craft your week into a form that works for you overtime, you'll have your dream job/career mapped out for you.

5. Understanding the business side of PTing is crucial. having a financial plan understanding tax and getting to grips with expenses is probably one of the most important aspects of running a successful PT business.

6. Do awards help? She had watched the video on my website! Yeah, for sure they certainly help they give credibility and they don't just have to be exercise awards they could be bank awards they could be people awards whatever suits find something to raise your profile it'll stand you in good stead?

7. Keep learning have a plan on how you will keep learning and growing your knowledge this will become a habit and set you apart from the rest who simply get a qualification and repeat the same year after year after year with the same knowledge.

8. Find your tribe this could be clients this could be friends this could be anybody create a tribe that you can lead that connects you to people then you are positioned as the perfect choice when they may get to a point of needing your services.

9. Professional networks cultivate relationships with allied health professionals to establish Referral networks and a reputation as a professional who works alongside other health professionals this will help business and client experience.

10. Love what you do not the money that comes from it, loving what you do will be clear to see by all those you come into contact with, and the money will follow

Need a helping hand: Reach Out!
0 Comments

A CONVERSATION ABOUT PERCEIVED VALUE:

16/6/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
A customer asked a contractor friend of mine how much it would cost to do this project.

My friend gave him a proposal: $4500

The customer responded: That’s seems really high.

My friend asked: What do you think is a reasonable price for this job?

The customer answered: $2500 maximum
My friend responded: Ok, then I invite you to do it yourself.

The customer answered: I don't know how to.
My friend responded: Alright, then how about for $2500 I'll teach you how to. So besides saving you $2000, you'll learn valuable skills that will benefit you in the future.


The customer answered: Sounds good! Let’s do it!

My friend responded: Great! To get started, you are going to need some tools. You will need a chop saw, table saw, cordless drill, bit set, router, skill saw, jig saw, tool belt, hammer, etc..

The customer answered: But I don't have any of those tools and I can't justify buying all of these for one job.

My friend responded: Ok. Well then for an additional $300 I can rent my tools to you to use for this project.

The customer answered: Okay. That’s fair.

My friend responded: Great! We will start the project on Monday.


The customer answered: I work Monday through Friday. I’m only available on the weekends.

My friend responded: If you want to learn from me then you will need to work when I work. This project will take 3 days so you will need to take 3 days off work.

The customer answered: That means I’m going to have to sacrifice my pay for 3 days or use my vacation time!

My friend responded: That’s true. Remember, when you do a job yourself you need to account for unproductive factors.

The customer answered: What do you mean by that?

My friend responded: Doing a job completely from start to finish includes time spent to plan the project, pick up materials, travel time, gas, set up time, clean up, and waste disposal amongst other things. That’s all in addition to the actual project itself. And speaking of materials, that’s where we will start on Monday so I need you to meet me at the lumberyard at 6:00am.


The customer answered: At 6am?!! My work day doesn’t usually start until 8am!

My friend responded: Well then you’re in luck! My plan is to start on the deck build by 8am. But to do so we have to start at 6am to get materials picked up, loaded and delivered to your job site.

The customer answered: You know, I’m realizing that a lot more goes in to a job than what a customer sees in the finished project. Your proposal of $4500 is very reasonable. I would like you to handle the project.

CONCLUSION:

When you pay for a job, especially a custom job, (whether it’s a physical project or digital project) you pay not only for the material and the work to be completed. You also pay for:

✔️ Knowledge

✔️ Experience
✔️ Custom Skills
✔️ Tools
✔️ Time to plan
✔️ Time to prepare
✔️ Professionalism
✔️ Work Ethic
✔️ Excellence
✔️ Discipline
✔️ Commitment
✔️ Integrity
✔️ Taxes
✔️ Licenses
✔️ Sacrifices
✔️ Liabilities
✔️ Insurance

If you request a proposal for custom work to be done, please don’t disrespect a service provider by trying to get them to lower their prices.


If their proposal exceeds your budget, there’s nothing wrong with getting other proposals.

Just remember.. you get what you pay for.

👉🏼 SERVICE PROVIDERS: Know your worth and be confident in it.

👉🏼 CONSUMERS: Recognize their worth and be respectful of it.

Sharing this to support all my friends, family and clients who are Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and Tradesman.

0 Comments

That time I fired a client…

9/6/2021

0 Comments

 
​You may remember my blog about ‘Problem Clients and your mental health’? Well there were a number of tips in there and as you may have read I didn’t follow my own ideal advice with this guy.
​I recently did however, follow my own advice when it came to a lady who – HAD TO GO!
I employed all the coaching tools in the book. I played the gently gently card with her. I dug into family to find out more about other people in her life. We talked about her goals and how to progress towards them. 
Picture
ALL, I mean ALL of these endeavours were met with resistance. Now, you may say, “You need to persist Rich!” “Don’t give up Rich,” believe me I had all these comments going through my head.
I have worked with a good number of clients over the years, some very challenging but this lady broke the mould. I decided after 4 weeks of trying my best that I had to cut her loose….

This was tough, I had poor sleeps leading up to the time I decided to make the break. I knew it was going to be good for my mental health and that my bank balance although worse off for losing her, would be better in the long run and I'd easily pick up new clients in the future.
 
This has come to pass. We parted company – she wanted feedback on why I felt that way. I gave her some kind words about willingness to change and directed her towards some books which may help get her head in the right space. For now I have created the space I needed.
 
I knew things were going badly when I would get to the end of a session and feel like an utter dunce. Like I knew nothing about what I was supposed to be an expert in because she already knew it herself or she had tried it and it didn’t work. Think – head and brick wall!!! This was doing mine in.
​
If you find yourself in this position, really take the time to weigh up the pros and cons of stopping or continuing. Some people deserve to be persevered with and I strongly believe others don’t – for our own sanity. This is clearly my own opinion you may feel differently but whatever you do give yourself time to process the options open to you.

​You need to put your own oxygen mask on first!

0 Comments

How to blow your own trumpet without sounding like a FIGJAM!

2/6/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
In NZ it's called tall poppy syndrome. People don't like it when you try to tell them how good you are. That's just the way it is! But it doesn't have to be like that. there are ways in which you can share your talents, skills, products and services without sounding like a FIGJAM. Apparently, an Australian band thought this acronym was good enough to make a song about it here’s the link. I'm not so sure!
 
Ways in which you can promote yourself that isn't shouting from the rooftops about you, is sharing clients’ successes. In addition you could be proactive and ask clients for testimonials specific to their achievements and experiences with you. This way the message comes from the client and not from you directly.
 
FIGJAMS tell you what they do and how good they are whereas non FIGJAMS tell you about the changes you could expect to see as a result of working with them. Everyone knows what we do, or their version of what we do, so really what we need to explain is how we're different what they can expect to achieve and the types of outcomes and results other people have experienced, this way the message isn't direct from your mouth it's more objective and way less FIGJAMMY!

Have you come across successful FIGJAM’s? Sure we all have and usually they are huge douches but we get on with what we do and ignore them. Some people a drawn to them and that works for them. But others simply can’t stand to be in the same room as a FIGJAM as they continue to spout their own bullshit which may be grounded in reality but often not!!
 
Find your flavour and work it well. People will be attracted to your message and often if you market yourself well they you will attract the kind of client you really want and leave the rest out in the cold. 

Good luck and keep blowing that trumpet!
0 Comments
<<Previous
Picture

Join Rich on the PT Graduate podcast each week - click the image

Picture
E: info@theptmentor.com
T: 09 950 4417 
M: 021 777 417

Services   Blog   Contact

Picture
Get The PT Mentor Newsletter delivered direct to your inbox
© The PT Mentor 2016 Website developed by Outbox Ltd
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • Business Bootcamp