Kiss Me I’m Irish

“Kiss me, I’m Irish.” When I hear this, I think of luck, good fortune, shamrocks, leprechauns and of course, the Irish kiss. Fun, right? I am Irish, and yes, I do love kisses, but that’s not what this is about. Because as luck would have it, “Kiss Me I’m Irish” ties into the business of studio owners and independent personal trainers.

Here’s how…

  • Embracing your commitment to healthy business habits will bring you luck.
  • A sense of community and connection with groups that align with your values will support your business.

Luck is really wonderful.

There is luck in business, luck in obtaining clients, luck in opportunities, but really, even though we get lucky breaks, it most often arrives after we’ve been working hard and doing the diligent, habitual steps needed to set ourselves up for success. We must put the right structure in place so when the lucky break happens, we are ready to take it on. For example, when a long-standing client has five people to refer to your business and is expecting an outstanding level of customer service, you can deliver. You’ve got this! As opposed to your first year in business… handling this kind of windfall gracefully may not have been possible and the opportunity lost. Both habits and the luck are integral. One alone doesn’t cut it.

So, luck is important, right? Getting access to your most lucrative client or meeting that business owner that wants to do a corporate wellness package with your studio seems lucky. But maybe it’s not. There’s a false idea around the concept of luck that I’d like to shed light on. No one got to the top because they were gifted a pretty business with a big bow on top. In the case of building a lucrative, sustainable business, it takes some heavy lifting, sweat, and a lot of work happening behind the scenes, and THEN we create the space for luck to show up. The lucky breaks and opportunities will come more frequently and play out more successfully with preparation. You will avoid panic at major opportunity. And instead, be excited at your good fortune because it is something you are ready to embrace.

As much as I love luck, as stated, we still need to own our growth, business improvements and planning. This is why in all our offerings we encourage habitually doing the right kind of work in your business.

Take this scenario…

You have decided to make a switch, either from working for a large organization to an independent personal trainer, or from being an independent trainer to being a studio owner. We often have notions like these in our head: “This number of clients are going to move with me” “This is the number of clients I’m going to be able to obtain through Facebook ads, Instagram feed etc.” Based on feedback from trainers over the last 15 years and my own professional experience, it doesn’t play out like that. The 10 people you thought were going to come with you turns into six. The thirty people that promised to start up with you when you opened your studio did not or it takes them 2 1/2 months to get themselves in and start making payments. And, social media delivers a lot of followers but few immediate paying clients. Any of my senior fit pros out there nodding? I feel you.

Once we embrace the hard work and stop comparing and competing with what others might be doing or what we hoped would happen, we can begin to move forward and do what is necessary for our business’s growth and expansion. Because often, as it turns out, the other studio owners and personal trainers do not have a full book of business, aren’t necessarily more lucky than you and it stops feeling so bleak in comparison. Don’t ascribe luck to others where there may not be any. Let’s focus on making our own breaks and being ready for those breaks when they happen.

Realize this is part of the journey and ask yourself, “how am I going to figure this out?” Don’t worry, I believe in you and you are figuring it out. And, if you are struggling, schedule a call here: See Jake and Jane Train.

“Kiss Me I’m Irish” applies to your business in more than one way.

Let’s move from luck and pivot to being Irish. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, right? OK, so technically maybe you aren’t Irish but that feeling of inclusion is powerful. You do legitimately belong to many different groups within your community and that is the take away. Tap into those organizations that you already have ties with that need your services. It is a powerful move for your business.

There is no reason to pretend you don’t belong to different groups. Instead, own your membership to different groups however informal and connect with likeminded people that need your valuable expertise. There is value in approaching an established organization, garnering new business and making a great impression while improving participants overall health and wellness.

So, here is a fantastic way to embrace our differences and serve our communities. Which groups or identifiers align with you for your business? Here are a few ideas from the ultra specific to the most broad…

  • Sport you participate in
  • Sport you are passionate about
  • Small business owner group
  • Neighborhood organization
  • Commerce organization
  • New mom group
  • Breastfeeding support club
  • Mother-of-triplets club
  • Any of your genetic nationalities Irish, Serbian, Russian, Taiwanese, Mexican, Polish…
  • Cultural organizations (may not be your nationality but something you love / are interested in)
  • Charities you love
  • Religious groups
  • Various groups with in parishes/synagogues/mosques
  • Art advocacy groups
  • Hobby groups
  • Family circles
  • Groups of close family or friends
  • Alumni organizations (grade school, high school, graduate and post graduate)
  • Former co-workers group (informal or formal)
  • Political organizations
  • Strong identification with or support of gender or sexuality advocacy groups
  • Activist groups
  • Travel groups
  • Park districts
  • Environmental advocacy groups

The existing organized group of people could benefit from the fitness, healthy-living and wellness advice that you could give them, right? The ultimate point is to respect and acknowledge pieces of you, because you are an individual with a unique sense of self, whether you are a business owner or an independent personal trainer. People in your life need your help. And if you are willing to share your skill set in healthy living with the groups that are already part of your life, everyone will benefit and ultimately create a better community for your business. In addition, capitalizing on groups that are already organized is a win-win-win.

Let’s walk through this…

  1. Connect with your community and plan a…
  • Lunch-and-Learn
  • Guest Speaker for Monthly or Weekly Recurring Group Meetings
  • Business after Hours
  • Speaker at Event
  1.  When we connect with an organization that already has a group meeting every month, week or at established events, we are eliminating the heavy lifting that goes into spreading the word to the 1,000 or so people on your mailing list. We tap into a broader audience. I’m not saying not to do connect with your existing following. It is important to connect with your clientele and create experiences beyond their training. But, we want opportunities that extend you beyond your existing base. Let’s learn if there is a need for a fitness or wellness speaker with in your other communities. There are so many people in the U.S. in need of fitness or wellness. Let’s reach them with a warm, already existing connection.

Here are a few simple, one minute tips to get started…

  • Offer your help in a professional manner.
  • Ask to speak to the person that organizes events and talks. Avoid giving up too soon if it takes a bit of effort to connect. Less formal organizations are often run on volunteer effort. Response time might be slow. Persevere.
  • Ask for feedback on topics that have been presented in the past and how the group received the information on that topic. You might hear, “Well, we just had somebody come in and talk about nutrition, but they were trying to push a bunch of supplements, and the women were really turned off.” Listen to their groups recent experiences and let that inform your content and direction.
  • Avoid a sales pitch. Instead, extend information that is beneficial. Share your expertise in helping them improve their health and wellness.
  • Find out the needs of the group. What is this group struggling with, or needing the most help with?

When you are giving your talk or workshop, be mindful and give advice that’s palatable and positions you as a potential resource for the group. This thought process goes back to a blog we recently wrote on retention. It’s the same thought process…“Know what they want before they ever ask for it.” It applies to your community and group connections. Always stay one step ahead of that group and know what they need, or at the very least, try. Ultimately, do your best to know your group and customize your presentation to connect with them on a deeper level. It doesn’t have to be long or elaborate, just thoughtful.

For example, if you grew up in a Sicilian family, and you are going to speak to a Sicilian organization in America, speak more to ideas that align with their heritage.  Ask the group organizer, “Is this mostly men? Is this mostly women? Is this mostly family-minded people? Are there going to be any children there? Is it going to be multi-generational?” Address traditional diet, former traditional levels of daily movement, historical transitions in lifestyle over the generations as families stay longer and longer in the states. Go above and beyond to know your audience and ask for information that will help you create a top-notch presentation that truly supports the people who are attending to hear you talk about what you know best: fitness, health and wellness. It will only take you a few extra minutes but can make a tremendous impact in your effectiveness as a presenter.

Let’s recap our ‘Kiss Me I’m Irish’ concepts…

  1. Embrace your business and the luck will follow. Luck is important but it’s what you are putting into your business to prepare and set yourself up for success that will bring the greatest success of all. Luckily, you are a trainer and you know what the heavy lifting feels like. Big breaks follow hard work and doing the diligent, habitual healthy business tasks. In the end, you create a foundation ready for accomplishment and achievement in your business. Luck plus great business practices create sustainable long-term careers and lucrative fitness professionals.
  2. Tap into your community and existing organizations to broaden your audience and extend fitness, health and wellness to people in need. Call on your ties to established organizations that align with your different interests. Utilize what brings you a sense of community and connection and use your unique characteristics to garner new business.
  3. Make the effort. Extend outreach to your community with professionalism and connecting to the person in charge of speaking engagements and events. Take the time to know the audience and gather as much detail as possible to create a customized presentation that will instill trust in you and your fitness business for the betterment of their lives.

Let us know…

What have you embraced in your business that has brought luck?

Who are your favorite communities to connect with?

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