Hey y’all,
Lawrence asked me to follow up with questions that we didn’t have time for from readers regarding the growth of my business and any strategies & tactics I have that might help those with training businesses or just for those who are interested in bettering their own workouts.
GTD – Email management / In-tray Manage calendar – recurring events?
Regarding “Getting things done,” I just prioritize the things that actually have utility in the near term (tactic) toward an intermediate goal (strategy). Typically given my schedule this amounts to one “extra” thing per day if I’m lucky.
This of course is OK: the business is training. So tasks might include “adding 1 new slide to my diabetes consultation deck” or “Post mission/vision/values to website.”
Otherwise I use Mindbody and automate as much stuff as possible so I don’t have to think about it.
Art of coaching: Compliance – what’s worked best? Getting the most out of trainees?
Here’s the problem with most trainers: you can’t get compliance from something you cannot clearly define. I’ve found that by being clear about our WHY (strength as measured on a separate assessment) and our HOW (“Start Smart” for the first 8 weeks before having clients become a partner in their customization as explained in the show), clients show up ready to work.
As far as getting the most out of trainees: you have to know the human being. This is a two-way street. Clients came to my wedding party. Clients have cried with me. Clients ask me about how to best approach things pertaining to their children. They wouldn’t do that if there wasn’t a huge base of trust, so something like “working hard” isn’t going to be an issue.
Who were your mentors?
SO SO many over they years.
- John Coleman to start when I was a kid. He had no reason to take a gangly kid on as a client. He did and I became a trainer. Some of his lessons I’m still barely learning.
- Doug Mcguff in a clarity of thought capacity. I strive to clarify the things I explain to clients to something that approximates Doug.
- Doug Holland in a business simplicity & fun with the business. Yes, he works more than just about anyone, but there’s no debt, no leverage, his employees are making gobs of money, and he wears pink All Stars to work.
- Greg Anderson (RIP) in a “you can do whatever the hell you want” manner. Thought with clarity and had a way of cutting to the damn point. Also had no reason to write a great letter for me at a critical time in my life, but he did.
- Jeff Tomaszewski in a “this is a business and here’s how you keep it that way” manner. He had no reason to share marketing ideas with me but he did.
- Blair Wilson in his candor and love of Texas barbecue. Plus he’s close enough to me in age that we can relate to each other in that way.
- Luke Carlson on how much he’s willing to share without asking. He has a full business training system, but he’s also shared a great deal that someone would be keen to at least listen to when building their business.
What does the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes? HA! Here’s a normal day:
- 5am: alarm goes off. I climb out of bed, grab my clothes and take a quick shower. Dress in the bathroom/shower because one or both of my sons has made it into our bed in the middle of the night and I don’t want them awake.
- 5:15am: begin to make coffee & breakfast. This means a pour over drip cup for me, a press pot for Sarah, and pan-friend plantains & scrambled eggs for the boys.
- 5:30am: bring Sarah’s cup of coffee into the bedroom and tell her that it’s 5:30am. She asks me to check on her in 5 minutes. Feed the 3 dogs.
- 5:35am: Tell Sarah it’s 5:30am, glare into the dark until she grudgingly gets up to shower.
- 5:40am: When I want to leave for work
- 5:50am: When I actually leave for work
- 6:01am: Start my first client.
Let me tell y’all: automatic thermostats and setting your first client up the day before are like MAGIC.
What have you changed your mind about in the last year re fitness business?
That people will eventually figure this out and we’ll be out of a job. Two figures:
- According to the CDC, 47% of the United States population has 1 or more chronic condition. And they’re getting older.
- According to Stu Phillips, only 8% resistance train according to survey data. This means it’s an overrepresentation, so the actual figure is likely closer to 5%.
If you’re not an idiot, can clarify your differentiators, and actually have a cohesive system for guiding a client/generating feedback/asking for new clients, you’ll have a market and a job.
When you hear the word successful, what does that mean to you?
A few items:
- A loving, stable marriage.
- Being a great role model for kids who love and respect me and the example that I’ve set.
- A successful business that turns a profit, provides trainers with the opportunity to self-direct and grow, and helps keep me swole. I like being around my clients. I like hearing about their lives. I like the confidence they put in me, the personal things they trust me with, and the jokes they tolerate/ laugh at on a daily basis.
I feel that I have been able to grow and succeed thus far because I’ve applied business principles AND not shied away from being myself.
Thanks again for the interview, Lawrence! I hope y’all find it helpful!
Skyler Tanner 
Thanks for another awesome interview, you’re one of the guests I could listen to all day. As I mentioned on the show comments, I’d love to hear/read more of your thoughts on nutrition. Specifically fasting mimicking diet vs protein sparing modified fast for improved bio-markers and body composition.
Cheers!