Hustle Her
Hustle Her
Hustle Her - Betty
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Have you ever marveled at the dynamic force behind a business that breathes life into a community? Betty Doyling, the bubbly soul at the helm of Be Active for Life, joins us for an intimate chat about her evolution from a figure and fitness competitor to a beacon of health and entrepreneurship in Bermuda. Her journey is not just about squats and protein shakes; it's laced with the warmth of summer days, the comforting crunch of homemade nachos, and the melodies of a daughter's violin practice that resonate in a mother's heart.
Betty's candid reflections on personal training aren't just about counting reps and setting records. They're a testament to the unwavering human connection and adaptability that have sculpted her path in the robust fitness industry. Her strategies for client engagement shine a light on the real hustle behind the muscle, detailing how personal follow-ups and an ear to the ground have been pivotal in her 18-year voyage. Our conversation flows from the necessity of a sustainable diet to the jolts of personal health revelations, painting a picture of a woman who listens intently not only to her clients but also to the whispers of her own body.
As we wrap up, you'll feel the pull of Betty's magnetic energy and the finesse with which she juggles the worlds of entrepreneurship and family life. She opens the doors to her personal struggles and triumphs, from the missed family events to the childhood dreams that shaped her vision. Tune in to grasp how Betty maintains her pulse on success and wellness, and don't hesitate to connect with her for a dose of inspiration that could very well redefine your fitness trajectory.
It's time for hustle her podcast. I'm your host, deshae Keynes. Hustle her is all about inspiring women through real life experiences that have helped to mold and develop not only me but my guests into the entrepreneurs and leaders we are today. If you're an enterprising woman determined to succeed and looking for a bit of motivation, a bit of tough love and some actionable takeaways to be the best you girl, you are in the right place. My next guest is the owner and founder of Be Active for Life here in Bermuda. Welcome with me, betty.
Speaker 2Doiling. How are you? I'm well, thank you. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1Yes, I'm so excited that you're here. I love your smile is the same every time I see it. It's just like big, it's so genuine and like that's just you all the time. I love that for you. My smile is very forced sometimes, not because I'm not happy but I just just a little tight.
Speaker 2I don't know how else to say it, but like I just I love people have genuinely nice smiles.
Speaker 1I work for this smile. If you see a good one, I worked hard for it. Oh goodness, how are you doing today?
Speaker 2I'm doing well, thank you yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, did you train any bun today?
Speaker 2I did. I had a class this morning and then I had I trained with them this morning, so it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1Yeah, betty, I need to calm my due.
Speaker 2I really do. I know I inquired, but I got to.
Speaker 1I got to get my life together.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean just try, like come and test it out.
Speaker 1Okay, all right, I'll hold you to hold me to it.
Speaker 2Hold me to it.
Speaker 1I'll get my life together one day, all right. So let's start out, get the, get the listeners to know a little bit more about you. Just quick, rapid fires, and then we'll jump right in. All right, so what was your first job?
Speaker 2Oh, my very first job was I worked at Taco Bell in the United States.
Speaker 1I love a good seven-layer burrito. Don't see, that's my problem. That's why I'm not in one of your class. What's your favorite season? Definitely summer. Okay. Favorite animal Cats.
Speaker 2I used to have three.
Speaker 1Cats. You're a cat lady, Betty. I love cats.
Speaker 2I love them. They're so nice and even though they have like little attitude issues, you just bond with them still in that way you can't train a cat, like they don't like to struggle. My cat used to like hit the little bell that we kept on the door to go out. Yeah, you can train them.
Speaker 1All right, I'll just have to believe you on that one Favorite color.
Speaker 2I like all colors. I don't really have a favorite.
Speaker 1Yeah, I can't really Not even one.
Speaker 2No, I just like colors yeah. Just as long as it's colorful, you're fine, I don't even look for a specific color when I'm shopping. I'll just like, yeah, anything.
Speaker 1I merely just go to the black section. I'm just. All right Favorite food.
Speaker 2Notches. Everybody knows I love a nacho.
Speaker 1Where's your favorite place to get nachos in?
Speaker 2Bermuda. Oh, I don't, I make them myself.
Speaker 1Oh.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Well, you ask your culinary art artist.
Speaker 2I like it at all, yes.
Speaker 1Okay, all right, I like it. And then what would you say is your favorite song right now, a song you have on repeat?
Speaker 2The Rihanna, one from Wakanda, because my daughter plays it on the violin, so you know the kind of sad one. Yeah, yeah, at the end that they play at the end, yeah, okay, I can't remember the name of it, though. Okay.
Speaker 1Yeah Well, at least Rihanna's making music again.
Speaker 2So we can also have a sigh of relief from that.
Speaker 1So tell me a little bit about the idea of starting Be Active for Life.
Speaker 2Well, I was person. Well, sorry, no, I was competing in the figure and figure fitness competitions here and I was just doing it so consistently and other people were asking me to help them out, and I was just like I should just do this, definitely for a living, because that's all I'm doing, basically. So in 2008, I opened up a business.
Speaker 1Be Active for.
Speaker 2Life. I was working at another local gym here and then I decided to leave because I was like I can just do this on my own.
Speaker 1Wow, yeah, so that guess I'll be like the driving force that kind of caused you to kind of go out on your own. Yeah, it's just like.
Being an Entrepreneur and Personal Trainer
Speaker 2The competition's really a lot, because even before, before working at the gym, I was competing then as well and I just liked doing it, yeah, and other people trusted me as well to. It's a smile, buddy, I'm telling you, it is. So when today in class they were like well, I don't scream at them, I'm not a screamer, and I'll do smile at you, but I will tell you to do something and smile.
Speaker 1But you still need to do it. Yeah, I'm just still gonna do it. Yeah, no, I totally get it, I mean, and when you kind of went out on your own. So you've been an entrepreneur now well over 10 years. Yeah, it's 14 years, which is significant, because a lot of people don't make it past that five year mark. And so what's your? What would you say is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
Speaker 2My favorite part and I was actually literally telling my client the other day is just being with people. I'm definitely a people person and I get to be with different people every day and different ages. I like my golden girls that I work with and I like the young people too, but, yeah, I just like the variety, yeah, and then I just love the feeling, the feeling that they feel after working out, especially the golden ones. They definitely they just have a different take on training and I really like it. Yeah, because it's just functional for them. It's just helping to age carefully and safely.
Speaker 1I love that, yeah, also the golden girls or the more seasoned people in life. I love their outlook on life.
Speaker 2You know what?
Speaker 1I mean, they're also at a stage in life where they don't care what they say, like they're done trying to make everyone else happy. They're just like. This is how I feel about something, and this is what I'm going to say.
Speaker 2Right out, can't wait yes.
Speaker 1Genuinely cannot wait. Like what would you say is when you look back and you're like, hmm, my most successful or most satisfying, actually moment being an entrepreneur.
Speaker 2I think my most satisfying moments being an entrepreneur, I guess it'd be moments it's just like helping people through their injuries, because I have clients that have had like broken ankles and knee problems or they've had a surgery of source but they still continue to train throughout that season and I think that that just makes me feel happy that I was able to help them recuperate as well.
Speaker 1Yeah, so how do you navigate there being so many other people in your space in terms of, like other personal trainers or people that do this full time Like I feel like from when you went full time entrepreneurial, be active for life to now I feel like there are so many more?
Speaker 2I would say almost 100.
Speaker 1Literally New people out there. It's like a new fad, right, like everyone is like oh, I work out in the gym, I can do this now, like how do you navigate all of the new people coming?
Speaker 2I think that every personal trainer here in Bermuda has something to offer, and there are so many people here obviously that need fitness, and from different approaches. So sometimes my happy go lucky, fun approach doesn't work for someone else. And then some people they want more of a screaming trainer, or they may want someone that's in a gym and not on the outside. Maybe they don't want everyone in that space, or maybe they don't want group training, so I think that there is a trainer for everyone here, even though there are loads.
Speaker 1There are loads, genuinely. Every time I see like a new this time of year, january, so all the ads and everyone kind of going out and I'm like whoa, I didn't even know you were a personal trainer.
Speaker 2You know what?
Speaker 1I mean. So I just find like sometimes it's all it. Just we were talking about it earlier how sometimes people see someone doing something successfully and then they feel like they can do it as well. But I love the idea that you said that there is enough business for everyone. There's different styles.
Speaker 2That's also really important. Yeah, and I think that is important that you are friendly and you reach your client through different areas, like when someone doesn't come to class, I do call them or I message them, like I try not to let you slip under the radar. I may miss a couple and that's just human. But I try to follow up with all of my clients, whether it's personal or group.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's important Cause, let me, I'm gonna be there full of clients especially those morning classes. Yes, I'm just joking about, and you're just so close I know there's really no excuse.
Speaker 2I'm just saying it really is no excuse.
Speaker 1Your classes at Bull's Head. There are no excuse. I should technically be running there for the warm up and running back. There's no.
Speaker 2But just drive there, cause I'll get you there faster. For now, maybe. Yeah, I'll just figure it out that way.
Speaker 1But yeah, what would you say are like the top, kind of not necessarily skills, but I guess skills that you would need, or someone would need to be a successful entrepreneur, cause being in the game full time 14 years is no joke, right, especially in Bermuda like being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. Like, what are those things you think make you successful? Or someone else would need to be successful Resistance.
Speaker 2Persistence and actually having a goal for yourself as well, cause it is a business too, yeah. So, like a lot of times, like even with class registration, that fluctuates like it doesn't always I may not get as many people as I got last time so you still have to be persistent and still go for it. Don't allow yourself to become discouraged yeah, because a lot of times it could be discouraging if you're not pulling in the same numbers or you have those dormant moments. Summertime it really drops because people are hot, they didn't feel like working out anymore, they're partying, so it drops. But you just still have to kind of stay in the game, okay, that's definitely.
Fitness Business Success, Overcoming Health Challenges
Speaker 1Consistency is definitely keen. It's difficult sometimes to be very consistent when it comes to certain things, so that's definitely the case, but you do a really good job marketing yourself, right. I think you have a lot of different avenues that you kind of get your name out there. So how did that like? What are some of the things that you do?
Speaker 2I write in the paper bi-weekly health articles, health fitness. I post videos all the time of classes and I also do my little health nuggets at church. Yes, it keeps me out there. Yes, so that paper is a very big avenue because I think, out of sight, out of mind, and especially since I'm not in a mainstream gym, I do have to do all these little extra things, but I enjoy them. Yeah, I enjoy doing it, but you definitely have to. And then posting on social media Facebook, instagram.
Speaker 1Yeah, you're very active. Yeah, no puns, but yes, I try to get out there. Yeah, as much as possible. How did the paper writing? How did that happen?
Speaker 2They actually contacted me to ask me if I wanted to write for them, and I've been doing it for quite a long time. Yeah, it's been a while. Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1And you actually share your life on there as well, especially the most recent, and I'll let you kind of tell that story. That kind of happened, but with that you've also been very open with things that you've gone through personally around in your own health and fitness journey. So I think that's really helpful too, I think it's important to be personal.
Speaker 2I personally, I know people are private, but I personally don't see any reason to hide various health aspects of your life, because it can definitely help other people. Yeah, and I think with my business and being a personal trainer, I think it's important to reach people on that level as well.
Speaker 1And also being able to connect right. I love the fact that you still eat. I enjoy it. There's some and when I say eat, not starve yourself, but you still eat like food, yes, there's a lot of personal trainers out there that are very regimented about what they eat and it's really it's not very realistic for some people. And that's one of my favorite things about online.
Speaker 2You're like, if you're enjoying whatever, it is not just a friend, since you're like, I'm gonna eat this, but I'm also gonna work out later too, right?
Speaker 1Give a little balance, feel for what's going on. That's really good.
Speaker 2And to be honest though, deshae, that didn't happen automatically, especially during competition time. Competition time it was so rigid, like I would go out and I have my little tuna in a bag and I would have my vegetables inside, and then I thought that was the only way to eat until afterwards. And I found some balance afterwards because now I know that I work out, I can have this, I can have nachos every day. I will never do that, but I will have nachos maybe on the weekend, and then I'll try to eat pretty good throughout the week. But I may have a cookie too throughout the week. Yeah, yeah, cause that's normal. Yeah, you have to be balanced, otherwise life isn't fun.
Speaker 1And then you kind of fall off to me right?
Speaker 2Yes, when it comes to the whole dieting thing.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's just not always good to go so rigid, and then you know I might want a cookie Like you said for me it was not cookie, it's pasta. But yeah.
Speaker 2Well, that's why I always tell everyone, like, whatever diet that you actually are picking is has to be something that you stick with. It doesn't make sense to say, okay, I'm going to do whatever the newest diet is, and then say, okay, well, in three months I'm going to get off of it. Then you're just going to go back to how you are. Yeah. So pick a plan and stick with it for your life.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah. So how do you continue to build a successful customer base over 18 years Um a client? You call them clients, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2Um, by referrals, Most of my clients. I remember when I first started out I would put off posters and take them to a shop and put them up there and laundromats and stuff like that, and he's had the ones with pool and number.
Speaker 1It's 2008. What a crazy time, and all of that.
Speaker 2But now I think most of my clients are by referrals, like I would say 98% probably now is by referral.
Speaker 1Wow, that's really good, yeah, so from I guess, like we were talking about earlier, you share, like a lot of your story and a lot of the different things that you kind of gone through, and I think they're one of the real reasons why I want to talk to you today, when I've initially reached out, was how open you are.
Speaker 1Like we were talking about before and you just had the most recent experience, Um, we're, and I remember reading it before I even knew what was going on and I remember reading it. You were like just realizing that wasn't really losing any weight and like things, just it was just different. And you went to your doctor and that's how you found out, and I'm leaving it to you to kind of like walk us through what happened.
Speaker 2Well, I was just noticing, like over COVID, I was like I'm putting him away and I was like I knew that I was baking. I was everyone's baking who was baking. Yes, yeast was sold out, I could have found yeast on the island, I know. So I was baking loads and I was eating, but then I was still exercising, even during COVID. I knew how many laps around my yard made a mile.
Speaker 1Oh, wow it was like crazy.
Speaker 2So I was still working out and I was starting to put on weight and I was just gaining Cause. Normally I would stay like a four or six area and I was like six, eight, and then I was like closer to eight, 10. And I was like this is just not normal, like some things not right. And then I was like, well, maybe it's because I'm over 40 now, maybe that's the reason. So then, but I was also having um milk production from my breasts and I was like what's going on there? And I remember it happening, like checking, you know, just during my exam through COVID, and I was like, well, maybe that's something normal ish, but I was like, probably not. So then, as soon as we were able to get checkups, um, I visited my OB actually, and um, she told me immediately she was like it's probably a prolactinoma. She said it's common, but and most likely they're not cancerous. So I was like, but cancer could?
Speaker 2be, cancer, you know. So then I went and had another checkup as well and he my other doctor, dr Jameson said that it was definitely a prolactinoma or Macro adenoma, which is basically a small Mass on your pituitary gland.
Speaker 2Yeah, so mine was a macro adenoma, which is a larger version of it. So the dangers of that was that it could get near your arteries, your optical optic nerve, and then it could cause your sight to go as well. So I was like so they did site test and I was fine. I was having some headaches and that was another one of the symptoms. As well, I'm in and waking.
Speaker 1Mm-hmm. Wow, yeah. Well, you don't realize how much your pituitary controls like your body, yes, yeah, all your major hormones, yeah, all of that. Well, I mean, I've got my medical degree from Grey's Anatomy and so I.
Speaker 2I said that all the time and people look. But if you watch Grey's Anatomy you know, that's how I found out about. Some of you said the pituitary was like, oh my gosh, like they had one on there, yeah yeah, more than one, I think.
Speaker 2And so I, when I remember reading it and I was like, oh my gosh, it's like a live episode of you know Grey's Anatomy going on so then walk me through, like what happened after that so after that I went and had a consult with Boston National Hospital and we did an online consultation because still COVID at the time.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2And Dr Jameson was amazing. He definitely he was there for the consultation as well. So anything that I didn't understand he was able to Relay to me and they said that they could remove it. It was important that I did have it done, and then Zavya was coming home so I was just like, okay, well, let me figure out when I can have this down. This was of January a year and a half ago, yeah. So they suggested that I get it done that summer. So I picked June 16 and Went to have it removed and luckily, on the actual day of my surgery, the restrictions have been lifted so my husband was able to come back with me, which otherwise I would have been a mess Because you know, like you, you're there at the, at the, basically at the entrance of the hospital, and then they were gonna say, well, he had to go.
Speaker 2Oh, wow then the lady was like Monday Um, people there. She's like, oh yeah, he can come back. So that was the best part. In the hospitals of course, are great. Out there, yeah, and here, I'm sure to yeah.
Speaker 2But yeah, so I was able to have it removed was about three and a half four hours, and Things have been gradual. I haven't, like I've lost, definitely lost weight since that time, but it did not happen very quickly and that's that's why, like even with the new year's resolution stuff, you can't, you can't say, well, I'm gonna do all this stuff because it doesn't happen that way. Yeah, like I went and had this to be removed and I lost weight, but it's not drastic, it's gradually going, which I'm happy, and I think that's what we should all aim for this gradual, gradual way. Yeah, because when you do lose it fast, you definitely put it back on.
Speaker 1Definitely even more sometimes. Yeah, yeah, so how? How did you navigate the business during this time?
Speaker 2Oh yeah, so I did a lot of things online. I was able to do my private clients online. I did take a month off of Class, though, because I couldn't, and I didn't even get a substitute, because it just wasn't financially savvy for me, and I was blessed to have clients that wanted me back.
Speaker 1That's a risk right. It is giving up like clients. Yeah even like sometimes a luncheon, or you don't even like taking vacation.
Speaker 2No, no, I only go away max two weeks, because if I'm away longer it's like I do have clients that want to maintain their fitness. So three weeks without your trainer is kind of like Look at something else. You gotta kind of keep their eyes focused.
Speaker 1Yeah, exactly. No, I got it. Yeah, you must are afraid to take vacation sometimes and during this entrepreneurial kind of journey. So I guess during that time and you took the month off, yeah, clients wanted to keep you was it difficult to get back into the swing of things during that time. Um, I was able to walk.
Speaker 2For me personally, I was able to walk, so I walked a whole lot. I was walking up and down South Shore. I couldn't lift any weights, anything above five pounds or anything, and if I did do classes I think I may have come back like that last that fourth week and everybody else take everything out of the van.
Speaker 1So I just get this stuff.
Speaker 2It's help me out, yeah, and they were very open to that yeah, very open. And then my private clients. I did online and that's where I think COVID opened up that window, because before we never thought about that, I was like, well, I can't come to your house so I'm not gonna be able to come today. Yeah, now they have weights at the house or I'll drop weights. During COVID. I drop weights to my clients so that way that they can have some weights to use?
Speaker 1well, yeah, so, but how many like private clients you could you do house calls, those things? Yeah, yeah, how many clients like I think I'm about 15 right now 15 privates. Yeah, there's a lot of privates, yeah you do them like weekly.
Speaker 2Everyone has at least twice a week. Yeah, I have about three of them that do hours. Most of them are half hours. Wow, yeah 45.
Speaker 1Yeah, I don't even think about house calls sometimes I just forget, like that's an option, like when I think gym or personal trainer, I think going physically to the gym here, yeah. So what do you do to stay on top of like the business, being at the forefront of what it is that you do, because you know there's always a new fat coming out, a new machine, yeah, a lot on a mirror, all these types of things. What do you do to kind of stay on top of all those things?
Speaker 2Well, I always do continue education. Ace offers loads of continuous education avenues, loads of things like just topping up on health or working with older adults or Whatever you that you need, and also we also get educational videos sent to us, so like ideas of different training methods and new Diet fads and yeah coming out and stuff like that.
Speaker 1Do? You got a lot of people that want like the dieting side of it as well, like yes, yes, you provide that holistic approach, or is it just kind of you stay on the? I definitely.
Balance and Success as an Entrepreneur
Speaker 2I definitely provide a holistic approach or I'll refer them out, because I think I do have a lot of client base with the classes and Private clients. A lot of times I can't focus on the diet portion as well, but I'll refer them to someone that will help them out and work with them.
Speaker 1So how does being an entrepreneur or Fact your kind of like personal life, like because a lot of times and I can only speak to it because I'm one as well Like we kind of forego Families, family things, because, like, why can't miss, you know, if I don't get this today?
Speaker 2I may not eat tomorrow. Yeah, how?
Speaker 1do you find the balance with all of that?
Speaker 2Well, I know that I like, for instance, with emails of a client messages me at nine o'clock at night about changing a session, I'm like on it because I can't say no. I'm like, okay, let me get on this right now. So I think that I think the my family understands that different things I may have to do, because even my husband was like well, you're up every single morning, like you don't have a morning that you don't get up early.
Speaker 2Yeah what's early? Six, okay, yeah, like six o'clock. We were out the weeks. That was like my Tuesday, Thursdays. I'm like 5 30. Yeah, so I have to leave at least by 5 40 Dash to town so I can make class, yeah. But um, I I think that I do put some parameters on myself. If it's something that definitely can wait, I will wait it out, or I'll just make sure that I'm doing the things that I need to do If the kids are here and they wanna watch a movie or whatever, I'll make sure I do that kind of thing with them, that's good.
Speaker 1yeah, finding that balance is important. I feel like work-life balance is not our thing. I feel like you can never. Something always cracks. But I know for me there's been times where I've missed family stuff, which I regret it now and I'm definitely trying to do better with one, doing things that are worth my time. That's the first thing, but then also not missing those moments because of work. It's hard, but I'm trying.
Speaker 2And that's what I also think, that with the competition life it was so different. I would miss way too many events because either I was like, oh, I can't eat that, so I'm not going, or something like that, but now I go, and if I'm not really eating that, then I'll still have a little something.
Speaker 1So do you miss competition.
Speaker 2Sometimes you miss that look just being super chiseled all the time. But then the other time it was like no, that life is so hard.
Speaker 1It looks hard. I've seen people who are just like they jump.
Speaker 2You're miserable.
Speaker 1Yeah, I know, I was working as a lady once who was going into competition and she ate every hour, but like a chipmunk it was either nuts or grass. It was nuts and in between, and then the week of competition, she didn't drink any water. It was pretty intense. I remember being 16, working and everyone was just like this is not normal. It was crazy.
Speaker 2Yeah, I used to say it's the most healthy and unhealthy thing that you can do. Wow, yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, I guess to get that look, especially during competition time, it's probably not the most healthy thing today.
Speaker 2And mentally it's challenging to see your body change so rapidly after training for like three to six months. And afterwards you're like phew.
Speaker 1Yeah, well, yeah, you just go back up a little bit.
Speaker 2You just go back, yeah.
Speaker 1Do you, if you could go back like, would you start your business earlier or are you, like, comfortable with the timeline that you've had?
Speaker 2Actually, I was very I'm very proud of myself for being able to start the business when I did, because that was when the recession was yeah, 2008.
Speaker 12008. It's a very fair point, yeah.
Speaker 2So I would keep it the same yeah.
Speaker 1And then growing up. What did you want to be growing up? A nurse.
Speaker 2Really, yes, yes, I wanted to be a nurse. I've always wanted to. But then, I think, once I did decide on the training aspect, I realized I didn't want to be a nurse because I didn't want shift work. I wanted to just work in the day and then go home and sleep at night.
Speaker 1I'm 12 hours shifts on a new joke Like none whatsoever. Like now. My sister's a nurse and she works night shift. It's no like her sense of timing in reality is just off completely. It's the weirdest. You call it five o'clock in the morning and she's like eating a cheeseburger because like that's her lunchtime.
Speaker 2You know what I mean.
Speaker 1It's so off, but yeah it's. I don't know, I feel like the health, but health like that type of profession, the medical field is very similar to what you do, though You're still helping people in that way.
Speaker 2Yes, so it's kind of like similar. Yeah, yeah, still helping them to stay healthy In some form.
Speaker 1So what would you say is like your why in life, like why you wake up and do what you do, and what would that be?
Speaker 2I have to say I wake up to help people, like I wake up to see them. I actually like think about them. You know, like, oh yeah, this exercise is for her.
Speaker 2Like she's just gonna complain, but she's gonna like it you know, or we have the sled and I'm like oh yeah, she's gonna say this, you know like. So it's kind of exciting even putting together the exercises and knowing the people that I'm working with and I tend to keep a lot of the same people, so I get to know them just a little bit better than I would just seeing them, you know.
Speaker 1Yeah, yes, and then what would you say is successful for you? Like, I feel like sometimes, as entrepreneurs, we never really define success, like what that looks like for us in our businesses. Like, how would you define success? Or is it more so like a this was successful for me this month, or what does that look like?
Speaker 2Yeah, I think it's more itemized. I think definitely it's like um well, this month I was able to, if I say I wanted to have 16 people on the financial side, I was able to to um got you yeah or this month Sarah lost weight or this month, yeah, yeah, so it's more out of my stuff that's really good.
Speaker 1So you have a lot of clients who you walk into their journeys and they they are like because you you live a lot of your life online, right? So you have any, a lot of them that are okay with that, or do you get like some push and pull some times with?
Speaker 2those Such things normally they would say it ahead of time. Yeah, they would say it and I'm normally, when they start out, I let them know that I do post on social media or I'll take a picture of them during the session, even on my sister-in-law. She didn't. She didn't like photographs at first, but now that she does, and I think that building that confidence over time and I feel like I push you to be a better version of yourself as well, mm-hmm, so you feel more confident, so you're okay, with a photo here and there cuz I've had clients that are like no, no photos of me period.
Speaker 1Take a photo today.
Speaker 2Yeah, so they definitely um. They're Definitely more encouraged over time coming around to it. Yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, I love that positive Definitely because, especially you start to see the difference when you start losing weight. I feel like you get more comfortable with With the idea around working out even more. Yes, like for me, if I lost five pounds, I'm like Put me in a bikini, like okay. But then I'm also in the other way. If I've worked out once, I'm like well, we're other results.
Speaker 2Like you know what I mean.
Speaker 1So I'm my own worst enemy of that too. But, I totally understand the being a bit more comfortable with what you look like after working out, which must be fulfilling as a personal trainer.
Speaker 2Definitely, it's just nice to see them change. That's a that is a huge part of my success, I think just seeing people change physically and mentally yeah.
Speaker 1Come a lot more confident. I think you're confident in your body as well.
Speaker 2Yeah, definitely, I see them outfits or something like that. Yeah, you dress for sure.
Speaker 1Yeah. So if you could like kind of go back in time and talk to your 18 year old self, what would you tell her?
Speaker 2Oh, I would definitely tell her. Your butt is great, it's meant to be the way that it is. Leave your fabulous, just leave them alone, don't stress, and your hair is amazing. Yeah, the Kardashians are gonna come around and have a big butt will be a thing again, that's cuz, that's all that everyone wants. Now, that's the truth. I remember being in school. I'm like, oh, I want to wear these jeans. Just squeeze it so it's smaller.
Speaker 1But I mean, we went through a time where, like those low-cut, there weren't jeans for oh no black girls. They were ridiculous me, not me, but you know yeah, people like well. Or blessed.
Speaker 2Yeah, they were like super low-wage, they were just ridiculous. It would just be half of yeah, no.
Speaker 1So did you get like a? We very insecure about that.
Speaker 2Definitely, definitely. I never want. I never wanted to have a bum like ever really yes, because I went to school with people that were not my body type and I think that that definitely Put like a little mental spin on me, like I was like I don't want this.
Speaker 1I want to be just like them.
Speaker 2Wow, yeah, look how the world has changed. You got people paying so much, yes, so much, so much, so like in the course span of what?
Speaker 1what? 20 years?
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, even less than that, because it's been enough fat for a while now.
Speaker 1Yeah, people paying for you. Know what black women were ashamed of?
Speaker 2yeah, years yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah. So I think that's also really good for perspective of you coming, when you're a personal trainer, just having a body type that's more reflective of what a lot of people look like Mm-hmm, and I was always muscular, as a child, even like and people around me weren't there was like oh, you have big arms.
Speaker 2It's just such a horrible thing to say to someone like you. Can't say stuff like that anymore. I like at all.
Speaker 1People who just come after you. Yes, cannot do that. No, yeah, so I like that, though that's what you would tell you. And your hair? Leave your hair alone. Yes, yeah, yeah, that I think that's something I would go back. I was very uncomfortable with my hair growing up to the point now where I probably would never go natural Ever again. Never haven't been since I was like 10. Oh well, I feel like it's me now at this point creamy crack any day. So when you think of, like being a woman and being a mom and being a wife, like what does that mean to you? What does being woman I am woman, hear me roar like what does that mean to you?
Speaker 2I think I'm just feeling feminine and feeling strong and feeling comfortable in my skin. You know it'd be being a woman for me, mother, just being making sure that you just take care of your family. You know, cook Mm-hmm, I love to cook. I don't feel like it's a great day if I haven't, like made something, or a week Like I feel like I need to make something. Yeah, even during competition mode, I would make desserts and give them to my friends to taste, because I couldn't taste it.
Speaker 1But it was. You wouldn't even like taste the bowl. Mm-hmm, that's some serious discipline.
Speaker 2I would call my friends over. I'll be like, come over here. Is Charmaine one of my main ones. I was close to me at the time. I will say come over here, come, come, get some of this really quick, because I would make all this stuff and just give it to, just because I like to see the satisfaction in their eyes.
Speaker 1I was kind of like living my dream through them that I couldn't live there is not a chance, a chance in how that I could be making the brownies that you had the other day. Yes, and not have licked the batter a little bit, mm-hmm. I wouldn't touch it during competition now. Yeah, no, that's some disciplines, mm-hmm.
Speaker 1That, that should be your tagline for the business moving forward. This is how. Moving forward oh my goodness, that's crazy. Okay, so what are some things? What would you say is like the formula to having such a successful business for as long as you have like as an entrepreneur? Not necessarily formula like one plus one equals yeah but what kind of sets you apart, you think?
Speaker 2I Think what sets me apart is one I feel like I am the only full-time person, trainer that is, that does both classes in private. I think I'm the only full-time, or at least I was for a while. Yeah, I think that you just really just pushing Like I think, just like your logo hustle.
Speaker 1You kinda gotta hustle it a little bit.
Speaker 2Yeah, you definitely have to hustle a little bit. You can't like like I have someone that emails me for training like a new client. I have to kind of get on that, Because there has been times that I've lost clients because of that. I'm someone who messaged me and I'll say I'll get back to them. And I haven't got back to them because you get busy. So like I'm working all day and then I didn't get back and they're like okay, I found someone else. So you kind of have to jump on every opportunity. Being an entrepreneur Can't let things slip by, Unless you just know that it's not worth your while for some reason.
Speaker 1But yeah, and for me when I was student, full time, in particular, I had to almost forecast for business three months out. So I wouldn't feel it these three months be fine, but the next three months, like if I wasn't forecasting, if I wasn't actively searching for new business or whatever that may have been marketing, whatever, I'd be fine. And I'm like, oh yeah, things are great. But then, three months from now, you're like, oh, wait a minute.
Speaker 2You know what I mean, but I learned that the hard way, so 100% learned that the hard way.
Speaker 1I never. Yeah, you get bitten once as an entrepreneur and you won't let that happen to you ever again. Yeah, it's definitely the case. So what would you say is giving you hope right now, like you're keeping you going forward in the business Client still?
Speaker 2Really. Yeah, my client base. I literally thanks one of my clients the other day because I'm like you stuck with me, I went through my tumor time, like just various things that have happened in our lives, and they still stay with me and I'm thankful for that and I think that just brings me hope, absolutely.
Speaker 1All right, Betty, so I always wrap up. Time went by real quick, right.
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 1Like I said that like maybe four times today, but it is genuinely the truth. But obviously at the end of all my episodes, I wanna know what my guests wanna be remembered for. So what would you wanna be remembered for when you're no longer here and someone says Betty, or they reference the business Like what is something that you wanna be?
Speaker 2remembered, for I just want them to know that I genuinely cared about them. You know that it wasn't just about financial for me. It's that I genuinely want to see you succeed, and I think that they can feel that, and I think that's why I have the business that I have with the clients that I have Amazing.
Contact Information and Fitness Journey
Speaker 1Oh, thank you so much, Betty. Yes, so for anyone who wants to get in contact with you, if it's for personal training or to follow your journey a bit more, how would they do that?
Speaker 2They can contact me on Be Active for Life, or they can contact me on Instagram, and they can also contact me on Be Active ptgmailcom Perfect all right.
Speaker 1Well, thank you again for joining me today. And, guys, like Betty said, if you wanna get in contact with her, you can definitely do that on Instagram. She's always showing what's going on her classes, all those different things. I'm sure you can find something that works for you if you're interested in personal training. I know now it's a time of year to get on top of our goals and to maintain or to figure out if we wanna lose for the remainder of year, whatever that may look like. But, once again, don't forget to like and subscribe, share this episode. If you got something from it, leave us a comment in the comment box and if you wanna learn any more information about the podcast or learn a little bit more about Betty, make sure you go to the website wwwhustleheartpodcastcom. And thank you for listening.
