Made for More
Made for More
Will Thomas: From In-Person Training to Online Coaching
Join Reagan and guest, Will Thomas, as Will shares his experience and systems from taking his personal training business from an in person job to online.
This episode is great for those in the fitness space who are looking to take their business online.
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Friends, hello, happy Tuesday. This is when this little intro is being recorded and I don't know if you can hear it through the mic, but it is a perfect, beautiful day here in Southern California and the sun is shining, the birds are just singing and chirping outside and I have my window open like itching to go outside. I have a little bit more work done, but I'm just so thankful that it's starting to get warmer and feel better and I just there's such a direct correlation between the weather and my mood and, two, being able to get outside and get sunshine and your overall energy and your mood. So if you're listening to this and you do not get morning sunshine and you do not take little breaks throughout the day to get outside and get some sun and just get it directly on your face, not only for your sleep cycle and for regulating your nervous system, but also just from the mental space of like I promise, if you were in a rut throughout the day and you go outside for five minutes and go on a walk or get some sunlight, you are going to feel better, like 100% you're gonna feel better. So I encourage you to go do that and make that a priority for yourself and inside of your routine. That was a lot sorry, but something that I've been thinking about today is it's so beautiful outside. I am so thankful that you're tuning in.
Speaker 1:Today we have a guest who is a friend that I have had on Instagram for probably the past year and it's been super cool to see his business and his Instagram and just his. You know who he is as a person grow over the past year. He is a personal trainer, will Thomas, and now he has taken his business online. So this podcast episode is going to be really great for any personal trainers that are looking to take the space online or to switch your business online and hear some of the pros and cons about it and kind of how Will has made that switch. So super excited for you guys to listen. This is a little bit more of a niche episode, I think, but I'm so glad that you're tuning in Now. You can hear the construction going on outside, but I yeah, let's get into this episode. Enough of me, hello Will.
Speaker 1:Hi how are you doing? I'm good. I am good. We were just talking before we hit record and just saying how busy this week was, but I'm so glad that we got to make time for this and I appreciate you making time for this Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, every week is busy, but it's helpful to know that you have other people out there who are grinding too, so it helps.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we were saying that it's such a blessing to have your own business and to have the flexibility, but sometimes that means that you're working like 12 hours a day and just emotionally drained at the end of the day. But I wouldn't have it any other way, absolutely yeah it's more money, more problems, but it's not even money.
Speaker 2:It's just like more responsibility, like it's yours.
Speaker 1:More passion.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you care about it so much more Like it's you never want to stop. So yeah, I agree, yeah it's such a blessing.
Speaker 1:So for the people listening, tell us a little bit about Will and where are you from? What do you do?
Speaker 2:San Antonio, texas, so like an hour and 15, an hour out of Austin. But I'm a personal trainer and a nutrition coach Been focused a lot on runners in the past year and a half. Fish Started running and was looking to find a strength coach that would coach me to have what I wanted strength-wise but also like get results running, and I tried out a lot of coaches and I couldn't find one. So I was just like, well, like let me just try to make that space and so I approach running differently. I work with your run coach and I focus on the strength and nutrition. That's been the focus lately.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I've been on my own with my own business, my own training business, since COVID. I was at lifetime before that and so I got kind of late whenever we talked about either working for someone else or working for yourself, because I did, and so more passionate about it now. But that's what I do. But my family is very important to me. My family is very important to me In terms of hobbies. It really is working out. Like working out started as like a confidence chaser, like I was just trying to be a more confident person. Somehow I ended up majoring in it and making a career out of it, and it really just started with like needing a boost and so that's really cool. So, unfortunately, the gym is my hobby, but I enjoy it and yeah, I guess that's a little bit about me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's always so hard when people say what's your hobby? You're like, I like working out, like my exercise and my job is my hobby, but you enjoy it.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I started therapy the last like seven months to kind of deal with like the ups and downs of business and things. And he's always like you need to go do something other than I'm like but but I love doing that and so but I'm trying to find time to like just chill, like in, like be off of our phone and not have like time where people can contact, contact you whenever you encourage them to contact you all the time.
Speaker 2:And so, like you want them to talk to you all the time that you need to be able to recharge as well, and so it's finding that balance.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm glad that you said that, because it really is something like. I know you're this way too, just because of the kind of person that you are, but love communication with clients like.
Speaker 1:I literally tell people on phone calls I'm like I would rather us over communicate. You're not a burden if you text me, because if I didn't want you to text me you wouldn't have my number, or, like I would tell you not to. But that does come with. You know people getting text messages all throughout the day that if you don't create that space for yourself, like you will you build up resentment towards the people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, things that you love, yeah, and then it's like the product just gets worse, right, like then we. Then we're burnt out. And it's clear we're burnt out because we're like forgetting things, or we're like coming off of a call, like in a mood or like like you know, there's so many different ways that it's important for them to feel like they can come to us at any time but, also teach them like to respect their time, just like we're trying to as well.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean, because I think the thing that everybody like infuses is that they like try to go like all in for like, like if they're super intense with fitness and health and they burned that, they burn out and instead of just like slowing down, like put your phone on, do not disturb in the morning if you don't want some of the contact you as well, like. That's not practice. I don't take my phone off of do not disturb until a certain time and it works and it helps to give yourself those like those boundaries. Boundaries are hard to establish that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a really good point about do not disturb. I'm literally like have maybe three people that can come through my list, but I I know you can relate to this too but I I'm not a big like texture with my friends or relationships or things. I literally went back the other day and I counted how many texts I had received in one day, whether it was from like a friend, from my mom, from you know, like clients, literally just any text. I had 50, 50. And when I look at that I'm like if I did not take space for myself I would go insane. I would go insane.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the product gets worse against. We're less sympathetic. We're less sympathetic, we're less patient. Like it's like I tell everybody, like they're like well, how are you like working for yourself? I'm like, imagine your job, but you like never get off. They're like sounds like a lot.
Speaker 1:I'm like it is, yeah, like a Saturday, wednesday, same day.
Speaker 2:That's the role, that's what it means. So what I'm learning is it's really like it's a pace to yourself kind of thing, like it's easy to like increase in business, like so fast, and like gain all these clients, and then you can't maintain it. Yeah, like a monthly or mentally, or just like logistically, like you can't, and then the product gets worse and then fall off happens, and then it's just like that constant limbo. For at least I'd rather go slower now that I'm four years in than I did year one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that do you have a day that you practice is like a Sabbath, or a day that you don't work at all.
Speaker 2:Weekends. I really try not to. I used to exclusively take client check-ins on the weekends and so like from like it was, like it was like I think it was like one to five Okay, so like the weekend was booked straight through and so it works out on the client and kind of. But then on my end I had, I mean, monday through Friday you work. I guess you take it a little bit lighter Monday through Friday, but not much. And then Saturday and Sunday you do check-ins. It's a big block here today. So I didn't ever give myself time off ever, and so I try my best on the weekends to not schedule work. Like if I find time to work, awesome. I tell clients like we do where my big check-in days Friday whatever changes have been made, I'm like I can't guarantee you that we made by Saturday, but they will be. Or Sunday, but they'll be made by Monday afternoon, got it?
Speaker 1:If.
Speaker 2:I can get cool, but just don't expect me to, because I don't have. I don't give myself like work deadlines on the weekend but I mean I would still work. You still text clients back, you still check in on them. Week starts like the communication part doesn't ever end, but I get myself no due dates.
Speaker 1:At least yeah, that's fair. Yeah, I take Saturdays as my like day off, unless I have a client that's starting Monday and I can't do it Sunday. But yeah, I think it's important to not have it. It's nice to get your calendar on a Sunday or Saturday and not have anything scheduled.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, it's very healthy, like it's pace, it's patience, right, it's something that comes to mind.
Speaker 1:So you went to just kind of, you've been in it for four years, yeah, okay, so you went to school for.
Speaker 2:So I went to school for exercise science. I graduated in 2018 from UTSA. So, yeah, I was an exercise science degree. I found the gym like right before high school ended and I couldn't really picture any other like major. I was passionate about the gym at that time in my life and so I ended up going exercise science route, loved it, was there for four years and learned a lot, honestly. And then I got an internship at Lifetime at the time in 2018. Lifetime was like hard to get into and so at least where I was it was, and so I did the unpaid internship and just grind in and then I think I came into like day one with already like six grand like a big sale, like a big sale for all these sessions and it got me the job. And so, with that Lifetime and COVID hit.
Speaker 2:Honestly, if COVID never happened, I don't know if I'd be doing this like for myself. I never even imagined it before COVID happened, but COVID actually changed a lot of things because it made it more online focus, right, and I had more in person at the time anyway, but nonetheless, it kind of like you started looking at that direction, like I think I would still have been alive and I was just trying to like climb that ladder and so, yeah, covid happened, freaked out for like two weeks and just was like I don't know what I'm going to do because I signed a non-compete and so I mean, I know it doesn't really matter, but I was stressed about it right. I was like I can't take any clients like this and I'm pulling this on enough, kind of thing. And then I had a call with my manager and I was like what are we going to do? He's like just do what you have to do right now.
Speaker 2:I was like can I like train clients like outside the gym? And he's like whatever you have to do until we open back up. And so I was like cool, oh, we shot through a few clients because one of my clients made like a bunker, like a bunker jam in his apartment, uh garage. He put like a spot rock or treadmill dumbbells. I was in it and nowhere was open at the time and so clients would come and work out there and I'd like train him for a discount or something. And that sparked everything. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's amazing. I, um, I have some, uh, go to lifetime now in California and have some friends that are trainers there and, like when I was stretching with one of our friends, like I just didn't realize that you're literally there all day, like it is 11.
Speaker 2:I was there 11 to eight. I had class. I'd be a group classes, but the group classes there they used to let you play your own music on your own. Big like, big speaker like in everybody is like we were allowed to like cone it off, so you know, like everybody stretches, yeah, what are that? Do they have like that jungle gym thing there?
Speaker 1:Uh, yes, and like the alpha something.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, there's like a big space. We still like to block it off. I could play like 2000s throwbacks.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And it was like you can make it like a spectacle. You know what I mean. So, like a lot of people were like would like not be working out, would be like watching class and like feeling like you're on stage, like made the coaching like that much more intense and the music was good. It was so much fun. It was so much fun. But I think they changed. They changed a lot of those things before I left. Like they took away the space, they took away the music and made it like overhead Kind of like took away the energy from it and like the ambiance, at least whenever I was leaving. But they're there all day, like we were there all day and you get like a portion of the sales.
Speaker 2:You get like 25 or 30% of a sale. Wow, and the service and so it's like it's not much for you're selling. I sold 18 grand one month and I think I left like 4500 bucks.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, that's a lot. Um, that just shows that you're passionate about it, though.
Speaker 2:But it shows the grind, like it's taught me a lot, like it teaches you how to, like you know, you get around more people and you get more comfortable selling which is an important thing for a trainer and you become more personable. It's helpful. It's a grind.
Speaker 1:Definitely a huge part of your story and part of your journey. So you were doing all in person clients 2020, which, that's crazy. That was four years ago. Oh my gosh, um, was that your first switch to being online?
Speaker 2:I think so. I had a lot of in person clients that were still, that were training with me at lifetime but just knew somewhere to train.
Speaker 1:Okay, so department gym.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then I think I I think I like squandered up some kind of money, like the last money I had and like ran some ads for San Antonio or whatever. I think I got like a few. And then I made like a like a little like pre pre written program Okay and I made. I made that and started selling that and kind of just started trying to be more social, more and yeah, very many online at all.
Speaker 2:If anything, it was like 50 bucks on her bucks like here or there. You know what I mean, but it was. I think it was at least a year until like, I really dove into it like the percentage wise of like total business It'd be like 10 to 25% max, like that first year, year and a half.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, um, what so? Whenever you did, when did you completely do you do any in-person training right now? Or when did you completely shift completely online?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do in-person training. Now it's minimal. I don't really like advertise it too, too much. It's just people in the area that I know, um, whenever. I guess when I shifted focus to online, uh, I had to have been like a year and a half, almost two years ago. Okay, like it's been a minute.
Speaker 1:Okay, what was the driving force in shifting and wanting to go online? Was it like a time perspective, money perspective?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would say more time, like being able to like. For me, it's always been about being able to help more people, like being able to help more, like it's not just in like a city by itself, but more so like being able to impact more people. But then also like freedom of time, like the idea of I had this grand scheme. I was going to like it was going to take me a few years to like really grow it online and I was going to that time I was going to be in Colorado and then it just happened a lot quicker than I expected and like I'm blessed, right, and so I, because I got a house. I didn't plan like when I bought this house, even a year ago, I probably was like 50% less and so it was like starting to kind of take over.
Speaker 2:I was doing it like passively but, start focusing on really aren't the past year, year and a half, yeah.
Speaker 1:That's amazing. And you have your home gym too, which is sick.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's dope, it's cool to have it, but, like man, I never leave my house though, so it's like the gym was always like my. You know, I always, I always go to the gym and work out, so it was like my social time. I learned that through therapy that I need that social time because of my ADHD and so like I like I recharge my battery, like socially, because I get I'm hyperactive, so it's not like I just can't pay attention, but like I want to talk to everybody else time and so, yeah, so like home gym blessing, best thing ever. I would never go back to a gym, but it's been like a little bit of a challenge mentally, like losing going to the gym, like I still have a gym membership every once in a while, but I mean you can control the vibes, yeah.
Speaker 2:You don't have to wait for equipment, and so like, efficiency wise, it's awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and especially as out the driving time to and from the gym. But yeah, it was like we're built for community too, so I could see where you know you. You have that need. You need to be around people. If not, it gets lonely and depressing when you're just sitting. You know in the same thing.
Speaker 2:I've seen you've done a lot of traveling though, so, like, how is that Like? That's something that I've been able to do, but it looks. It looks like it brings a lot of like peace and balance to everything.
Speaker 1:And it's like the online dream it does. If that's one thing that doing online clientele has allowed me to have more freedom with, traveling for races and stuff too, like which what I've been traveling for recently but I think previously travel was something that is like a dopamine hit of maybe me trying to run from something I don't know, trying to figure that out. But now I'm in a place that like, okay, I'm tired of traveling, I just want to be, which fills, a healthy place to be at. But yeah, I mean, traveling for races and stuff like has made things so much more fun. So my heavy days are like, yeah, high rocks, I wasn't.
Speaker 2:Sorry to interrupt.
Speaker 1:It was great. It was great. Yeah, my Amy was incredible. I didn't feel properly for it because I saw so many friends there and just at a 2pm race and like was talking and I was like oh my God, I have not eaten enough and like literally thought I was going to pass out during it. But then I did DC with a partner last week and literally ate so many carbs and I felt so incredible.
Speaker 1:So, it makes me excited. And then I leave for Houston next week because I'm doing doubles with one of my guy friends. So let's do yeah, so just travel. But if you want to jump in a high rocks race, come up to Houston.
Speaker 2:I've thought about it Every time I train for it. I train for it like seriously, twice and I've been like I hate training like this, like I like doing workouts like that, but I don't like training like that, like predominantly, because it's like my least favorite things, Like I don't get to run slow and I don't get to lift heavy, right. I've been doing everything fast and sprint and it's. I've tried it twice and I'm like training this sucks, like I might just step in one day and just die, but like training specifically, I like to get competitive and so I think I can, and then I'm like dude, I hate this, like every time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's tough. I mean, it's definitely a different style of training. But I hope that a lot more people start getting into it which I definitely think I will, and I hope my friends get into it too, because you look at the workout and you're like, okay, that's not bad and I'm like, I know, I want you to try it. Like it's rough, it's rough.
Speaker 2:It's like zone three, zone four, zone five work Just just nonstop. It's rough.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely so yeah, but it's fun, fun training like that, I agree. Yeah, it just makes you feel like an athlete, but once you train for it for a while I'm today I'm like I'm ready to get back into just bodybuilding and like building muscle.
Speaker 2:Yes, I agree. I agree, happens to me every time and it's like I don't know how to average it in without it taking over, because I get excited. Yeah, that's just another trait of mine. I get like really excited about things, like really quickly, yeah.
Speaker 1:No, no, no, Maybe actually.
Speaker 2:Yes, literally, dude, it's everything, and so it's like, it's like no, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's tough, but we're working on it.
Speaker 2:I agree. I agree Lifetime thing, get the taste forever.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly. So when you client-wise, when you started building your online business, did you take, like, did you was your initial goal to switch the clients that you were doing in person and transitioning them online, or did you completely drop those people and pick up online clients? How did that work? Because I know a lot of people are wanting to get into the online space and, like for me, I'm grateful, like it's a blessing that I kind of got into it four years ago before everything switched online, because I you think it's harder now. Honestly, like I really do think it's harder to grow, but I don't want to say that and create a fixed mindset around it. But I think it is more challenging and there are more challenges. Come up with it.
Speaker 2:There's more efficiency. People are doing it more, so it's just more competition. It's going to make it everything harder.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know a lot of people do want to make that switch from in person to online. So, for anyone listening like, would you have any recommendations or have any tips for that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I really do think that deep down, in person clients and online clients are different. Right, like you've worked you and I both worked with people that when they start online, they're just not, they just don't adhere to it, like they really do need to go see someone in person, like I mean it sucks, right, cause you lose the client and it sucks because you enjoyed working with them, but you just know you're like no, like they really do need to go see someone because they need that, like that support. So I would say, right now I'm still sticking in person clients, but I'm taking people who need like in person and also, like I enjoy my in person clients like like in a fricke of friend I'm more fricke friends with them.
Speaker 2:Like yeah, I'd have a dinner and I hang out with them and, like you know, and so I would say for a person foremost, like, understand that you can have both Right. Like, for me, I only train in person in the morning and I take everybody online after my workout, so it can be anywhere from like 11 to 11 to one I start until seven, and so it's going to make sense and it works. But I would say it also, like it's like when someone is trying to become a trainer, like, don't yet quit your job until, like, you can financially switch over to training right Cause then it takes less stress off right, it's not like a you're trying to grow it in a stressful way because you have to, because it feeds you, but you're trying to grow it because it's a passion, right. And then when it turns into a job, it's things change Right. And so I would say you, I would encourage people to understand that you can do both if you're able to schedule your time.
Speaker 2:But I would say, let the people you have in person just feed you financially and where you can pump more into online and shift your focus to online, like, just maintain the people you have in person and then and then transition to one door online. But nonetheless, like if you're ever going to lose an in-person client because they don't want to pay that the higher price point that's an easy moment to shift them to online. So I wouldn't like make a jump necessarily, I would kind of just let. I would recommend maintaining those who fall off, transition them to online and then when you want to shift to online, just do that.
Speaker 1:So with cause, I've never done one-on-one training in person. I know I would say average online is probably anywhere from 250 to 350. I know some people are a little bit higher online but I would say industry average is probably 300 ish. But what's the like? How much is in-person training?
Speaker 2:It depends on what you think your hour is worth. You know what I mean. You know you're higher than you expect to be. When people want to do offline For me, I can. I charge you nowhere from 75 to 100 per hour. But I don't nickel and dime them for like writing their program right, their nutrition program, like like our session, 30 minute sessions, like I don't you know it's just that's what you pay me for that, for that many sessions per week, and then I take care of everything else.
Speaker 2:That's kind of how I do it. But I mean in person is it's cool because like online almost misses that, feel that like Working. I mean, if you've never trained someone in person, I think you would enjoy it because you're very like personal and you're very like you're a relationship builder.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm like naturally, and so it feeds that, like that in person training, like being there was someone to push them through a workout, like it's not like Elected, they do on their own. You're there pushing them to that point, so it's like it's really satisfying but, it's cool and they feed.
Speaker 2:They feed different, different needs, I guess of mine at least energy wise. Like I need ADHD, like needs that in person and wants to push, like in person, very Direct and straight, and like come on, like like I'm very I wouldn't say motivating, but I'm like I'm on their ass, right, but more so the trainer that like wants to, the group trainer that like likes pushing people, like that. So mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:Okay, got it. So you could. I mean, if someone Wanted two sessions a week, like that, I mean you could be paying up to a thousand dollars per month. Someone could.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would say like right now, two times a week in person with me. With me would be 800 a month. Okay and that comes with the training that they're doing outside of working with me and their nutrition program and checking.
Speaker 1:Got it Okay. Interesting. Always just been curious about the the in person.
Speaker 2:If you have people that like fill your cup, like as an in person car you're gonna see them two hours each week, like Like people that are like a drag to train, it's frustrating, like you want more than they do and it's like very, when you're in person it's very clear.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, interesting, okay, um, have you, do you feel that? Because I know that you're gonna get into some business coaching, which we'll talk about in a little bit but, um, do you, how do you online keep clients engaged and Motivated and accountable? How do you do that? Phone calls, check-ins, what does that look like?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a lifelong question. Um, I do so. I like video check-ins. I like to make I try to make online feel the least like online is possible, right, like it feels very disconnected sometimes. You know what I mean. And so I do video check-ins. I keep them to the same days each week to give both of our lives some kind of Consistency. I would say they're scheduled wise and so they pick whatever day they want, wednesday through Friday. They can pick different times each week. It's just the same kindly check-in link and then we meet on video each week. I text check-in. I try to text check-in three separate times. I remind everybody to check in because people always forget, even if it's the same link. They just won't. Unless you like, send them a link, even like here do this again, send the link same text each week because they people need to be reminded and so.
Speaker 2:So that would be keeping people like checking in wise, but like keeping people motivated is it's challenging, but it you try to really get to know them, like you got to get past I would say get, get a get past the level of prescribing workouts and nutrition and like I can you see like they're upset, like hey, like what's wrong?
Speaker 2:Is everything okay, clients cry, crients, get very frustrated and they they want to quit and you got to be able to like talk them down, like it's just a naturally like it's. It's working out in health and fitness and nutrition specifically. As you would know, nutrition specifically it's very emotional. It's a tie to like their habits and their feelings and you know they're, they're coping mechanisms and stuff and you see all that as a trainer and so I would say the best way to keep them motivated is get to know them. Like past, like a money level of them paying you as much, right, like don't dig, but like encourage, like them to talk to you. If they do, I would be keep them motivated.
Speaker 2:It's also, I feel like as a trainer, like training really hard yourself keeps the fire going Because you're motivated for your own goals, and so I would say that's a big thing that I do as a coach that I don't think all trainers do, but I think more trainers should. It's like have their own coach, like have a check in with their own coach, like don't write, like I like to have someone else write my workouts and check in with them, to like hold me accountable and be a client myself and experience it from like my end and pay for a coach and like pay the same thing that I'm asking them to pay me, and I think that helps as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love the idea of. I mean, I love working with different coaches too, because you learn more like systems, you learn more how to speak to people. You know, I'm sure, like I've worked with coaches that I Take a lot from, and then some I'm like, ooh, I probably wouldn't say that to a client, like being on the wrist, and so it just helps you communicate and Understand people better. But I think, for listening, like I definitely go through seasons where I'm like, okay, I need a coach in this season. Like I need accountability and I'm human, right, like I, you know well, sometimes forget about a check-in, but it's Me paying for something helps me show up better and like I tend to, yeah, what other people more accountable to? So Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it gets. That's a. That's a big part. For me at least, is like being in the client spot. It makes you understand more.
Speaker 1:Yeah it's. Let's see. I had some questions and I was gonna ask you let's see, let's see, let's see. Okay, so with scaling a business online, are you Trying to do that right now, or are you still in the process of just building your initial clientele?
Speaker 2:I would say I'm still very much so. Scaling, yeah, okay. What do you mean whenever you say, like how there's a difference, like, between building clients, initial clientele and scaling?
Speaker 1:Yeah. So like, are you for me? I'm okay with the clients that I have. Like I'm not trying to add on another service or, you know, have someone work under me. Like I'm just, I just want to take care of the people that I have. I know a lot of people get in the industry, get very money hungry, which is very short lived because people can tell but in you know things, I mean eventually we'll just kind of get a crap. But a lot of people in the industry are like, oh, I'm going to scale this business and I have 15 clients, so I'm going to hire someone under me and work on this and like always just looking for the next thing, which I think is really fine. Like, eventually you can only take so many clients. So you have to.
Speaker 1:You know, have some passive income, but are you at a place that, like, you're offering different services outside of your initial thing, are you trying to hire people Like, what does that look like for you? Business wise? Like, how, like, how can you make more money?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm not trying to hire anyone like to train other people I'm not at that point yet to where I'm not growing out of bandwidth there but I have, like an assistant on for like organization things that like being able to better, better, keep track of clients progress, right, like I would love to be able to see every single person's trainerized every single day, but that's it's a lot.
Speaker 2:And so not meaning that I'm not checking out their progress, but more so meaning that you know there's things that I want to like I want to spend more time talking to them than I want to do computer work, I would say, right, so I have an assistant that like goes and inputs all of their workout data into an Excel sheet and updates it each week and then whatever check in notes we went over on their check in, like there's a summary, there's objectives and like what we, what we said, we're going to work on going into the next week, all that stuff. So that way on there in there, we're more accountable because we can see okay, this is what we went over last week, you've been lifting, you've been doing the same squat for 12 reps for three weeks in a row. Like, are you hurt or are you just not pushing Like so that way I can help the needle get pushed forward more? But in terms of like trying to hire other trainers on, it's hard to find someone who does it the way you do who cares?
Speaker 2:as much as you do and who works well with you. Like I've, you know, envisioned working with people a lot before. It's challenging, and so I would say it's a service. Right Cause then if your name is on it but they're not, they don't, they're not as empathetic as you are. That changes a lot, Right, and so, in terms of like bringing people on, no, but I'm trying to I can handle more online because I've gotten a lot more organized and so I'm still trying to grow, I would say.
Speaker 2:but I'm not trying to like take new people on and have other people work on their meeting and eventually maybe, if it gets there right, but I would like create like a really good product first, and more so a service than a product cause. It's a service and I'll be just on that right now, improving the service as much as I can on my own.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I like that. I think that's a great. I like what you said about it is hard to think about hiring someone under you, because I mean you know this could sound very selfish and egotistical, but like I think we all think this of like no one's going to care, like I do, or no one's going to have this communication aspect down, like I do or can change. So I mean it is, it's a lot and I that's. I just I love the fitness industry. Sometimes I hate it, though, because there are so many people that just have all these coaches that work under them and if I sign up to work with a coach, like I want to work with that coach because I was like I do connect with them.
Speaker 1:You know people through media and you you know you can tell, because coaching is something that's very much a connection and like having a vibe with someone, not just. Here's your macros and here's your goals for the week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then there's people who care, who want to talk to their clients every day, and there's people who want to get by on these hundred fifty dollar programs and like. They're like really trying to convince people that it's going to. It's going to, this is the solution. And they're like. You know you and I both know it's not like. Like it's, your 12 week guide is not going to make them lose 50 pounds.
Speaker 1:Like it's you know.
Speaker 2:So it's. I agree with you. The fitness industry is frustrating and a sense of it's, and that's a lot of over promising and under delivering, and I try my best under promise and over deliver because of that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you'd rather be on that side of it for sure. Did you have a coach whenever you decided to go online? Did you ever invest in any business mentorships, or is that anything that you did I've had?
Speaker 2:the same business mentor for almost two years now. Okay, that's a bit that was I mean for me whenever I was at lifetime. Other people would meet with like one manager a week but there's like four different departments I would meet. I would meet with each one because, like I do better, they DHG and me understands, I've got a lot of things and don't finish a lot of things, and for me it's it's always been a no brainer for me to have my own business coach because like I need someone to hold me accountable, like I need, like I can just not work and just wake up any day and just not work Like I really can, and some days I really want to.
Speaker 2:you know what I mean. Like you're like I'm tired, but like that's, it's always been like a game changer for me. Like I need someone to keep pushing the needle forward because, like I know myself and I'll, there'll be moments where I'm like like let me just have a week, right, but then that's it's been a game changer for me. So like having a business coach, and I had one a year before him. So I'd say, ever since I was online and could afford it, I think like six months in, I've had, I've had a business coach.
Speaker 1:So, more so, accountability Do they help you with the like systems and the building and the scaling side of things, or more so just checking in? Yeah.
Speaker 2:I would say they definitely he helps me with my systems because, and because I've worked with him for so long, like he knows me and I know him right what he's good at and he knows what I'm good at. And when you have ADHD or very emotions, my therapist said the best thing. He said that we have a lot of gas and we have very bad breaks, like mentally, and so I was like I use, like use a urethra Ferrari engine with Honda brakes. Okay, Like Hi, that makes sense because like we, in any direction we're going, whether it's mad, happy, excited, motivated, sad down, like positive, negative, it's very it can accelerate very fast and not slow down.
Speaker 2:So the ups and downs you know the ups and downs of having a business is just you know the like, the money fluctuations are frustrating and so get like really tied in emotionally to it to a point where it was like like affecting like my mood and stuff, and so took a step back and he's, he's helped me with that kind of like come down from that.
Speaker 2:But then also, like I pre-do content now, so like I don't, I try not to make up content on the fly, Like if I could think of something on the fly awesome. But I used to rely on that and I know that's not good. And so I like come up with like ideas and have them all organized, and I do. I do that on calls because I every month I do like a big, big content shoot and then that way I don't have to like drill it on social media so much mentally every day. So like little things like that. In terms of like identifying, like, I want him, like he's there to tell me like what I'm not good at and get in the way of me getting away with myself Right. So systems and processes that I may not be good at keeping up with, but his strength and his strength I don't understand how people that are like so organized stay organized.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's the most person I've ever met in my life and I'm like I don't know how you do that, but like it's a talent of his right and that's another part, like an important part of hiring a coach is like they need to be in good in the areas that you're not right whether it's a training or business coach or whatever.
Speaker 1:But yeah, yeah, that is. That's a good point. I like that of doing your content days that way too and having them scheduled out for sure.
Speaker 2:Mentally, mentally, mentally. It's just like you're not like, like I got to think of something, I got to think of something and then you're on the phone all the time. You need scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. It's not good.
Speaker 1:Do you scroll? And?
Speaker 2:you don't get created that. Then your content starts looking like everybody else's yeah, yeah exactly, but I just like rather not posted that point. And you won't and you're like I know I got no one else supposed to do that, yeah, do you try to post every day? I try. Six days a week, I try.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just a little bit of your grocery or what it you're like. Costco runs, sure runs, like you do. Edit your videos yourself.
Speaker 2:Those ones that I can do that quickly, I will. But I have a photographer and he edits everything, and it's been like a new investment the last like two months now, dude, I would recommend it 10 times.
Speaker 1:I was thinking about that the other day Like I can use, but it's just that the time and the mental energy.
Speaker 2:And then unfortunately you can't be egotistical about like mental bandwidth, and that's one thing. It's not a time bandwidth, it's not a motivation bandwidth, it's not like a lack of care, it's just like you can't keep stacking the play Like you can do it as long as you can, and then everything's going to fall.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That's so true, and so that's yeah. Dude, it's a game changer, it's 10 times out of 10, but you have to get along with him and they have to be able to like, bounce ideas off of you. It's a lot, yeah.
Speaker 1:But it's fun. Okay, maybe I'll look into that as my next. Yeah, absolutely, definitely worth it. So you're going to get into kind of wrapping up, like tell us you want to get into some business coaching and helping other people that where you were, get to where you are now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's something that I'm passionate about in terms of like, like the accountability side, the organization side, the getting in front of errors before you make them like business wise that's been the biggest game changer.
Speaker 2:I would say, like my coach and I have, I've, he's, we're growing like simultaneously, so I've been able to see his business grow too. Okay. So being able to like get in front of errors that people, that every business owner is going to make, in terms of just like wasting your time on things, that's probably like the biggest thing, is like the type of things you'll waste your time on, and so being able to hold people accountable, keep people motivated and help them like navigate, like the emotionalness of the business, and that's what I'm passionate about, and so I I'm a little bit I would more be more so in depth than just coming in and, I would say, showing systems and dipping, like I want to be more involved and cause I've learned, I mean that's been the biggest help for me.
Speaker 1:So yeah, if something I'm looking at accountability, the accountability side of things. It's like a therapist for your business.
Speaker 2:Dude, and it's. It's just like being able to stop you from like freaking out about something you don't need to be freaking out about Like. So I'm looking around to like gather the words, but that's. That's been the biggest like that I've learned is like you'll go in one direction for a week or two riding this program that you're never going to use.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean, and especially like with like getting better at selling and talking to people and communicating with your clients and teaching them all that that's it's. The sooner you can get that figured out and get the systems in place, the smoother the business is going to run. You're not going to lose a bunch of clients.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what's the? What's been your favorite thing about being online with clients rather than being in person every day?
Speaker 2:That's a good one. For me, I would say my favorite thing has been like a way I can start like dreaming you know what I mean. Like what if I just moved to Colorado and and like like on my end? So like on my end you can, you can dream right, you can go buy a house somewhere else and just like relocate, If you, if you, you know what I mean and it's cool Like I grew up with money, like problems growing up, and so financial freedom has never been a thing like that I could ever picture.
Speaker 2:And now it's like something that I could like personally. So that's like what I enjoy. That part for me, Like it's the kid growing up that struggled. It's cool to see that you know what I mean. And but on the client end, it's being able to meet people at a better price point and like really be like the last coach that they hire. Like not in terms of like wanting accountability, Like of course, every coach is going to bring a different thing, but I don't want them to leave working with me not having learned what to do on their own. I feel like I do that for more people online, and so those are like two things that that I've enjoyed a lot about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that. I love to manage more people. I personally think because I've only done group coaching in person but I personally think that being online allows me to connect with people on a deeper level. Like I feel like I know a lot about clients that probably their best friends don't know, and just like having those vulnerable conversations in a safe space. And it's like therapy a lot of times, which is a blessing, but I think it gives you because the people that like if someone's listening to this and you just do a personal trainer for an hour in the gym like one, they're probably not certified in nutrition, but two it's like you can have the best workout, but if your nutrition sucks you're not going to get the results that you want. So I think it you really get more, I think, online than you do in person.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you, you really do, and it's hard to convince people of that because it doesn't make sense, but it's like I'm with you all the time, like you're there with them for it. I even sometimes recommend that my that my clients go get a trainer for in person and then I'll take care of your nutrition, because I feel like one nutrition is more like all the time but, in general.
Speaker 2:I feel like with online, yeah, I'm able to connect with more people, I'm able to help more people Like my mission has always been to help more people find their confidence, because the gym is where I was able to find mine and it trickled over every area of my life, and so that's the ultimate goal is just to bring people more confidence. I think if the world is more confident and be a more happy place, to be more peaceful, I think all things would be better if everybody just had more confidence. So that's always been the goal.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it always say that the confidence that you build inside of your nutrition and like inside of your health, it truly does pour into every part of your life and I mean, I know that we see this too with just having our own business is that when I'm feeding my body properly and using the body properly, like in a way that helps me like I show up better for my clients and I'm a better person, and so everything really does go hand in hand.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's such a like. It seems like such a crazy concept, but it's. It's like. I think we're at the center of it. I think the coaches who take care of themselves do take care of people the best.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Love it, I love it. Well, will, where can people find you? How can they get with you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Instagram built by Will. I'm on TikTok but I'm not like on it on it.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:I'm not really posting videos there, but Instagram is going to be the best place, yeah.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Yeah, I will tag everything. Yeah, I mean, your content has been very professional. I appreciate it. I'm trying, dude, it's hard. I'm here, like you did, the investment that you're making, like you can tell so that hopefully, like that, will continue to Motivating. Let me help more people too.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. That's the goal. That's the goal of it all. So I appreciate you having me on today.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this was so fun. I love everything in the description and Will's such a great person. He's always in. You're always active on social media, so you can always shoot him a message and ask him questions, if you have anything. I don't know or anything, any time, 24 seven, yes, yeah, 24 seven, with boundaries.
Speaker 2:Yeah, with boundaries, you don't know that they're invisible.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, that's it for today and thanks everyone for listening.
