You are nearly a quarter of the way through your year. Are you a quarter of the way to your 2011 goals? Do you remind yourself of them on a daily basis? Do you know what choices and actions you have to make on a daily basis to get there?
When your clients want to make nutrition changes the first step in change is assessing where they are now. You choose as assessment tool. Maybe you choose a nutrition log. Maybe you choose MyPyramid Tracker. You determine which one makes sense for the person you’re working with and you use it. You find out if they starve all day and binge at night. You find out if they underestimate their calories or if they’re actually falling short. From there you set goals for them. Otherwise, a client often thinks they’re ‘doing pretty good’ or that they ‘eat really healthy.’ But when they say that they’re only going by their own definition of what that is, not by the recommendations for their goals necessarily.
And so it is with you.
Are you stuffing your day with activities that are leading to a fat calendar but not reaching your goals. Are you fueling your business for the future or just getting by on empty “full-plate syndrome?” That is, are you running around with your head cut off working in your business without working on it so that this current status changes?
In Mindless Eating, author and researcher Brian Wansink states that the best diet is the one that you don’t know you’re on. Based on his research he concludes that we could each eat 100 to 200 calories more or less per day and not notice it. We know the math, however, right? That would either add up to a significant gain or a loss if it were consistent for a period of time.
So if your daily business habits aren’t where you need them to be to make a big impact on your career, don’t worry. And don’t go to the biggest loser business bootcamp and revamp all 8 to 10 hours of your day next week either. Look for the 100 calorie change. What would you barely notice as an either added activity or an eliminated time-wasting activity that will make a big difference in a month or a year?
Trainers on my staff who don’t reach their potential are those who avoid the phone. They don’t follow up with clients who’ve had a positive experience with them before. They don’t follow up with missed sales to keep the relationship going.
One small change for them? At the end of every day, they go through their missed-sale complimentary sessions for the day or their prior client lists and add one phone call to their task calendar. Then they make the call that was on their calendar for this day. It’s a simple system. It takes five to ten minutes and often less if they’re leaving a message but they have made a positive step forward. One phone call a day like that every day of the year and you’ll have rewards.You’ll feel more in control, for one. You’ll feel good about taking action. You’ll make a positive impression on someone whether they purchase immediately or not. Follow through impresses people. Remember a detail about them and personalize the call and you’ll go even further.
“Hi Betsy, this is Debra from Ames Racquet & Fitness Center! I’m calling to follow up on our session last week. Let me know how your back felt afterward and how the golf event over the weekend went for you, I remember you were concerned about that when we met. Reach me at xxx-xxx-xxxx at your conveneince! I’ve got some good news about an upcoming back care bootcamp you might be interested in.”
The other side of lack of progress is the things we are doing that sabotage our results. What do you do for lunch? Do you sit at your desk trying to work or read emails? Do you realize that taking 10 minutes out of the office to focus on your lunch, or to network with colleagues or potential clients is actually more productive? Eat when its time to eat. Meet when its time to meet. Email when you set the time aside to do it. Rather than let parts of your day blur into each other. Be present doing what you need to do.
Decide what you’re not doing now that would make a difference.
Decide what you are doing that is keeping you from optimal productivity.
Set one small daily change goal for each. Remind yourself of these every day for a month until it becomes a habit.
You’ll grow your personal training business. You’ll make your business habits a regular routine. You’ll set a great example for others around you.