Early summer 2015, my staff and I attended a business Summit in Phoenix, AR in preparation for our Functional Aging Specialist exams. I really connected with the doctors there, especially Dr. Dan Ritchie. Something about him just spoke to my heart and I decided to lay down a considerable chunk of money and hire him to be my business coach for a year.

Uncomfortable with change

At first, working with Dr. Ritchie, felt like a lot of busy work with emphasis on just making money. Numbers, numbers, numbers! I’m used to counting reps back and forth from 15 and hiring others to help me with the rest. I was definitely being pushed out of my comfort zone and had a meltdown. I had to reach out for help to unscramble all my mixed emotions.

Learning to ask for help has been difficult for me. Oh sure, I have help with my house, mowing the lawn, etc… The kind of help I’m talking about can’t really be bought with money. It’s the kind of help that comes from being in the trenches oneself. So, I’ve had to learn to ask for help when it comes to my mental and spiritual health. I pay it forward when others come to me for help and my life is better because of this.

For the past couple of weeks, you’ve been receiving a great fitness newsletter from me on Tuesdays. Up to two other times during the week, I’ve been writing a more personal newsletter, sharing a bit about myself, my struggles and what makes me tick.

Too many newsletters

I received a tip one day from a trusted colleague who suggested, “Too many emails turn people off and they will unsubscribe.” This really wasn’t news to me because I had the same concern when I committed to writing two personal newsletters per week for 5 weeks last year.

Self-doubt began to creep in. I started obsessing and worrying. Fortunately, I met with Dr. Richie one Tuesday and he reminded me that what I do by vocation is very personal. People want to know the person they may consider trusting their body, health and fitness to. If I’m honest about who I am, it will come across in what I write. What I have to sell as a Fitness professional is a very personal service, different from some other small businesses.

Learning about honesty

When I made the decision to re-invest my time and money in my personal training studio, I began to review all my previous efforts and among many, these stood out:

• I have almost 400 blogs on my website that are mostly just a bunch of words, saying what I thought you wanted to hear. I even hired others to help me write these blogs. Only about 10 or so were straight from my heart with regard to who I am and how I think and care about you.
• I also have almost 400 videos on my YouTube channel. Many are “How to” videos, testimonials from clients and again, others of me very uncomfortably trying to say what I thought you wanted to hear or me just being silly.

I had to correct some things in order to learn to speak to you from my heart. I know some of you will not resonate with what I share and may unsubscribe. Others will and have encouraged me, beyond measure, to keep telling my stories because they are relating to the “me” that works at her job with the passion of having been in the trenches.

Being honest; of course I want you to try my studio or come back if you left. Of course I want you to call me today, NOT unsubscribe and tell everyone you know about how I want to help them with their fitness! Here’s my personal cell 361-549-4604, should you decide to ask for my help.