The Obvious Choice

The team has a conversation about respecting other people's time and ways to manage unforeseen circumstances.   The Episode: Respect, Dawg   When you provide a service to clients and work with people in any capacity, how you treat those around you will have a rippling set of results on your life and business. Respecting other people's time is a foundational element of this, and keeping appointments and good communication are central. We all encounter unforeseen circumstances and emergencies, but people will soon get the message if you do not take the care to communicate well or appear to disregard their time. Whether these behaviors are directed towards colleagues, clients, or potential business partners, you will reap what you sew, as fewer and fewer people will work with an inconsiderate and selfish person. Respect goes a long way and is an important component of any trainer's skills and approach!     In This Episode The importance of good communication around plans and meetings [0:06:02] How bad communication and inconsiderate behavior can impact your work [0:11:58] The message you send when you disrespect someone's time [0:19:32] The real differences between succeeding and failing [0:23:36] Building habits around time management and scheduling [0:29:40]   “If I say I'm going to meet you at ten o'clock at a certain place, I'm going to be there.” — Jonathan Goodman   Better Communications Practices Good communication and sticking to plans show a level of respect that should be a baseline for us all. When you flake on a meeting or do not show up for an appointment it reflects really badly on you and your business, and this will have an effect on the short and long-term success you experience. People will generally not forget if you waste their time and energy, or if you do not seem invested enough to care, so make the effort!   Tools and Methods for Staying on Track There are so many helpful tools that you can use to stay on track, so why not utilize these if you are finding it tricky to keep up with your appointments? You want to avoid the message it sends when you miss meetings, as these events will suppress your ability to be successful elsewhere. Here at OTA we strongly believe that how you do one thing is the way you do everything, and sending the wrong message about your attitude can bleed into the rest of your work.   The Results of a Lack of Respect If there is one message we want you to take away, it is that you will reap the rewards of your actions. Time is the most valuable resource for all of us, so make sure to respect it for others! Ignoring this basic principle will only result in things working out unfavorably for you, so the awareness of what is important is central to your work as a trainer.   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   SPONSORS  Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

Today on the show we talk about the inevitability of being criticized on the internet as online trainers and how best to deal with these situations when they arise.   The Episode: Dealing With Negativity On The Internet   As an online trainer, the very nature of your business is to create content and share it – to share your opinions publicly, in a nutshell. We all know that sharing our opinions online will lead to some pushback though. This is inevitable because there will always be people out there with different opinions to our own. We can’t control what those people think but what we can control is how we respond when they share their response to something we have said. If you can prepare yourself by understanding all the different, opposing opinions to the one you have, then in a situation where you hear one of them, you will be much less sensitive to it.   In This Episode Why the hosts of this show don’t take negative feedback too seriously [0:10:20]  Planning your content carefully as a way of dealing with negative criticism [0:16:16] Understanding the arguments against a position before adopting it [0:17:20] Should you change after getting negative feedback, if you have prepared for it? [0:19:45] We all want to be liked, but this is not a justification for stewing after criticism [0:22:06] How to take negative feedback and use it as an opportunity to grow [0:23:03] Are personal trainers more inclined to care what others think and is this a hindrance? [0:26:17] How obsessions with content creation can make content less thoughtful [0:29:10] Getting clearer about your core values so your content is authentic [0:32:45] The Dunning-Kruger effect; legit coaches doubting themselves and vice-versa [0:34:25] Why it is important to share your knowledge if you have it [0:36:56]   “It is very easy to have a rash emotional response and get taken down by any kind of criticism or negativity on the internet directed towards you if you haven’t thought about what you are doing enough and why you are doing it, and all of the potential ramifications to it.” — Jonathan Goodman   Develop Resilience By Preparing Before Creating Content There is always going to be somebody who has a critical opinion about something you have put out online. If you truly understand what you are saying and the possible negative responses to it, you will be much more prepared to deal with them when they emerge. Following what Nassim Taleb says in Skin In The Game, you are only allowed to have an opinion once you understand all the arguments against it. If you understand the arguments against a point of view, but have still chosen to adopt it, this means that none of the counterarguments to that point of view were strong enough to stop you from doing so. If, on the other hand, your content is copied and inauthentic, the chances are that you have not gone through this process of truly grappling with why you chose it. Therefore criticism will be far harder to deal with.   Using Criticism As An Opportunity For Self-Reflection We all want to be liked by others and be accepted as widely as possible. Therefore if somebody criticizes you, it is natural to feel some sense of hurt afterwards. This is even more true for personal trainers. This is because part of the psychology of the personal trainer is related to making the physical body look as good as possible, which is connected to a need to be acceptable or attractive to others. What is not okay though, is allowing oneself to wallow in this negativity. A far more productive response to a feeling of being attacked after receiving bad feedback is to dig into why it is that you felt attacked in that way. The chances are that you could learn a lot about yourself and grow even more if, rather than just feel hurt, you stepped outside of this hurt and figured out why you felt it.   How The Dunning-Kruger Effect Plays Out For Online Trainers The Dunning-Kruger effect describes a situation where people who have a small amount of knowledge about a topic feel confident to share their opinion and vice versa. As we begin to learn more about something, we start to see the gaps in our knowledge and feel self-conscious about sharing what we know. This phenomenon is especially rife in the world of online coaching because the barrier to entry is so low. The problem here is that you get a lot of beginners spreading misinformation as a result. So, if those of us with slightly more knowledge spoke up, there would be overall a higher quality of information to be consumed. It is therefore the responsibility of those with more knowledge to share what they know publicly. Hopefully, this can help you feel more confident to share your knowledge if you have it.   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   Jonathan Curling: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A918crYnTvD-d2B6i4_uETfQWeZWMkPh/view   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd    Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

In this episode, we discuss when to hire trainers to work for you and how to build systems into your business that will allow it to keep thriving if you need to replace anybody.    The Episode: Growing And Hiring Trainers To Work For You   As your coaching business scales, it will require different strategies when it reaches different sizes, and an important one is how you go about hiring staff. At first, you will be able to handle things alone, but then, having an assistant becomes necessary, and after that, one or more full-blown coaches become necessary. Once you reach this stage, you need to make sure that your system is resilient enough to cope if you need to replace anybody. This is all about building redundancy into your roles, which can be done easily if you standardize your curriculum as well as hire people with the intangible personality traits that your program requires.   In This Episode 1. Different approaches for different stages of growing your business. [0:04:24] 2. The stage of your business’s growth where hires become necessary. [0:06:05] 3. How employees affect profit margins and new expenses they add. [0:10:05] 4. Avoiding becoming dependent on a coach you hired by building in redundancy. [0:14:00] 5. Standardizing your intellectual property and curriculum [0:17:00] 6. Intangible qualities to look for in new hires. [0:18:36] 7. How to find people with the right qualities to fill new positions in your business. [0:19:35] 8. Hiring people who are graduates of your program. [0:22:07] 9. Working around small problems with a new hire who is perfect for the role. [0:24:30] 10. Building a system that selects for people’s individual skill sets. [0:27:20] 11. Going back to first principles; restructuring a business operationally as it grows. [0:29:13]   “You can’t build a business where you are over-reliant on one person. It cripples you.” — Jonathan Goodman   Start Your Business From A Place of Self Awareness Before implementing any of the strategies discussed today, and before even starting your business, you must know what you want to get out of it. There are so many gurus out there these days who sell a certain image of what your coaching business should look like, but you don’t need to follow a particular model, and you should not try to implement them all at once either. Whether you want to be the sole provider of a service to your clients or grow your business until it has over a hundred employees, each of those models is totally perfect. Drilling down on what your mission is will give you clarity and purpose as you take the first steps. If you do get to the point where you need to hire though, this concept of honing in and narrowing down becomes applicable again. There is a misconception that one trainer you hire has to be good at everything so they can contribute to all sides of your business. Inevitably though, each person you hire will have a different strength, so leverage these strengths to optimize different sides of your business!   Different Strategies For Different Stages of Your Business’s Growth At each stage in the growth of your business, you will need to implement a new set of strategies. Taking your business from zero to one requires a completely different approach than from one to five, five to 20, and 20 to 100. The zero to one phase is all about landing some work and not following any system, but rather trying things out and laying the foundation for some systems to be built at the following stage. From there, once you have an idea of what your systems need to manage, you can begin to implement them. Then it is all about keeping the flywheel running. But as you do scale, you will reach different ceilings where your entire operational structure will need to be rebuilt. This has been measured and a general rule of thumb is that this needs to occur after you hit three, 10, 30, and 100 employees respectively. Bear in mind that your profit margins will go down as you start to take on more staff. Another thing to remember is that the process of hiring the right staff can also either make or break your business.    Building Redundancy Into Your Roles When you have reached the point where you will have to start hiring coaches to serve the audience you have grown, it is essential not to fall into a space where you have hired somebody who is so good that they become irreplaceable because your business relies on them. This is why you have to build systems that can cope if somebody leaves and you have to fill their place. The first way to do this is by standardizing your intellectual property and curriculum. Having a curriculum that drives the business rather than a person means that if that person leaves, their replacement simply has to be taught the curriculum for the wheel to keep turning. The second way of building in redundancy is by isolating the intangible personality traits your coaches require and hiring people who possess them. An easy way to do this is by hiring people who have already done your course because they already know your curriculum. Now all you need to find out is if they possess the personality traits you require, and you are good to go!   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

In this episode, our team shares and discusses twelve helpful thoughts on creating content for your online coaching business.   The Episode: 12 Thoughts On Content Creation   A big part of the work of an online trainer is content creation. Coaching your clients and reaching new clients on different platforms requires that you create impactful and helpful content to deliver your knowledge online, and the better you become at doing this, the more success you will experience in your business. Here we have listed twelve great ways to improve your process of creating content, talking about consistency, tracking, research, swipe files, and many more. These twelve tips are bound to take you up a few levels and make sure to stay tuned for the last one, that just might change your life!   In This Episode 1. Stop making things so complicated [0:11:32] 2. Be mindful of who your audience is [0:14:37] 3. Stay consistent with your posting schedule [0:18:22] 4. Have fun with your content! [0:22:42] 5. Target your audience and their needs [0:24:56] 6. Use keyword tools to gather information on common searches [0:26:54] 7. Listen to episodes 68 and 71 of this podcast! [0:27:56] 8. Maximize any content you make as much as possible [0:28:29] 9. Keep track of posts and their performance [0:30:16] 10. Start simple on a single platform [0:32:55] 11. Create a swipe file for your content [0:34:48] 12. Document and celebrate everything [0:36:09]     “If you have to say the same thing over and over again, put it in one place really well, and then refer to it always.” — Amber Reynolds   Simplifying, Mindfulness, Consistency, and Fun  The first thing to keep in mind is to keep it simple! Your content does not need to be complicated, complex, and above the heads of your audience, so just remember who it is you are speaking to. A part of that relates to knowing your audience, and then making content for them accordingly. We do not need to concern ourselves with people beyond our audience, let everyone else ignore you, and scroll past your posts. Next up is consistency; make a plan that you can stick to in terms of content frequency, and then follow through on that. We also would highly recommend having fun with what you post, it does not need to be overly serious and in many cases, fun and lighthearted content trumps the more serious, high-level stuff!   Targeting, Keywords, Past Episodes, and Maximizing Coming back to your audience, we want you to zero in on them and their needs, in their language. To help you with that, we recommend utilizing tools like AlsoAsked and AnswerThePublic, which provide great information on what certain demographics are searching for online. We have already had a couple of episodes of the podcast focused on content creation, so if you have not already listened to those, go do that ASAP! With all the different platforms and formats, make sure to maximize each piece you post, milk it for everything it is worth for the greatest reach.   Tracking, Platforms, Swipe Files, Documenting, and Celebrating A big piece of successful content creation comes down to tracking your posts. You need to know what is working and to zoom in on why it works. That allows you to enhance these features and double down on success. Another great tip is to make things more manageable by sticking to one platform early on, you can always branch out at a later stage. Next up is using swipe files; this means having one place where you collect and dump all your great ideas and inspiration for an easier process and those days when you feel like you have no new ideas! Last but not least, we want to remind you to document and celebrate every part of the journey, this is what will truly connect you with your audience and help you create the biggest impact.   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   Also Asked: https://alsoasked.com/ Answer the Public: https://answerthepublic.com/ Episode 68: https://www.theptdc.com/otp-68 Episode 71: https://www.theptdc.com/otp-71 Online Quote Maker - https://quotescover.com/tools/online-quotes-maker Amber's Brainstorm Method for Content  — Join the Online Trainers Unite Facebook Group to access   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

This is the second part of the team's conversation on the topic of building a training business on a budget.   The Episode: Building An Online Training Business When You're Broke Part 2   Many online training businesses are built on a budget and these financial limitations do not need to curb your growth and success. The key here is to make the most of your strengths, focus on the vital parts at the appropriate times, and avoid big wastage of time and money. There are some helpful ways to think and go about this and the first of these is to separate real, effective action from different forms of procrastination. If we are able to drill down on the important work and ignore the array of distractions around us, your business will flourish and your client base will grow. Bootstrapping a business is all about smart investments at the right time, and the key to these lies in the needs of your specific clients!   In This Episode The philosophy and psychology of getting things done without money [0:18:50] Avoiding waiting for motivation to arrive [0:23:49] The power of simplifying and bootstrapping your business [0:27:48] Make a proper game plan for spending on your business [0:32:14] Setting yourself up for the results that you actually want [0:39:36]   “There are a lot of things that we do when we are scared to take action because we might not quite understand what we should be doing or what we shouldn't be doing.” — Jonathan Goodman   Don't Confuse Spending with Action Fear of proper, forward-facing action can, at times, lead us to do other things that occupy our energy. Purposelessly spending money can be a real way to procrastinate and has the doubly negative effect of wasting your energy and your financial resources, both of which you need desperately. If you are a relatively inexperienced coach, you do not need to fixate on what other coaches are doing, especially big shots who are at a completely different stage of their career, rather focus on serving a few clients really well, and prioritize this above all else.    Keeping Things Simple and Cheap The simple act of saving where possible and bootstrapping parts of your business should never be underestimated. There is an infinite number of useless expenses at any given time, so do not fool yourself into thinking you are making progress when in fact you are just spinning around. A huge tool in this regard is coming up with a good game plan that takes into account what is appropriate for your clients and where you are at on your business journey.    Intelligent Spending on Your Business It almost goes without saying that when your resources are limited, as they usually are in the beginning, you need to spend your money intelligently. This means letting your clients co-create your processes through their needs. It is no good pouring time and money into features and elements of your business if they do not suit your tribe. Another important thing to keep in mind is the longevity of your investments. You should aim to put your time and money into things that are adaptable, transferrable, and actionable in the long term.   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC  

Today we have a discussion about the importance of focussing on your mental health.   The Episode: For Trainers Who Suffer From Mental Health Struggles   As trainers and coaches, we are well aware of the power of a proactive approach to health, and this is no different in the case of mental health. We believe that therapy or any form of counseling can help anyone, and does not have to occur as a reaction to a difficult situation or setback. In fact, just as with physical fitness, the best approach is a proactive and preventive one. There is such a wide array of difficulties that humans face, whether these are related to past traumas or anxieties and stresses, so speaking to the right person can make a huge difference to our lives and even our business and work with clients.    In This Episode  The decision to see a mental health professional [0:16:01] Finding the right person to speak to [0:22:30] Gratification, patience, and learning styles [0:28:38] Therapy should be a proactive measure instead of a reactive one [0:36:03] The natural way that mental health work fits into work as a fitness coach [0:39:20] Reaching out and finding the support you need [0:42:01]   “Some people don't like labels, then don't use the label. If the label fits and if it is something that is helpful to you in terms of understanding how your brain functions, then use it!” — Carolina Belmares   Seeking Out the Help that You Need Talking to a therapist can be one of the most valuable things you spend your time and money on. We already know the value of coaching, and this is no different, you will experience the rewards just as you do in fitness! It is incredibly empowering and life-changing to gain self-knowledge and the useful tools that therapy provides, so this avenue of development should not be neglected.   The Proactive Approach to Mental Health It is important to take the time to find the right person, and usually, a good fit will be immediately apparent. There is an obvious financial investment necessary but if you can bite this bullet you will undoubtedly reap the rewards. If you are lucky enough to have the cost covered in some way, whether it be through work or insurance, that is a bonus, but do not let the cost discourage you from pursuing something so central to your wellbeing. You also do not have to wait for things to go wrong, a proactive approach will always trump a reactive one!   Making Positive Changes At this point, there is an abundance of literature illuminating relationships between how our minds work and the success we experience in our lives. Through self-awareness, we are able to build our practices in ways that suit our unique tendencies, and therapy will shed light on these. There is an argument to be made that everyone should do some form of therapy as we can all benefit from talking about our history and problems, so do not shy away from seeking help. Why wouldn't you want to break the cycles that cause issues in your life?   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd    Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

The OTA team look at the common doubts trainers have about appearances and external expectations.    The Episode: But What If I Don't 'Look' Like A Trainer?   There is space for every type of trainer in the world of online coaching. The common image of a half-naked influencer that we see so often on social media is not the only legitimate model for how to help clients. There are elements to your training that are more valuable than the way you look, and trying to reach the peak of physical conditioning in order to validate your work should not be your aim. In this episode, we explore the importance of relatability, communication, and a unique set of skills that can help your clients believe in themselves and achieve their goals.   In This Episode Stepping into the shoes of a client and why it's great for coaches to have coaches [0:04:03] Misconceptions about the appearance of trainers [0:17:05] Making the most of the uneven nature of the playing field [0:21:21] Finding your own strength and skillset to offer [0:27:19] Normalizing your timeline and journey [0:31:33] Comparison is not inspiration [0:35:50] Keeping your interactions with social media and external standards healthy [0:41:04]   “You have to really, really understand that there are different playing fields. You have to understand the game, and you don't get frustrated playing someone else's game.” — Jonathan Goodman   Focussing on Relatability We often field questions and concerns around appearance and presentability as a coach. It may come as a surprise to some, but you do not need to be in perfect shape or even near-perfect shape to be a coach or to help others. Knowledge, experience, and the ability to relay your stories are a lot more valuable than how you look. If clients are able to relate to your journey, this is a huge plus, so talk about your unique story and challenges!   Finding your Own Story and Power It is necessary to acknowledge the biases that exist towards certain standards of beauty and physical appearance. There is a reason why Instagram influencers look the way they do. But all this means is that you need to play to your strengths; it is a waste of time to compete in a race that does not suit you. You need to thrive in your own game, a game in which you can connect with an appropriate audience that you can offer value to.   Accessing Real Inspiration We often confuse comparative content and media with inspiration. With the array of different people, body types, and needs out there, there is an equally wide range of inspiring coaching that is needed. All you need to do is look at high-level athletes and their coaches to see this. The idea that there is only one way to be a coach and help people is a huge misconception, so find what type you are and believe in yourself!   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   Jonathan Curling: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A918crYnTvD-d2B6i4_uETfQWeZWMkPh/view   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd    Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

Today our team talks about the usefulness of collecting social proof and testimonials from your clients.   The Episode: Get Social Proof To Add Validity To Your Online Training Business   Apart from being your focus, your clients are also your greatest resource as a trainer. Their experiences are what can take your business to the next level, so leveraging this possibility should be on your to-do list. Collecting information and feedback from them can take many forms but essentially what you want to do is to understand, as clearly as possible, the benefits they are experiencing so that you can share this with a wider audience. Incentives can make this process easier, but the main thing is to engage your clients in a way that helps them, your business, and the individuals you work with in the future.     In This Episode Strategies for the midpoint of a program you are running [0:18:58] The questions that can help elicit the most from your clients [0:23:40] Using giveaways and incentives as extra motivation [0:27:45] Holding and sharing the information that you collect and using it wisely [0:31:38] Building a stone wheel for your business [0:36:29] The compounding effect of creating ambassadors for your work [0:41:59]   “If you give people the option to say one thing about themselves like that, now you know what the one most important thing is, or the biggest pain for them is. You can start creating content around that.” — Jonathan Goodman   Tools for Collecting Information After a few weeks of a program, it can be very useful to re-energize all your clients with something exciting and inclusive. You can use questions, giveaways, or check-ins, but it is a great time to collect some feedback and proof from your people! This information can help you so much with your future clients and will improve your ability to market your business and attract new audiences.   How to Use the Information You Collect Once you have collected information, using it wisely is the next step. The obvious way is to incorporate it when launching a new program, but it can be adapted in many different ways and formats. You might want to create social media posts with attractive graphics, or just a simple and authentic screenshot might suit your needs. Using the proof you collect to direct the content you create is an added dimension, as this information essentially categorizes the reasons why your programs are worthwhile.   Creating Ambassadors and Systems with Momentum  As trainers, we always need to be able to back up our claims and what we advertise and client feedback and testimonials are possibly the best way to do this! Organizing this information and then utilizing it down the line is a part of putting in place the pieces of a functioning system, and the more systematized your business is, the more momentum you will be able to create. The goal here is to allow a compounding effect to occur, where you grow while requiring less and less direct effort in the same fundamental areas.   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale?   Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd    Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055   Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers   Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA   YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

The panel discusses strategies for building an online training business on a budget, including utilizing spreadsheets, email delivery of workouts, and social media for client communication. They emphasize the importance of certifications, resourcefulness, and consistent content creation to engage with clients and grow your business without a large initial capital.

A selection of our usual panel talks about dealing with difficult clients and when to let them go.   The Episode: Tough Clients — When To Troubleshoot Or Let Them Go   Some clients are naturally easier to work with, while some people will not be as good a fit for a variety of reasons. There comes a point where no amount of troubleshooting and communication can get people on the same page in a way that is beneficial to both parties, and this point is what we discuss in today's conversation. As a trainer or coach, you have an undeniable responsibility to set things out; expectations, boundaries, and important information. But even if this is done correctly, you and your client might find yourselves facing interpersonal challenges that cannot be overcome. It is in these situations that going separate ways may become advisable.   In This Episode The difficulty of 'firing' a client [0:10:50] Conducting the conversations around these difficulties and letting a client go [0:17:38] Taking responsibility for an unsatisfactory situation with a client [0:22:10] Unforeseen circumstances and deal-breakers [0:25:26] A healthy place for a coach in a person's self-care and support structure [0:31:00] Signs that an arrangement has to change or end [0:32:45] Doing what you can before looking to end work with someone [0:35:03] A proactive approach to expectations and important information [0:38:32]   “For me that was the hard line I was not willing to pass, so I fired her.” — Carolina Belmares   Anxiety Over Clients and Ending a Relationship Chances are that you have or will experience a client stepping over a boundary of yours. This can take the form of refusing to do the necessary work or can be something more imposing that makes you feel unsafe or taken advantage of. These are legitimate issues that should be addressed, and taking note of the warning signs is step one.   How to Have the Necessary Conversations It is vital that when issues arise, we as coaches facilitate healthy and progressive conversations.  If the issues extend beyond our skill set, this is a good time to refer someone more appropriate, but the bottom line is you need to protect yourself and your mental health, while also considering the needs of the other person involved. There are different approaches to these troubled waters, and these will be determined by you, the client, and the nature of the issue.   The Responsibility of the Coach Certain problems can arise from mistakes that you may have made, or areas that you overlooked. If things do not work out between a coach and a client, that is completely fine, but we need to remind ourselves of our role. Honesty and full disclosure from both sides can really aid the entire process and make any trouble more navigable. The more you are able to separate the facts from your feelings and maintain a clear picture, the easier it will be to find the right solution.   Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale? Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2   Motivation Interviewing: https://www.amazon.com/Motivational-Interviewing-Helping-People-Applications/dp/1609182278   Crucial Converstions: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Talking-Stakes-Second/dp/0071771328/   SPONSORS Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota   Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd    Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC