Sorin kindergarten
Norah 4K
Afternoon espresso
Sorin’s 6th birthday
Tent camping
Sorin’s first family bike ride
Another Fresh Start
Things are off to a great start at Pinnacle. Clients are coming in each week. People are recognizing me from the posters. Next Friday I have a meet and greet with staff and other members. This is the third place where I’ve trained clients and of course every location and business is different, but I’m focusing on what I can control: my personal business.
It’s a fresh start, again. The actual exercise prescription part of the business hasn’t changed a lot for me. What has changed is how I keep my schedule organized and efficient with my other job at H&H Arborists. I’m also still teaching a few classes at the YMCA, so wearing three hats has been a challenge. It’s forced me to develop a great system of email and calendar, a system many professionals have already developed but I haven’t needed thus far. Additionally, some technology has changed (for the better, of course) and I am all about using it to my advantage. My objective is to have all my clients and all their workouts on all my devices at all times. I want to run my business of my iPad if possible. I want to be paperless. Why? So that I can simplify the workflow to simple inputs and outputs that are reliable. I don’t want to carry a binder. I don’t even want to carry a laptop. I want everything on iPad, and I’ve done that. I was able to get there with this fresh start at Pinnacle. I started developing the system at the Y, but it was simplistic based on my workload. With all these clients, there’s more moving parts, a more demanding schedule, and more communication with both clients and staff. This is just the technology side.
A fresh start is an opportunity to reinvent yourself. As a fitness professional, I’ve grown in my ability to get clients up to speed quicker, I keep them engaged and challenged better than ever, and this is because I have more tools in my tool belt. None of this is rocket science. All successful professionals should be growing, getting stronger and more efficient in their craft. For me, writing about it is a critical piece so that I can look back at my path and notice progress, but also so that I can process my current status to figure out where I need to go next.
When Momma’s away…
Training at Pinnacle
Two weeks ago I accepted an offer as a personal trainer at Pinnacle Health and Fitness. I am excited for this opportunity, especially after meeting a few of my new clients and experiencing the culture and business model at this facility. I’m finishing the current session at the YMCA teaching TRX, kettle bell, and worksite wellness.
The one big question
One of the big questions I’ve asked myself in this new role is “What is my area of expertise?” Our director has challenged me with the same question. This mentality is consistent with a popular mantra of Jim Collins: What can you be the best in the world at? Similarly, Andy Stanley challenges leaders to “only do what only you can do.” I get distracted very easily. I want to be a jack-of-all-trades. I want to be all things to all people. And that just doesn’t work. Clarity and focus are essential. So this fundamental question needs an answer if I am to succeed here at Pinnacle.
I am a runner. I’ve been running half and full marathons for over eight years. I’m starting to get into triathlon, but my expertise is in cardiovascular training for runners and supplementing this training with TRX and kettle bells. Also my training specializes in establishing short and long-term goals for maximal motivation and performance. Lots of people talk about goals. I have a slightly different take. I believe most people need a specific goal on the calendar to give their training context. As a runner, my goal has always been a race. So I’ve developed my training philosophy to put a performance on the calendar so that my clients can feel their training has purpose. They are preparing for an event. They are building with an end in mind.
There is a ton of potential at Pinnacle. I just had a great ad hoc meeting this morning in the lobby where we discussed some promotional ideas for my TRX/kettle bell class. I have a lot of freedom to create things and build my own business within the club. Lots of the members have found community there. It feels good.









