<span style="font-weight: 400;">Look I don't want you to be left with egg on your face after everything you have likely gone through over the last 4/5 months </span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We cannot just be PT’s any more, we really have to step up our game and consider our role in the bigger picture, how our role is evolving and we MUST stay business savvy. Yet technology is not the only thing dramatically changing/affecting our businesses. </span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We need to start questioning, and for some maybe RE-questioning, if you did this before lockdown or even early lockdown…..</span>

&nbsp;

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">What's your brand?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who’s your audience/demographic?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who do you speak to? </span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who's your raving fan?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">What do they want?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">How can you serve them?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Is there another way?</span></i>

&nbsp;
<h2><b>Diversify</b></h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Take the likes of lululemon, they sell beautiful high end activewear, yet they recently invested in something called Mirror.co. This is a completely different business BUT has a link to their target market so fits their overall purpose and ethos. So now they are not just clothing, AND also more importantly, they are not solely reliant on one revenue stream. </span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The question is could Plan B be to expand your brand before</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">simply trying to get more clients for personal training in this new challenging climate? Remember change can often feel uncomfortable initially but eventually we all adapt however I believe we should have an honest look at what we do and seriously consider a long term change.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It's highly likely you will have considered all sorts of things when we were locked down, maybe thinking things like….</span>

&nbsp;

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“...how the hell can I make money to pay my bills…?”</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“...should I get a job at Tesco....?”</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“...OMG, what can I do differently in my business that isn't what I normally do..?”</span></i>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">...you probably (hopefully) became SUPER productive and resourceful eventually, right!?</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">So what did you come up with and was it enough or did you simply alter temporarily and wait for lockdown to lift and gyms to open so you could go back to what you </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">normally</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> do or are familiar with?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This tough time can be an </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">opportunity</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that I want to encourage you NOT to miss!</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Think about what WE do in the bigger picture, movement health, mindset and wellbeing, and what services, products or concepts can you create to develop income streams to stay afloat even if one area of your businesses gets shut down again with a NEW LOCKDOWN or future pandemic!</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We have a duty or care and a HUGE role to play in finding ways to continue doing what we do but we need our businesses to survive to do this!</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">So what could you do now that if life/work becomes restrictive again you are not left high and dry? </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thinking outside the box allows for innovation and could save you during another lockdown…</span>

&nbsp;
<h2><b>A Solution…?</b></h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Think about your ideal client and what other things you talk about with them? Is there something in those conversations that could give you an idea of another business opportunity to connect with a wider audience of your kind of people?</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Apps</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Retreats </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Clothing</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Community links/collaborations</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Veg delivery </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Affiliate links</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Online delivery of education </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Online sessions </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Memberships/Subscriptions </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Or even quite simply…..</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">How do I deliver something new?</span></i>

&nbsp;
<h1><b>Possible Solutions</b></h1>
&nbsp;
<h2><strong>Online Service</strong></h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Ok we are not about to tell you the obvious which is to be offering an online service, long term. THIS alone is a commercial no brainer! While we, like many of you, much prefered face to face there are people we know who are anxious and looking to find alternatives to the higher risk environments, even if for a while. This has always been an option but since the landscape of our industry has changed we must challenge our own biases to enable us to continue doing what we love - helping people move better AND serving ALL those who need our help.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Here is a simple idea and possibly one of the easiest to set up technically and can be done pretty much for free:</span>

&nbsp;
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Set up a facebook ‘group’</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Set it to ‘private’ </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Invite your paying clients </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Upload generic articles, videos, live tutorials/sessions, educational information, health advice - daily, weeky, monthly</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Charge via BACS or Paypal (Paypal will incur a small % charge) a small weekly/monthly fee for access.</span></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">There are of course various platforms like Zoom, Webinarjam, Youtube etc that allow you to stream or offer live sessions but you may need to research the best one to suit your requirements.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Also if you are still challenged technically - ASK for help! Family members, mentors, educators - there are many who I am sure would be willing to help you to initiate something like this. </span>

&nbsp;
<h2><b>Improve Skills </b></h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Learning new skills that we may not have considered before might be a good idea right now. Suddenly becoming ‘time rich’ in lockdown many of us embarked on an education journey while we had the chance which proves how much we really WANT to learn!</span>

&nbsp;

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">What did you learn though?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Has it helped you so far?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Did it help your current business?</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Are there more diverse skills you now realise you need?</span></i>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Things are changing swiftly as are education opportunities so keep a track of where you feel weakest or least confident, then research good education companies or ask colleagues or trusted professionals who they recommend and who may be able to guide you.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you thought of learning more about things like:</span>

&nbsp;
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Video creation</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Building an app</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creating a brand</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Copywriting</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Communication skills</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Covid-19 training/hygiene</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Health &amp; safety/risk assessment</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Management</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mental health</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creating posts</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Online programme designing</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Helping problem/tricky clients (in pain/injured)</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Delivering educational sessions</span></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This list is not exhaustive but try not to rule things out too quickly as some things could convert into something really helpful if you put some real thought into it.</span>

&nbsp;
<h2><b>Invest in Help/Support </b></h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Is there someone who you feel could be of help to you or your mindset or business? Or is there an area of your business you would LIKE TO FIND someone to help you with?</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Delegation of certain jobs can leave you free to do the jobs you prefer or are better at and possibly even that make you more money. This is something I have learned with technology in particular. While I do quite a bit there are some jobs that would take me days to do so it is much more cost effective to pay someone who can do it in a few hours!</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most valuable lessons I learned as a ‘coach’ is that I too need coaching. In fact I have several! So I strongly recommend you reach out, invest or maybe you can swap skills.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">You could write them an exercise programme for some business advice? </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It's how business used to be done and a totally logical way of doing business when cash is low AND there is no harm in asking!!</span>

&nbsp;
<h2><b>Recommendations </b></h2>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are companies that I personally respect and trust to give you a little starter....</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">BTN Academy - nutrition</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">MTE Academy - therapy</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Pulseroll - vibration tools </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Future Fit Training - fitness education provision</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">DTS Fitness Education - system programming</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Chris Wright HQ - business &amp; marketing </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">PM2 Media - Video creation</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Therapy Empire - Therapy equipment </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Wolverson Fitness - Gym/fitness equipment </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">STA - accreditation / recognition in therapy </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">CIMSPA - accreditation / recognition in exercise &amp; fitness </span>

&nbsp;
<h1><b>Plan C, D…..</b></h1>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally keep planning all the time and try to remain open to opportunities since we have all learned recently how things can change drastically in a flash. So even if you work out your plan B, work out plan C and D too - because you just never know!!!</span>

&nbsp;
<h2>Another plan option...</h2>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach-diploma-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">....Become a Biomechanics Coach CLICK HERE</a>