Covid has been a crazy time. In this blog post i want to reflect on the last 12 months and give you my top lessons from a year of lockdowns.
I think
Pic above shows myself, alongside the new English Champion, Dalton Smith, after a 6 round stoppage win two weeks ago.
Lessons from covid
Who would have thought a year and a bit on from the first lockdown in March 2020, that Covid would still be a thing. It's really easy to look back and be like 'what a s**t time' and yeah, it has been in some ways.
However you all know me and how I like to look at things in a positive light so this blog will take away the lessons I have learnt/ had reaffirmed since March 2020, stuff I may not have learned without the lockdowns.
Current clients should be your number 1 priority - so often as PT's or coaches, we look to what's next. We are always looking to grow and recruit new members to the team. However, as a business, keeping clients long term is key. You do not want a high turnover. Lockdown created a time where getting new clients was tough so you had to work extra hard with your current crop. I already knew this but the last 12 months has reaffirmed how much I should look after current clients. It also made me realise how much I appreciate them and the fact they spend their hard earned cash on my business. In a time when we hit financial difficulty, they stuck by me to which I am grateful.
2. There is always opportunity in failures - I recently opened my own gym and I honestly
believe that without Covid, I wouldn't have. I wouldn't have been put in a position to reassess my business and make that decision, my hand was half forced. Covid also meant potential spots were cheaper and made the move much more feasible. Great opportunities are always there is setbacks, its just down to whether you can sniff out the good ones.
3. Taking risks is a must for success - There is never a right time for anything, there will always be reasons not to do something but if you want to grow, sometimes you need to take the gamble. You can't play it safe and expect to go where you want to. I've seen at first hand those over the last year who have rolled the dice and those who have been afraid of the situation, the gap as widened.
4. We are entrepreneurs and have businesses - I think it is easy to just focus on us being coaches. The last year has shown who the real business people are. In a time where we were all forced to adapt, find new methods, new ways of generating income, retaining clients with services etc This highlighted the fact that as self employed coaches we are entrepreneurs and have to have that business side of our skills ticked too. Being a great coach is not enough. You need to know about business, your business, sales, marketing etc all the things that run from front to back end. The last 12 months have showed me I'm not too shabby at that stuff.
5. What is important to you - this one is more on a personal level. The last year all the stuff we took for granted was taken away. We live life like we will live forever but this was a reminder that at any time, things can change. We like to think that we are in control but we aren't. The last 12 months has made us all realise what and who is important. For me, I had a reminder that life is short and so I want to do things I enjoy more, I don't have to do anything I don't want to, no money is worth not being happy, I want to see family and friends more and most of all I am allowed some time off. All these things will help me live a happier life, be more grateful and overall, provide a better service at work because of that.
Round up
There is always good that comes from every situation. These are the things I have taken away. Do you agree? Have you learned anything this year? Let me know.
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