Going From Part-Time To Full-Time Trainer - Deb Poulton
Kyle Wood: This week, my guest is
based in Sydney, New South Wales.
And I met Deb about a year ago now when
she joined a program, I ran for BootCraft
called the Fellowship, which was a sort
of intensive six month, program where
you teamed up with mastermind groups.
Was that a pretty big time in Deb's
life because she had recently become a
single mum and this business that she'd
previously run as, you know, like a side
income extra income for the household.
She now is at this point where
she was having to make a decision.
Do I, do I shut down the business?
And.
Go back to corporate world and get a job
or do I make a real go of this and turn
this business into a full-time income.
And I happy to report.
She did the latter and yeah, that's
one of the things we talk about today.
We also talk about outdoor
training, why we like outdoor
training, some of the benefits.
And we also talk about challenges.
One of the ways Deb has grown her
businesses through six week challenges,
and recently she's branched into
running these for corporations as well.
So lots to talk about, I can't
believe we get through so much
in such a short period of time.
I think you guys will
really enjoy this one.
And I think we also might need to
have Deb back again, to go into
some of the stuff a bit deeper.
That's all for me.
Let's dive into the show.
Today's guest is Deb Poulton who runs
the outdoor group fitness business Point
You Fit in Sydney, New South Wales.
She's also a mum of two and a
lifelong lover of sports, having
played rugby hockey and soccer.
Deb is passionate about finding
ways to share her enthusiasm
for fitness with their clients.
And she's a bit of an experiment
as well with her business,
which we'll talk about today.
Welcome Deb.
Deb Poulton: Thank you.
Thanks for having me.
Kyle Wood: Yes.
I'm excited to have you.
This is so good to reconnect.
Cause it's been, you know, earlier
in the year we were catching up for
regular calls, and then through
the grapevine of Theresa was telling
me about what you've been up to.
And so, I'm really happy to have
you on the show so you can share
some of that with other trainers.
Deb Poulton: Yeah.
I'm excited to share.
Kyle Wood: All right.
So the first question I've been asking
people when they come on the show, because
we're all group fitness trainers, we
will spend a lot of time in the industry.
The first question is, do you
remember the first group fitness
class you attended as a participant?
Deb Poulton: Oh, yes, I do.
Actually.
Yes, it was, um, it was an outdoor class
and I remember it being very painful
and I'm not being able to sit on the
toilet for a couple of days afterwards.
Um, but yeah, it was on the beach at
Balmoral in Sydney and, um, it was
quite a large group and we did lots
of things like sprinting through
the sand and getting really dirty
which I absolutely hated actually.
So ever since then, I've always been,
not, will not do a boot camp on the
beach in sand just gets everywhere.
Um, but yeah, no, it was great.
I liked being outdoors,
exercising in a group.
Um, so yeah, that was fun.
But I do remember I was only going
once a week and the sore muscles
after it were quite horrible.
Cause that was pretty much all I was.
Um, so that was a good learn to speak
to clients about in relation to when
they come in on and know that they're
getting sore, um, from visiting once
a week, they've got to do more
Kyle Wood: actually.
Yeah, they actually needed to
come well frequently, which
is a bit counterintuitive.
I used to do the same way.
I didn't let people train once a week.
I knew.
Yeah, they were playing
sport or something like that.
And they were doing, you know, the
bootcamp because yeah, I was like,
you would just be sore every week.
And like, they w you won't be
having good experiencing because of.
It is like one hour suck in your week.
Yeah.
Deb Poulton: Yeah.
And then two days of, you
know, popping the Neurophin
afterwards, which is agony side.
Um, yeah, you've got to have a decent,
if you're just going to come once
a week, you've got to have a really
good baseline fitness, um, and really,
you know, accumulate your fitness.
That's really important.
Yeah.
But yeah.
I liked being outdoors.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
Yeah.
Sounds like it was a kind of traditional
bootcamp experience, what people think
of maybe when they think of bootcamp.
Deb Poulton: Yeah, it wasn't actually,
they've got the person that ran
it, um, was a bit salesy and it's
kind of stuck with me because he,
cause I was doing just once a week.
He did used to call me up quite often
and pretty much try and Badger me
into going more than once a week.
And at the time I just
simply didn't have the money.
I'm a bit of thinking I've just
come over from the UK and I'm
thinking, this is really expensive.
I was paying like five pounds for
an outdoor session, you know, that's
what like 10 Australian dollars.
And this was like 40 bucks.
I was like, I can't be, you know,
spending more than that to train.
I'm not working at the moment.
I've got young kids, um, so mean.
Yeah.
And that's sort of put me off.
And in the end, I just stopped because
he was badgering me all the time to
come more and I was getting sore and.
It just wasn't happening.
So that's why I ended up studying,
but it has stuck with me about
how I interact with my clients.
Um, especially the ones that you are
trying to maybe persuade to come more
often or persuade them to come back.
If they've dropped off,
just how you approach them.
I think my style is probably a bit softer.
Um, then I just think it's so
important to not come across a sales.
And that you're just wanting them to
return because you want the money.
It's actually, you want them to
return because you love seeing them.
You want to get results for them.
You love them engaging in your class.
You miss them.
Um, rather than, you know what,
I just miss that, you know, $20
that you've given me every week.
Um, so yeah, that, that was,
uh, that sort of stuck with me.
It was quite a good little lesson.
That one for me.
Kyle Wood: Yeah, that makes me very
happy to hear another trainer say that.
Talk about that as being what they
look for in their, in their clients.
It's like as a person, not yet.
I mean, they are a income source
as well, but yet, and I mean, well,
that's working for you, right?
Like, Hey, how are your classes going?
Deb Poulton: Yeah,
they're going really well.
And I think when I very first became
a trainer, I had a personal trainer
myself and he said to me, just
wait, you will attract your people.
And that it's so true.
You just do.
And the clients that come along,
um, who are, maybe you just felt
like I didn't connect with them or
I didn't click, or I just wasn't
getting the right energy for them.
They're the ones who,
who don't stick around.
Um, and the way I see it, you
know, don't take it personally,
just, um, they're not your people.
Um, so, um, but yeah,
business is going really well.
Um, lockdown was actually
amazing for me as a business.
Um, I've probably doubled my
income over lockdown, um,
which was really, really good.
Um, one of the only reasons people
allowed out was to exercise.
Okay.
So what I did was I basically said to all
my clients, I'm going to be at the park.
On these times, do you want
to come then and do a PT?
Um, I reduce my rate ever so slightly, um,
and did a special offer if they did two
sessions, um, you know, it was a different
price and lots of people took me up on it.
Some not straight away, but some just,
they came through as the weeks went on.
So, um, I was pretty
much working flat out.
Morning, daytime evenings.
Yeah.
And it was, it was awesome.
It was really good, but tiring.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
I think I remember that when we, when we
first met, which was about a year ago, you
were, you would, I think, you know, Sydney
had just gone through a lockdown as well.
And so you were doing sort of these hybrid
Zoom classes and some face-to-face stuff.
But that was a bit of a tough time for
you and that, and a bit of a crucible
moment for the business, because you
had just become a single mum, right?
Yeah.
Deb Poulton: That's right.
So it was make or break time for me
and my business, um, to turn it from,
um, a hobby business, something that
I was completely passionate about,
but for me, it didn't have to be our
main source of income as a family.
It was extra money.
Um, two suddenly becoming, okay,
how am I going to support my
children as a single parent, running
a personal training business?
Um, I really need to turn
things around and quickly.
So, um, yeah, I had to rethink
everything, turn everything on
my head, um, and really go at it.
Um, and it's been, yeah, it's hard work.
It's very much a full time.
And more job.
Um, but it's worth it.
And it's something I love.
And, um, if anything, I'm glad it happened
because it definitely gave me that fire.
Um, and when I'm working with people
now as well, I see people, businesses
that I'm now collaborating with.
I look for that fire within other people.
It doesn't have to come from something
like a single mom that I look now to
collaborate with people who are equally
as focused and, um, career hungry as me.
Cause I have collaborated with people in
the past that maybe were in my position
of being it's quite a relaxed, um, this
you know, take it or leave it and they
don't have the drive that I have is, so
I'm quick to pick up on that down and see,
you will be good to work with as well.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
Cool.
So when you needed to ramp things up from
which I think a lot of us can identify
with with like having a group fitness
business is awesome as a side business,
because you can work around hours and as
a parent as well around kids' schedules.
Yeah.
So like, was there anything
you tried initially with
trying to grow the business?
Because I think lots of
trainers would like to grow
the business that didn't work.
Was there any like paths you went down
that were like, oh, that's a bad idea?
Deb Poulton: Yeah.
Um, not so much.
Um, no, actually I kind of
everything I did, I kind of had to
pinch myself that it went so well.
Um, there was nothing,
the only thing I probably.
Would change was I was doing a
lot of running around, um, and I
would probably streamline things.
So I was running from
location to location.
Um, and then I just started to work a
bit smarter, pick a better location.
As the you know, my selling point
is I'm a mobile PT, I'll come to
you or I'll come to the house or
I'll come to the park near you.
But unfortunately that doesn't
always work when you get really busy.
Um, and I, you know, I'm not
going to travel for 20 minutes for
half an hour PT there and back.
So, um, Learning to say no to somethings
that weren't going to suit me and making
sure that they, they fit into my diary
and that I can actually service them
properly and give it my hundred percent.
So, um, I guess, yeah, some things
didn't work in the sense of okay.
Trying to take on some clients.
I think when I was doing the
fellowship, I think you even said
to me, you know, you've got to
be a bit smarter with your time.
Um, because I was just saying yes to
everything and just running around.
Um, so yeah, maybe that's, that's
some things just, um, working smarter.
Kyle Wood: So did you end up then I guess,
cause you still want it to be mobile.
Would you more be like, I, on this
day, I'm going to be at this park
for the clients who are near there,
or what did you end up doing?
Deb Poulton: Um, I've ended up.
Yeah, I've ended up trying, just
persuading people to come to me basically.
Um, for some, it was like, look,
I can't do this session anymore.
Unfortunately, unless you can come
to this park for our session, they're
like, oh actually, yeah, go ahead.
It's totally fine.
And I'm actually the park I
picked is, um, pretty local to me.
And especially during lockdown, it
became, it was like a massive outdoor
gym because every other trainer was
there and it had such a good energy
cause everyone was there to train.
No one felt self-conscious where everyone
was throwing weights around and exercising
and it was like a big fitness playground.
And everyone was really friendly
to each other and we're over
vibing and having a laugh.
So they, some, for some clients,
I used to go to their house.
They started coming to the park and
they're like, actually, the park is great.
I can do like a bit of a run or, um,
we can use those stairs and do some
stair runs and we can mix it up a bit
more being, and people don't realize
the benefits of being outside as well.
Um, so I had one client that I
was training within their house.
And they just felt so much
better having trained outdoors.
So that, just that connection with
nature, I think is really important.
Um, People don't realize how good
that is, because especially if
you're sat in doors all the time,
either in an office or at home, and
then you go indoors to a gym you're
really missing out on that connection
with the sky, with trees the grass.
Sounds so wishy-washy.
But, um, I believe you, can you draw
a lot of energy, um, from nature.
So, yeah.
Yeah.
They just found that
connection, which was lovely.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
I remember that with my bootcamps.
It's like, yeah, let's run this all year
round and also run with anytime fitness
opened up nearby, you know, they always
put the treadmills and stuff in like
the front window and like driving past
and just seeing like people running on
the treadmill, looking at the road and
it's like, you could be like, if you ran
five minutes from there, there's like a
massive you know, wildlife park reserve
that he can do, like doing laps around,
you know, on a beautiful sunny day.
Yeah.
Deb Poulton: It's definitely
worth promoting that as a trainer.
Um, if you're outdoors, um, is how it
makes you feel to be, to be outside.
Look, when it's pouring
with rain, it's cold.
It's not, it's not sweet then.
Um, but in general it's really
uplifting and, and people will
always walk out of it feeling better.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
And even getting out in the rain.
I think you've got this on your website,
actually, which I love, which is
like, you'll never regret a workout.
You know, after, after the
workout you, you won't be like,
oh, I wish I hadn't done that.
And I think same with a workout
in the rain after you've done it,
you're like, feel pretty bad ass.
You have to, you know, you just,
you feel invigorated because
of the wind and everything.
Deb Poulton: Yeah.
Although I have to say, I often cancel
if it's really pouring down, because
I don't like standing in the rain.
Kyle Wood: That's the thing, that's the
trainer, you don't feel it'd be great
or you just feel wet and miserable,
but the clients had a good time.
Deb Poulton: I just, yeah, for me,
I feel like I'm not going to be able
to deliver my normal standard session
if I'm stood there getting drenched.
Cause I will be hating it.
Um, so I, I, there is some cover
that I try and use, but if it's
really coming in sideways, yeah,
then I pull the pin and cancel and,
but that doesn't happen very often.
Thankfully.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
That's good.
Yeah.
I guess up in Sydney as
well, decent climate.
So.
Yeah.
Yeah.
The weather is definitely a
tricky one and it looks, we
didn't get snow here in Australia.
Deb Poulton: I know.
That's so lucky.
I don't know how I'd cope as an
outdoor trainer it in the UK to be
quite honest because, um, yeah, some
days when it is cold and windy, And
you're out there for a long time.
And I do think of my counterparts
in the UK and wonder how they, how
they put up with it or whatever.
I've just become really soft now
that I've lived in Australia for
so long, probably that, yeah.
Yeah.
It's great.
It's great.
Being outdoors.
And people have asked me if I want in
the future would look to get a studio.
Um, and I think in theory,
I love the idea of a studio.
Um, I would want, in my ideal scenario,
there'll be an indoor and an outdoor
to always have that outdoor option.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
Yeah.
I always thought that'd be really
cool as well, to be able to kind
of open up one side or something
and then still have outdoor and you
could have some, like semi-permanent
sort of stuff set up outside as
well to have a bit more variety.
That would be very cool.
Deb Poulton: Yeah, it would,
it would, that space is a
premium around here, so yeah.
Yeah,
Kyle Wood: yeah.
Okay.
Now talk to me about challenges
because that's something you've
been running for a long time.
You often team up with other
someone else as well, correct?
Deb Poulton: Yes, I do.
So I first started, I did my first
challenge a couple of years ago and
I did it completely free of charge.
And, and it was just, I always felt bad
charging for it, but then afterwards
I realized how much work it was.
I was like, could pay you
have to charge money for that,
because that was a ton of work.
Um, so I started off just
doing them by myself.
I would challenge clients.
Um, they would do six weeks and it
was, um, you know, to eat healthy
within I'd give them advice on
healthy eating within the guidelines.
I'm not trained in nutrition.
So I would just give them
guidelines on how to eat healthy.
Okay.
Make sure they're drinking enough
water, challenge them to sleep
well and get a set number of steps.
And then each week we'd
do a fitness challenge.
So it could be right.
You've got to go for and run
up and down a steep hill for 20
minutes or run a set of stairs.
Um, and then it kind of grew from there.
So it was really basic at first.
And then I've done team challenges where
I've teamed people up in random duos
I've made them do sessions where they've
gotta be in fancy dress and they've got
to produce a video about why they love
fitness and I'm giving them points.
And there's a leader board and
they get points every step they do.
Um, so that was loads of fun.
We had a sports day as
well as part of that.
And we all got together and
played sports as a team.
Um, so yeah, it was lots, lots of fun.
I I've tried lots of things.
I feel like I've, um, streamlined it now.
I've done enough of them.
And I collaborate now with the dietician.
So now my challenge is I'm a lot more
focused on food, as well as the exercise.
I found someone to collaborate
with who, um, who thinks the
same way as I do around food.
So it's not about measuring
out all your foods.
That's about hand fulls and eating
from all the major food groups,
not cutting carbs, anything crazy.
It's just sensible eating and
an encouragement on sensible
eating and portion size and
getting enough protein and.
Um, doing that.
So yeah, I team up with a dietician
and again, tried different things.
One-on-ones offering PTs as part of the
challenge, um, offering group sessions.
Um, yeah, so done, done everything
and, um, yeah, it's actually been
really, really good for my business.
I'm now at a point where I
can't offer PTs as part of the
challenge, because I'm so booked up.
I can't physically do them.
So I've had to move my challenge online.
So it's a virtual challenge.
Um, but for me offering PTs as part
of the six week challenge worked really
well because some clients have never
done a PT with me before and they
actually just picked one up and then
just kept it going beyond the challenge.
Um, so I do think for new trainers,
starting out challenges are awesome
way to engage with your clients.
You can make it fun it
can really make it fun.
We had photo competitions, um,
planking, random places, and, um,
you just be really creative with
it to engage with your clients.
And as.
The money that they paid for the challenge
I gave them, I think I gave three PTs at
first to three half an hour PT sessions
over the course of the six weeks.
And I picked up a lot of clients that way.
Um, so that was really good.
Um, and now it's just, um, monitoring.
When I find a challenge,
it's monitoring their steps.
Um, I do a zoom once a week with the.
With the dietician as well.
And we talked through how the
fitness is going and the food,
um, just it's that level of
accountability that clients just love.
And it's that the connection with you.
That's important too.
It's not like they're signing
up for a celebrities challenge
who they never gonna speak to.
You will never know their name.
Um, they actually get access to me 24 7.
If they've got a question.
I've got one client whose fitness goal
is to be able to do that challenge where
you climb under the table, you go over
the table and you climb under the table,
It must be a TikTok thing.
I'm sure that she's determined to do.
So I've been giving her tips, sending
it to hang from a chin up bar and
work on her grip strength and giving
her some upper back exercises.
Um, so I can actually really work
with people on, on what their goal
is, um, and help them out with that.
If that's something that
they're looking to do.
Um, so yeah, challenges have
been, uh, been a lot of fun.
We've been very successful at been
really great in growing my business.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
Yeah.
So, yeah, cause I was gonna, cause
I remember with the PTs, when that
was kind of hitting your limit, you
were like, ah, I don't know if I
can keep doing this and it's funny.
Like I would be like then maybe go to
another trainer and say, oh no, don't do
the PTs because you'll end up too busy.
But it's so great to hear you
say that, like, it really does
depend where your business's at.
That's what it sounds like.
Like in those early days, actually a
great way to get new PT clients because.
They're experiencing that personal,
um, attention and also love.
Hey yeah.
You mentioned that like better to
do your challenge than, um, like
yeah some Instagram persons yeah.
Challenge where, yeah, there
is thousands of people.
So how many people do you
take in the challenge?
Do you have a cap?
Deb Poulton: Um, probably no more
than 20, um, because any more than
that is really hard to, to service.
So I do make it a bit exclusive
as well, but you can make
it as exclusive as you want.
So if you are first starting out, you can.
So not sure if you make it too big,
that you're going to be able to do
a good enough job, so you can limit
it to five people or six people.
And there's that, um, that thing of, oh,
I want to get one of these limited spaces.
Yeah.
I must sign up for that.
Um, so I think the, yeah, the
biggest I did was around 20 and I was
doing PTs on those and it was hard
ground going through those and the
challenge I'm running at the moment.
I think we've only got about 12
people in it and that's, that's
a really good number to make sure
that you're really able to interact
with everyone, um, on the challenge.
So it doesn't have to be hundreds
of people to, to be successful.
Um, I've also branched out
into corporate challenges.
Kyle Wood: Yes.
Tell me about that.
Deb Poulton: Yeah.
So my experience with my clients has
been so vital, um, and really important
because I've learnt so much from
that, that I'm now able to transfer
that into the corporate environment.
And I've, I've teamed up with not a
dietician because my thoughts were
on working on that kind of scale
drilling into too many people's food.
I just didn't feel that
I could do it would be.
Um, I'd have able to do a good job.
So I teamed up with a health coach
and what she is really good at is,
um, looking at the holistic health.
So your, you know, mental fitness, um,
she will look at mindset mindfulness.
Getting people, um, to go through
what she calls the core four.
So she talks about people's physical
health, their relationships,
their financial health.
Um, so she'd go through
all of that with people.
And then I'm there.
Yeah.
Talk about living healthier
and doing fitness as well.
So, uh, we recently did a challenge.
We had 51 people, so that's, that was
my biggest challenge of, I've ever done.
Um, and yeah, that was really awesome.
And I did with that, I did live
workouts with, with the company.
So that was by zoom.
Yeah.
Um, so did a lunchtime workout
and did an evening workout.
Um, and that's recorded and then they
can access it whenever they like.
Um, and then she was doing a meditation
session and, um, yoga and relaxation,
as well as one-on-ones with them
talking through where they're at
with their career and, um, you know,
that work-life balance and all that.
So, yeah, that was so much fun.
And definitely where I see my
business heading, going forward.
Kyle Wood: So that's something that the
business paid for then, for its employees.
Is that how that works or?
Deb Poulton: Yeah, they did.
They paid for it for everyone, but it
could, it could be done where, um, maybe
the business pays some and then they
ask their employees to pay towards it.
Um, I think that's the good thing about
being a small business is that you can
just roll with whatever the company
wants to do, um, we can be really nimble.
So, um, we'll just take what
we can get and run with it.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
And I think the lockdowns, you know,
it was happening all around the world.
Companies are realizing how important
the mental health of their employees.
Yeah.
So it's a great time for
trainers to get involved.
Like companies are putting aside these
budgets for they're looking for things
to spend money on like this category.
So, yeah,
Deb Poulton: and I think the great
thing about it as well is that
currently managers are having
to really work so hard for their
employees to come up with ways to.
To, to help their
employees, mental health.
So they haven't come up with
creative challenges, mindful
challenges, and that just takes the
pressure off them for six weeks.
They hand that pressure to me.
Right?
You look after the wellbeing of my staff
for six weeks, please give me a break,
it shows their employees that, that
they're actually cared for that they're
allowed to have a work-life balance.
Um, and I know that the company
that we worked with their employees
were so grateful that that
business had put this on for them.
Um, and that engagement and
connection within their business.
Um, cause we ran surveys, et
cetera was, was really high.
And from everything I've been
reading about, they're talking about
2022 being the great resignation.
That people are going to come out of
lockdown, head back to the office,
and they're going to reevaluate
where they're at with their work
and their work-life balance.
And, um, yeah, they're expecting
a lot of resignations next year.
So now's the perfect time as an employer
to really look after the wellbeing of
your staff and show them that you're
their wellbeing is being considered.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
I mean, one of the Wiggles has done
it, so don't get caught up on that.
Um, yeah, that's awesome.
I love that you, that you're experimenting
and that it's worked for you.
And, I think if people are, just
cause we're running out of time, people
are interested, trainers listening to
this are interested in more, maybe we
could have you back to talk more about
challenges and break down how you do it.
Deb Poulton: I can talk about
that till the cows come home.
Kyle Wood: All right.
Are you ready for rapid fire question?
Cool.
So, uh, first up in a nutshell,
what are the top three things you
do each week in your business that
you found helps your business?
Deb Poulton: Um, I think, um, I
think when I answered this to you,
I didn't put it in the right order.
Um, so I think the number one thing
is important to do is to is planning.
Um, I think careful planning
of your sessions is vital.
I do obviously observe a lot of
other trainers out there and how
they're running their groups.
And you can tell the ones who have just
turned up, set up some equipment out
and they're just thinking on their feet
and look that may work well for them,
but that does not work well for me.
I like to plan my session
out to every last minute.
Um, and I will consider exactly
who's booked in for that class.
Right?
Okay.
That's no one likes running in
this class, so I'm not going
to make them do it at all.
I've actually, there's loads of
runners in that class, they'd love
a couple of laps of the oval, um,
you've got to consider everything.
You've got to consider the weather.
You've got to consider the fitness
levels, um, and really plan the
session down to the last detail.
So I think that's really important to do.
Um, also obviously
posting on social media.
Um, it can feel like a
total burden as a trainer.
I know it definitely has done for me.
And I think what has allowed me to
have more success, I have not got
loads of followers or anything
like that, but people have said to
me that they did join me because of
what I had posted on my Instagram.
And it's because.
It just seems like me.
It's like, it's authentic to me.
Um, I kind of try to let
my personality come out.
My values, um, who I am share bits
of information about me, share
some tips on exercise, give some
hints of what it's like to come to
bootcamp with me or to train with me.
Um, and someone said that recently
I joined because I thought you
seemed like you were nice on
Instagram, so that's great.
Like I'm glad that came accross.
Um, so really letting you
just don't overthink it.
Doesn't have to be perfect.
Um, just get something out there that
is reflective of you and your values.
Um, and I guess the third thing would
be to listen to my clients, um,
really be very open to feedback, keep
asking for feedback, be it good or bad.
And you've got to be able to take the bad
on the chin and do real inner reflection.
Is that actually valid?
Is that true yet?
Do you know what?
I probably could have done better that
day or maybe that program wasn't the best.
And now that client, you know, maybe
hurt their back but, you know yeah.
You've got to be really, um, you
gotta be able to take it on the chin.
Um, and you've got to make sure that
your clients feel that they can be honest
with you and give you honest feedback
because otherwise they'll just leave
if they can, actually, if I can, they
feel they can give me that feedback.
I respond well to it.
They'll stay with it.
Um, so that's been, been really important.
Um, and when I say listened to them, I
mean, really get to know your client,
get to understand why they come in to
boot camp what's going on in their life.
Um, If at the start of the
session you ask, are they okay?
It's not just, Hey, how are you?
It's like, how, how, how really are
you, um, how are you feeling today?
Have you slept?
Okay.
Um, and then it will come out,
actually, you know, do you
know what I'm really tired?
I just haven't slept.
Right.
Okay.
We're not doing burpees today.
So adapt the session accordingly.
I have turned up to PTs myself and gone,
you know, I've had a really bad sleep
or actually got a really bad headache.
And I could tell the
trainer didn't listen.
It was straight into right 20 box jumps.
And I was jumping around
in my head was pounding.
And I'm thinking you actually don't care.
Don't care that I'm really feeling
well and still turned up for this
session because I still want to
work out, but it's got to be within
the parameters of how I'm feeling.
So, yeah, just, just listening to clients.
Kyle Wood: Yep.
Thanks Deb.
Favorite song or band to work out to?
Deb Poulton: You know what?
I chop and change my music so much.
I just go to any playlist but
P!nk is definitely my favorite.
When that comes on, we
all get, um, pumped up.
I do a lot of throwback
workouts on, less on too.
Um, yeah, it'd be quite like those.
Kyle Wood: Okay.
And the last question is where would you
like to head next with your business?
Deb Poulton: Yeah, I would just, just
keep growing, um, two things really.
I want to keep moving, uh, on with is
the corporates because, um, that's been
really rewarding and is good value.
Um, not just as good monetary value
as well as, um, It's very fulfilling.
Um, and the second thing I got
as a bit of a goal for me is I
want to get Pialates qualified.
Um, so it's just finding
the time to do the training.
I have made the step I have
signed up to the course.
Um, so I'm going to start doing that
and putting some classes on as well.
So just keep growing, keep
changing, keep educating myself.
Um, I've thought about taking on staff.
At this point I really feel
like I can't be bothered.
I just don't want to have to deal
with someone else in my life, their
drama, because I know what I'm like.
I'll be really like wanting
to make sure they're okay.
And, and I just don't want to
take anyone else on at the moment.
Um, so I just pretty much going to
streamline it and just collaborate with
people rather than actually be the boss.
Kyle Wood: Yeah.
And I've heard that from lots of
people who've built businesses.
And then when they sort of built
the next one, they kept their
staff to a minimum because they're
like, they did the running the
staff thing and it wasn't for them.
They wanted a job where they're still.
So yeah, if he can find a way
to balance it, where you still
growing for the sake of growing,
isn't always the best strategy.
Deb Poulton: No, it's, it's
really hard because my business
is obviously my whole world.
And, um, it means a lot to me.
I'm not very trusting with who
I give that to at this point.
Kyle Wood: You'll find the right person.
Deb Poulton: That's right.
I'll wait for the universe to tell
me it's time and the universe will
deliver me someone amazing to join me.
Until then.
I'll just keep going
Kyle Wood: Well on that note, thank
you Deb so much for coming on and
sharing your wisdom and everything
you've learned over, especially
the last couple of years with us.
Yeah.
I really appreciate it.
And I'm sure those listening do too.
Deb Poulton: Thanks for having me.
Kyle Wood: You're welcome.
All right, until next time.
