instructors deliver over 25 group sessions
weekly, mainly HIIT but also yoga and our
own signature conditioning classes ‘Booty
Burn’ and ‘Ab Lab’. other positive benefits of working out and
not just a physical ‘look’ or number on the
scales. Some are ready to hear this and
some aren’t yet... but they do come back!
How many hours do you spend
working on your business? Where would you like your career
to take you?
An hour or so a day on admin and marketing
and nine hours on training and managing.
What hours do you work?
My day begins at 4:30am when I spend 30
minutes on admin, writing in my journal and
prepping for the day. First class is at 6am, so
I always send a motivational post out to my
closed members Early Bird group, which is a
real community. After class I head home for
breakfast, check my inbox and spend some
time on marketing activities and liaising
with graphic/web designers. We have more
classes at 9:15am, 5:30pm and 6:15pm, and
I’m also involved in many community events
such as parkrun, so the concept of ‘early
doors’ is unknown in my world!
What do you do in terms of your
ongoing education?
In the evenings I aim to have at least 20
minutes ‘education time’. This can be from
mindset, marketing, fitness you name it. I am
always learning, I have travelled overseas to
the UK and US a few times in the past couple
of years and brought back new formats
for the Australian market,a nd I also strive
to educate myself at some of the world’s
biggest fitness conventions.
How do you get new clients?
My main source of clients is word of mouth.
Over the last two years I have focused my
marketing on developing community events
and have established other fitness activities
and events for residents to enjoy, including
Parkrun Bairnsdale and the Colour Run. I am
also involved in other local events and have
participated in regional living campaigns,
newspaper features and radio talks. I am
also very active on social media.
How many clients do you have?
We have over 110 members, and a number
of casuals also attend sessions.
How long do your clients stay with
you?
Many of my clients have been with me
since inception. Apart from the results we
achieve, we have a real community feel and
get involved in other activities together, such
as Spartan. We are continually evolving as a
business, always adding new concepts.
Do you ever turn clients away or
refer them to other PTs?
Not every person who enquiries will be the
right fit. I have a trial pass and my exact
words are: ‘It’s an opportunity for you to
gauge if we are the right fit for you, your
lifestyle, and your needs’. I like to operate
with 100% transparency.
What differentiates you from
other trainers?
I am not the fittest, fastest, or most
knowledgeable trainer out there, but what I
offer to my client base is unique. My passion,
inner strength and my ‘why’ are what make
me stand out. I also have a huge energy. I
want others to be able to live the life of their
dreams by harnessing the transformative
power of exercise.
What is the best thing about being
a PT?
The results achieved, and lives changed, in
our community. Because of this, The HIIT
Factory Bairnsdale was named by Fitness
Australia as the 2017 Victorian Winner
of the #Active Communities Award. This
accolade recognises the outstanding work
of gyms, personal training businesses and
clubs, in creating active, healthier, and
happier communities. The HIIT Factory was
already a multi-award-winning business,
but to receive national recognition from the
fitness industry’s leading association is an
extraordinary achievement for a regionally-
based business such as this. For me
personally, it’s a real sense of achievement
and more evidence of how life changing
physical activity can be. Three years ago I
would never have imagined this.
I don’t even think of it as a job or career – I
just love what I do and it grows with me. I
am a master trainer for Fatburn Extreme, a
20-minute max interval workout, and will be
focusing on growing the brand in Australia.
Personally, my aim is to workout with my
fitness inspiration, Shaun T from Insanity, in
one of his videos. I have met him and worked
out with him, so Shaun if you read this get
in touch, ha ha! I am also very passionate
about mental health and youth as my own
son has been affected and I know what an
incredible tool exercise is. I would love to
get involved as an ambassador or assist
with developing programs for young people
affected by substance abuse and mental
health concerns. I also want to instil into
other young single mums that they have
what it takes to aim high and achieve.
What is your fitness philosophy?
My philosophy is to never stop learning and
to always be open.
What key piece of advice would you
give to someone starting out as a PT?
If someone offers you advice or knowledge
take it. Be prepared to work hard if you want
to go next level with your business. Educate
continually and evolve. Ensure you also have
time for you and don’t burn out. Be in it for
the why.
Check out Vee and the HIIT Factory Bairnsdale on
Instagram HERE and Facebook HERE.
Want to be a future featured Real World PT? For
details, email [email protected]
And the hardest?
It is hard when you know clients are on
the right path and they just can’t see it
themselves yet, feel defeated or are too
focused on the scales. My team and I spend
a lot of time educating clients around the
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