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NOTE: The term “Porcelain Post” was invented by Brian Patrick Murphy and Pete Dupuis. Without getting into the specifics, it describes a post that can be read in the same time it takes you to go #2. Huh, I guess that was more specific than I thought. Enjoy. Fitness Marketing 101The fitness industry is growing fast. I was l listening to an episode of The Fitcast with Kevin Larrabee and guest Lou Schuler recently and Lou brought up an eye-popping stat saying something to the effect that within the past 3-5 years there’s been a steady rise of people graduating with a degree in Health Science. I’m having a brain fart on the actual stat, but I wanna say it’s in the 200,000 to kajillion-billion range per year. It’s definitely closer to the former, but suffice it to say: there’s a lot of people entering the fitness industry. And lets be honest: there’s not really much one can do with a “health science” degree. Sure, some will enter collegiate strength & conditioning, maybe gravitate towards academia, or, I don’t know, join a ninja gang. The vast majority of people, however, will likely root themselves getting a job as a personal trainer at a local commercial gym. And this is when the shit show happens. Marketing. Most fitness professionals have a firm grasp on the intricacies of concurrent vs. undulated periodization, the nuances of breaking down squat mechanics, or hell, maybe they’re an uber nerd and can articulate every step of gluconeogenesis. Many can write a program or assess scapular upward rotation with their eyes closed. Yet, when it comes to marketing their services – and “wooing” new clients – they’re as lost as a White Walker in Westeros. There’s intense pressure on trainers – especially in bigger box commercial gyms – to “recruit” more patrons into personal training each month and to hit quotas. And this is where I feel most trainers have it backwards.
What’s more lucrative? 1. A trainer spending an inordinate amount of his or her’s time scratching and clawing to maybe entice two new people to sign up for one (maybe two) months of training, never to be seen again? OR 2. A trainer who has a healthy roster of ten clients who are continually re-upping their packages? Some Stuff to ConsiderNone of this is to insinuate that the burden should be solely on the trainer’s back 100% of the time; I do believe commercial gyms can (and should) play a more proactive role in supporting their staff. Offering (free) continuing education opportunities would be a good start. I.e., invest in their trainers. That said, here are a few quick-n-dirty suggestions for trainers:1. It’s quoted often and may induce a hefty amount of eye rolls, but Mike Boyle’s “no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care” line is never more germane than here.
2. Try not to be a fitness industry T-1000. Maybe you think it’s cool you haven’t missed a workout in four years, post shirtless pics of yourself eating a kale salad, and haven’t eaten gluten since 2009, but your clients could likely give two shits. They want to be able to build a connection with you. This is NOT to say you shouldn’t practice what you preach and be proud of it. It IS to say, however, it wouldn’t hurt to be a bit more relatable and not give the impression you eat, drink, and breath fitness at all times. Remember that one time you ate an Oreo after 9 PM? Share that. Or, what about that time you lived life dangerously and didn’t spend your Friday night watching YouTube training videos and instead watched Eyes Wide Shut? Share that. Or, I don’t know, maybe not. Either People prefer to know they hired a human to interact with and are more inclined to stay with someone they can relate to. 3. When I was at Cressey Sports Performance the most valuable way we “marketed” our services was to be present and attend our athlete’s games whenever we could. First of all, our athletes loooooooooved it; and what better way to build long-term rapport than that? Second, it was a free advertising and it wasn’t uncommon for other parents to approach us and inquire about our services. Third, it’s not lost on me that many of you reading don’t work with athletes and that it would be awkward to just randomly show up at your client’s open mic poetry reading or powerpoint presentation at work on “How the 2018 Tax Laws Affect Free Market Sales of Industrial Strength Penis Enlargers.” That said, maybe you started working with someone who’s going to compete in their first powerlifting meet or figure competition or kite flying contest. Go! Be a voice and beacon of support for them. They’ll love it and will undoubtedly be loyal to you as a client for the foreseeable future. I Guess What I’m Trying to Say IsBe unapologetic with regards to making your CURRENT clients happy and fostering those relationships. It’s a slight reframe from what we’re programmed to do and think, but one I feel will pay huge dividends. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2019/03/porcelain-post-fitness-marketing-101/
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Scenario: You’ve just fired off the most impressive proposal of your life. The phone conversation with this potential client was amazing, and you’ve got this new project in the bag. Or... so you think. You hit send. And then, crickets. The client doesn’t sign like they said they would, and they certainly don’t pay the initial deposit invoice to get things started. It hurts. Because even though we “know” we shouldn’t take instances like this personally, we do. We’re freelancers. We are our work, and our work is us. And while this scenario sometimes happens because the client was never serious in the first place, sometimes it’s because something you did or said during the call caused confusion or uncertainty to enter the picture. It’s a hard truth to swallow, but after analyzing my own lost deals over the last decade of freelancing and now coaching other freelancers for the last two years, it’s definitely a thing. But here are some ways you can avoid it. Always price anchorBy “price anchor,” I don't mean compare your costs to other freelancers in the field. What I mean is anchoring your price in comparison to what the client stands to make (or save) by hiring you. If you’re designing a new app feature, for example, how many users will purchase this upgrade, and how much money will that make the client over the course of a year? How does that compare to what you’re charging? Don’t be afraid to ask the client about their numbers so that you can do the math for them. A lot of freelancers shy away from things that “aren’t their business,” but if a slient is hiring you for a return on investment, making that ROI happen is your business. Ideally, tell them how much they’ll make first, and introduce your price later. Doing this makes working with you less about price shopping and more about results shopping — which is way more attractive to good clients. Focus on the big pictureThis is especially important if your work isn’t directly tied to a financial outcome. Make sure to ask the client what their ideal big picture would look like after they work with you on this project. Then, ask them what this would be worth to them. Often times, “what” it’s worth is something the client can’t exactly put their finger on. But even if you can’t get them to identify a dollar amount, this one small move will really differentiate you. Most sales calls for freelancers are order-taking notes, followed by a price tag. Not that exciting. But big-picture goals are exciting. Plus, this question shows the client that you’re on their side in making sure that their dream comes to fruition and that you are worth the investment. Stay focusedThis can be tough, especially with a client who isn’t 100% sure of the scope of work. What should be a 20-minute call can easily end up lasting 45 minutes to an hour, as you walk the client through the steps you’d take to get from point A to point B. But If the prospective client starts to go off on a tangent, remind them how many minutes you have left on the call and bring them back to center. Have a bullet-point list of things that are a must to go over on the call, including price anchoring. While it may feel curt, having a structure for your calls and a hard cut-off time really demonstrates that you’re serious about your work and that you’re in-demand. Plus, it makes your knowledge that much more desirable, and therefore worth paying for. Close the dealWhen we hear the words “That’s too expensive for me” or “Can you lower the fee?” come out of the client’s mouth, it feels like it’s over. But when we don’t ask, we don’t get. And our chances of getting it lessen if we let a lot of time pass between the sales conversation and asking for the money. As uncomfortable as it is, go ahead and ask if your offer is something they want to sign on to. This is particularly wise if you feel that the potential client is “sold” on every other aspect of working with you. You may not always get the project, but you’ll definitely start getting more. In conclusionHaving talking points for sales conversations and hard cut-off times might seem counter-intuitive to a freelancer — especially when we chose that career path to be “free” of typical constraints. But structure is comforting, especially for clients who don’t work with freelancers all the time. Having this structure shows them that you’re serious about their success, and that you’re not just another order-taker like the other freelancers they might be talking to. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/03/21/tips-for-sounding-professional-on-business-calls/
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As freelancers, we work hard for every penny of income that comes in — which means that we are also extremely cautious about every expense we agree to cover. So, while health insurance is clearly a non-negotiable (even now that lack-of-coverage penalties have been eliminated), you may be wondering: do I really need to shell out for dental insurance? Before we can help you answer that question, let’s take a closer look at how dental insurance typically operates. Dental insurance vs. dental discountsWhen it comes to purchasing dental insurance, you may be distracted by discount plans. These offer a guaranteed discount on approved services, every time you see your dentist. And there are no limits on how many times you can cash in on those discounts. Sounds tempting, right? It may, until you consider this: while you will be spending less money on each visit, you will still be spending money each and every time you step into your dentist’s office, whether it be for preventative care or for a scheduled procedure like a root canal or a cavity filling. If, however, you purchase a dental insurance plan, the entire game changes. While you do pay a monthly premium for your plan, you get some serious benefits. First and foremost, most dental insurance plans offer 100% coverage for preventative care — sometimes or only one annual checkup and cleaning, but often for two visits each year. This is a big deal, since annual visits are likely to reduce the need for major procedures by catching problems early on. If, however, you do need to undergo dental work, your insurance plan will still have you covered. While each plan is different, most forms of dental insurance cover between 70-80% of basic procedures (fillings, extractions and gentle gum work), and around 50% of major procedures (root canals, crowns, implants etc.) Limits on dental insuranceWhile dental insurance plans offer guaranteed coverage, they aren’t limitless. Many plans have waiting periods for dental procedures (meaning you must be a plan member for a set amount of time before any portion of your major procedures will be covered.) Waiting periods vary by plan, although they typically range anywhere from six to 18 months. It is important to note that those waiting periods do not apply to preventative coverage, so you will still be able to enjoy a cost-free cleaning as soon as you sign up for a plan. The other limit that comes with dental insurance is your maximum annual benefit (the top dollar amount that your plan will agree to pay towards dental procedures.) Again, the cost of preventative care is usually not counted towards your maximum benefit, but costly procedures like dental implants can quickly take you to the limits of your plan. Once that annual maximum has been reached, you will be responsible for 100% of your remaining balance. What are the different kinds of dental insurance?There are three main types of dental insurance: DHMO, PPO and Indemnity plans. DHMO For most procedures, like a filling or tooth pulling, you will be subject to a co-pay rather than a portion of the procedure’s total cost. That co-pay will be due at the time of your procedure. If, however, you need a more complex procedure, you will need your primary dentist to give you a specialist referral. DHMO plans tend to offer lower premiums and great coverage, which is why Freelancers Union offers members the MDG Dental plan, Guardian’s DHMO coverage option. PPO Indemnity Why dental insurance is a smart investmentNow that you understand how dental insurance works, you are hopefully convinced of its importance. The ability to visit your dentist, free of charge, for preventative care will help protect you from costly and invasive dental procedures down the road. Still need convincing? Know this: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Americans lose 164 million work hours each year because of dental problems. When you freelance, even one day off of work is a day you don’t get paid. Investing in preventative care for your teeth is a good way to make sure you’re able to keep earning. Your teeth are a good indicator of your overall health. While many freelancers are too busy to see our primary physicians regularly, your bi-annual dental exams can help identify illnesses like diabetes and certain cardiovascular disorders, which both carry oral health symptoms. Ready to make the investment? Check out the coverage available through Freelancers Union, or reach out to us at [email protected] with any of your burning insurance questions. Jordana White is a contributing writer for Freelancer's Union, and a full-time freelance writer in the health and wellness field. She is a graduate of Princeton University with 13 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/03/20/real-talk-is-dental-insurance-worth-the-investment/
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If you missed the previous installments of this series from Massachusetts based strength & conditioning coach, Matthew Ibrahim, you can check them out in the links below: Complete Squat Warm-Up – HERE. Complete Bench Press Warm-Up – HERE. Lets dive into the deadlift. Complete Deadlift Warm-UpOne of the top priorities to focus on when warming up prior to performing your deadlift in training is to spend time in the ACTUAL hip hinge (deadlift) position itself. Most folks tend to skip out on this and lose out on the benefits. It becomes super important to groove the hip hinge pattern with repetition in the warm-up if you plan to load it in training with your deadlift. In addition to grooving the hip hinge pattern, here are some other key areas to target in your warm-up when preparing to deadlift: trunk stability, lat activation, hamstring tissue flexibility and hip joint mobility. All eight exercises below provide your body with the opportunity to warm-up everything labeled above in an efficient and cohesive format: 1) Yoga Pike – x5[embedded content] 2) Walking Inchworm – x5[embedded content] 3) Alternating Bird Dog – x5 each side[embedded content] 4) KB Dead Bug – x8 each side[embedded content] 5) Band 1-Leg Hamstring Pull-Down – x10[embedded content] 6) Band Standing Straight Arm Pull-Down – x10
[embedded content] 7) MB Hug Good Morning – x10[embedded content] 8) Cable Pull Through – x10[embedded content] About the AuthorMatthew Ibrahim is the Co-Owner & Lead Performance Coach of TD Athletes Edge in Salem, MA. He has been an invited guest speaker nationally in over 10 U.S. states, which was highlighted by his presentations at Google Headquarters and Stanford University, in addition to guest speaking internationally in Milan, Italy. His work has been featured in Men’s Fitness, STACK Media and The PTDC. Currently, he is completing his masters degree at Rocky Mountain University with a direct track into their PhD program. He is a big fan of interacting on Instagram and regularly posts about training, performance and recovery. Follow along: HERE. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2019/03/complete-deadlift-warm/
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Many of us have freelanced for friends. Perhaps a friend was getting married and needed a photographer or event planner or maybe a different friend wrote a book and needed an editor. It is not uncommon that friends and strangers alike seek out our services. In an ideal world, friendships will remain intact long after freelancing opportunities have faded. But unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way. Mixing expectations, money, deadlines, and a friendly bond can be disastrous as I recently learned. In fact, a 20-year old friendship ended over an unpaid invoice. A cautionary taleIn early 2017, a dear friend asked if I would be willing to help, in a freelancing capacity, with his book project. Prior to that point, I had worked on several projects for him with no problems. So I did not hesitate. I also did not adhere to my own process — the first of many mistakes that I would make. Like many of you, typically before starting any project I follow a process — a phone consultation/proposal, legal contract, deposit, deadlines established, project delivered and final payment. The process is seamless and clients are informed throughout. In this particular case, at my friend’s request, I agreed that I’d invoice him once the project was finished and that he could pay 30 days net. After several versions of the project were created; he accepted the final product and I invoiced him. From there, this story should have ended happily ever after — wrong! The waiting game30 days passed by, then 60, then 90, and my friend did not pay the invoice. I sent invoice reminders; I inboxed him on social media and I even reminded him during our sporadic phone calls. His reply was one of disbelief, “Have I never paid you?” In response, I would recoil with guilt because he was right; he did always pay. My life kept going and his invoice remained unpaid, tucked away in my electronic system until one day, I saw an advertisement for his book. Using the ad as a springboard, I sent him a congratulatory text and reminded him that I still hadn’t been paid. He asked me to send the invoice directly to his accountant and cc him. I did. Another 90 days would pass by and still no reply. My accountant thought that I was being too gracious and that I needed to treat this as I would any other unpaid invoice — especially one for this amount. I volleyed back and forth with her and continued to make up excuses for my friend. She finally blurted out, “I don’t think he is going to pay you.” As soon as she said it, my heart sunk. Clearly, he would not use our friendship to avoid his financial obligation? But that is exactly what he did. It wasn’t until my lawyer sent a demand letter that he paid the invoice. By that time, it was almost exactly one year since the original invoice was sent. A few weeks later, he sent me a text stating that I let money come before our friendship; I also learned that he said some disparaging things to some mutual friend. His version of the story failed to include the unpaid invoice. Needless to say, we haven’t talked since this all transpired. Lessons learnedAlthough I miss my friend, I know that the erosion of our friendship over business was much bigger than an unpaid invoice. It was a valuable lesson about following my own protocol and procedures, regardless of whom my transaction is with. It was also a valuable lesson about true friendship and integrity. A real friend would never take advantage of a friendship for personal gain. Since that time, I have freelanced for several other friends and those interactions have been healthy and mutually beneficial. Well after the freelancing has ended, the friendships have maintained. The key is to be clear about boundaries and treating the business-side of the relationship as if it is transactional — because that is exactly what it is. Another valuable lesson is not to deviate from a system that works for you and your freelancing business. Realistically, if someone is not willing to adhere to your policies or wants to alter things, including payment terms, in ways that you are uncomfortable with then you may need to walk away from that transaction. Ask: Is this really worth changing the nature of how I freelance? Our friendship? Friends who value your gifts, time, and talent will respect your boundaries and understand what many of us have advocated for years — freelance isn’t free, nor should it be. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/03/19/freelance-isnt-free-not-even-when-the-client-is-a-friend/
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The second anniversary of the Freelance Isn't Free law is coming up on May 15, and we're celebrating with your success stories. To help us provide a pathway for more freelancers to use the law, share your experience at [email protected]. As a photographer in Los Angeles, I’ve worked with many clients on the East Coast and elsewhere to create sun-drenched images of Southern California to enhance their campaigns.So when an advertising agency in New York City contacted me last fall to create social imagery for a widely-recognized fashion label, I agreed. I was asked to photograph several billboards around Los Angeles in a creative, street-scene style to use on the label’s social media accounts. The budget was set at $250 per billboard with no edits — a fairly standard rate for that kind of work.The agency paid me for the first two sets within days of delivery, and a little while later they hired me to photograph two additional sets. I delivered those with my invoice the next day, according to deadline. Payment was slow the second time around, though. Not wanting to irritate anyone at the agency as I was hoping to establish an ongoing relationship with them, I waited and followed up the next week. They told me that they were in the process of moving their office and that things were hectic; their response felt like the late payment had simply been an oversight due to unusual chaos. So, I waited. And followed up … again, and again. Finally, the client stopped responding altogether, and the woman who managed their accounting department seemed to be eternally “out of the office.” As a subscriber to the Freelancer’s Union newsletter, I was aware of the Freelance Isn’t Free law and knew what to do. When the payment was 30 days late, I filed a complaint and copied the client on the email. It was an impressively easy, quick, and free process. A few days later the client suddenly paid the invoice. A short while after the payment was finally made, they reached out to ask if I could photograph another billboard on what was expected to be an unusually rainy day in Los Angeles — possibly to protect themselves from accusations of retaliation under Freelance Isn’t Free’s anti-retaliation provisions. I asked if I could photograph it on a different day due to the weather, and never heard back. Regardless, I’m thankful to have had the option of filing a complaint, as I may have had no realistic recourse otherwise. The simple act of filing the complaint, coupled with the potential penalties associated with Freelance Isn’t Free violations, were enough to elicit a response when no amount of follow-ups had been. Even with contracts in place, recovering a missed payment requires time and money that many freelancers simply don’t have. I firmly believe that laws like FIF should be in place across the country. When a freelancer spends time creating work for a client, they should be paid for it. It really is as simple as that. Share your Freelance Isn't Free success story at [email protected]. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/03/18/freelance-isnt-free-success-story-photographer/
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1. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint – 2019 Locations & DatesPhiladelphia, PA: April 27-28th (<– EARLY BIRD rate ending in 3 weeks). Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: May 25-26th Sydney, Australia: July 13-14th Melbourne, Australia: July 20-21st This workshop will piggyback on the material Dean Somerset and I covered in the original Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint. With this iteration, though, we’ll be going a bit deeper into the coaching and programming side of things:
Find out more details HERE. 2. Coaching Competency Workshop – Raleigh, NCI’ll be in Raleigh, NC THIS WEEKEND putting on my popular Coaching Competency workshop Full details (date, location, itinerary, how to register) can be found HERE. 3. Strategic Strength Workshop – Boston, MALuke and I did this workshop last summer in London and figured it’s only fair to bring it State side. Combined we have 30+ years of coaching experience (I.e., one Mike Boyle or Dan John) and this workshop will be two days where we uncover every nook and cranny as it relates to how we assess our clients/athletes and how we best prepare them for the rigors of every day life/sport. This will be a unique opportunity for people to learn from myself, but especially Luke, who I think is one of the best and brightest coaches I know. For more information and to register you can go HERE. 4) The Ultimate Pull-Up ChallengeLil’ Kim is the queen of hip-hop. Meghan Callaway is the queen of pull-ups. She’s running a pull-up challenge this month (starts Monday, March 18th) and everyone who participates will receive a FREE PDF outlining exercises and tips to improve your pull-ups. Plus you get to be part of a motivating challenge. Also, on an aside: Meghan’s popular Ultimate Pull-Up Program will be on sale at 25% off the regular price throughout the duration of the challenge (and I think the offer is available right now). SOCIAL MEDIA SHENANIGANS
STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORKBrie Larson and Becoming Your Own Superhero in Real Life – Josh HillisThe main message I got from reading this (and it’s a profound I am always trying to champion myself): it’s more about the PROCESS than the OUTCOME. Trans Athletes: The Death of Women’s Sports – Dani ShugartWHEW- this one was a doozy and a topic I can”t imagine how hard it was to write about. Dani did so with tact, grace, and professionalism. Strength Training for Runners: It’s a MUST – Menachem BrodieThere’s no shortage of myths and naysayers when it comes to attaching strength training to an endurance athlete. I want to give Menachem a hug so freakin bad for writing this article. Well done! Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2019/03/stuff-read-youre-pretending-work-3-15-19/
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This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here. I have been an independent writer and communications consultant for almost two decades. I’ve been fortunate to have a steady stream of work during that time, mostly due to the fact that I work in different niches. This diversity has often saved me from major dry spells. When one side of the business drops off, the other tends to pick up. Usually there is a good combination of different kinds of work. But to borrow a line from Prince, due to a dry spell I’m networking like it’s 1999. I’m not just reaching out to contacts I know well, but to many others I know only loosely, or not at all — because they work for organizations that interest me. Admittedly, it feels a little like starting over. It’s humbling, sometimes frustrating, but also rewarding and rejuvenating. It’s probably not unlike dating after a divorce. Whether you’re just starting out or trying to recover from a dry spell after long-term, success, here are some lessons I’ve learned so far: Most people will not email you or call you backThat’s okay. I get it. People are busier than ever, and I understand their fear that I’ll never leave them alone if they respond. My rate of response right now is about one reply for every ten to 12 inquiries. Sometimes I follow up with a LinkedIn request to the non-responders and often they accept, which feels like some progress. When people do respond, it can be great funMeeting new people or reconnecting with people from my past, even over the phone or via videoconference, is reinvigorating. So far I have landed three new jobs this way and made two connections that I believe will lead to new work at some point. When you feel ignored, try to think of the people who haven’t ignored you. I wrote down a list of all of the long-term clients I landed through a cold call or email. There are more than I imagined! Keep at itI’m still not where I need to be in terms of workflow. Given that my rate of response is about 10 percent, and only some of those responses have led to paying work, I know I need to make networking a daily task and not just a Friday afternoon afterthought. Always respond when someone tries to network with youWhen I was the managing editor of a magazine, I received dozens of inquiries from writers and designers looking for work. I always responded with an encouraging note because I remembered how it felt when I was getting started. Being on the other side of these conversations now makes me glad I made that a priority—and I always will. Hey, you never know when someone you helped will be able to help you. Kris Conner partners with hospitals and healthcare systems, schools, cultural and nonprofit organizations, and corporate clients to create compelling, message-driven print and digital communications. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/03/15/networking-through-a-freelance-dry-spell/
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Sure, you understand why doctors need malpractice insurance, but even if you’re in a field that doesn’t require an advanced degree, specialty training or a license, you could benefit from having professional liability insurance. Here’s why. All freelancers and small business owners, including accountants, real estate agents, consultants and beauty and fitness professionals, are expected and required to meet certain professional standards including meeting deadlines. And, of course, as a responsible freelancer who appreciates that their name and reputation is one of their most valuable assets, you do. However, even if you did everything correctly from your point of view, you could still get sued. A few examples of common problems
Or perhaps you actually did make a mistake, by missing a deadline for whatever reason and your client had to pay a penalty. One example is an accountant who filed their client’s taxes late. Regardless of whether you were at fault or not, professional liability covers your court costs including legal fees, expert witness fees and court and administrative costs plus any settlement costs and court judgements should you lose at trial. What professional liability insurance doesn’t coverProfessional liability covers negligence or perceived negligence related to your work — which usually relates in a financial loss for your client. It doesn’t cover physical injury or property damage; those would be covered by general liability. Do I really need it?In an ideal world, you would never need to use professional liability insurance. However, when you consider that 43% of small business owners say they have either been threatened to be sued or have been sued, according to U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, this type of insurance can give you much needed peace of mind. You can learn more about Freelancers Union's liability insurance offerings here. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/03/14/professional-liability-insurance-who-needs-it-and-why/
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I often say that what bogs down most fitness professionals, and what often causes the most stress, isn’t the x’s and o’s of program design, assessment, or breaking down the Creatine phosphorylation cycle. Nor is it the ability to break down squat or overhead pressing technique. Most coaches/trainers can do all the above without blinking an eye. Nope, what really grinds most fit pro’s gears is how to better motivate their clients and to get them to work hard(er). Now, to be fair (and to add a sense of brevity), when I say “to get them to work hard(er)” I am not implying the word “hard” means someone trains to the point of shitting their kidney on their last set of cleans or that they can’t feel the right side of their face after finishing that day’s WOD. Just so we’re on the same page… I Am Not Referring to This5 Tips to Get Your Clients to Train Hard(er)1) Meet Them Where THEY AreWe all have biases as coaches. We all have notions of how most people we work with should train and what they need to do to get from Point A to Point B. Using myself as an example:
I’ll unabashedly admit that the bulk of people who walk through the doors at CORE already know what they’re getting themselves into I mean, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to take a gander at my logo and tagline to put 2 and 2 together: I.e., we’re not participating in tickle fights. That said, I’ve made a massive philosophical change in my coaching style ever since marrying my wife, Dr. Lisa Lewis. She’s a psychologist and knows a thing or two about Jedi mind-tricks. To that end, I try really, really, really hard not to force feed and project MY preferences onto my clients. Granted I live in a bit of a strength & conditioning bubble where I don’t have to work very hard to convince new clients to understand and appreciate the benefits of strength training. Many times people walk through the doors of CORE on Day #1 wanting to deadlift, or front squat, or discuss why Colton was a fool (and FOOL I tell you) to pick Cassie over Tayshia in the latest season of The Bachelor. However, NEWSFLASH: a lot of people could give two shits about deadlifting 2x bodyweight or performing a low bar back squat. Using the latter as a reference point, not many people have the ability to perform a barbell back squat well, and if I played the meanie head strength coach card all the time and forced every client to do it – even if it didn’t match their current ability level, injury history, or goal(s) – I’d be doing them a disservice and likely taking away from their training experience. Doing our part and meeting our clients where THEY are – oh, you mean not everyone wants to train like a powerlifter? – would be the more germane and responsible approach. If your client can’t perform a certain exercise because it’s too advanced (or worse, it hurts), then yeah, they’re not going to be very motivated to work hard. 2) Set Them Up For SuccessI’m going to divulge a big (coaching) secret; something that will undoubtedly help separate any coaches/trainers who may be reading from the masses. Wanna know what your clients want most and what will (likely) allow them to work harder? No, it’s not a Instagram feed of you wearing yoga pants making a smoothie or posing shirtless next to a Tesla. And it’s definitely not however many supplements you want to peddle their way. Nope, what they really want is to not feel like an incompetent asshole on the gym floor. The fitness industry likes bright shiny things; exercises that are flashy and look cool. That’s fine. I am not anti having a little fun in the gym. That being said, lets stop with the exercises that take 13 minutes just to set up or are only good for garnering “likes” on social media. [embedded content] I think the more prudent approach, and at the expense as coming across too “vanilla,” is to hammer the basics – squat, hinge, row, push, single leg, carry, core – and to use your skills as a coach to find out what variations of these patterns best fits the needs of your clients. Want your clients to work hard(er)? Set them up for success and provide a litany of exercises they can actually perform well and without feeling like a fool. And then, you know, progress them accordingly. 3) Have Them Write Shit DownLet me know if this sounds familiar: Client: I’m frustrated by my lack of progress. Me: Okay, lets break this down. Let me look at your program. (looks at program) Me: Why isn’t there anything written down? Client: Oh, I just try to remember each week what I do. Me: Excuse me, brb. (tosses face into a brick wall). Please. Most people can barely remember what they had for dinner the night before let alone what they did on their third set of DB Bench Press last Wednesday.
I like to place a bit of accountability with my clients and encourage them – almost naggingly so – to WRITE THEIR SHIT DOWN FOR THER LOVE OF GOD. 4) Appreciate RPEIt’s one thing when I can have my eyes on a client and adjust load or otherwise provide instant feedback on their technique in real time. It’s a whole different ballgame when a client trains on their own. There’s always going to be a bit of trial and error, however most of the time (not always) I find people tend to UNDER-estimate how much weight they can lift when training on their own. Lets say a program calls for 4×8 of a particular exercise and that’s exactly what a client does. Great. That’s half the battle Upon further inspection, though, when you bring up effort or Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), you come to the realization that they could have done eight more reps with that same weight. [Cue The Price is Right horn here.] Granted, they’re doing work, which should be celebrated…just not work that’s challenging enough (or, to be more specific, “work” that challenges the body and forces it to adapt to the load placed upon it). Getting your clients to appreciate and adopt “RPE” to help provide feedback and direction in terms of what loads to use can be a game changer with regards to nudging them to work harder. Courtesy of Mike Turscherer 5) Use a Teeny Tine Dose of Tough LoveLastly, sometimes I like to write little notes into my client’s programs – especially those who can’t seem to live without their cell phone – to remind them that I have their best interests in mind. Unless you’re a brain surgeon on call, leave your phone off the gym floor…;o) Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2019/03/get-clients-work-harder/ |
AuthorI have 5+ years experience working as a medical transcriptionist. When I am not working, I enjoy sports like playing basketball or judo. I love making friends and connections. Archives
April 2023
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