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in my passion for fitness for a more stable job. Instead of giving up, I read every


book I could, listened to audio tapes and shadowed the very best person- al trainers. I heard the word “no” over and over again, until I finally I began to hear “yes.” What I learned was that selling my-


self and proving my value wasn’t the key to gaining clients. Instead, I dis- covered it is about connecting with, listening to and staying curious with the people who choose to share their stories. I met members where they were, and my confidence in them achieving their goals far outweighed their own self doubt. My newfound success was the be-


ginning of my quest to redefine the definition of personal training. I want- ed to evolve it from an industry that was ruled by trainers’ egos, by how much weight they could lift, and by competition among peers to a place where the best personal trainers cre- ated behaviour change through influ- ence. The best personal trainers exhib- it warmth, genuineness and empathy toward both members and fellow team members. I’ve carried this vision into my lead-


ership role today at Movati Athletic where I’ve worked with a talented team to create a personal training cul- ture focused on collaboration and edu- cation. Over the past two years, our clubs have seen a significant growth in clients serviced, personal annual in- come and member connection. While we still have work to do, I believe that through leadership and effec- tive coaching we can develop person- al trainers with a growth mindset and who approach our clients with empa- thy and kindness. By purposefully connecting to our


client’s needs, we will help to build an industry filled with career per- sonal trainers who help members get results and create change, not just promise it.


Kelly Thorne Vice President, Personal Training MOVATI Athletic Etobicoke, Ont.


22 Fitness Business Canada Fall 2018


Don’t Just Dream It, Become It


I


t’s easy to forget to pay attention to who you want to be and where you want to go when you’re constantly overloaded with training clients,


teaching classes and managing a never ending to-do list. A few years ago, Josh Cherry, CEO of


Delta Life Fitness, asked the crowd at a conference I was attending, “Where do you see yourself in a year?” I knew that in one year I didn’t want to still be working full-time as a physiotherapy clinic exercise therapist while also jug- gling a demanding a part-time group exercise teaching schedule. Days after hearing Josh speak, I quit


my full-time job to open Encompass Fitness Studio. This was my starting point. I knew if


I was going to be successful, I was go- ing to have to start becoming the per- son I wanted to be and not just dream- ing about it. I started to focus on personal devel-


opment, reading and listening to ev- erything I could (I read over 30 books that first year, including Mindset by Carol Dweck and Eat That Frog!, by Brian Tracy) to learn from others who were ahead of me. I also joined NPE Coaching to learn how to run a profit- able fitness business that could change lives because I knew lots about fitness but not much about business.


As I applied everything I was learn-


ing, my business and I both started to grow. Within the first few months my studio had over 100 members and nearly double that number by the end of the year. Through NPE, I reached out to


other more-successful fitness business owners and a network of mentors and coaches. I quickly learned that to be- come who you want to be, it’s crucial to surround yourself with others who believe in you and who are headed in the same direction. You will become a product of the people you surround yourself with. Through my studio and a new wom-


en-focused coaching venture, brady- johnson.ca, I am blessed to be chang- ing the lives of others by helping them to discover their potential, build their confidence, live their most authentic selves, and find success. FBC


Brady Johnson Encompass Fitness and Yoga Estevan, Saskatchewan


Brady Johnson


Barb Gormley is the senior editor of Fitness Business Canada, a freelance writer and editor, and a certified personal trainer. Contact her at www.barbgormley.com.


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