Category: Blog

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Quick Checklist: The Health of Your Team

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When energy radiates within a team, productivity is at its peak. The spread of energy through a motivational speech has an incredible effect on the audience. Think of pro wrestling and game show hosts as examples of different energy. Both use short, simple phrases but bring the same stimulation from their audience. But there is a difference between both examples. The difference is confidence and enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm & Confidence

“Just do it!” and “You got this!” are much more different than what we think. Confidence is a buildup of self-esteem from within whereas enthusiasm has a higher chance of reaching a broader audience. When publishing outlets share motivational stories, they narrate the content with phrases like “This man reminds us to never give up!” that engage the audience and make them feel related to the story. Most motivational stories on their own, carry confidence rather than enthusiasm, so it is often the messenger’s job to add detail around the story to reach the audience.

Highlight the Little Things

Social media has brought attention to a lot of the little things in life. Relatable images, gifs and such are shared, spread, and watched by the millions of viewers every day. But popularity isn’t the only reason to highlight the little goals in your business, it’s a great opportunity to boost the human aspect of your business. A staff member got to the office extra early? Ask them to take a selfie and share it on your Twitter/FB page. Did someone bring a homemade healthy workout meal with them to work? Ask them to post a picture with the recipe in the text. You can even be a bit more marketing savvy and release ingredients only to the followers who like your post to encourage follower engagement!

Getting To Know Your Team More

Knowing your staff should be just as important as knowing your clientele. Which is a seemingly obvious standard for maintaining a good work ethic. However, going a bit deeper can also improve productivity in some areas. One way to start this objective is to identify the reactive and the active individuals in your group. It’s possible that not all members of your team will be recipient to situations in the same manner. For example, if a child has a minor injury while playing sports, one staff may go to the child first while another may contact the first aid kit. Both reactions are right in their own way, but effectively determining the character of each staff member can help you decide who and where to assign your team members.

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The Hidden Powers Of Your Clients

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Each and every individual that enters your facility carries an untapped potential for the benefit of your business. They harness the power of representing your business as well as sources for free business advice. Now the question is, what are the steps to get this power up and running? The answer isn’t as hard as you think, not when there’s only one main goal that matters—and that goal is: an established level of comfort. As long as you know your clients will feel welcome, the possibilities are endless. Here are just a few.

Suggestion Boxes

“Hey you know what you should do?” No doubt you’ve heard this before. Suggestions, while helpful, can be overwhelming when there’s no physical place to store them for actual consideration. This is why creating a visible suggestion box is a valuable asset when considering adding new additions to your gym. Considering adding dance fitness classes at last? Turns out eight members had the exact same thought! Always make sure to thank them for their suggestions and share how their input was in alignment with your ideas. Clients will feel valued to know their thought was in line with a place where they spend their time and money.

Shout-outs on Social Media

Appreciation that extends beyond face to face communication is not mandatory but it does put your business in the perfect human spotlight on social media. There’s a quite a difference between the impact of a scripted performance compared to something completely improvised. It’s why spontaneous acts of entertainment get so much media attention, a phenomenon that can even be dated beyond America’s Funniest Home videos.

Contests

Who doesn’t want a little fun competition? The mere mention of a contest can bring about the wonderful effect of maximum audience engagement. Why? You know the answers. It’s what’s guaranteed at the end of every contest and practically commands the participation rate of the event itself. The prizes. The glory and the bragging rights. When it comes to the prize itself, however it never hurts to get creative. As long as the reward bears some relevance to your business it’s certainly prize worthy.

Record Boards

In the same fashion of world record books, your gym can also have a place of fame for all different types of categories. Avoid a divider between the go-getters and beginners by setting up a variety of titles to win, from most push-ups in a day to longest run of fitness jokes. Another great suggestion would be to have a suggestion box for members to add in their ideas on what new categories could be added to the board. The longest conga line of joggers? Why not?

Appreciation Displays

In contrast to a record wall, an appreciation wall highlights achievements that happen outside and show a human size to your gym. The little things that go untold. This is also where you get to give power to your loyal of customers and give them a platform. An appreciation wall doesn’t need limits to a piece of paper saying thank you. It can be photo collage or published short bio. You could even take advantage of our Photo ID’s & Player Passes feature and customize client cards with their newly earned title! Turning a simple action into a personalized memory will make both a powerful and positive impact on your client.

Although it does take planning, the approach on how to unlock these special powers isn’t as hard as initially believed. Once customer morale has built up on positive vibes and human elements, the identity of each customer becomes a part of something greater. A solid community. A family.

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The Checklist: The Health Of Your Gym

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Warning: This is going to be a hard read if you’re eating.

It’s a bit ironic, that facilities for our health can pose bacterial harm if not properly cleaned. Although places like gyms are not number one on the list of highly germ populated public locations, they can be one of the most common areas to contract bacteria.

Nobody wants to think about all these microscopic germs and particles that coexist among us but to have a healthy fitness center inside and out, one must be properly equipped with both the knowledge, products and —oh your facility is well cleaned? Excellent! Now, how much do you spread that information around? It’s very well worth turning a quick spotlight on the cleanliness of your facility. Especially when the USA ranks number 28 out of the 188 healthiest nations despite being one of the most health data indulgent countries in the world.

So it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to remind the public you care about the shape of your gym right? Right! Here’s how to take advantage of a hygienic presence.

Provide Easy Access For Sanitation

You sneeze and there’s no tissue in sight. Here’s a worse situation. You sneeze into a tissue and there’s no trash container nearby! Avoid these minor inconveniences by providing disposable soaps, hand wipes or non-alcoholic hand sanitizers and easily accessible waste bins throughout your facility so your clients don’t have to interrupt their workout for long. They don’t have to be every two feet but a good presence of complementary products will give members a good impression of cleanliness in association with your business identity.

Establish You Have a Cleaning Schedule

Whenever that time for the full scrub overhaul of your facility comes around—that’s the chance to show off your results. Take a picture of your pristine facility and post in online. You could even incorporate fitness into the mix because who say’s scrubbing an entire building isn’t a workout? Or that just the act of cleaning is the only sign of a healthy gym? Share pictures of upgrades, new installations, or even a photo of yourself arriving early! Fresh products, an active mind, and up to date materials express not just a business but a business owner who knows when to make the right decision.

Signs & Reminders

One of the most common of contagions caught at facilities of mobility are skin infections. (Gross I know, but stay with me.) The reasons for these skin infections are due to the unfortunate contact with deposits of leftover sweat on shared exercise equipment and or materials. (How are you doing? Good! We’re going get through this!) The best way this can be avoided is reminders such as: “Always Wash Hands After A Workout”, “Shower after A Swim Please.” and “Remember Scandals On While Showering”. Have any of these signs in your gym? Personalize them a bit, maybe station yourself in front of it for a quick selfie on social media. The more human involvement the better. Just no sweat!

Show you’re a good example

The image of the business owner and staff is everything. Clean clothes clean hair etc. We’re not suggesting to have your staff share their selfies all over your social media but rather to have them included within photos of otherwise stagnant objects. Have cool new health advice to share about pink noises and its ability to improve sleep? Send out an email to you clients! Have new flyers ready to be sent out around the local area? Have one of your staff smiling on the side and snap a picture for social media sharing! There are numerous ways to apply human engagement and interactions to health and safety measures. One way to ensure you have someone on the floor making it happen is with our Employee Time Clock feature. Set up a task for the staff member of your choice so there’s no confusion on whose job it is to post selfies with the clients!

If you are wondering more about effective examples of gym management software, we recommend signing up for a free demonstration of one the most highly experienced, ranked, and trusted gym management software solutions.

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3 Simple Gym Class Makeovers For Instructors

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What do your classes look like and how would you describe them? Are they the same compared to other facilities? Some of the smallest alterations to your most standard classes can help put your facility back on the radar again. With just a little bit of out-of-box thinking, the steps to revolutionizing your facility can be made possible. We thought of three suggestions to get your creativity going on what can be done to spice things up.
Continue reading “3 Simple Gym Class Makeovers For Instructors” →

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Determine Your Goals With Outside-In Perspective

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I’m going to tell you about the wonderfully underused ability of perspective shapeshifting. I will be up front and firstly state that this particular type of transformation does not affect your outer physical attributions, but rather one very special part inside your body; the brain. Everything inside your brain is about to change. Your memories, your business knowledge, your favorite foods—block them out—because in order to successfully complete this transformation, your mind will need to be completely clear. Only then can you become the “next client”.

It is not easy to clear one’s mind, especially those of us, who are in high positions of authority, constantly making decisions on the go. It may also not be easy to agree with this perspective choice of mindset you will be tapping into. Why a “next client?” Why not a current client or a loyal client? Here is the answer. A new incoming client questions everything. They are skeptical and more likely to evaluate and criticize the same as one from inside the business. That is precisely why becoming the next client’s brain is an important step in improving the quality and draw of your business appeal.

So, take a deep breath and clear your mind.

Are you ready?

You are now the next client.

The “Perfect” Balance of Experience and Authenticity

The next client (now you) has a lot of high expectations whether they say so or not. Studies show how first impressions can practically cement opinions despite attempts of rectifying an initial impression and you (as the next client) want a good impression. You also don’t want perfection, but an environment that instead realizes potential growth and strives to be the best.

You’re not as hard to please as your friends and family may think. At the end of the day, you just want someone to trust. You want to hear earnest words like “appreciate,” “value,” and humbling rejections instead of flat refusals such as “No,” and “I don’t know” that offer no framework for a solution. You want to hear encouraging phrases that show a sense of thought like “You have the right to customize” and the usage of “we” that confirms a teamwork relationship. You get a feeling that harmonious staff who know each other will be able to run a business in the best way possible…and you’re right! Research from the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science described that caring, inspiration, and respect define the positive teams that ensure productivity.

Assure Health Trust & Safety Measures

Now that you know your investments are secure, how about your health? Does your future instructor know about how stopping short when running can increase the risk of a heart attack? Do they know CPR and other medical procedures? Does the facility have medical equipment for unexpected emergency circumstances? And will staff reach out in a communication effort beyond the standard hello and goodbye to notify you on all these regulations? In short, you want an open communicator who has a welcoming personality and cares what you say. Open communicators read their subjects by their expressions and body language when words aren’t enough. They are the ones who will know when to say: “Do you have any questions for me?” or “Are you sure?” and “I’m here to help.”. Most of what ensures a trust in your future client-trainer relationship is authenticity and if established from the very beginning of the meeting, your client will obviously be more inclined to extend their trust. In their securing presence, you will also feel secure.

Affirm Security Concerns

The next expectation on your checklist is complete security. In the near future, you are going to give away private information so it’s certainly fair that the one receiving your data knows just how securely your information will be protected. Naturally, you want to feel safe knowing it’s in the most responsible of hands and the best way to ease out that anxiety is to hear a confident and knowledgeable voice saying their payment system is certified. For example,EZFacilityis certified at PCI DSS Level 1, validated procedures by Trustwave, verified privacy practices by TRUSTe, and offers free merchant processing consultation to settle any questions or concerns. Since nearly half of Americans feel their information is less secure online this could come in handy from time to time. You could be part of that percentage, but yet you will feel pleased, knowing EZFacility offers an option to fully understand the heavy text and lingo that warrants the protection of your data.

If you are wondering more about effective examples of gym management software, we recommend signing up for a free demonstration of one the most highly experienced, ranked, and trusted gym management software solutions.

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The Big Game and Your Business.

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The Big Game is almost here and it can really help your business. Yes, that’s absolutely right. As long as you tread extra carefully from using trademarked words such as “Super Bowl”, the Big Game can help improve the status of your business. The idea of celebrating while presenting your business may sound like a huge multitasking feat-but with the help of social media, the idea is a lot easier (and even fun) to accomplish. Here’s how you can get started right away.

Words and Phrases To Use On Social Media Posts: The Big Game, The Big Day, The Big Football Game, Pro Football Championship, American Football, The Game, Football Fun, etc.

Facebook Live is Your TV

A 30 second TV advertisement during the Super Bowl can cost as much as 5 million while videos shared on Facebook can cost a total of nothing. According to Salesforce, 73% of Super Bowl viewers use two devices while watching the game.This allows a wonderful opportunity to use Facebook and its many methods of post engagement, namely Facebook Live. By going candid, clients will be drawn in by a casual aura-and it doesn’t have to be a long video. It could be a 10-second clip of asking gym patrons for a cheer vote of their Pro Football Championship winner.

Twitter is Your Radio

In a statistic run of Twitters activity, audience views during Super Bowl 50 were at 4.3 billion. One way to take advantage of Twitter during the game is through the rotation of play by play tweets known as live tweeting. Note that the The Big Day doesn’t have to be the main event of a live tweeting session, especially if you want to put your business directly in the spotlight and not beside it. Think Budweiser (Yes Really) According to a 2012 study from the  American Veterinary Medical Association, 36.5 percent of the United States population own dogs. It’s possible Budweiser was aware of this when they added a puppy to their iconic Clydesdale in their latest commercial hit. (Fun fact: the Clydesdale was first introduced in 1933 during the end of the Prohibition Era as a method of transportation. As of this time, it is now recognized as a promotional symbol.) It’s important to recognize what Budweiser has done better than other businesses, and that is creating and maintaining a good business icon. The steps to establishing a mascot tend to be costly but with free-to-use social media platforms at your disposal, there’s nothing to lose when you put your pet on camera.

The Power of Food

According to the National Retail Foundation, viewers of Super Bowl 50 spent an average of $82.19 on food, team apparel, and decorations. Another zero cost strategy would be to share a healthy game day recipe on social media. You can even take the project one leap further and post your own how-to video across Facebook and Twitter. If the content resonates with fans, use it for other popular events and holidays. (And congratulations by the way, you got yourself a theme going!) Contests One of the best ways to ensure client engagement on social media is by using the words “contest” or “prizes”. With some imaginative thinking, you can turn the next Big Game into an effortless marketing campaign for your business facility without giving up a single penny.

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Boost Client Conveniences And Business Reach With MemberMe+

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You’re looking to expand the reach of your business and the idea of integrating a mobile application comes to mind. Look no further. EZ Facility’s MemberMe+ can get you started in building upon both customer convenience and satisfaction. When was the last time you saw a client forget their coupon or membership id? With MemberMe+ you and your client can leave those bad experiences behind and step forward toward a better relationship.

Here are some of the many advantages that MemberMe+ provides.

– Virtual Incentives-

The ability to send digital offers and promotions allow convenience for your customers constantly on the move. We improvised upon this method by giving the client the ability to accept offers in real time, taking that “Yes” directly to a calendar for scheduling asap!

– GPS Functionality-

Location is one of the most valuable assets for social media and one of the fastest methods for clients to share your business and their social life. Users can “check in” with Facebook, expanding your business reach with ease.

-All-In-One Efficiency-

Your business may never move but your client is another story. They could be on their way from a new town or coming from a jetlagged flight. They could open up a separate app to find your business and then another to open your calendar… Or they could just use MemberMe+.

-Cross Compatibility-

We want the best possible level of client immersion available so along with the likes of Twitter and Facebook- MemberMe+ is available on iPhone and Android. The budget for a cross compatible app has often been known to be costly, however, when we take a look at our testimonials, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

-Registration of Member ID Cards-

Make your clients commitment easier by giving them the option to digitally store their client membership identifications. Once it’s registered, there’s simply no more time wasted looking for that small rectangular key card. (And no excuse to avoid the gym either!)

-Reporting-

Administer the application from your computer and generate reports on user activity such as download statistics, popular features used by clients and much more. The data gathered from our app can prove to be a vital tool on upholding and improving engagement level among clients.

-Updates & Push Notifications-

Operate efficiently through an admin portal where you can change image formats, add more links and send out notices. After all, surprises are for presents, not extended hours or the opening of a second location. Keep your clients always in the know on what’s going on with your business.

-Info Customization-

Just like your website, you can include a variety of info to your clients, from contact details to an “about us” summary. Also, the customization does not stop at written text. MemberMe+ also allows the inclusion of photos, particularly helpful for biographies of your trainers and or staff.

Imagine what you can do or always wanted to do with extra time. With MemberMe+ helping your business out, you can make that extra time completely yours, and we know you deserve it.

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5 Methods of Communication Due For A Comeback

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You need to contact a client and are considering between a phone call or an email. After a pause, you choose email. Ideally immediate results follow, the clients response is swift, and you move on now that your objective is complete….or is it? We all want to keep our clients happy and we all hope we are doing everything to ensure that they’re satisfied at the end of the day. Yes, we hope. But do we really know for certain this is true? Here are some methods of consistent engagement to utilise so you can ensure a healthy, happy client relationship to maintain.

1: Positive Body Language

Chances are you can remember this exact moment. Think of the last time you raised your hand for a high-five and received nothing in return. It certainly makes an impact and you probably remember the person. This is the power of a bad impression and it can be quite a powerful thing. So what can be done? You’ll be pleased to know the answer is practically effortless. Just like a good pre-workout stretch, opening up your body and standing up straight enables a confident atmosphere for both you and your client. According to a study published by the American Psychological Association , something as small as a firm handshake leaves an impression of extroversion-one of the utmost ideal traits of an entrepreneur. We also recommend keeping those arms unfolded and open for interaction to create an environment of approachability.

2: Handwritten Cards/Letters

Yes emails are easier, but Grandma still mails you birthday cards doesn’t she? And they’re signed in that unique penmanship that makes you think of her and her only? Maybe there’s also a little drawing or message attached. Something that becomes a symbol of them and their love. While we probably don’t want your client to love you like Grandma does, we can agree they should feel content at the mention of your name and or business. Of course like Grandma you should stick to about 1-2 cards a year maximum.

3: “Lets do Lunch”

Think of treating your client as you would a new friend. Recommend them locations of local parks and healthy eateries local to your business. Work these mentions between conversations with existing customers and make flyers for newcomers. A good way to remind clients that you care is to hand out coupons relevant to your suggestions. If a client declines these suggestions or offers-make note of it. Even if there’s no connection at the end of the conversation, there still was a takeaway moment to learn from the experience and in time, develop a different angle of approach.

4: Courtesy Calls

Try not to let “Goodbye,” be the last thing you hear from a client on a daily basis. Through follow up phone calls or emails- you can turn that “Goodbye” into a “Thank You!” or maybe even something better! If using a phone call follow up, use this opportunity to ask questions that flesh out your client as a person-“We’re doing a birthday checklist and noticed you’re not listed. Want to sign up?”. If your emailing, you can use this moment to attach a quick survey for feedback. On the off chance the follow-up proceeds to a negative response-this gives you a heads up to rectify and learn from the situation. An unsatisfied client that is willing to communicate is more than likely to be accommodated than one who chooses to suffer in silence. On the flip side however, initiating a follow up call or email gives the silent sufferer an opportunity to voice their opinion.

5. Asking More Questions!

It’s time to one up your client trivia by using EZFacility’s CMS where the most detailed account profiles are made possible. When you think about it, account profiles are absolutely everywhere from Panera Bread to AutoZone, but how personalized are they beyond a name and a birthday? How much easier would it be to add new programs to your business if you knew what activities your clients enjoyed the most? By using EZFacility’s CMS you can get started on your next move.

If you are wondering more about effective examples of gym management software, we recommend signing up for a free demonstration of one the most highly experienced, ranked, and trusted gym management software solutions.

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The Sales Minefield: How to Avoid the Biggest Selling “Bombs”

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Read below to learn a few tips to avoid the biggest selling “bombs”:

1. Not understanding the value of what you’re selling.

The key thing to remember here is that you are providing a solution, not just a contract or training sessions.  Prospects come to your club because they have a problem. Whether it be they want to lose weight, tone up, or just develop a healthier lifestyle, they are looking to you to provide them a way to reach these goals.  Additionally, each prospect has different, unique fitness and health priorities and there is no real way to put a price tag on what they value. 

2. Thinking selling means you have to “sell your soul”

There are many cartoons that depict salesman as slimy, evil-eye browed villains in suits. This is not an accurate depiction.  You do not have to manipulate prospects to make a sale. 

Selling should be an inquisitive, educational experience. You need to get to know your client in order to sell them exactly what they need to reach their goals. As you begin to understand what your client is looking for and what they value, you can establish yourself as the best positioned person to help them achieve.  When you make a sale, don’t think of it as a number towards your bottom line, instead think of it as an opportunity to change someone’s life with your skills and knowledge.  

3. “Stealing” money.

We all spend money on products or services that bring us value. Your services bring value to your clients’ lives so never feel like you are tricking them into spending money on them.  The more you motivate your clients to stick to the program and drive results, the more likely they will commit to see the program all the way through and come back for future services and purchases. 

4. No repeatable sales system

You need a consistent, repeatable plan. Trust us, this will eliminate so much stress for you. Do not just wing it. I repeat DO NOT TRY TO WING IT. Professional athletes and successful business owners develop and follow repeatable processes to perform top notch. 

Here are a few steps to consider when overcoming selling “bombs”:

1. Qualifying Prospects 

I cannot stress enough how important this step is. It will save you SO much time in the long-run. Before you make a sale, you need to make sure the prospect is the key purchase decision maker and that they are aware of the price of your services and can afford them. Your time is valuable and you do not want to spend a dedicated amount of time on someone who is unqualified from the get-go. 

2. Building a Rapport

Get to know your prospects. Make casual conversation to ease any anxiety about communicating what they are looking to get out of your services. Not everyone who walks through your club doors are in shape and may be nervous about discussing their weight and measurement or allowing photos to be taken that they may find unflattering.  Ease their anxiety by showing them your club is a judgement-free zone and reassure them that you will do everything in your power to help them reach their fitness goals in an engaging and healthy way. 

3. Discovery Questions

There are three main questions to ask in the initial conversation with a prospect are 1) What are your goals? 2) Why do you place value on these particular goals 3) How much work are you willing to put in to reach these goals? (ask them to rate their motivation on a scale of 1-10). The last question is key in helping you develop a program that will bring results and will keep them engaged.

4. Identify Needs:

While there is more easily accessible information about health and nutrition out there thanks to the internet, most people are, in fact, not experts (no matter how much they believe they are). You need to make sure both of you are on the same page.  You may know what your client’s needs are such as getting more sleep, making better nutritional choices, etc, but they may come into this meeting with their own preconceived notions. Help them understand and identify their real needs in a positive, encouraging way. 

5. Diagnose the Problem

So, you’ve established your client’s needs, now it’s time to diagnose the problem.  A vast majority of the time, clients are having a hard time reaching their goals because( a) they don’t have a structured, sustainable program (b) they have chaotic schedules and need help fitting workouts and right nutrional choices into their normal routines and/or (c) they don’t have a network of support motivating them to reach their goals. You may need to do a little bit of hand-holding in the beginning to show them the right path.

6. Provide a Solution to the problem

There are a myriad of different ways to show clients the path to success. Choose the ways you know from experience will help this particular prospect. Share success stories from other clients and provide detailed explanation of the journey you set them on.

7. Close the Sale

Just like finding a solution, there are many different ways to close a sale. Provide the prospect with multiple options so they may choose the one that feels right. Giving only one course of action may seem restrictive and intimidating, especially to those who have never really followed a program before.

8. Handling Objections

Don’t get irritated when prospects show hesitation or offer objections about the program you have proposed. Remember, they may be nervous about trying something new and that they are unfamiliar with. Instead, let them communicate their concerns and never interrupt. Clients will appreciate that their concerns are heard and talking things out generally helps provide a mutual understanding and solution!

The key thing to take away from all of these “bombs” is that you need to be confident in your abilities, services and the value you are bringing to your clients’ lives. Forget all the negative connotations you’ve placed on money and sales and concentrate on providing the best possible solution to help your clients reach their goals. When you show that you are fully capable of providing solutions in a stress-free and judgement free environment, clients will respond genuinely to this and hold you in high regard. Think of all the lives you can change with your training and expertise!