#JTInTheRaw Show 15: Know Your Own & Your Team’s Strengths For SIX Times More Engagement At Work

Welcome to Show 15.  If this is the first time you’ve tuned in to #JTInTheRaw you will be entertained, educated and amused for the next 12 to 15 minutes.  This is me raw – no political correctness, no make up, no professional lighting. Just me and my little old Apple iPhone 6!

Thank you to the people that watched show 14 last week – click here to watch. Was it my rant on personal trainers you liked? Or was it having Chantal from Fitness Business Podcast? Whatever it was I had a record number of viewers. Thank you.

I’m in Brisbane for FitnessBiz. Well I was suppose to be here for FitnessBiz but we have moved the date to the ‪21st Oct.

If you’re in Brisvegas and want to see the inside to over 50 gyms and studios plus learn the lowest cost marketing strategy then grab a ticket for the ‪21st October at ‪FitnessBizBrunch.com.au now!

If you stay tuned in today, then you’ll hear about a book I read this week and the assessment it sent me to. You’ll also hear how important working in your strength zone is – and I am NOT talking about lifting weights strength zone. Finally, you’ll hear what is on the mind of some of Australia’s best gym owners!

#JTShoutout…

Two shout outs this week go to:

#1 Jarred from WOW Wipes and Dan from Ezypay.  Thanks to your two companies for jumping onto the Active Management supplier directory.  Great to have you on board!  FYI – we are building a supplier directory for people who want to talk to fitness business owners.  If you’re keen to know more give me a yell.  If you’re an owner or manager, check out http://www.activemgmt.com.au/supplier-directory/.

#2 Chantal who you met last week.  Chantal is the amazing host of the Fitness Business Podcast.  This month is #Podtober, so she is working her little butt off!  Her interview this week with John Lee Dumas is awesome and well worth a listen for entrepreneurial insights, no matter what business you are in!

#3 Chris D & Chris G two brand new clients I started coaching this week.  You have your homework, get to it boys.  Also to Willow who returned to coaching after a few weeks on holidays.  Welcome back Willow!

#AskJT

This week’s question comes from Brikitta who asked me to help with an attention grabbing headline for her radio ad.

We all get creative block Brikitta!

Let’s start the answer with a question: who is your ad targeting?

If you don’t know WHO you want to respond to a FB ad, print ad, TV ad or radio ad then you can’t build a headline. Your headline must show you have a solution to your target market’s problem. Understand your customer better and you can write a headline.

So the answer to your question is short Brikitta.  The process is longer.

You need to be able to fully describe your ideal customer.  You have to truly KNOW them.  You must build what is called an AVATAR of your ideal customer.  When you build this avatar the headlines, the copy and the offer will fall into place.  You can’t be all things to all people in your advertising. Get specific if you want results.

If you would like a copy of an avatar checklist, email me.

Remember, if you have questions for me . . . Tweet them using #AskJT, Facebook me or email me!

Book Review

This week I finally opened Strength Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath.  The book goes hand in hand with completing the Strength Finder Assessment which is 15 bucks US or free if you buy the book.

To be honest the report you get post your assessment, you don’t need the book.

Here is the link to the Strength Finder assessment.

There were some fascinating statements in the book that really challenged my thinking and yet gave me clarity and direction. For example:

• People have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies.
• People who have the opportunity to work with their strengths in their jobs are six times more likely to be engaged at work & three times more likely to say they have an excellent quality of life.

One interesting statement he made was “You cannot be anything you want to be, but you can be a lot more of who you already are.”  He used Michael Jordan as an example: a world champion basketballer who practiced and got better.  But he not matter the time he spent working on his baseball or golf, he never reached the same heights – no pun intended.

“You cannot be anything you want to be, but you can be a lot more of who you already are.”

The majority of people in their jobs – over 70% – don’t have the opportunity to focus on what they do best. And when you are not in your strength zone you disengage from work.

Tom Rath lists the following when you are not in your strength zone:

• You dread going to work;
• You have more negative than positive interactions with your colleagues;
• You treat your customers poorly;
• You tell your friends what a miserable boss & company you work for;
• You have fewer creative moments.

The research from the Gallup organization says your confidence, direction, hope and kindness towards others are ALL improved when you are in your strength zone!

Don’t know what your strengths are?  Do the assessment.

If I were a business owner, I’d have all my staff do the assessment to ensure I had them in their strength zone and therefore engaged!

What Are Gym Owners Thinking?

Exclusive to #JTInTheRaw watchers you can have an insight into what some of the best gym owners in the country are thinking and wanting to know about.

Next week is the Club Owners Industry Leaders Roundtable.  This week I have been putting together their agenda and here is what we are talking about:

• Benchmark numbers for sales numbers – drilling down to are the closing ratios better on type of enquiry?
• How much is a fitness business really worth?
• With wage costs rising, what can we automate/innovate to enhance member experience but reduce costs.
• Creating staff brands within the business brand.
• Sales funnels – how do we make them work in our industry.

On top of these specific topics, we’ll also hear just how business is going when they share what’s happening in the confidential environment of the Industry Leaders Roundtable.

By the way, if you are a personal trainer watching who would like to join or at least know more about the Industry Leaders Roundtable then email me now.

Next Week

Other than the Industry Leaders Roundtable, I have a coaching session with a business in Melbourne next Friday to plan an onboarding sequence for their new clients.  Last week I gave a breakdown of what we need to do to on board customers for success & long term viability.  If you missed the show pop in 14 below & I’ll share the link with you.

And that’s about it for another week!

Remember please share the show if you think there is someone who should know their strength zone, should join the Industry Leaders Roundtable to enhance their business or know how to build an avatar for their business.

Quote of the Week . . .

“When you build your #1 customer avatar the headlines, the copy and the offer will fall into place.”

Check out previous shows here: