From the Gym to Healthy Lifestyle Trainer

From the Gym to Healthy Lifestyle Trainer Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From the Gym to Healthy Lifestyle Trainer “It rarely feels like 'work'; it's more like an extension of my play time.” * From the Gym to Healthy Lifestyle Trainer Madelyn Wright wasn't happy in her job, but she did believe in the value of the work she was doing there. Here's how she took her passion into her own hands, overcame a case of self-doubt, and designed a career that fits her perfectly. What work were you doing previously? I was working in a gym aimed at 'people who hate gyms'. What are you doing now? I'm a self-employed personal trainer â€" although I use the job title 'Healthy Lifestyle Mentor' because it better describes what I do. I believe that being fit and healthy isn't just about exercise (as many people think); just as important are nutrition and your relationship with food, your mental and social well-being, your quality of sleep, your ability to relax and having the tools you need to navigate life with a smile on your face. Why did you change? I was increasingly dissatisfied in my job at the gym, but also inspired by the work itself. I felt I could go one step further in helping 'non-fitness-y' people (who don't like gyms, have tried all the diets, and have little or no faith in their ability to be fit and healthy) by taking the fitness sessions to them. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I'd idly considered it for months, but when I was very upset by something at work a couple of years ago, that's when it started to seem like a viable alternative. Three months later, I decided this was what I needed to do. Another three months later, I handed in my notice, and within a week of finishing working at the gym, I started my Personal Trainer course. Are you happy with the change? Yes, absolutely! I love being my own boss and managing my own time. And I feel fulfilled seeing the positive impact my work has on my clients in all areas of their lives. My natural predilection for eating healthily, spending time outdoors and generally living the best life I can means that my knowledge and experience grows organically without me even really thinking about it. So, it rarely feels like 'work'; it's more likean extension of my play time. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the camaraderie of having colleagues to chat with, the structure of being told what to do / what not to do, receiving feedback from your boss about your work, and the security of a regular pay cheque. However, I've made up for all of that by having other self-employed friends for camaraderie, creating my own structure and 'reward chart' for the work I do, and I'm working on getting a more stable income stream. How did you go about making the shift? I researched what I would need in terms of qualifications. Although you're not legally obligated to be qualified to be a personal trainer, it's recommended and provides a level of security for both you and your clients. You can also receive the support of the Register of Exercise Professionals and it's easier to arrange things like insurance. I looked into the different courses available and found an intensive six-week course that met my needs. I signed up, paid my money and wrote my letter of resignation to the gym. I then undertook six weeks of intensive training and assessment. I allowed myself a break, since Christmas was fast approaching, and then started creating my business in earnest in the new year â€" building a website, etc. I started off by offering free sessions to a group of hand-selected friends so I could practise on them and build my confidence, which I'm so glad I did. Unexpectedly, quite a lot of them decided to continue with me and paid for further sessions! Then, mostly through referrals, I started to get my first 'real' paying clients just a couple of months later. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? Nothing went especially badly, partly due to luck and partly due to lots of planning and preparation on my part. It would have made life marginally easier if I'd set my official start date (which you have to tell HMRC when you register for a tax code) to coincide with the beginning of the tax year, but that wasn't a major problem. I discovered that I didn't like teaching group sessions, so I now stick to the one-to-one format, but I count that as a natural evolution rather than an error. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I was fortunate that I had enough in savings to pay for the initial outlay of £3,000 for my training course. I'm also fortunate to be supported by my boyfriend who helps with everyday bills and rent while I'm building up my income. I broke even within a year (i.e. earned enough to cover the amount I'd already spent) and am aiming to earn enough to make a decent living within the next couple of years. What was the most difficult thing about changing? The self-doubt. In my personal life I was a pretty confident, self-aware and happy person after many years of self-development, counselling, coaching, etc. It was a surprise to find myself thinking anxious thoughts and feeling panicky in a way I hadn't experienced for years. When there's no one else there to tell you if you're doing it right or wrong, it's very easy to assume you just have no idea what you're doing, you're a fraud, it's all going to fail, and to wonder what on earth made you think you could do something like this. One thing that helped immensely was taking the online Thrive course with Primal Happiness, which taught me a totally new way of seeing those anxious thoughts, and that I didn't have to go down that rabbit hole of despair and self-doubt. What help did you get? My local small business support centre, Colbea (Colchester Business Enterprise Agency) provided free and low-cost workshops and training courses. For £60 I attended a ten-week course called 'Small Steps, Big Changes', aimed at helping women to start their own businesses. The course helped to answer and clarify a lot of issues I had questions about, and more than that, gave me the confidence to believe that I could actually do this. What resources would you recommend to others? I did my training with Premier Global, and I'd recommend them for any aspiring gym instructors or personal trainers. The HMRC website has lots of information about how to sort out your taxes (but you might need a patient friend to read through it with you in case you start feeling overwhelmed!). Colbea (in Colchester) or your local small business agency can provide training and support. What have you learnt in the process? That it's actually a lot easier to start a business than I thought it was, but you absolutely need to believe in the thing you're doing or you'll just be forcing something that isn't meant to be, and your mental health will suffer. At my lowest points I just reminded myself why I believe in taking health and fitness to 'non-fitness-y' people, and what I was hoping to achieve. That kept me going. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Find people who are already running their own small businesses to ask for advice and encouragement. Look up your own small business advisory centre (they're everywhere) to see what courses and assistance they can offer. If in doubt, Google it! You don't have to spend loads of money to create the perfect website, flyers, etc., at the beginning; just use free and cheap resources and do the absolute minimum to get started, otherwise you'll get stuck in the preparation phase and never actually begin. You can buy / develop / improve everything later on (it's a constant evolution!). Don't be afraid to experiment with things that might not work, and bin them if they're rubbish. Don't neglect your own mental health â€" you need to take time out to relax and switch off, and if you think you'd benefit from life or business coaching, counselling or self-help then give it a try. Be kind to yourself â€" don't expect to get everything right the first time, and remember that everyone started off not knowing what they were doing. To find out more about Madelyn's work, visit www.thewrightfit.wordpress.com. What lessons could you take from Madelyn's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Mentors for international students apply now! University of Manchester Careers Blog

Mentors for international students apply now! University of Manchester Careers Blog If you have seen our recent blog posts about having a career mentor through our Manchester Gold programme, you may be wondering if there are any mentors appropriate for international students. Absolutely, yes! Our Manchester Gold programme is open to all our students ( home and international ) but we also have around 100 mentors based overseas around the globe usually our international alumni who can be invaluable if you are looking to return home or explore working in another country after graduation. Here are a sample of some of the international mentors who are based in key countries ( where many of our international studenets come from). You can find the full listing of mentors, their roles and employers and how to apply on the Mentoring webpages http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/employable/mentoring/   But be quick you need to apply by October 18th (one week to go!) A sample of international mentors: China CapitalVue Finance and Management Consultancy Continental Automotive Holding Co., Ltd. Information Technology CONVOY FINANCIAL HONGKONG GROUP Finance and Management Consultancy Dacheng Law Offices Legal Services East China Normal University Education EIC Nanjing Education Guangzhou Hongli opto-eletronic co. Jiangxi Copper Corpration Finance and Management Consultancy Nankai University Education New Oriental Education Technology Group (NYSE:EDU) Education Novo Nordisk Science and Pharmaceuticals Shandong High Peoples Court Legal Services Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Charities and Not-for-profit Sino_Britiah College Shanghai Education India Apollo Hospitals Health and Social Care Nath Valley School Education Rothschild Finance and Management Consultancy S.A. Engineering College (Affi. Anna University) Education SSSS Degree College, Andhra University Education Pakistan COMSATS Education Firhaj Footwear Engineering and Manufacturing N.E.D University Education N/A Total Energy and Utilities Unilever HR and Recruitment YUNUS TEXTILE MILLS PVT LTD Engineering and Manufacturing Singapore Accenture Information Technology Accenture Information Technology Enoive Inc. Information Technology Malaysia Dell Information Technology HP Information Technology workflowww International Limited Information Technology Hong Kong Manchester Business School World East Asia Education UK Trade and Investment Civil Service, Public Administration and Government Nigeria Chevron Nigeria LTD Engineering and Manufacturing HL Solicitors Legal Services All International China international jobs international students mentoring networking

Social skills matter more than ever, so heres how to get them

Social skills matter more than ever, so heres how to get them Its hard to underestimate the impact of good social skills on your career. In fact, across the board, in a wide variety of businesses, people would rather work with someone who is likeable and incompetent than with someone who is skilled and obnoxious, said Tiziana Casciaro, professor at Harvard Business School, whom I spoke to on the phone. How we value competence changes depending on whether we like someone or not. And people who lack social competence end up looking like they lack other competencies, too. When it comes to holding down a job, social skills matter today more than ever. For people who want to break into a popular field like entertainment, for example, the only way to differentiate yourself at the bottom is to be likeable. Many fields that used to be havens for loners, like programming, increasingly require exceptional people skills. The jobs that are staying in the United States are those that require regular touch, face-to-face contact with clients or a manager, says Erran Carmel, chair of the Information Technology department at American University. The people landing those jobs have great social skills because of the difficulty of managing teams that are distributed across cultures. And as the need for social skills at work grows, the bar for good social skills gets higher. Until the 1970s, a smart child uninterested in playground politics was considered eccentric but okay. Since the 1980s, educators see the playground as essential training for the future, and kids who cant navigate are often sent to experts for extra help with social skills. Today a variety of therapeutic approaches can teach a child social skills while their brain is still forming, says Amy Berkman, a therapist working with New York schools. Therapies were using now, like cranial sacral and sensory integration did not enter the mainstream until twenty years ago. The result is that each year, those entering the workforce come in with a better likeability factor than the year before. Most of us have to work at being likeable. Fortunately, Casciaros research shows that the biggest impediment to likeability is not caring. So if you just decide you want to do better, you probably will. Take responsibility for yourself, says executive coach Susan Hodgkinson. Everyone needs to know that they are responsible for creating healthy, productive relationships at work. No one is going to make you likeable. The people who are likeable actually care about other people and care about the connections they make. Being good at talking to people requires that you figure out what interests them. Casciaro recommends a tactical approach: Find the hook that makes your similarities more visible. For example I might meet a man in his 60s and Im a woman in my 30s but we both like basketball. Also, figure out how to help someone else get what they need. Recognize what youre trying to get done and who you are trying to get it done with. Then think beyond your own stuff to what the other people want, advises Hodgkinson. Think of this as project management synergy, or resume empathy; you need to help others reach their goals. This will make you more likeable and then more likely to reach your own. And, dont discount flattery. Usually the reason we like someone is because we think they like us, says Casciaro. Its the rule of prom-dates: He was ugly until he asked you to prom, and now he doesnt look so bad. Since there is no prom at the office, to make someone feel liked, Casciaro suggests, smiling and listening to make someone feel liked. But its not a personality popularity contest, Hodgkinson says, you need to stay true to yourself while still expending empathy in order to connect. Its hard to do, but Casciaro says that people are much more likely to notice an increase in your likeability factor than an increase in your skills. So next time you consider areas for self-improvement, choose interpersonal coaching over office skills and youll likely get more bang for your buck.

Why Employer Branding is Important - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Employer Branding is Important - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Having a reputable employer brand is a must for an organization’s strategy because it has many non-visible benefits such as able to recruit better candidates, reduce hiring and marketing costs, and improve productivity. Therefore, for organizations, that are still in doubt about investing in employer branding, I’ve put together the below post so keep reading and find out why employer branding is so important. Help Retain Employees and Recruit New Ones: A strong employer brand will make your employees proud that they are part of it. Especially being part of the right company culture is very important for employees. A majority of employees look at the social media channels of employers before applying for a job to have an idea of the brand image. Also, through these channels, they can have an idea of the expectations of the employer and see if they potentially fit into the company culture. Reduces Costs: If you have a well-known brand, then, you don’t need to spend as much on the recruiting costs. Potential candidates will find you and apply to your positions naturally. Instead, you can spend this amount on your branding or on product development in order to get ahead of your competitors. In addition your recruiting efforts decrease because you don’t spend so much time to find candidates, candidates find you themselves. Also, according to statistics candidates are willing to accept a lower pay, if they work in a company with positive reviews and a well-known brand. Your Employees Become Your Ambassadors: Current employees become your brand ambassadors and as a result, hires through referrals increase. The more your employees talk positively about you, the more you get good candidates. Also, when your current employees talk about the business, this helps the brand becomes stronger without spending much on marketing because awareness increases by word of mouth. This creates a domino effect. When the brand awareness increases, your sales increase in parallel. Improves Employee Engagement: Employees who work in strong brands are generally more enthusiastic and motivated. Having motivated employees is great for an employer because they are more productive and more productivity means more growth for a business. When your business grows, your revenues grow as well and this ensures the financial stability of your company. A financially stable company is always more attractive to potential candidates. Moreover, your employees feel more secure in their jobs.

Interview Series - Career Experts - Joey Trebif from CareerAlley CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Joey Trebif from CareerAlley â€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up with Joey Trebiffrom CareerAlley who shares his expertise and insights about job search, career change,etc.in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your company evalAt CareerAlley,we focus on providing job search and career advice to those looking to change jobs or enhance their career.How did you get started in this path?My schooling is finance and accounting and I basically worked my way up the career ladder I was naturally interested in career growth and managing your career. Being good at job search is very important in the volatile finance industry.Is this something you decided early on in your career? I am a senior executive in Financial Services and was a victim of the Great Recession What is the most exciting part of working in thisindustry? Helping people grow in their career by providing focused career and job search advice.How do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert? Constant reading, following many of the career ex perts in the industry.What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle with the most?I don’t think that many job seekers prepare for an interview. It is not just about being able to answer all of the questions and ask the right questions.evalIt’s also about fully understanding the organization where you are interviewing, learning as much as you can about the interviewerFormatting If you are going to make a career move, spend time learning new skills, look for a company you respect and try to get a “stretch” role.How can job seekers get the most out of LinkedIn?Illustrate Who You Are The main objective of a professional LinkedIn profile is to describe what separates you from the other job applicants. Speaking on the topic, Neal Schaffer, a consultant for social media networking says that you should “showcase your strengths and what differentiates you from others”. When it comes to this part of the bio creation process, it can be extremely difficult to convey your message in a way that grabs an employer’s attention.evalBe Keyword Specific A keyword can be anything that is associated with your experience, industry or profession and that would be viewed as valuable in your profession. Because certain keywords are important to a recruiter, prospective employers will actually search your LinkedIn profile for specific words and phrases. Keywords can range from specific job experiences that you already have, are looking for, a description of previous jobs and responsibilities, former job titles and qualifications.What is the biggest trend(s) you see that hiring managers will face in the next 2-3 years?A shortage of quality staff. Not because people are less qualified, but because most qualified individuals are fully employed. Hiring managers will need to consider individuals with less experience or who need additional training.Joey, what are you currently working on?We relaunched our site and are now working on improving and updating older a rticles.We are hoping to write a book some time later this year, which will be a summary of the 10 years of CareerAlleyarticles.What are the best resources you recommend to job seekers? The top job search and career sites with the best reputations are a great source of advice. There are a few all time standards in terms of careers, but my favorite (old but still relevant) is Getting Things Doneby David Allen. This is a short book and you will want to reread it and refer to it during your career.What is the best way for our audience to reach you? EmailConnect with or Follow Joey Trebif on Social Media:LinkedInTwitterFacebook PageJoey TrebifandCareerAlleyhave also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€"Top Career Advice Websites.