We were talking about ‘stuff’ and I bought them up to date with how business was going.
The truth is, it’s all going really well:
I have 3 main business growth areas right now:
1. Bringing new clients into our group and semi private training programmes at our facility in Northampton
2. Growing our Fitter Body Ladies franchise opportunity
3. Continue to grow my PT coaching business through PT100K Club
These 3 jobs are good fun.
I enjoy them and the new challenges that they bring. I like to create different income streams so that we are not too reliant on just the one. It allows us to spread the risks of growing a business.
I then went on to show my parents the private villa that we have booked for 1 month in August of this year.
The thing is, my Dad mentioned that it was really nice to see things going so well right now – given that he remembers only 28 months beforehand when they popped around to see me and I was in a terrible state.
I was still in the wake of walking away from an industry that I had been in for 19 years to join this new fitness industry. I was starting out at the bottom. I had no reliable income as I had no reliable clients.
That particular day when they popped around, we had received a bill stating that we owed £7,469 on a previous company debt that I was still personally responsible for. We could hardly pay our mortgage let alone pay something like this.
I remember being embarrassed as I didn’t have a proper drink to offer my parents that night (my Dad likes a beer and my Mum likes a glass of red!). I said that we hadn’t had a chance to go shopping but the truth was that we just didn’t have the money.
I’m a pretty positive guy, but that particular night, I remember being quite distant and a bit worried about the future.
I was trying to remain upbeat though as I didn’t want them to worry.
My Mum then said
” I just have a feeling this is going to work out really well for you Rick”
Nothing like a bit of ‘Mum Positivity’ to get you back on track.
Needless to say though that it was a dark period, BUT there was one absolute thing that I would not let happen.
I would not let our kids know that this was a rough period for us. Everything was the same as far as they were concerned.
The reason for this?
I’ve read far too much about money and understand that negative associations about money can and will be instilled from a young age.
Kids being kids would ask for stuff and rather than say “we can’t afford it” – wrong thing to say.
I would say something like “let’s figure out a way of saving up for it”
It’s funny as when I write this, I’m reminded of a conversation I had with my son only last night.
He loves Real Madrid and we were watching them in the semi final of the Champions League against Juventus. He then asked if we could get tickets to the final.
“Let’s have a quick look at availability and cost”
Sure enough ticket agents are selling these tickets for the final of June 6th at a cost of around £1200 each!!
I said to him “let’s see if there’s another way as these exact same tickets were only £80 – £300 each if we had bought them only 4 weeks ago through official channels”
Anyway, back to the lunch with my parents. My Dad then said that the thing that he is most proud of (who doesn’t want to make their parents proud right?)…..
is the fact that we have managed to get to where we are now (and we’ve still got a long way to go by the way) without compromising on the love and time that we give the kids.
It’s not been about having to make that choice of “grow the businesses or see the kids”
It’s nice to prove that this can be done.
I guess when you’re clear on your values at a conscious level then it means you can make big decisions that are in alignment with this. Here are my top 3 (in order):
- Health (that’s mental and physical)
- Wife and kids
- Business success
As a result of all of this, I’ve become quite good at showing other PTs how to do the same.
I like to show PT’s how to grow their biz in a way that allows them to not only have the money to spend on their families but also have the time to spend it with them.
Rather than grow a business at the expense of spending quality time with those that you love, grow your business with time set aside to see them more often than most.
When it comes to your kids, they really are only young once. This is an amazing time for us with our kids at the minute as they are 9 and 7 this year and so are old enough to appreciate, experience and importantly remember the special things that we are doing with them. Yet they are both still young enough to not have any real attitude and adore us as parents.
I want them to look back on these years with fond, loving memories.
Everything my wife and I are teaching them is shaping the way that they will turn out as adults.
We’re showing them that ‘anything is possible and that YOU CAN live life on your terms doing exactly what you want and love.
If you ever fancy hopping on the ride and joining the Club, then just CLICK HERE to apply.
Ricky
ps. The PT100K Club is only £59 per month as I write this and packed full of how to marketing videos, consultation strategies, monthly training webinars, and daily access to our members only FB group. CLICK HERE to apply. New members are literally getting flooded with quality new leads within days of joining.
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