January 14, 2024 • 36 mins
Have you ever marveled at the dynamic force behind a business that breathes life into a community? Betty Doyling, the bubbly soul at the helm of Be Active for Life, joins us for an intimate chat about her evolution from a figure and fitness competitor to a beacon of health and entrepreneurship in Bermuda. Her journey is not just about squats and protein shakes; it's laced with the warmth of summer days, the comforting crunch of homemade nachos, and the melodies of a daughter's violin practice that resonate in a mother's heart.
Betty's candid reflections on personal training aren't just about counting reps and setting records. They're a testament to the unwavering human connection and adaptability that have sculpted her path in the robust fitness industry. Her strategies for client engagement shine a light on the real hustle behind the muscle, detailing how personal follow-ups and an ear to the ground have been pivotal in her 18-year voyage. Our conversation flows from the necessity of a sustainable diet to the jolts of personal health revelations, painting a picture of a woman who listens intently not only to her clients but also to the whispers of her own body.
As we wrap up, you'll feel the pull of Betty's magnetic energy and the finesse with which she juggles the worlds of entrepreneurship and family life. She opens the doors to her personal struggles and triumphs, from the missed family events to the childhood dreams that shaped her vision. Tune in to grasp how Betty maintains her pulse on success and wellness, and don't hesitate to connect with her for a dose of inspiration that could very well redefine your fitness trajectory.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
It's time for hustle her podcast.
I'm your host, deshae Keynes.
Hustle her is all aboutinspiring women through real
life experiences that havehelped to mold and develop not
only me but my guests into theentrepreneurs and leaders we are
today.
If you're an enterprising womandetermined to succeed and
(00:22):
looking for a bit of motivation,a bit of tough love and some
actionable takeaways to be thebest you girl, you are in the
right place.
My next guest is the owner andfounder of Be Active for Life
here in Bermuda.
Welcome with me, betty.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Doiling.
How are you?
I'm well, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Yes, I'm so excited that you're here.
I love your smile is the sameevery time I see it.
It's just like big, it's sogenuine and like that's just you
all the time.
I love that for you.
My smile is very forcedsometimes, not because I'm not
happy but I just just a littletight.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I don't know how else to say it, but like I just I
love people have genuinely nicesmiles.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I work for this smile .
If you see a good one, I workedhard for it.
Oh goodness, how are you doingtoday?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I'm doing well, thank you yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, did you train any bun today?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I did.
I had a class this morning andthen I had I trained with them
this morning, so it was a lot offun.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, betty, I need to calm my due.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I really do.
I know I inquired, but I got to.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
I got to get my life together.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean just try , like come and test it out.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Okay, all right, I'll hold you to hold me to it.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Hold me to it.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
I'll get my life together one day, all right.
So let's start out, get the,get the listeners to know a
little bit more about you.
Just quick, rapid fires, andthen we'll jump right in.
All right, so what was yourfirst job?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Oh, my very first job was I worked at Taco Bell in
the United States.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I love a good seven-layer burrito.
Don't see, that's my problem.
That's why I'm not in one ofyour class.
What's your favorite season?
Definitely summer.
Okay.
Favorite animal Cats.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I used to have three.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Cats.
You're a cat lady, Betty.
I love cats.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I love them.
They're so nice and even thoughthey have like little attitude
issues, you just bond with themstill in that way you can't
train a cat, like they don'tlike to struggle.
My cat used to like hit thelittle bell that we kept on the
door to go out.
Yeah, you can train them.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
All right, I'll just have to believe you on that one
Favorite color.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I like all colors.
I don't really have a favorite.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, I can't really Not even one.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
No, I just like colors yeah.
Just as long as it's colorful,you're fine, I don't even look
for a specific color when I'mshopping.
I'll just like, yeah, anything.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I merely just go to the black section.
I'm just.
All right Favorite food.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Notches.
Everybody knows I love a nacho.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Where's your favorite place to get nachos in?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Bermuda.
Oh, I don't, I make them myself.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Well, you ask your culinary art artist.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I like it at all, yes .
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Okay, all right, I like it.
And then what would you say isyour favorite song right now, a
song you have on repeat?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
The Rihanna, one from Wakanda, because my daughter
plays it on the violin, so youknow the kind of sad one.
Yeah, yeah, at the end thatthey play at the end, yeah, okay
, I can't remember the name ofit, though.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Yeah Well, at least Rihanna's making music again.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So we can also have a sigh of relief from that.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
So tell me a little bit about the idea of starting
Be Active for Life.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, I was person.
Well, sorry, no, I wascompeting in the figure and
figure fitness competitions hereand I was just doing it so
consistently and other peoplewere asking me to help them out,
and I was just like I shouldjust do this, definitely for a
living, because that's all I'mdoing, basically.
So in 2008, I opened up abusiness.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Be Active for.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Life.
I was working at another localgym here and then I decided to
leave because I was like I canjust do this on my own.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Wow, yeah, so that guess I'll be like the driving
force that kind of caused you tokind of go out on your own.
Yeah, it's just like.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
The competition's really a lot, because even
before, before working at thegym, I was competing then as
well and I just liked doing it,yeah, and other people trusted
me as well to.
It's a smile, buddy, I'mtelling you, it is.
So when today in class theywere like well, I don't scream
at them, I'm not a screamer, andI'll do smile at you, but I
(04:36):
will tell you to do somethingand smile.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
But you still need to do it.
Yeah, I'm just still gonna doit.
Yeah, no, I totally get it, Imean, and when you kind of went
out on your own.
So you've been an entrepreneurnow well over 10 years.
Yeah, it's 14 years, which issignificant, because a lot of
people don't make it past thatfive year mark.
And so what's your?
What would you say is yourfavorite part of being an
entrepreneur?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
My favorite part and I was actually literally telling
my client the other day is justbeing with people.
I'm definitely a people personand I get to be with different
people every day and differentages.
I like my golden girls that Iwork with and I like the young
people too, but, yeah, I justlike the variety, yeah, and then
I just love the feeling, thefeeling that they feel after
(05:18):
working out, especially thegolden ones.
They definitely they just havea different take on training and
I really like it.
Yeah, because it's justfunctional for them.
It's just helping to agecarefully and safely.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I love that, yeah, also the golden girls or the
more seasoned people in life.
I love their outlook on life.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I mean, they're also at a stage in life where they
don't care what they say, likethey're done trying to make
everyone else happy.
They're just like.
This is how I feel aboutsomething, and this is what I'm
going to say.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Right out, can't wait yes.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Genuinely cannot wait .
Like what would you say is whenyou look back and you're like,
hmm, my most successful or mostsatisfying, actually moment
being an entrepreneur.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I think my most satisfying moments being an
entrepreneur, I guess it'd bemoments it's just like helping
people through their injuries,because I have clients that have
had like broken ankles and kneeproblems or they've had a
surgery of source but they stillcontinue to train throughout
that season and I think thatthat just makes me feel happy
(06:20):
that I was able to help themrecuperate as well.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, so how do you navigate there being so many
other people in your space interms of, like other personal
trainers or people that do thisfull time Like I feel like from
when you went full timeentrepreneurial, be active for
life to now I feel like thereare so many more?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
I would say almost 100.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Literally New people out there.
It's like a new fad, right,like everyone is like oh, I work
out in the gym, I can do thisnow, like how do you navigate
all of the new people coming?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
I think that every personal trainer here in Bermuda
has something to offer, andthere are so many people here
obviously that need fitness, andfrom different approaches.
So sometimes my happy go lucky,fun approach doesn't work for
someone else.
And then some people they wantmore of a screaming trainer, or
they may want someone that's ina gym and not on the outside.
Maybe they don't want everyonein that space, or maybe they
(07:16):
don't want group training, so Ithink that there is a trainer
for everyone here, even thoughthere are loads.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
There are loads, genuinely.
Every time I see like a newthis time of year, january, so
all the ads and everyone kind ofgoing out and I'm like whoa, I
didn't even know you were apersonal trainer.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I mean.
So I just find like sometimesit's all it.
Just we were talking about itearlier how sometimes people see
someone doing somethingsuccessfully and then they feel
like they can do it as well.
But I love the idea that yousaid that there is enough
business for everyone.
There's different styles.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That's also really important.
Yeah, and I think that isimportant that you are friendly
and you reach your clientthrough different areas, like
when someone doesn't come toclass, I do call them or I
message them, like I try not tolet you slip under the radar.
I may miss a couple and that'sjust human.
But I try to follow up with allof my clients, whether it's
personal or group.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Yeah, that's important Cause, let me, I'm
gonna be there full of clientsespecially those morning classes
.
Yes, I'm just joking about, andyou're just so close I know
there's really no excuse.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I'm just saying it really is no excuse.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Your classes at Bull's Head.
There are no excuse.
I should technically be runningthere for the warm up and
running back.
There's no.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But just drive there, cause I'll get you there faster
.
For now, maybe.
Yeah, I'll just figure it outthat way.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
But yeah, what would you say are like the top, kind
of not necessarily skills, but Iguess skills that you would
need, or someone would need tobe a successful entrepreneur,
cause being in the game fulltime 14 years is no joke, right,
especially in Bermuda likebeing an entrepreneur is not for
the faint of heart.
Like, what are those things youthink make you successful?
(08:53):
Or someone else would need tobe successful Resistance.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Persistence and actually having a goal for
yourself as well, cause it is abusiness too, yeah.
So, like a lot of times, likeeven with class registration,
that fluctuates like it doesn'talways I may not get as many
people as I got last time so youstill have to be persistent and
still go for it.
Don't allow yourself to becomediscouraged yeah, because a lot
(09:21):
of times it could bediscouraging if you're not
pulling in the same numbers oryou have those dormant moments.
Summertime it really dropsbecause people are hot, they
didn't feel like working outanymore, they're partying, so it
drops.
But you just still have to kindof stay in the game, okay,
that's definitely.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Consistency is definitely keen.
It's difficult sometimes to bevery consistent when it comes to
certain things, so that'sdefinitely the case, but you do
a really good job marketingyourself, right.
I think you have a lot ofdifferent avenues that you kind
of get your name out there.
So how did that like?
What are some of the thingsthat you do?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I write in the paper bi-weekly health articles,
health fitness.
I post videos all the time ofclasses and I also do my little
health nuggets at church.
Yes, it keeps me out there.
Yes, so that paper is a verybig avenue because I think, out
of sight, out of mind, andespecially since I'm not in a
(10:17):
mainstream gym, I do have to doall these little extra things,
but I enjoy them.
Yeah, I enjoy doing it, but youdefinitely have to.
And then posting on socialmedia Facebook, instagram.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Yeah, you're very active.
Yeah, no puns, but yes, I tryto get out there.
Yeah, as much as possible.
How did the paper writing?
How did that happen?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
They actually contacted me to ask me if I
wanted to write for them, andI've been doing it for quite a
long time.
Yeah, it's been a while.
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And you actually share your life on there as well
, especially the most recent,and I'll let you kind of tell
that story.
That kind of happened, but withthat you've also been very open
with things that you've gonethrough personally around in
your own health and fitnessjourney.
So I think that's reallyhelpful too, I think it's
important to be personal.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I personally, I know people are private, but I
personally don't see any reasonto hide various health aspects
of your life, because it candefinitely help other people.
Yeah, and I think with mybusiness and being a personal
trainer, I think it's importantto reach people on that level as
well.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
And also being able to connect right.
I love the fact that you stilleat.
I enjoy it.
There's some and when I say eat, not starve yourself, but you
still eat like food, yes,there's a lot of personal
trainers out there that are veryregimented about what they eat
and it's really it's not veryrealistic for some people.
And that's one of my favoritethings about online.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
You're like, if you're enjoying whatever, it is
not just a friend, since you'relike, I'm gonna eat this, but
I'm also gonna work out latertoo, right?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Give a little balance , feel for what's going on.
That's really good.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And to be honest though, deshae, that didn't
happen automatically, especiallyduring competition time.
Competition time it was sorigid, like I would go out and I
have my little tuna in a bagand I would have my vegetables
inside, and then I thought thatwas the only way to eat until
afterwards.
And I found some balanceafterwards because now I know
(12:09):
that I work out, I can have this, I can have nachos every day.
I will never do that, but Iwill have nachos maybe on the
weekend, and then I'll try toeat pretty good throughout the
week.
But I may have a cookie toothroughout the week.
Yeah, yeah, cause that's normal.
Yeah, you have to be balanced,otherwise life isn't fun.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And then you kind of fall off to me right?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Yes, when it comes to the whole dieting thing.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yeah, it's just not always good to go so rigid, and
then you know I might want acookie Like you said for me it
was not cookie, it's pasta.
But yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, that's why I always tell everyone, like,
whatever diet that you actuallyare picking is has to be
something that you stick with.
It doesn't make sense to say,okay, I'm going to do whatever
the newest diet is, and then say, okay, well, in three months
I'm going to get off of it.
Then you're just going to goback to how you are.
Yeah.
So pick a plan and stick withit for your life.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, yeah.
So how do you continue to builda successful customer base over
18 years Um a client?
You call them clients, yeah,yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Um, by referrals, Most of my clients.
I remember when I first startedout I would put off posters and
take them to a shop and putthem up there and laundromats
and stuff like that, and he'shad the ones with pool and
number.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It's 2008.
What a crazy time, and all ofthat.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But now I think most of my clients are by referrals,
like I would say 98% probablynow is by referral.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Wow, that's really good, yeah, so from I guess,
like we were talking aboutearlier, you share, like a lot
of your story and a lot of thedifferent things that you kind
of gone through, and I thinkthey're one of the real reasons
why I want to talk to you today,when I've initially reached out
, was how open you are.
Like we were talking aboutbefore and you just had the most
recent experience, Um, we're,and I remember reading it before
I even knew what was going onand I remember reading it.
(13:56):
You were like just realizingthat wasn't really losing any
weight and like things, just itwas just different.
And you went to your doctor andthat's how you found out, and
I'm leaving it to you to kind oflike walk us through what
happened.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Well, I was just noticing, like over COVID, I was
like I'm putting him away and Iwas like I knew that I was
baking.
I was everyone's baking who wasbaking.
Yes, yeast was sold out, Icould have found yeast on the
island, I know.
So I was baking loads and I waseating, but then I was still
exercising, even during COVID.
I knew how many laps around myyard made a mile.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Oh, wow it was like crazy.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
So I was still working out and I was starting
to put on weight and I was justgaining Cause.
Normally I would stay like afour or six area and I was like
six, eight, and then I was likecloser to eight, 10.
And I was like this is just notnormal, like some things not
right.
And then I was like, well,maybe it's because I'm over 40
now, maybe that's the reason.
So then, but I was also havingum milk production from my
(14:48):
breasts and I was like what'sgoing on there?
And I remember it happening,like checking, you know, just
during my exam through COVID,and I was like, well, maybe
that's something normal ish, butI was like, probably not.
So then, as soon as we wereable to get checkups, um, I
visited my OB actually, and um,she told me immediately she was
(15:09):
like it's probably aprolactinoma.
She said it's common, but andmost likely they're not
cancerous.
So I was like, but cancer could?
be, cancer, you know.
So then I went and had anothercheckup as well and he my other
doctor, dr Jameson said that itwas definitely a prolactinoma or
(15:31):
Macro adenoma, which isbasically a small Mass on your
pituitary gland.
Yeah, so mine was a macroadenoma, which is a larger
version of it.
So the dangers of that was thatit could get near your arteries
, your optical optic nerve, andthen it could cause your sight
(15:54):
to go as well.
So I was like so they did sitetest and I was fine.
I was having some headaches andthat was another one of the
symptoms.
As well, I'm in and waking.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Mm-hmm.
Wow, yeah.
Well, you don't realize howmuch your pituitary controls
like your body, yes, yeah, allyour major hormones, yeah, all
of that.
Well, I mean, I've got mymedical degree from Grey's
Anatomy and so I.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I said that all the time and people look.
But if you watch Grey's Anatomyyou know, that's how I found
out about.
Some of you said the pituitarywas like, oh my gosh, like they
had one on there, yeah yeah,more than one, I think.
And so I, when I rememberreading it and I was like, oh my
gosh, it's like a live episodeof you know Grey's Anatomy going
on so then walk me through,like what happened after that so
(16:37):
after that I went and had aconsult with Boston National
Hospital and we did an onlineconsultation because still COVID
at the time.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
And Dr Jameson was amazing.
He definitely he was there forthe consultation as well.
So anything that I didn'tunderstand he was able to Relay
to me and they said that theycould remove it.
It was important that I didhave it done, and then Zavya was
coming home so I was just like,okay, well, let me figure out
when I can have this down.
This was of January a year anda half ago, yeah.
So they suggested that I get itdone that summer.
(17:14):
So I picked June 16 and Went tohave it removed and luckily, on
the actual day of my surgery,the restrictions have been
lifted so my husband was able tocome back with me, which
otherwise I would have been amess Because you know, like you,
you're there at the, at the,basically at the entrance of the
hospital, and then they weregonna say, well, he had to go.
(17:35):
Oh, wow then the lady was likeMonday Um, people there.
She's like, oh yeah, he cancome back.
So that was the best part.
In the hospitals of course, aregreat.
Out there, yeah, and here, I'msure to yeah.
But yeah, so I was able to haveit removed was about three and a
half four hours, and Thingshave been gradual.
I haven't, like I've lost,definitely lost weight since
(17:58):
that time, but it did not happenvery quickly and that's that's
why, like even with the newyear's resolution stuff, you
can't, you can't say, well, I'mgonna do all this stuff because
it doesn't happen that way.
Yeah, like I went and had thisto be removed and I lost weight,
but it's not drastic, it'sgradually going, which I'm happy
(18:18):
, and I think that's what weshould all aim for this gradual,
gradual way.
Yeah, because when you do loseit fast, you definitely put it
back on.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Definitely even more sometimes.
Yeah, yeah, so how?
How did you navigate thebusiness during this time?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Oh yeah, so I did a lot of things online.
I was able to do my privateclients online.
I did take a month off of Class, though, because I couldn't,
and I didn't even get asubstitute, because it just
wasn't financially savvy for me,and I was blessed to have
clients that wanted me back.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
That's a risk right.
It is giving up like clients.
Yeah even like sometimes aluncheon, or you don't even like
taking vacation.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
No, no, I only go away max two weeks, because if
I'm away longer it's like I dohave clients that want to
maintain their fitness.
So three weeks without yourtrainer is kind of like Look at
something else.
You gotta kind of keep theireyes focused.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, exactly.
No, I got it.
Yeah, you must are afraid totake vacation sometimes and
during this entrepreneurial kindof journey.
So I guess during that time andyou took the month off, yeah,
clients wanted to keep you wasit difficult to get back into
the swing of things during thattime.
Um, I was able to walk.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
For me personally, I was able to walk, so I walked a
whole lot.
I was walking up and down SouthShore.
I couldn't lift any weights,anything above five pounds or
anything, and if I did doclasses I think I may have come
back like that last that fourthweek and everybody else take
everything out of the van.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
So I just get this stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
It's help me out, yeah, and they were very open to
that yeah, very open.
And then my private clients.
I did online and that's where Ithink COVID opened up that
window, because before we neverthought about that, I was like,
well, I can't come to your houseso I'm not gonna be able to
come today.
Yeah, now they have weights atthe house or I'll drop weights.
During COVID.
I drop weights to my clients sothat way that they can have
(20:03):
some weights to use?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
well, yeah, so, but how many like private clients
you could you do house calls,those things?
Yeah, yeah, how many clientslike I think I'm about 15 right
now 15 privates.
Yeah, there's a lot of privates, yeah you do them like weekly.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Everyone has at least twice a week.
Yeah, I have about three ofthem that do hours.
Most of them are half hours.
Wow, yeah 45.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, I don't even think about house calls
sometimes I just forget, likethat's an option, like when I
think gym or personal trainer, Ithink going physically to the
gym here, yeah.
So what do you do to stay ontop of like the business, being
at the forefront of what it isthat you do, because you know
(20:45):
there's always a new fat comingout, a new machine, yeah, a lot
on a mirror, all these types ofthings.
What do you do to kind of stayon top of all those things?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Well, I always do continue education.
Ace offers loads of continuouseducation avenues, loads of
things like just topping up onhealth or working with older
adults or Whatever you that youneed, and also we also get
educational videos sent to us,so like ideas of different
training methods and new Dietfads and yeah coming out and
(21:14):
stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Do?
You got a lot of people thatwant like the dieting side of it
as well, like yes, yes, youprovide that holistic approach,
or is it just kind of you stayon the?
I definitely.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I definitely provide a holistic approach or I'll
refer them out, because I thinkI do have a lot of client base
with the classes and Privateclients.
A lot of times I can't focus onthe diet portion as well, but
I'll refer them to someone thatwill help them out and work with
them.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
So how does being an entrepreneur or Fact your kind
of like personal life, likebecause a lot of times and I can
only speak to it because I'mone as well Like we kind of
forego Families, family things,because, like, why can't miss,
you know, if I don't get thistoday?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
I may not eat tomorrow.
Yeah, how?
Speaker 1 (21:56):
do you find the balance with all of that?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Well, I know that I like, for instance, with emails
of a client messages me at nineo'clock at night about changing
a session, I'm like on itbecause I can't say no.
I'm like, okay, let me get onthis right now.
So I think that I think the myfamily understands that
different things I may have todo, because even my husband was
like well, you're up everysingle morning, like you don't
have a morning that you don'tget up early.
(22:20):
Yeah what's early?
Six, okay, yeah, like sixo'clock.
We were out the weeks.
That was like my Tuesday,Thursdays.
I'm like 5 30.
Yeah, so I have to leave atleast by 5 40 Dash to town so I
can make class, yeah.
But um, I I think that I do putsome parameters on myself.
(22:42):
If it's something thatdefinitely can wait, I will wait
it out, or I'll just make surethat I'm doing the things that I
need to do If the kids are hereand they wanna watch a movie or
whatever, I'll make sure I dothat kind of thing with them,
that's good.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
yeah, finding that balance is important.
I feel like work-life balanceis not our thing.
I feel like you can never.
Something always cracks.
But I know for me there's beentimes where I've missed family
stuff, which I regret it now andI'm definitely trying to do
better with one, doing thingsthat are worth my time.
(23:15):
That's the first thing, butthen also not missing those
moments because of work.
It's hard, but I'm trying.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
And that's what I also think, that with the
competition life it was sodifferent.
I would miss way too manyevents because either I was like
, oh, I can't eat that, so I'mnot going, or something like
that, but now I go, and if I'mnot really eating that, then
I'll still have a littlesomething.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
So do you miss competition.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Sometimes you miss that look just being super
chiseled all the time.
But then the other time it waslike no, that life is so hard.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
It looks hard.
I've seen people who are justlike they jump.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You're miserable.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah, I know, I was working as a lady once who was
going into competition and sheate every hour, but like a
chipmunk it was either nuts orgrass.
It was nuts and in between, andthen the week of competition,
she didn't drink any water.
It was pretty intense.
I remember being 16, workingand everyone was just like this
(24:14):
is not normal.
It was crazy.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, I used to say it's the most healthy and
unhealthy thing that you can do.
Wow, yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, I guess to get that look, especially during
competition time, it's probablynot the most healthy thing today
.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
And mentally it's challenging to see your body
change so rapidly after trainingfor like three to six months.
And afterwards you're like phew.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Yeah, well, yeah, you just go back up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
You just go back, yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Do you, if you could go back like, would you start
your business earlier or are you, like, comfortable with the
timeline that you've had?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Actually, I was very I'm very proud of myself for
being able to start the businesswhen I did, because that was
when the recession was yeah,2008.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
2008.
It's a very fair point, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
So I would keep it the same yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
And then growing up.
What did you want to be growingup?
A nurse.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Really, yes, yes, I wanted to be a nurse.
I've always wanted to.
But then, I think, once I diddecide on the training aspect, I
realized I didn't want to be anurse because I didn't want
shift work.
I wanted to just work in theday and then go home and sleep
at night.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
I'm 12 hours shifts on a new joke Like none
whatsoever.
Like now.
My sister's a nurse and sheworks night shift.
It's no like her sense oftiming in reality is just off
completely.
It's the weirdest.
You call it five o'clock in themorning and she's like eating a
cheeseburger because likethat's her lunchtime.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
It's so off, but yeah it's.
I don't know, I feel like thehealth, but health like that
type of profession, the medicalfield is very similar to what
you do, though You're stillhelping people in that way.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Yes, so it's kind of like similar.
Yeah, yeah, still helping themto stay healthy In some form.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
So what would you say is like your why in life, like
why you wake up and do what youdo, and what would that be?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I have to say I wake up to help people, like I wake
up to see them.
I actually like think aboutthem.
You know, like, oh yeah, thisexercise is for her.
Like she's just gonna complain,but she's gonna like it you know
, or we have the sled and I'mlike oh yeah, she's gonna say
this, you know like.
So it's kind of exciting evenputting together the exercises
and knowing the people that I'mworking with and I tend to keep
a lot of the same people, so Iget to know them just a little
(26:31):
bit better than I would justseeing them, you know.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Yeah, yes, and then what would you say is successful
for you?
Like, I feel like sometimes, asentrepreneurs, we never really
define success, like what thatlooks like for us in our
businesses.
Like, how would you definesuccess?
Or is it more so like a thiswas successful for me this month
(26:55):
, or what does that look like?
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Yeah, I think it's more itemized.
I think definitely it's like umwell, this month I was able to,
if I say I wanted to have 16people on the financial side, I
was able to to um got you yeahor this month Sarah lost weight
or this month, yeah, yeah, soit's more out of my stuff that's
really good.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
So you have a lot of clients who you walk into their
journeys and they they are likebecause you you live a lot of
your life online, right?
So you have any, a lot of themthat are okay with that, or do
you get like some push and pullsome times with?
Speaker 2 (27:27):
those Such things normally they would say it ahead
of time.
Yeah, they would say it and I'mnormally, when they start out,
I let them know that I do poston social media or I'll take a
picture of them during thesession, even on my
sister-in-law.
She didn't.
She didn't like photographs atfirst, but now that she does,
and I think that building thatconfidence over time and I feel
like I push you to be a betterversion of yourself as well,
(27:50):
mm-hmm, so you feel moreconfident, so you're okay, with
a photo here and there cuz I'vehad clients that are like no, no
photos of me period.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Take a photo today.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah, so they definitely um.
They're Definitely moreencouraged over time coming
around to it.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Yeah, no, I love that positive Definitely because,
especially you start to see thedifference when you start losing
weight.
I feel like you get morecomfortable with With the idea
around working out even more.
Yes, like for me, if I lostfive pounds, I'm like Put me in
a bikini, like okay.
But then I'm also in the otherway.
If I've worked out once, I'mlike well, we're other results.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Like you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
So I'm my own worst enemy of that too.
But, I totally understand thebeing a bit more comfortable
with what you look like afterworking out, which must be
fulfilling as a personal trainer.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Definitely, it's just nice to see them change.
That's a that is a huge part ofmy success, I think just seeing
people change physically andmentally yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Come a lot more confident.
I think you're confident inyour body as well.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Yeah, definitely, I see them outfits or something
like that.
Yeah, you dress for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Yeah.
So if you could like kind of goback in time and talk to your
18 year old self, what would youtell her?
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Oh, I would definitely tell her.
Your butt is great, it's meantto be the way that it is.
Leave your fabulous, just leavethem alone, don't stress, and
your hair is amazing.
Yeah, the Kardashians are gonnacome around and have a big butt
will be a thing again, that'scuz, that's all that everyone
wants.
Now, that's the truth.
I remember being in school.
(29:29):
I'm like, oh, I want to wearthese jeans.
Just squeeze it so it's smaller.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
But I mean, we went through a time where, like those
low-cut, there weren't jeansfor oh no black girls.
They were ridiculous me, not me, but you know yeah, people like
well.
Or blessed.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Yeah, they were like super low-wage, they were just
ridiculous.
It would just be half of yeah,no.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
So did you get like a ?
We very insecure about that.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Definitely, definitely.
I never want.
I never wanted to have a bumlike ever really yes, because I
went to school with people thatwere not my body type and I
think that that definitely Putlike a little mental spin on me,
like I was like I don't wantthis.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I want to be just like them.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Wow, yeah, look how the world has changed.
You got people paying so much,yes, so much, so much, so like
in the course span of what?
Speaker 1 (30:25):
what?
20 years?
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Yeah, yeah, even less than that, because it's been
enough fat for a while now.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Yeah, people paying for you.
Know what black women wereashamed of?
Speaker 2 (30:33):
yeah, years yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Yeah.
So I think that's also reallygood for perspective of you
coming, when you're a personaltrainer, just having a body type
that's more reflective of whata lot of people look like Mm-hmm
, and I was always muscular, asa child, even like and people
around me weren't there was likeoh, you have big arms.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
It's just such a horrible thing to say to someone
like you.
Can't say stuff like thatanymore.
I like at all.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
People who just come after you.
Yes, cannot do that.
No, yeah, so I like that,though that's what you would
tell you.
And your hair?
Leave your hair alone.
Yes, yeah, yeah, that I thinkthat's something I would go back
.
I was very uncomfortable withmy hair growing up to the point
now where I probably would nevergo natural Ever again.
Never haven't been since I waslike 10.
(31:17):
Oh well, I feel like it's menow at this point creamy crack
any day.
So when you think of, likebeing a woman and being a mom
and being a wife, like what doesthat mean to you?
What does being woman I amwoman, hear me roar like what
does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
I think I'm just feeling feminine and feeling
strong and feeling comfortablein my skin.
You know it'd be being a womanfor me, mother, just being
making sure that you just takecare of your family.
You know, cook Mm-hmm, I loveto cook.
I don't feel like it's a greatday if I haven't, like made
(31:57):
something, or a week Like I feellike I need to make something.
Yeah, even during competitionmode, I would make desserts and
give them to my friends to taste, because I couldn't taste it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
But it was.
You wouldn't even like tastethe bowl.
Mm-hmm, that's some seriousdiscipline.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
I would call my friends over.
I'll be like, come over here.
Is Charmaine one of my mainones.
I was close to me at the time.
I will say come over here, come, come, get some of this really
quick, because I would make allthis stuff and just give it to,
just because I like to see thesatisfaction in their eyes.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
I was kind of like living my dream through them
that I couldn't live there isnot a chance, a chance in how
that I could be making thebrownies that you had the other
day.
Yes, and not have licked thebatter a little bit, mm-hmm.
I wouldn't touch it duringcompetition now.
Yeah, no, that's somedisciplines, mm-hmm.
That, that should be yourtagline for the business moving
forward.
(32:46):
This is how.
Moving forward oh my goodness,that's crazy.
Okay, so what are some things?
What would you say is like theformula to having such a
successful business for as longas you have like as an
entrepreneur?
Not necessarily formula likeone plus one equals yeah but
what kind of sets you apart, youthink?
Speaker 2 (33:05):
I Think what sets me apart is one I feel like I am
the only full-time person,trainer that is, that does both
classes in private.
I think I'm the only full-time,or at least I was for a while.
Yeah, I think that you justreally just pushing Like I think
(33:28):
, just like your logo hustle.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
You kinda gotta hustle it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Yeah, you definitely have to hustle a little bit.
You can't like like I havesomeone that emails me for
training like a new client.
I have to kind of get on that,Because there has been times
that I've lost clients becauseof that.
I'm someone who messaged me andI'll say I'll get back to them.
And I haven't got back to thembecause you get busy.
So like I'm working all day andthen I didn't get back and
they're like okay, I foundsomeone else.
So you kind of have to jump onevery opportunity.
(33:55):
Being an entrepreneur Can't letthings slip by, Unless you just
know that it's not worth yourwhile for some reason.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
But yeah, and for me when I was student, full time,
in particular, I had to almostforecast for business three
months out.
So I wouldn't feel it thesethree months be fine, but the
next three months, like if Iwasn't forecasting, if I wasn't
actively searching for newbusiness or whatever that may
have been marketing, whatever,I'd be fine.
And I'm like, oh yeah, thingsare great.
But then, three months from now, you're like, oh, wait a minute
(34:23):
.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
You know what I mean, but I learned that the hard way
, so 100% learned that the hardway.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
I never.
Yeah, you get bitten once as anentrepreneur and you won't let
that happen to you ever again.
Yeah, it's definitely the case.
So what would you say is givingyou hope right now, like you're
keeping you going forward inthe business Client still?
Speaker 2 (34:45):
Really.
Yeah, my client base.
I literally thanks one of myclients the other day because
I'm like you stuck with me, Iwent through my tumor time, like
just various things that havehappened in our lives, and they
still stay with me and I'mthankful for that and I think
that just brings me hope,absolutely.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
All right, Betty, so I always wrap up.
Time went by real quick, right.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Like I said that like maybe four times today, but it
is genuinely the truth.
But obviously at the end of allmy episodes, I wanna know what
my guests wanna be rememberedfor.
So what would you wanna beremembered for when you're no
longer here and someone saysBetty, or they reference the
business Like what is somethingthat you wanna be?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
remembered, for I just want them to know that I
genuinely cared about them.
You know that it wasn't justabout financial for me.
It's that I genuinely want tosee you succeed, and I think
that they can feel that, and Ithink that's why I have the
business that I have with theclients that I have Amazing.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Oh, thank you so much , Betty.
Yes, so for anyone who wants toget in contact with you, if
it's for personal training or tofollow your journey a bit more,
how would they do that?
Speaker 2 (35:55):
They can contact me on Be Active for Life, or they
can contact me on Instagram, andthey can also contact me on Be
Active ptgmailcom Perfect allright.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Well, thank you again for joining me today.
And, guys, like Betty said, ifyou wanna get in contact with
her, you can definitely do thaton Instagram.
She's always showing what'sgoing on her classes, all those
different things.
I'm sure you can find somethingthat works for you if you're
interested in personal training.
I know now it's a time of yearto get on top of our goals and
to maintain or to figure out ifwe wanna lose for the remainder
(36:29):
of year, whatever that may looklike.
But, once again, don't forgetto like and subscribe, share
this episode.
If you got something from it,leave us a comment in the
comment box and if you wannalearn any more information about
the podcast or learn a littlebit more about Betty, make sure
you go to the websitewwwhustleheartpodcastcom.
And thank you for listening.
It's time for hustle her podcast.
I'm your host, deshae Keynes.
Hustle her is all aboutinspiring women through real
life experiences that havehelped to mold and develop not
only me but my guests into theentrepreneurs and leaders we are
today.
If you're an enterprising womandetermined to succeed and
(00:22):
looking for a bit of motivation,a bit of tough love and some
actionable takeaways to be thebest you girl, you are in the
right place.
My next guest is the owner andfounder of Be Active for Life
here in Bermuda.
Welcome with me, betty.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Doiling.
How are you?
I'm well, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Yes, I'm so excited that you're here.
I love your smile is the sameevery time I see it.
It's just like big, it's sogenuine and like that's just you
all the time.
I love that for you.
My smile is very forcedsometimes, not because I'm not
happy but I just just a littletight.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I don't know how else to say it, but like I just I
love people have genuinely nicesmiles.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I work for this smile .
If you see a good one, I workedhard for it.
Oh goodness, how are you doingtoday?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I'm doing well, thank you yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, did you train any bun today?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I did.
I had a class this morning andthen I had I trained with them
this morning, so it was a lot offun.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, betty, I need to calm my due.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I really do.
I know I inquired, but I got to.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
I got to get my life together.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean just try , like come and test it out.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Okay, all right, I'll hold you to hold me to it.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Hold me to it.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
I'll get my life together one day, all right.
So let's start out, get the,get the listeners to know a
little bit more about you.
Just quick, rapid fires, andthen we'll jump right in.
All right, so what was yourfirst job?
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Oh, my very first job was I worked at Taco Bell in
the United States.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
I love a good seven-layer burrito.
Don't see, that's my problem.
That's why I'm not in one ofyour class.
What's your favorite season?
Definitely summer.
Okay.
Favorite animal Cats.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I used to have three.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Cats.
You're a cat lady, Betty.
I love cats.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I love them.
They're so nice and even thoughthey have like little attitude
issues, you just bond with themstill in that way you can't
train a cat, like they don'tlike to struggle.
My cat used to like hit thelittle bell that we kept on the
door to go out.
Yeah, you can train them.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
All right, I'll just have to believe you on that one
Favorite color.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I like all colors.
I don't really have a favorite.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, I can't really Not even one.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
No, I just like colors yeah.
Just as long as it's colorful,you're fine, I don't even look
for a specific color when I'mshopping.
I'll just like, yeah, anything.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I merely just go to the black section.
I'm just.
All right Favorite food.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Notches.
Everybody knows I love a nacho.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Where's your favorite place to get nachos in?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Bermuda.
Oh, I don't, I make them myself.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Well, you ask your culinary art artist.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I like it at all, yes .
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Okay, all right, I like it.
And then what would you say isyour favorite song right now, a
song you have on repeat?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
The Rihanna, one from Wakanda, because my daughter
plays it on the violin, so youknow the kind of sad one.
Yeah, yeah, at the end thatthey play at the end, yeah, okay
, I can't remember the name ofit, though.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Yeah Well, at least Rihanna's making music again.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So we can also have a sigh of relief from that.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
So tell me a little bit about the idea of starting
Be Active for Life.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, I was person.
Well, sorry, no, I wascompeting in the figure and
figure fitness competitions hereand I was just doing it so
consistently and other peoplewere asking me to help them out,
and I was just like I shouldjust do this, definitely for a
living, because that's all I'mdoing, basically.
So in 2008, I opened up abusiness.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Be Active for.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Life.
I was working at another localgym here and then I decided to
leave because I was like I canjust do this on my own.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Wow, yeah, so that guess I'll be like the driving
force that kind of caused you tokind of go out on your own.
Yeah, it's just like.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
The competition's really a lot, because even
before, before working at thegym, I was competing then as
well and I just liked doing it,yeah, and other people trusted
me as well to.
It's a smile, buddy, I'mtelling you, it is.
So when today in class theywere like well, I don't scream
at them, I'm not a screamer, andI'll do smile at you, but I
(04:36):
will tell you to do somethingand smile.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
But you still need to do it.
Yeah, I'm just still gonna doit.
Yeah, no, I totally get it, Imean, and when you kind of went
out on your own.
So you've been an entrepreneurnow well over 10 years.
Yeah, it's 14 years, which issignificant, because a lot of
people don't make it past thatfive year mark.
And so what's your?
What would you say is yourfavorite part of being an
entrepreneur?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
My favorite part and I was actually literally telling
my client the other day is justbeing with people.
I'm definitely a people personand I get to be with different
people every day and differentages.
I like my golden girls that Iwork with and I like the young
people too, but, yeah, I justlike the variety, yeah, and then
I just love the feeling, thefeeling that they feel after
(05:18):
working out, especially thegolden ones.
They definitely they just havea different take on training and
I really like it.
Yeah, because it's justfunctional for them.
It's just helping to agecarefully and safely.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I love that, yeah, also the golden girls or the
more seasoned people in life.
I love their outlook on life.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I mean, they're also at a stage in life where they
don't care what they say, likethey're done trying to make
everyone else happy.
They're just like.
This is how I feel aboutsomething, and this is what I'm
going to say.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Right out, can't wait yes.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Genuinely cannot wait .
Like what would you say is whenyou look back and you're like,
hmm, my most successful or mostsatisfying, actually moment
being an entrepreneur.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I think my most satisfying moments being an
entrepreneur, I guess it'd bemoments it's just like helping
people through their injuries,because I have clients that have
had like broken ankles and kneeproblems or they've had a
surgery of source but they stillcontinue to train throughout
that season and I think thatthat just makes me feel happy
(06:20):
that I was able to help themrecuperate as well.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, so how do you navigate there being so many
other people in your space interms of, like other personal
trainers or people that do thisfull time Like I feel like from
when you went full timeentrepreneurial, be active for
life to now I feel like thereare so many more?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
I would say almost 100.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Literally New people out there.
It's like a new fad, right,like everyone is like oh, I work
out in the gym, I can do thisnow, like how do you navigate
all of the new people coming?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
I think that every personal trainer here in Bermuda
has something to offer, andthere are so many people here
obviously that need fitness, andfrom different approaches.
So sometimes my happy go lucky,fun approach doesn't work for
someone else.
And then some people they wantmore of a screaming trainer, or
they may want someone that's ina gym and not on the outside.
Maybe they don't want everyonein that space, or maybe they
(07:16):
don't want group training, so Ithink that there is a trainer
for everyone here, even thoughthere are loads.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
There are loads, genuinely.
Every time I see like a newthis time of year, january, so
all the ads and everyone kind ofgoing out and I'm like whoa, I
didn't even know you were apersonal trainer.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
You know what?
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I mean.
So I just find like sometimesit's all it.
Just we were talking about itearlier how sometimes people see
someone doing somethingsuccessfully and then they feel
like they can do it as well.
But I love the idea that yousaid that there is enough
business for everyone.
There's different styles.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That's also really important.
Yeah, and I think that isimportant that you are friendly
and you reach your clientthrough different areas, like
when someone doesn't come toclass, I do call them or I
message them, like I try not tolet you slip under the radar.
I may miss a couple and that'sjust human.
But I try to follow up with allof my clients, whether it's
personal or group.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Yeah, that's important Cause, let me, I'm
gonna be there full of clientsespecially those morning classes
.
Yes, I'm just joking about, andyou're just so close I know
there's really no excuse.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I'm just saying it really is no excuse.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Your classes at Bull's Head.
There are no excuse.
I should technically be runningthere for the warm up and
running back.
There's no.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But just drive there, cause I'll get you there faster
.
For now, maybe.
Yeah, I'll just figure it outthat way.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
But yeah, what would you say are like the top, kind
of not necessarily skills, but Iguess skills that you would
need, or someone would need tobe a successful entrepreneur,
cause being in the game fulltime 14 years is no joke, right,
especially in Bermuda likebeing an entrepreneur is not for
the faint of heart.
Like, what are those things youthink make you successful?
(08:53):
Or someone else would need tobe successful Resistance.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Persistence and actually having a goal for
yourself as well, cause it is abusiness too, yeah.
So, like a lot of times, likeeven with class registration,
that fluctuates like it doesn'talways I may not get as many
people as I got last time so youstill have to be persistent and
still go for it.
Don't allow yourself to becomediscouraged yeah, because a lot
(09:21):
of times it could bediscouraging if you're not
pulling in the same numbers oryou have those dormant moments.
Summertime it really dropsbecause people are hot, they
didn't feel like working outanymore, they're partying, so it
drops.
But you just still have to kindof stay in the game, okay,
that's definitely.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Consistency is definitely keen.
It's difficult sometimes to bevery consistent when it comes to
certain things, so that'sdefinitely the case, but you do
a really good job marketingyourself, right.
I think you have a lot ofdifferent avenues that you kind
of get your name out there.
So how did that like?
What are some of the thingsthat you do?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I write in the paper bi-weekly health articles,
health fitness.
I post videos all the time ofclasses and I also do my little
health nuggets at church.
Yes, it keeps me out there.
Yes, so that paper is a verybig avenue because I think, out
of sight, out of mind, andespecially since I'm not in a
(10:17):
mainstream gym, I do have to doall these little extra things,
but I enjoy them.
Yeah, I enjoy doing it, but youdefinitely have to.
And then posting on socialmedia Facebook, instagram.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Yeah, you're very active.
Yeah, no puns, but yes, I tryto get out there.
Yeah, as much as possible.
How did the paper writing?
How did that happen?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
They actually contacted me to ask me if I
wanted to write for them, andI've been doing it for quite a
long time.
Yeah, it's been a while.
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And you actually share your life on there as well
, especially the most recent,and I'll let you kind of tell
that story.
That kind of happened, but withthat you've also been very open
with things that you've gonethrough personally around in
your own health and fitnessjourney.
So I think that's reallyhelpful too, I think it's
important to be personal.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I personally, I know people are private, but I
personally don't see any reasonto hide various health aspects
of your life, because it candefinitely help other people.
Yeah, and I think with mybusiness and being a personal
trainer, I think it's importantto reach people on that level as
well.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
And also being able to connect right.
I love the fact that you stilleat.
I enjoy it.
There's some and when I say eat, not starve yourself, but you
still eat like food, yes,there's a lot of personal
trainers out there that are veryregimented about what they eat
and it's really it's not veryrealistic for some people.
And that's one of my favoritethings about online.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
You're like, if you're enjoying whatever, it is
not just a friend, since you'relike, I'm gonna eat this, but
I'm also gonna work out latertoo, right?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Give a little balance , feel for what's going on.
That's really good.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And to be honest though, deshae, that didn't
happen automatically, especiallyduring competition time.
Competition time it was sorigid, like I would go out and I
have my little tuna in a bagand I would have my vegetables
inside, and then I thought thatwas the only way to eat until
afterwards.
And I found some balanceafterwards because now I know
(12:09):
that I work out, I can have this, I can have nachos every day.
I will never do that, but Iwill have nachos maybe on the
weekend, and then I'll try toeat pretty good throughout the
week.
But I may have a cookie toothroughout the week.
Yeah, yeah, cause that's normal.
Yeah, you have to be balanced,otherwise life isn't fun.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And then you kind of fall off to me right?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Yes, when it comes to the whole dieting thing.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yeah, it's just not always good to go so rigid, and
then you know I might want acookie Like you said for me it
was not cookie, it's pasta.
But yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, that's why I always tell everyone, like,
whatever diet that you actuallyare picking is has to be
something that you stick with.
It doesn't make sense to say,okay, I'm going to do whatever
the newest diet is, and then say, okay, well, in three months
I'm going to get off of it.
Then you're just going to goback to how you are.
Yeah.
So pick a plan and stick withit for your life.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, yeah.
So how do you continue to builda successful customer base over
18 years Um a client?
You call them clients, yeah,yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Um, by referrals, Most of my clients.
I remember when I first startedout I would put off posters and
take them to a shop and putthem up there and laundromats
and stuff like that, and he'shad the ones with pool and
number.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It's 2008.
What a crazy time, and all ofthat.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But now I think most of my clients are by referrals,
like I would say 98% probablynow is by referral.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Wow, that's really good, yeah, so from I guess,
like we were talking aboutearlier, you share, like a lot
of your story and a lot of thedifferent things that you kind
of gone through, and I thinkthey're one of the real reasons
why I want to talk to you today,when I've initially reached out
, was how open you are.
Like we were talking aboutbefore and you just had the most
recent experience, Um, we're,and I remember reading it before
I even knew what was going onand I remember reading it.
(13:56):
You were like just realizingthat wasn't really losing any
weight and like things, just itwas just different.
And you went to your doctor andthat's how you found out, and
I'm leaving it to you to kind oflike walk us through what
happened.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Well, I was just noticing, like over COVID, I was
like I'm putting him away and Iwas like I knew that I was
baking.
I was everyone's baking who wasbaking.
Yes, yeast was sold out, Icould have found yeast on the
island, I know.
So I was baking loads and I waseating, but then I was still
exercising, even during COVID.
I knew how many laps around myyard made a mile.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Oh, wow it was like crazy.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
So I was still working out and I was starting
to put on weight and I was justgaining Cause.
Normally I would stay like afour or six area and I was like
six, eight, and then I was likecloser to eight, 10.
And I was like this is just notnormal, like some things not
right.
And then I was like, well,maybe it's because I'm over 40
now, maybe that's the reason.
So then, but I was also havingum milk production from my
(14:48):
breasts and I was like what'sgoing on there?
And I remember it happening,like checking, you know, just
during my exam through COVID,and I was like, well, maybe
that's something normal ish, butI was like, probably not.
So then, as soon as we wereable to get checkups, um, I
visited my OB actually, and um,she told me immediately she was
(15:09):
like it's probably aprolactinoma.
She said it's common, but andmost likely they're not
cancerous.
So I was like, but cancer could?
be, cancer, you know.
So then I went and had anothercheckup as well and he my other
doctor, dr Jameson said that itwas definitely a prolactinoma or
(15:31):
Macro adenoma, which isbasically a small Mass on your
pituitary gland.
Yeah, so mine was a macroadenoma, which is a larger
version of it.
So the dangers of that was thatit could get near your arteries
, your optical optic nerve, andthen it could cause your sight
(15:54):
to go as well.
So I was like so they did sitetest and I was fine.
I was having some headaches andthat was another one of the
symptoms.
As well, I'm in and waking.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Mm-hmm.
Wow, yeah.
Well, you don't realize howmuch your pituitary controls
like your body, yes, yeah, allyour major hormones, yeah, all
of that.
Well, I mean, I've got mymedical degree from Grey's
Anatomy and so I.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I said that all the time and people look.
But if you watch Grey's Anatomyyou know, that's how I found
out about.
Some of you said the pituitarywas like, oh my gosh, like they
had one on there, yeah yeah,more than one, I think.
And so I, when I rememberreading it and I was like, oh my
gosh, it's like a live episodeof you know Grey's Anatomy going
on so then walk me through,like what happened after that so
(16:37):
after that I went and had aconsult with Boston National
Hospital and we did an onlineconsultation because still COVID
at the time.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
And Dr Jameson was amazing.
He definitely he was there forthe consultation as well.
So anything that I didn'tunderstand he was able to Relay
to me and they said that theycould remove it.
It was important that I didhave it done, and then Zavya was
coming home so I was just like,okay, well, let me figure out
when I can have this down.
This was of January a year anda half ago, yeah.
So they suggested that I get itdone that summer.
(17:14):
So I picked June 16 and Went tohave it removed and luckily, on
the actual day of my surgery,the restrictions have been
lifted so my husband was able tocome back with me, which
otherwise I would have been amess Because you know, like you,
you're there at the, at the,basically at the entrance of the
hospital, and then they weregonna say, well, he had to go.
(17:35):
Oh, wow then the lady was likeMonday Um, people there.
She's like, oh yeah, he cancome back.
So that was the best part.
In the hospitals of course, aregreat.
Out there, yeah, and here, I'msure to yeah.
But yeah, so I was able to haveit removed was about three and a
half four hours, and Thingshave been gradual.
I haven't, like I've lost,definitely lost weight since
(17:58):
that time, but it did not happenvery quickly and that's that's
why, like even with the newyear's resolution stuff, you
can't, you can't say, well, I'mgonna do all this stuff because
it doesn't happen that way.
Yeah, like I went and had thisto be removed and I lost weight,
but it's not drastic, it'sgradually going, which I'm happy
(18:18):
, and I think that's what weshould all aim for this gradual,
gradual way.
Yeah, because when you do loseit fast, you definitely put it
back on.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Definitely even more sometimes.
Yeah, yeah, so how?
How did you navigate thebusiness during this time?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Oh yeah, so I did a lot of things online.
I was able to do my privateclients online.
I did take a month off of Class, though, because I couldn't,
and I didn't even get asubstitute, because it just
wasn't financially savvy for me,and I was blessed to have
clients that wanted me back.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
That's a risk right.
It is giving up like clients.
Yeah even like sometimes aluncheon, or you don't even like
taking vacation.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
No, no, I only go away max two weeks, because if
I'm away longer it's like I dohave clients that want to
maintain their fitness.
So three weeks without yourtrainer is kind of like Look at
something else.
You gotta kind of keep theireyes focused.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, exactly.
No, I got it.
Yeah, you must are afraid totake vacation sometimes and
during this entrepreneurial kindof journey.
So I guess during that time andyou took the month off, yeah,
clients wanted to keep you wasit difficult to get back into
the swing of things during thattime.
Um, I was able to walk.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
For me personally, I was able to walk, so I walked a
whole lot.
I was walking up and down SouthShore.
I couldn't lift any weights,anything above five pounds or
anything, and if I did doclasses I think I may have come
back like that last that fourthweek and everybody else take
everything out of the van.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
So I just get this stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
It's help me out, yeah, and they were very open to
that yeah, very open.
And then my private clients.
I did online and that's where Ithink COVID opened up that
window, because before we neverthought about that, I was like,
well, I can't come to your houseso I'm not gonna be able to
come today.
Yeah, now they have weights atthe house or I'll drop weights.
During COVID.
I drop weights to my clients sothat way that they can have
(20:03):
some weights to use?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
well, yeah, so, but how many like private clients
you could you do house calls,those things?
Yeah, yeah, how many clientslike I think I'm about 15 right
now 15 privates.
Yeah, there's a lot of privates, yeah you do them like weekly.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Everyone has at least twice a week.
Yeah, I have about three ofthem that do hours.
Most of them are half hours.
Wow, yeah 45.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, I don't even think about house calls
sometimes I just forget, likethat's an option, like when I
think gym or personal trainer, Ithink going physically to the
gym here, yeah.
So what do you do to stay ontop of like the business, being
at the forefront of what it isthat you do, because you know
(20:45):
there's always a new fat comingout, a new machine, yeah, a lot
on a mirror, all these types ofthings.
What do you do to kind of stayon top of all those things?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Well, I always do continue education.
Ace offers loads of continuouseducation avenues, loads of
things like just topping up onhealth or working with older
adults or Whatever you that youneed, and also we also get
educational videos sent to us,so like ideas of different
training methods and new Dietfads and yeah coming out and
(21:14):
stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Do?
You got a lot of people thatwant like the dieting side of it
as well, like yes, yes, youprovide that holistic approach,
or is it just kind of you stayon the?
I definitely.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I definitely provide a holistic approach or I'll
refer them out, because I thinkI do have a lot of client base
with the classes and Privateclients.
A lot of times I can't focus onthe diet portion as well, but
I'll refer them to someone thatwill help them out and work with
them.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
So how does being an entrepreneur or Fact your kind
of like personal life, likebecause a lot of times and I can
only speak to it because I'mone as well Like we kind of
forego Families, family things,because, like, why can't miss,
you know, if I don't get thistoday?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
I may not eat tomorrow.
Yeah, how?
Speaker 1 (21:56):
do you find the balance with all of that?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Well, I know that I like, for instance, with emails
of a client messages me at nineo'clock at night about changing
a session, I'm like on itbecause I can't say no.
I'm like, okay, let me get onthis right now.
So I think that I think the myfamily understands that
different things I may have todo, because even my husband was
like well, you're up everysingle morning, like you don't
have a morning that you don'tget up early.
(22:20):
Yeah what's early?
Six, okay, yeah, like sixo'clock.
We were out the weeks.
That was like my Tuesday,Thursdays.
I'm like 5 30.
Yeah, so I have to leave atleast by 5 40 Dash to town so I
can make class, yeah.
But um, I I think that I do putsome parameters on myself.
(22:42):
If it's something thatdefinitely can wait, I will wait
it out, or I'll just make surethat I'm doing the things that I
need to do If the kids are hereand they wanna watch a movie or
whatever, I'll make sure I dothat kind of thing with them,
that's good.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
yeah, finding that balance is important.
I feel like work-life balanceis not our thing.
I feel like you can never.
Something always cracks.
But I know for me there's beentimes where I've missed family
stuff, which I regret it now andI'm definitely trying to do
better with one, doing thingsthat are worth my time.
(23:15):
That's the first thing, butthen also not missing those
moments because of work.
It's hard, but I'm trying.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
And that's what I also think, that with the
competition life it was sodifferent.
I would miss way too manyevents because either I was like
, oh, I can't eat that, so I'mnot going, or something like
that, but now I go, and if I'mnot really eating that, then
I'll still have a littlesomething.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
So do you miss competition.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Sometimes you miss that look just being super
chiseled all the time.
But then the other time it waslike no, that life is so hard.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
It looks hard.
I've seen people who are justlike they jump.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You're miserable.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Yeah, I know, I was working as a lady once who was
going into competition and sheate every hour, but like a
chipmunk it was either nuts orgrass.
It was nuts and in between, andthen the week of competition,
she didn't drink any water.
It was pretty intense.
I remember being 16, workingand everyone was just like this
(24:14):
is not normal.
It was crazy.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, I used to say it's the most healthy and
unhealthy thing that you can do.
Wow, yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, I guess to get that look, especially during
competition time, it's probablynot the most healthy thing today
.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
And mentally it's challenging to see your body
change so rapidly after trainingfor like three to six months.
And afterwards you're like phew.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Yeah, well, yeah, you just go back up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
You just go back, yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Do you, if you could go back like, would you start
your business earlier or are you, like, comfortable with the
timeline that you've had?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Actually, I was very I'm very proud of myself for
being able to start the businesswhen I did, because that was
when the recession was yeah,2008.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
2008.
It's a very fair point, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
So I would keep it the same yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
And then growing up.
What did you want to be growingup?
A nurse.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Really, yes, yes, I wanted to be a nurse.
I've always wanted to.
But then, I think, once I diddecide on the training aspect, I
realized I didn't want to be anurse because I didn't want
shift work.
I wanted to just work in theday and then go home and sleep
at night.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
I'm 12 hours shifts on a new joke Like none
whatsoever.
Like now.
My sister's a nurse and sheworks night shift.
It's no like her sense oftiming in reality is just off
completely.
It's the weirdest.
You call it five o'clock in themorning and she's like eating a
cheeseburger because likethat's her lunchtime.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
It's so off, but yeah it's.
I don't know, I feel like thehealth, but health like that
type of profession, the medicalfield is very similar to what
you do, though You're stillhelping people in that way.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Yes, so it's kind of like similar.
Yeah, yeah, still helping themto stay healthy In some form.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
So what would you say is like your why in life, like
why you wake up and do what youdo, and what would that be?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I have to say I wake up to help people, like I wake
up to see them.
I actually like think aboutthem.
You know, like, oh yeah, thisexercise is for her.
Like she's just gonna complain,but she's gonna like it you know
, or we have the sled and I'mlike oh yeah, she's gonna say
this, you know like.
So it's kind of exciting evenputting together the exercises
and knowing the people that I'mworking with and I tend to keep
a lot of the same people, so Iget to know them just a little
(26:31):
bit better than I would justseeing them, you know.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Yeah, yes, and then what would you say is successful
for you?
Like, I feel like sometimes, asentrepreneurs, we never really
define success, like what thatlooks like for us in our
businesses.
Like, how would you definesuccess?
Or is it more so like a thiswas successful for me this month
(26:55):
, or what does that look like?
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Yeah, I think it's more itemized.
I think definitely it's like umwell, this month I was able to,
if I say I wanted to have 16people on the financial side, I
was able to to um got you yeahor this month Sarah lost weight
or this month, yeah, yeah, soit's more out of my stuff that's
really good.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
So you have a lot of clients who you walk into their
journeys and they they are likebecause you you live a lot of
your life online, right?
So you have any, a lot of themthat are okay with that, or do
you get like some push and pullsome times with?
Speaker 2 (27:27):
those Such things normally they would say it ahead
of time.
Yeah, they would say it and I'mnormally, when they start out,
I let them know that I do poston social media or I'll take a
picture of them during thesession, even on my
sister-in-law.
She didn't.
She didn't like photographs atfirst, but now that she does,
and I think that building thatconfidence over time and I feel
like I push you to be a betterversion of yourself as well,
(27:50):
mm-hmm, so you feel moreconfident, so you're okay, with
a photo here and there cuz I'vehad clients that are like no, no
photos of me period.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Take a photo today.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah, so they definitely um.
They're Definitely moreencouraged over time coming
around to it.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Yeah, no, I love that positive Definitely because,
especially you start to see thedifference when you start losing
weight.
I feel like you get morecomfortable with With the idea
around working out even more.
Yes, like for me, if I lostfive pounds, I'm like Put me in
a bikini, like okay.
But then I'm also in the otherway.
If I've worked out once, I'mlike well, we're other results.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Like you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
So I'm my own worst enemy of that too.
But, I totally understand thebeing a bit more comfortable
with what you look like afterworking out, which must be
fulfilling as a personal trainer.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Definitely, it's just nice to see them change.
That's a that is a huge part ofmy success, I think just seeing
people change physically andmentally yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Come a lot more confident.
I think you're confident inyour body as well.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Yeah, definitely, I see them outfits or something
like that.
Yeah, you dress for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Yeah.
So if you could like kind of goback in time and talk to your
18 year old self, what would youtell her?
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Oh, I would definitely tell her.
Your butt is great, it's meantto be the way that it is.
Leave your fabulous, just leavethem alone, don't stress, and
your hair is amazing.
Yeah, the Kardashians are gonnacome around and have a big butt
will be a thing again, that'scuz, that's all that everyone
wants.
Now, that's the truth.
I remember being in school.
(29:29):
I'm like, oh, I want to wearthese jeans.
Just squeeze it so it's smaller.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
But I mean, we went through a time where, like those
low-cut, there weren't jeansfor oh no black girls.
They were ridiculous me, not me, but you know yeah, people like
well.
Or blessed.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Yeah, they were like super low-wage, they were just
ridiculous.
It would just be half of yeah,no.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
So did you get like a ?
We very insecure about that.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Definitely, definitely.
I never want.
I never wanted to have a bumlike ever really yes, because I
went to school with people thatwere not my body type and I
think that that definitely Putlike a little mental spin on me,
like I was like I don't wantthis.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I want to be just like them.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Wow, yeah, look how the world has changed.
You got people paying so much,yes, so much, so much, so like
in the course span of what?
Speaker 1 (30:25):
what?
20 years?
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Yeah, yeah, even less than that, because it's been
enough fat for a while now.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Yeah, people paying for you.
Know what black women wereashamed of?
Speaker 2 (30:33):
yeah, years yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Yeah.
So I think that's also reallygood for perspective of you
coming, when you're a personaltrainer, just having a body type
that's more reflective of whata lot of people look like Mm-hmm
, and I was always muscular, asa child, even like and people
around me weren't there was likeoh, you have big arms.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
It's just such a horrible thing to say to someone
like you.
Can't say stuff like thatanymore.
I like at all.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
People who just come after you.
Yes, cannot do that.
No, yeah, so I like that,though that's what you would
tell you.
And your hair?
Leave your hair alone.
Yes, yeah, yeah, that I thinkthat's something I would go back
.
I was very uncomfortable withmy hair growing up to the point
now where I probably would nevergo natural Ever again.
Never haven't been since I waslike 10.
(31:17):
Oh well, I feel like it's menow at this point creamy crack
any day.
So when you think of, likebeing a woman and being a mom
and being a wife, like what doesthat mean to you?
What does being woman I amwoman, hear me roar like what
does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
I think I'm just feeling feminine and feeling
strong and feeling comfortablein my skin.
You know it'd be being a womanfor me, mother, just being
making sure that you just takecare of your family.
You know, cook Mm-hmm, I loveto cook.
I don't feel like it's a greatday if I haven't, like made
(31:57):
something, or a week Like I feellike I need to make something.
Yeah, even during competitionmode, I would make desserts and
give them to my friends to taste, because I couldn't taste it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
But it was.
You wouldn't even like tastethe bowl.
Mm-hmm, that's some seriousdiscipline.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
I would call my friends over.
I'll be like, come over here.
Is Charmaine one of my mainones.
I was close to me at the time.
I will say come over here, come, come, get some of this really
quick, because I would make allthis stuff and just give it to,
just because I like to see thesatisfaction in their eyes.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
I was kind of like living my dream through them
that I couldn't live there isnot a chance, a chance in how
that I could be making thebrownies that you had the other
day.
Yes, and not have licked thebatter a little bit, mm-hmm.
I wouldn't touch it duringcompetition now.
Yeah, no, that's somedisciplines, mm-hmm.
That, that should be yourtagline for the business moving
forward.
(32:46):
This is how.
Moving forward oh my goodness,that's crazy.
Okay, so what are some things?
What would you say is like theformula to having such a
successful business for as longas you have like as an
entrepreneur?
Not necessarily formula likeone plus one equals yeah but
what kind of sets you apart, youthink?
Speaker 2 (33:05):
I Think what sets me apart is one I feel like I am
the only full-time person,trainer that is, that does both
classes in private.
I think I'm the only full-time,or at least I was for a while.
Yeah, I think that you justreally just pushing Like I think
(33:28):
, just like your logo hustle.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
You kinda gotta hustle it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Yeah, you definitely have to hustle a little bit.
You can't like like I havesomeone that emails me for
training like a new client.
I have to kind of get on that,Because there has been times
that I've lost clients becauseof that.
I'm someone who messaged me andI'll say I'll get back to them.
And I haven't got back to thembecause you get busy.
So like I'm working all day andthen I didn't get back and
they're like okay, I foundsomeone else.
So you kind of have to jump onevery opportunity.
(33:55):
Being an entrepreneur Can't letthings slip by, Unless you just
know that it's not worth yourwhile for some reason.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
But yeah, and for me when I was student, full time,
in particular, I had to almostforecast for business three
months out.
So I wouldn't feel it thesethree months be fine, but the
next three months, like if Iwasn't forecasting, if I wasn't
actively searching for newbusiness or whatever that may
have been marketing, whatever,I'd be fine.
And I'm like, oh yeah, thingsare great.
But then, three months from now, you're like, oh, wait a minute
(34:23):
.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
You know what I mean, but I learned that the hard way
, so 100% learned that the hardway.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
I never.
Yeah, you get bitten once as anentrepreneur and you won't let
that happen to you ever again.
Yeah, it's definitely the case.
So what would you say is givingyou hope right now, like you're
keeping you going forward inthe business Client still?
Speaker 2 (34:45):
Really.
Yeah, my client base.
I literally thanks one of myclients the other day because
I'm like you stuck with me, Iwent through my tumor time, like
just various things that havehappened in our lives, and they
still stay with me and I'mthankful for that and I think
that just brings me hope,absolutely.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
All right, Betty, so I always wrap up.
Time went by real quick, right.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Like I said that like maybe four times today, but it
is genuinely the truth.
But obviously at the end of allmy episodes, I wanna know what
my guests wanna be rememberedfor.
So what would you wanna beremembered for when you're no
longer here and someone saysBetty, or they reference the
business Like what is somethingthat you wanna be?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
remembered, for I just want them to know that I
genuinely cared about them.
You know that it wasn't justabout financial for me.
It's that I genuinely want tosee you succeed, and I think
that they can feel that, and Ithink that's why I have the
business that I have with theclients that I have Amazing.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Oh, thank you so much , Betty.
Yes, so for anyone who wants toget in contact with you, if
it's for personal training or tofollow your journey a bit more,
how would they do that?
Speaker 2 (35:55):
They can contact me on Be Active for Life, or they
can contact me on Instagram, andthey can also contact me on Be
Active ptgmailcom Perfect allright.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Well, thank you again for joining me today.
And, guys, like Betty said, ifyou wanna get in contact with
her, you can definitely do thaton Instagram.
She's always showing what'sgoing on her classes, all those
different things.
I'm sure you can find somethingthat works for you if you're
interested in personal training.
I know now it's a time of yearto get on top of our goals and
to maintain or to figure out ifwe wanna lose for the remainder
(36:29):
of year, whatever that may looklike.
But, once again, don't forgetto like and subscribe, share
this episode.
If you got something from it,leave us a comment in the
comment box and if you wannalearn any more information about
the podcast or learn a littlebit more about Betty, make sure
you go to the websitewwwhustleheartpodcastcom.
And thank you for listening.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com