It’s not every day you celebrate ten years of something. When I started my business (officially) back in 2009, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into—let alone what I was even doing. But nek minute, here I am. Ten years on.
I’ve got a lot of people to thank for getting me here. First, of course, I have to thank my clients. All of them. Those who are still with me today, those who I only trained for a short period of time, those who showed up to my free group classes, those who took the free trial sessions the gym offered and never came back.
Every single one of them has helped me build a business. They taught me how to how to run one. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today.
For those who have trained with me since the start (or close to; 2009-2012): what a journey. You guy’s have been there when I was a wee little twenty-year-old. You stuck by me when I was a complete rookie. When I moved outdoors (Beaurepaires crew, where you at?). Moved to other gyms. Travelled. Was depressed. Erratic. Hyper. Distracted. When I had full-time university, moved a million times, and my life was all over the place.
I think I’ve only cancelled clients once in my whole career (good ol’ fashioned food poisoning from eating a whole chicken—and not cooking it properly, obviously). But the flexibility that you have given me as I pursued other projects, goals, interests, travelled around the world, I hope I gave to you.
We have all grown together so much. We have all learned. I know the role of a trainer/coach is to teach their clients, but you all have taught me so much, too.
Patience. Commitment. Attention to detail. Listening skills. Care. Empathy. Compassion. Knowledge.
Every single one of you that has worked with me has taught me to level-up in some way, shape, or form. Every single one of you has given me a new challenge to overcome. Whether it be the “problems” or “issues” with your body—injuries, weaknesses, body image, etc.—all of you are unique in some way that has opened my eyes to a unique approach.
I think all of you that have stuck by me through everything that has happened in our lives—inside and outside the gym—are true and proper friends. I bloody love all of you. I appreciate you all. So much. And I can’t thank you all enough keeping my business flourishing, for pushing me to upskill constantly, constantly try to provide a better service, grow as a trainer, grow as a human.
Some of you pushed me into university without even realising. Some of you taught me how to just simply listen. Others taught me to be clearer with my speech, how to communicate things better, how to problem solve, how to truly help.
Running your own business in any field for ten years is no simple feat. It takes a lot of sacrifice and commitment. It means saying goodbye to social events, family endeavours. It also means saying goodbye to long service leave, sick leave, holiday pay.
But that’s what makes you want to work harder, so you can help those around you as much as possible. That’s what makes you want to learn and learn and learn and improve every day, so you can help those who already believe in you and are giving up their time and money every session, to hopefully create a ripple effect to impact those around them.
Clients—aka., “customers”—are the backbone of any business. But the people who are found in and around these are to thank as well: the partners that let them come to early morning and late evening training, the friends and family members that support them, the bosses that understand their commitment to themselves in the gym.
I should also add here that the people around me are to thank. The trainers, colleagues, coaches, friends, family, and everybody else that has had an influence on my career—including those who I have never met.
The books, blogs, videos, research papers, and even certain social media pages I’ve consumed over the years have all done something to me. Whether it be show me that I never want to be as fake as so many people out there, that I still have so damn much to learn, or things that have straight out enhanced my career.
It’s cliché, but I really wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you.
As for the Perno Performance 10th Anniversary celebrations on September 14, 2019: Bloody hell. That’s all I got to say about that.
Almost 30 people came to bowling. There were 37 at dinner. I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. But I greatly appreciate all of you.
Thank you.
