Last week I shared that I was anxious about going to the gym.

I also mentioned that I had been waiting for over a week for someone to call me to book in a training session.

Here’s the rest of the story.

If you’re in business or customer service, don’t do this:

On the day we joined, I asked if someone could show me how to use the equipment.

The lady on reception said to go on to the website and book in a session.

A few days later I went to the website.

I couldn’t see where to book it in.

I sent a message through the contact page.

I got an automatic reply and a personal reply from the lady on reception.

“Someone would call me within 3 business days.”

It was Thursday, so I figured Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

Monday and Tuesday came and went.

I had been holding off going to the gym, waiting to be shown how to safely use the equipment.

I couldn’t wait any longer, so I went on the Thursday. It was now a week since I had submitted my request.

I mentioned this to the lady on reception.

“I’ll follow it up”, she said.

The next day we went back to the gym.

We were heading out the door and the receptionist called to us, “I followed up your request”, she said.

“Oh good, thank you”, I replied.

During my workout I had noticed signs with contact details and information about the trainers.

I told the receptionist I had noted the numbers.

“I got in touch with Mary (not her real name)”, she said.

“She’s full up and can’t take on any more clients, so James (not his real name), will hopefully give you a call today.”

“Ok, thanks.”

The day came and went and James didn’t call.

Finally on Saturday, I got an sms message from James.

Using SMS is not my ideal form of communication, however James is young and that seems to be the way they communicate, so we organised to meet the following Monday.

James showed me through the equipment and was quite patient as I wrote my notes in an old fashioned exercise book with a pen.

Now that you have the background information, the point I want to make is “don’t do that”. Don’t do what Mary did.

Even though she was fully booked, the courteous thing to do would have been to contact me, even by SMS and say, “I’m sorry I can’t help you. I am fully booked. I’ll organise for another trainer to help you.”

Communication is key. Even if it’s bad news, it’s better than no news.

Don’t do that.

Don’t leave your potential clients waiting.

Mary might be the best trainer in the world and based on that, I wouldn’t recommend her. In fact, I’d share my negative experience, (as I am now).

It doesn’t take much to communicate with people, especially potential clients.

Look after people. Help people.

When I was working at the tutoring organisation we trained the franchisees to be honest in their assessments of the children. If the children didn’t need tutoring, to say so. One franchisee did this and told us that as a result of being honest, his potential client (who did not sign up) referred 5 others who did enrol.

Don’t ignore your potential customers or current customers.

Honest and timely communication goes a long long way.

Don’t do what Mary did.

P.S. Invite your friends to get the Weekly Thoughts delivered directly to their inbox. Go to https://shirleydalton.com/weekly-thoughts.

Maybe this resonates with you.

The alarm went off and I hit the snooze button.

I was reluctant to get out of bed.

“I’m nervous”, I turned to Ross.

“How come?” he asked.

Today was the day I was to start going to a new gym.

Ross had been going to another one for about a year. I hadn’t been to a gym since we started travelling in the motorhome back in 2019.

I was anxious.

I had been waiting for a week for a personal trainer to get back to me because I wanted a program and to be shown how to use the equipment. I’m still waiting (that’s another business story).

I shared all my insecurities with Ross.

“Don’t overthink it, Shirl”, he said.

He was right. I was in my head, imagining all sorts of negative scenarios.

“I am old. I’m fat. I’m unfit. I don’t know how to use the equipment. I don’t want to hurt myself”, the list went on.

“You’re overthinking it.”

“Just get ready and we’ll go”, encouraged Ross.

I was surprised that a pair of my old gym pants actually fit. Well that was a positive.

I was still anxious as we entered the gym.

I got on the walker. At least I could manage that.

As I walked, I paid attention to the others in the gym, more to see what equipment they were using and how to use it.

I was encouraged. There were a number of people in Ross’ and my age group and they were doing their own thing.

They weren’t looking at me. They were more interested in their own workout and many had earphones in.

I started to relax.

I got on the elliptical and managed not to fall off.

I had a go at using some of the equipment, being mindful not to overdo it.

I started to enjoy it.

I could feel my body respond.

This isn’t so bad.

This is actually ok.

I’m happy to come back again.

How often do we psych ourselves out of something through fear and negative imagination?

How often do the things we worry about not even come to pass?

It’s a reminder to all of us to heed Ross’ advice – “don’t overthink it”.

If you find yourself in this situation, let go of the negative thoughts and just start.

Like me, you might find it’s actually pretty good and you wasted your time and valuable creative energy overthinking the negative.

P. S. This month we celebrated 17 years in business, so be on the lookout for a celebratory message in the next few days. There might just be something for you to celebrate too.

P.P.S. Invite your friends to get the Weekly Thoughts delivered directly to their inbox. Go to https://shirleydalton.com/weekly-thoughts.

Have you ever bought an online program and then done nothing with it?

I have.

Plenty of them.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been focussing on growing the coaching side of my business. It’s a real passion of mine.

I love to see the transformation in people as they grow and evolve and move towards what they want.

Years ago, I purchased a program to help me grow my coaching business.

I listened to a few of the lessons but couldn’t bring myself to take action.

I forgot about the program and thought that my membership had lapsed. That was until, seemingly out of the blue, I started getting reminder emails for the group coaching calls.

What?

Wow!

I am so appreciative and grateful for how the universe, infinite intelligence, God, whatever you want to call it, seems to show up at just the right time.

I opened up my membership. There seemed to be even more programs there than I thought I had signed up for.

Thank you!

And now I’m ready.  I’m diving into the program like there’s no tomorrow.

Have you ever noticed that for most, it’s not until we’re in enough pain that we start to take action?

And when we do take action, the universe delivers.

This week, your mission is to take action.

Acknowledge the pain you’re feeling and decide to do something about it.

Don’t prolong the negative feelings that are holding you back.

Use the pain as your motivator and get going.

And if you think I might be able to help you with some coaching, then please connect with me.

My mission is to inspire, educate and support you to be, do, have and feel what you want.

Don’t waste another minute missing out on what you want.

P. S. Invite your friends to get the Weekly Thoughts delivered directly to their inbox. Go to https://shirleydalton.com/weekly-thoughts.