Everyone wants to work for themselves. The idea of being your own boss has a lot of unicorns, rainbows, and freedom around it. But, if you’re not careful, when you work for yourself it’s easy to make your own business, your dream business, be just as much a slog as working for someone else. So, my Studio Owners, Independent Contractors, Home studio owners here are my best tips to not make your dream job just like every other job.
It doesn’t matter if you’re teaching Pilates, Fitness, Barre or selling make-up, cars or coffee. You will hear objections to your offers. And, it’s so easy to take these objections personally isn’t it? I mean when someone tells you it’s too expensive you may feel like they are saying “you’re not worth it.” You may wonder or be tempted to offer a discount. Tell yourself, “just this once” and believe that a lower priced package will get them to fall in love and see the value of what you offer. And, that’s just one of the objections we hear. There are so many others. And, if you want to grow your business you are going to have to get really good and overcoming them. Let’s talk about how you can do that.
Managing a retail store was never a goal of mind. It kind of just happened to me and I was really good at it. So, when I quit retail, became a Pilates instructor and within six months was managing a studio, hiring teachers and making the studio business grow it was an easy transition. Now, I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you managing teachers was easy. No, it’s not. It’s so freaking hard. And you studio owners have a big glass to fill each day. But, if you’re teachers are driving you crazy I’ve got some tough love in this blog for you. It’s because of you. So, let’s make it not your fault!
During my last workshop in Poland there was a question about how to market oneself if you are able to teach kids, pre-post natal, elderly, women, men…basically, how can they market themselves to EVERYONE! And I said you can’t market yourself to everybody at the same time. When you tell people what you do when you try to advertise your work do you try to talk to everyone? The truth is, in every business not just Pilates it’s important to know who you are for and why you are the teacher for them. And, then, you have to start with making them aware. Are you taking the time to make people aware of you?
Have a Website Before when you were busy teaching, studying, running around from class to class, studio to studio, or client to client it was easy to put off making that website, writing that blog or newsletter, and launching that new product or service. Now, you have...
Charge Your Worth Depending on where you live in the world the date your competitors started teaching for free may differ from mine. But, for now, we'll agree that sometime in March the fitness industry and especially many Pilates teachers started teaching live...
Ask Yourself These Questions Creating multiple income streams is essential in most businesses no matter the market you're in. But, right now, during the time of CV-19, if you already had multiple revenue streams you might not be in as bad a position as those who had...
Online Teaching is Here Like it or Loathe it online teaching is here in full force. Studios across the world are closed or in limited operation these days due to CV19 and if you're in a position like me it's indefinitely closed. And, now you're faced with either going...
It’s been one week since my studio has been closed indefinitely but it’s been several years that I have been teaching virtually so except the lack of times my door opens my work week has felt slightly “normal.” But, that might not be the same for you. And, it’s ok to be freaking out, worried, scared, feel lost, depressed, and like the business, rug has been pulled out from under you. And, while virtual is an option, how do you make the switch? What does this mean price-wise? And, can you actually grow your business during this time? Let’s help you navigate what could be your “new normal.”
As CV19 spreads across the planet and fear of the unknown rises it can feel even harder than usual to run your business. And, you might be looking at canceling plans of workshops, retreats or events that you have been planning for a year. Or, wondering if you should? And, its frustrating because you were on track to hit your goals, level up your business, you had just been getting your systems in place. So, what do you do when LIFE gets in the way of your best-laid plans?
Cancellation policies are a must. In fact, if you do nothing more when you set you your business but charge your worth and have a cancellation policy you will likely do better than most businesses who have don’t have that but have a business plan. And with a virus spreading across the globe there will be few who are not faced with the question of canceling a session, workshop, event or something like it. So, what do you do if you have to cancel?
