The best personal trainers are also life coaches; So we will listen, digest, and ask questions about your health, mindset, current situation and where you want to be, to help YOU identify your own goals and work out what might be holding you back. We think it’s important to get to know our clients, and put ourselves in your shoes (or trainers!) – because we want you to succeed with your goals just as much as you do.

Goal vs Key-Driver

But not all goal seekers are big on numbers… which got me thinking about other ways we can motivate ourselves to train. And I was reminded of a client I met a while back who had what we called a key-driver – a visual reminder of the underlying reason she kept pushing herself outside her comfort zone, day after day, week after week.

For confidentiality reasons let’s call this client Sue. Sue’s key-driver was a walking stick. Why you ask? Well, it’s actually a bit of a sad story. Sue’s mother was only 20 years older than her but she’d really let her health go to pot. Sue watched her mother’s mobility, strength and even mental well being decline rapidly, and unfortunately she died at the age of 68. In her latter years she relied heavily on a walking stick to get around, and needed Sue’s help with many daily tasks.

As you’d expect, this walking stick held lots of negative memories for Sue. But by analyzing Sue’s needs and helping her to figure out her desired outcomes (or goals), I challenged her to flip this scenario on it’s head. And I was impressed with the courage Sue showed in taking a leap of faith and turning the walking stick into something that could help her. Now the walking stick hangs on the back of Sue’s front door as a powerful visual reminder every single day of why she goes out and stays active. Although these days Sue sees it less as an old walking stick, and more of a light saber, ready to strike down any barriers that get in her way!

So why not take a leaf out of Sue’s book and identify your key-driver? It could end up being the life changer you’re looking for. May the force be with you!