Let’s Get Physical.
For those of you that don’t already know about google alerts, they are available to everyone (for free), and provide you with convenient little e-mails anytime people in cyberspace write about your topics of interest. So for instance, I set up google alerts for “blackbird tees” and “resume tees,” so anytime those keywords find their way into an article or blog post, I get a heads up. And as I’ve discovered in the last several months, these fabulously efficient notifications can serve another purpose as well.
A while back, one of my alerts revealed that a personal trainer and lifestyle educator by the name of Carla Birnberg had given my tees a nod. And so, I decided to log onto her site, Mizfit Online, and leave a thank you in the comments section. In reading her full post, I discovered that not only was this woman a fan of my tees, she had done some creative marketing of her own in her early days, using iron-on letters to spell out ‘Personal Trainer’ across the leg of her sweatpants. I was instantly curious about this like-minded soul and wanted to learn more.
Well, in the days since, we’ve exchanged several emails, and after looking through her blog and reading a brief bio, I thought it only fitting that she be part of the Trust Your Blackbird series. After all, one good deed deserves another, and as her site tagline states, “at the core, we’re all the same.” Below is our brief Q&A, and perhaps like me, you will see that often times, not fitting in actually fits just fine.
JD: It sounds like you held various jobs within the fitness industry. Did you just outgrow the respective positions (learning more and moving on), or did you feel something was missing from the industry itself?
CB: I was actually an accidental trainer. I graduated with a masters in counseling and liked eating/having a roof over my head (*wink*), so I got certified and trained while I job hunted. Lo and behold, I really enjoyed it, and not surprisingly, found that the position utilized my counseling skills tremendously.
The reason I left and opened my own studio (and this was way before they were on every corner) was twofold: I was training in multiple gyms and in-home and wasting a good portion of my day driving AND (more importantly) I sensed my clients would thrive in a more private setting. That they’d feel less inhibited and *really* give the workout their mental and physical ALL.
JD: Was it frightening to break off and open your own studio?
CB: Holy Moley it was terrifying. And yet, I look back at my 28 year old self and think DID YOU HAVE A CLUE? And I’M SO GLAD I DIDN’T, AS I’D HAVE TOTALLY WIMPED OUT. I think what was most terrifying was the fact that at the time (1994), there weren’t any templates to follow. I didn’t have the option (as I told a few women who wanted to buy my place when I decided to sell) of ‘working at another studio and learning on *their dime*.’ As a result, I knew all the mistakes I’d be making (and even at 28 I knew they were coming) would be unforeseen.
And dang I made quite a few. And *quite a few* which have helped me save time now—-years later—in entirely different career paths.
JD: On your site, you described how, thanks to the magic of iron-ons, you achieved some early marketing success. Did you attempt other forms of creative self-promotion? How did you recruit new clients?
CB: I have to say (because I can also rattle off a list of Things at which Carla is Horrible) I’m an amazing marketer. It’s my gift. I love the challenge –not matter the business— of having to find new ‘clients’ and how best I can do so in a creative way. I always had on a baseball cap or bandanna emblazoned with my tagline and cell number (this was all pre-texting. Now I’d have a txt 2 win tee for a free session I think). And I was just everywhere.
The must important thing, I believe, is that your marketing is SINCERE. Sure I ‘needed’ the money to live but it was NOT about the money for me and people sensed that. I loved what I did and wanted to spread the word (albeit in a silly way).
JD: So, you seem to emphasize the importance of humor on your site, especially as it pertains to health and lifestyle. How does humor contribute to life-long success in your opinion?
CB: It plays a vital part in all of it. From my marriage to my world of work. THE ABILITY TO GENUINELY LAUGH AT MYSELF (ala falling off of a BOSU ball in one of the workout videos on my website) is such an important component.
JD: Is there a word of advice you would offer to people out there who maybe feel stuck in their careers…or feel like they have an unorthodox mix of skills/interests?
CB: I’m not a believer (brace yourself) in the DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW approach. I adore writing, and the money just isn’t in that line of work. My philosophy is to perhaps find a job which is simply that: a gig which in no wayshapeorform defines you, but is a paycheck you DONT LOATHE (key) getting. Then, in every spare second, channel all you have into your passions, believe in youself and you **never know** what might transpire. You mightcould find MizFit on your next netflix cue under workout dvds and in your B&N shopping cart as well.
Right now my writing dayjobs do not allow me to share much of the vast wasteland o’training knowlege I have. That was why I decided to launch MizFit. I also hoped/prayed that it would NOT be about me, but about the entire BUMBLING BAND Of MizFits……that we’d help each other find our way down the oft bumpy path to fitness and health and LONGEVITY.
Every day when I see the comments unfold, and witness people helping each other, I smile. I coined a term STRANGERFRIENDS™ a while ago, but see it manifest at work daily. People with whom you feel close, but wouldn’t know if you bumped into them on the street. I truly adore all the strangerfriends in the bumbling band.
To join the ranks of strangerfriends, or to learn more about the Mizfit Online, visit Carla’s site.
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