Success Story from a little town of Waipu in New Zealand

1. Sharon – You’ve experienced being a personal trainer in the big city. Can you describe the experience of starting all over again in a small town?
Daunting and exciting. There is no gym here, so I was truly starting from scratch. Also, people had tried personal training and group fitness classes here before and for whatever reason it hadn’t worked for them, so it was a real leap of faith.

2. How has your business developed over the last year?
Wow, it has been an amazing year. I have gone from a couple of personal training clients and some group fitness classes to being almost full as a trainer and running 8 x group fitness classes a week. I have also organised 2 x major fundraisers, implemented a kids active programme in the local primary school and started a walking/ running group and cycling groups.

3. Can you describe some of the ways that have helped you to become the local fitness icon of Waipu?
I guess it has to be all of question 2. Just getting involved in the community. Offering a good variety of options for people and sharing what I love to do.

4. What advice would you give trainers in the smaller towns in New Zealand to help them build great businesses?
Believe in yourself. Small towns are all about community, so get involved. Create opportunities, keep up to date with what is happening in the fitness industry (Get Active, FILEX, PT Plus etc) and get a good mentor.

5. You are a mother of 2 young lively kids, a wife and a business owner. How do you fit it all in?
Systems, systems and more systems. You have to plan your day, week, month etc. Making time or the big things and the little things. This helps to ensure you have a great balance. Have clear objectives and don’t be afraid to think big!

6. How have you found the experience of working with a PT Plus coach?
Life changing. Having a coach has given me and my business clear focus and direction. It has made me look at what is working in my business and what needs working on. But more importantly it has given me clear objectives that are achievable, challenging but achievable.

7. What can we expect from Smart Fitness and Sharon Carroll in the future?
To be a $100,000+ trainer. To keep making a difference in my community. To keep working on and not in my business, so that I have a great work/ life balance. To keep challenging myself and others to dream big, have fun and achieve the impossible!