Looking around, it is obvious the holiday season is upon us. I am already seeing Christmas decorations in the stores, hearing Christmas music playing while on hold and televisions already boasting of the holiday sales. And it's not even past Thanksgiving! I think so many people are ready to end a rough year on a positive note.
While the holidays usually bring smiles and cheers, I have come to learn for some, it brings holiday fears. Let me explain.
Very recently, I lost one of the largest icons in my life, my grandfather. One of my biggest fans and mentors will not be with my family for the first time this year at the holidays. I have never lost an immediate family member, so the impact of what that does is fresh and new. This new revelation has also opened my eyes to the faces of people who will also be missing that special someone at the dinner table or around a Christmas tree.
What does that have to do with selling personal training, marketing ourselves or increasing our knowledge of what we do you ask? The answer is: nothing! My column this month is not for our own personal growth but for the encouragement of the people that need a little lift.
In the past, I took the joys of holiday seasons for granted. What I have realized is that we are in a unique situation to help others through this time. If most of you are like me, you got into this industry to help others. While I looked at this as help in a physical sense, I forgot to what extent I could affect the emotional state of a person.
Let me tie this up in a nice package: We are motivators. This is a time of year that is hard for some people. Maybe they lost a loved one, or maybe they have a loved one serving our country over seas. It becomes easy get depressed, and many times, that spills over into giving up. This is why, statistically, the suicide rate goes up around the holiday season.
My challenge is for you, the career trainers to raise your antenna. Look around for the people that may not have that holiday sparkle in their eye. Maybe you're aware of a loss in their lives. Once you recognize that person, send them some good energy. Encourage them. Help them. Don’t let them give up!
While I am not saying you should give away your services, I am saying this is the perfect time of the year to get back to our roots, why we started this line of profession in the beginning.
We ask people to invest in us on a daily basis. I am asking our trainers to selflessly invest in others and help make their holiday a positive one.
Happy Holidays!
Mike McDaniel is an authority of leadership, goal-setting disciplines, sales strategies and corporate physical fitness. Mike can be booked for speaking engagements, sales training or consultant at www.askthewhyguy.com.
