Survival Strategies 101 #2 Complacency

12 hours a day of aerobics at a
Network convention on a bowl of soup

So one of the other biggest issues of starting out afresh is keeping up the efforts and not falling into that dreaded state of complacency. It is a very easy thing to do and if you don't set good goals then you fall onto that slippery slide of idle self indulgence, or whatever that means to you.
Once I had embarked onto the new me within the fitness industry I had the opportunity to buy a Fitness Centre in the city. This took a great portion of my savings to do and once in I wanted to brand it as my own. 

BODYLINE AEROBICS

This involved pulling down the stage no one is more important than the other so we all grape-vined around the room at the same level. We added walls and whilst it was a "ladies only" gym when I purchased it, I quickly changed all that to include the other "specie" provided them with a selection of free and pin weights and for us gals some exercise bikes and stair climbers.


This was a family gym and had all the warmth of a friendly home including the breakfast muffins that I would bake at 5am and bring in for the early birds who liked to blast away a few calories before work; monthly we would have chicken and champagne for the lunch time attendee's and in the evenings occasionally put on something of a show. That way I knew that both the members' and the casual attendees were keen to get to us and work towards their own personal goals. We facilitated both their direction away from complacency and kept me on tract.  

under the sea

This was also a place where I raised my two eldest children, Alex was in Grade 4 and Lizzie in Grade 2 and would be taxied (literally) by one of a few cabbies from EJ Kids Care into the city. Sometimes via MacDonald's for a junior burger or directly to Bodyline and get beautiful salad plates from the downstairs take-away. The two spent many hours chatting to sweaty fitness participants, doing their individual weights programs or getting ready to school balls. This was always a high light for the staff who adored them and love to help them prepare for the big events. 
The kids would often curl up inside upturned Aussie Step boxed and fall asleep whilst we would train models to do complex aerobic moves for fashion shows. Then be carried up to the car by some burly muscle-bound gym-junkies so that I could take them off to bed.
These were wonderful times looking back at them now, but they were "bloody" tuff back then. Many a night would see me in bed way after 2 and up again at 5am to start it all again. I was very strict on my income only taking the barest amount to keep the business profitable. This meant driving a "death trap" but more on that beast later.
I had a solid plan that I stuck to with my goals and tried NEVER to deviate from them. I think that this worked out as we stayed in profit and had loads of happy patrons and energetic, fabulous staff. 

Our release was the Friday afternoon relax and Chardy's, then either complete hair colour changes courtesy of Clairol or ridiculously long acrylic nails. Then the inevitable drawing of straws as to who would take the 5pm aerobic class. Are those were the days!!!!