What is Remote Coaching - With Misbah Haque

Guest today is my friend and remote coach Misbah Haque from Philadelphia, PA. 

We talk about his history of coaching, mentoring by Invictus and Marcus Filly, and perspective of what remote coaching is and who it is for. 


0:00 - 20min Misbah's history of training.
- Personal Training in Philly 
- interning for Invictus in LA 
- Hired by Marcus Filly 
20min-40min - What is Remote Coaching 
- Different then Zoom Instructor 
- Who its for? Who its not for?
- How lifestyle and Nutrition work in Remote 
40min-45min 
Conclusion

Transcript

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0:04

all right, well, welcome to the finish shape podcast. And today this is season two. We have some really cool news. I'm gonna be doing some interviews. Like I talked about at the end of season one and our first one is gonna be with my coach. MSBA Hawk. Mebo what's up, man. Dude, Blake, thank you so much for having me. Uh, I have gotten to watch you evolve and grow over the past couple years. And so I'm excited to kind of come on and, you know, share anything that is gonna be useful for obviously, you know, your listeners. Um, there there's a lot I can kind of speak on from just kind of being around you and, um, so yeah. Thanks for, thanks for having me. Totally. Yeah. So for those you guys who don't know, um, I, I also get coached. I always joke with, with this was like a, a minister said this to me, like five years ago, he said, you know, he's like, who's a pastor who doesn't get pastored. And I said, who and what is it? And he's like, oh, he's an asshole. And I just. And I thought I, that stuck with me cuz it made me the point of that. The principle was like, if you're gonna keep growing and evolving, you need to find people that are a little further ahead than you mm-hmm and, and who are willing to pour into so that you can stay humble and grow and learn and evolve. And uh, and that's who you've been for me and it's been worth every penny, but real quick, just for some of, some of the listeners, just give us a quick background into kind of your. Journey and fitness where you started, you know, I think you went to school for, for exercise science a little bit and just everything and then just kind of what, what your philosophy and flow is kind of now today. Yeah, dude, for me, it really started, I mean, you know, I'm first generation Indian American. And so I had this pressure to obviously become something important, like a doctor engineer or something that would give a high ROI to my parents. And, uh, you know, being a personal trainer was definitely not one of those things. And so I had this struggle. It didn't start off like, oh, I want to be a personal trainer or anything like that. It was more so like I loved wrestl. um, both professional, like watching it, but also like I competed in wrestling and I was very bad at it. And when I discovered strength training and things of that nature, I was like, oh my gosh, like I wish I had this when I was wrestling. I would've crushed it. And so I just kind of went through that personal transformation and was hooked on like learning everything I could about it. And it became kind of in my mind, like it was gonna be a side hustle. So I got a job at, uh, a gym. I was a front desk person and I was like, you know, I'm gonna like get really good and get my trainer certification. And the day I turned 18, cuz you had to legally be 18. In PA I had that job kind of set up already with the boss there. And it was like so exciting, cuz I was like, oh my gosh, I'm living this dream of being this trainer. I used to like see in the magazines and stuff, but in my mind I couldn't make it a full time thing cuz it was like I was studying it at the time in, in college and it was gonna be, you know, like, um, I was like, oh, when I'm successful in it, then I will open up a gym and I'll get to do my fitness thing. It was never this thing I saw, I could actually. Bring Def fruition, like a full time gig out of it. Cuz I just looked around me and it was so hard. Like some trainers were doing a lot better than others. And so being an observant person I just watched. Um, and then I ex I bounced around from niche to niche. So it was like, I taught boot camps for a long time. I taught spinning. Then I got into the CrossFit world. Then that's when everything kind of changed where it was like, oh, I'm so obsessed with this style that like. For the next couple years, that was kind of my zone then kind of transitioned to Olympic weightlifting and then kind of came back to full circle, like okay, functional body building or doing some type of balanced version of it all. Um, Both in my personal fitness and also coaching others. I had a big back injury when I was doing CrossFit. That like really was a really, yeah, dude, that, that changed a lot for me, but yeah, without going on too much, that was kind of my background. It was like this personal feeling of wanting to make a full-time gig out of it to prove to. My parents to myself, like, Hey, this is possible. Um, and I, you just have to be good. You have to get great, like that whole thing. Um, and then also just like that dream of like, wow, I get to wear shorts all day. I get to work out for a living. You know, I love that. Listen to cool music. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You like a DJ too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's that's right. That's what we do. We DJ and lift. Um, no, that is wow. I actually learned a lot about you in that. I did not know those things. So your journey you started in Pennsylvania grew up in Pennsylvania. Most of your life kind of right out Philly. Is that right? Suburbs? Yeah. Yeah. So not like right in Philly, but like, you know, 45 minutes out. Um, yeah. Mm-hmm yeah. So that was really, you didn't realize how small of a place it was until I left. Like, to me, it was still, it was not full suburbs. Like. In the middle of nowhere type situation, but, you know, there was massive opportunity outside of where I was. So, um, things really changed when I like broke outta that. Like, let me get outta my radius and try to do something. Sure. Uh, and see, I just had this feeling. I'm like, I feel like if I got in San Diego or one of these places where, you know, there's a lot of fitness professionals and leaders and P like, I feel like we would hit it off. I feel like we would, like, something could come out of it. That would be interesting. And, um, you know, I don't know. I just felt like in my area, I was like doing some of those seminars and stuff like that. I had gotten to a point where it was like, okay, I, I was the, I had my own, like a gym hired me and gave me my own space inside the gym to kind of run CrossFit without CrossFit being kind of the thing or whatever. Yeah. A functional fitness or whatever you wanna call it. And things like that. I really, I don't know. I really. Enjoyed it, but like, I, I don't know. There was just something I felt to like connecting with someone who was across the earth. Like we've gotten so used to technology, just connecting us and us being able to do this thing right now. Yeah. When obviously this thing is meant to be like in person and. It's a whole setup and whatnot, but like we figured out how to do it so quickly. And I'm still in awe of like how we can do that with training. It's a difficult thing to do, and it's not for everybody to do like an online version of it, but I knew that was deep down what I wanted. Um, It was just hard to get it took a while before I got there. Sure, sure. No that's so before we jump into the, who is it for and what is this remote coaching thing and how does it work? And is it like a zoom where you just instruct me and, or what is it. Like just so you left Philly, went to California to Invictus. Was that your first and did you reach out there? How did that tell us a little bit about that story? Was it like a job offer? Yeah. So basically I was taking this certification program where I wanted it to like translate into helping me get online clients and Invictus was a very successful gym. Like I had read their book, Invictus mindset. I was also interested in mindset and talking about that in my own content. So it was just like really, I admired what they did. And I had CJ, who's the CEO of that place, um, on my show. And, you know, it was months before, like we even like reconnected. It was hard to like, get him on. First of all, then it was kind of, I realized, okay, I'm ready to go outside of my area. I don't care if I have to work for free. Like I'm gonna pick up and do what I gotta do. I'll I'll figure it out. I'll get a job there. Like all those parts. I was ready to like risk everything, because I just felt like I was like on the breaking point. So yes, I moved to California. Um, I offered to like work for free, do an internship type of situation. He put me in contact with like, His, uh, directors or people who are like, you know, there were three people interviewing me and I kind of just, you know, I showed up in my Invictus shirt and all that stuff and they were, it was very awkward, like the sound wasn't working. So it was like the first time you're meeting 'em they're like, oh, I can't hear you. It happened for 10 minutes. They switched rooms and I couldn't hear 'em. So, and there's three people to staring at you. Um, thankfully it went. And I kind of just moved my life out there. And my whole thing internally was like, I had two and a half months exactly. August 15th. I was like, I need to make money by this point, I'm gonna run outta money. I need, uh, a job. I need like Invictus to hire me or I need somebody else. Like I just knew I was gonna be in the land of opportunity at that point. Yeah. And this certification program that I. On the phone with, or whatever. They offered me a job just from hearing that I was moving my life and working for free and going out to this company to do that. And they were just intrigued by like why and how I was doing it. They were like, well, Hey, when you're done this, like, if you wanna work as an online coach, by the way, if you wanna work with us, like let us know. And I was like, oh, okay. Yeah. So that kind of motivated me. I was like, People cuz people didn't believe in me like where I was, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like I was the guy people were like, what are you doing? Like I had a podcast and um, I said, Mike set up and all this time that was going into the office and people are just like, what? Come hang out with us. You know, what are you doing in there? And. It was one of those cool things where, when I got connected with Invictus, mentally just felt like, oh, this is something about, this is gonna change things for me. Um, yeah, because it just so such a dream that it was so outta mind, like you, you could, you could do it. You, you kind of like, if they could see it and they wanted you, it was like validation, like, oh, all that stuff I was always doing in Philadelphia, I can do here. And these people are gonna validate the same things I was doing. Is that a little bit of what you were feeling. oh, hundred percent, bro. Yeah. And there was another thing that was like weird that like, I always felt because like I did study kinesiology, but I ended up dropping out to pursue kind of like gigs and whatnot, full time cuz I was making money and I was like, it just, wasn't adding up to how I saw like, oh, I'm gonna pay another $30,000 to kind of keep doing what I'm doing. it was cool because I landed all these gigs with without ever having to be like, oh, I I'm in college for this. Or, you know, it is like, truly like my blog, my podcast. I actually used those things to get me the gig. And those are, those are like off market opportunities to me where it's like, they're not on LinkedIn or zip recruiter, whatever. Like, like that happens, right. Invictus does interview or other companies do interview, but like, To work with people that is a dream. You kind of just wanna like, be doing your own thing, be genuine in it to where it's like it can serve as a portfolio. And it did it convinced like they needed blog posts in my resume or whatever, even be considered for the internship. And thankfully, I had been published in like five different places and like had my own couple blogs and, um, You know what I mean? It's just like one thing I was prepared for the opportunity. Um, and even though I, like, I didn't end up working at Invictus, it was the thing that got me to the next place, like Marcus in San Francisco. Um, that was the gig that ultimately I ended up going with, but I don't know, to me it's one of those, like butterfly effect things. If this never happened, I don't know if this would, and I don't know if that would just played a big piece in it. And yeah, so full circle. I work with them now, like they did hire me this time in a very different format where I'm getting to help producer podcast. So it was kind of a full circle thing. Like six years later, seven years later, where you're like, oh my gosh, like, I can't believe that relationship. And. All that stuff just kind of paid off to where it was like, yeah. I filled the gap when they needed it. And, uh, yeah. So, so contrast about that. No, no, that's so that's so encouraging. Like I think just as a good, uh, a good word for everyone who's listening, like your hard work, even if it doesn't pay off immediately can come back around much later in different ways and people who had great experiences and ended well with you, right. It could come back full circle and, and make you a lot of money or be a great opportunity or whatever. So that's, that's such. Cool story. I wanted to take some time on it, cuz I knew it was a great story and it, and just kind of draws people into who you are. But let's talk a little bit about like, so, so you went from the in-house kind of evolution of doing it in Philadelphia, going and studying kind of in-house at Invictus to then kind of joining up with Marcus and doing like kind of online coaching. And now you still do a little bit of that obviously with me. Um, and now, and now you're helping people with the content issue of, uh, pod ma hall, building out websites, uh, learning how to do content and podcasts. And, um, and you, I mean, Ms has gotta unpack, like he basically teaches you from someone who knows barely how to turn on a laptop, like myself, to how to actually build a whole thing and get the content. I mean, you're, you're really, really good at it. And you can work with anybody. Um, Explain a little bit to the listeners, just about what, what it was like to transition from, in person to remote. You had mentioned how it's a little difficult and then kind of the niche of clients that you typically found yourself working with and how that was rewarding for you and, and what that experience would be like both for you and probably for someone cuz you've done remote coaching with, with other coaches who've coached you. Right? So what that experience is like a little bit. So. in person I think was essential in my career. I mean, it, it, there was no way around it, it built a, it built like a lot of reputability I think when you did go into the online space, if you understood how people moved, because you're seeing people through video. And I just had a very good understanding of movement from the years that I had done it at gyms and spinning classes and all those different scenarios. And even when. Like I was at, you know, doing remote stuff in San Francisco with Marcus, um, for a long period of that time, I did onsite as well. So I was doing like involved with people onsite and remote. So when I decided to switch completely was when kind of like I had other, you know, creative pursuits business pursuits that I kind of wanted to go for. Um, and Marcus was always someone who was very supportive of that. Like he was. That's what made me get the gig in the first place? Like, oh, I can do all these other things. Like as long as these things are kind of done, um, I have flexibility to do that and pursue them. And so for me, it was really like, it's a different type of client, you know, the in person, client mm-hmm was a totally different avatar. Yeah. And I loved them. I loved hanging out with them, but like, it was hard to give those clients up. But when I went fully online, It, it did save me, you know, time and helped me do some of those things personally that I wanted to, but it was hard because like you, you had to figure out different ways to teach your clients without you being there, which is tough. Right? Mm-hmm so this is where like video and podcasts and any form of communicating with them. Um, Can help because like, you know, tempo training, that's an example, like, okay, we used a lot of tempo training. I'd get asked all the time, what it is. I have to be prepared for that. Especially if I'm managing 70 people and writing 300 very creative. Yeah. Um, sorry, the second part of your question. I totally didn't answer that, but, um, it was basically like, what were the niches that I got to work with, uh, when I was doing remote stuff. And this is where I think it was very valuable for me because like, I. I got handed a lot of different people at first of course, just to kind of build up my book, but then I did get the luxury of being like, Hey, who do you want now? Who do you want your next 30 people to be? Mm-hmm and most people will never get that luxury. Cuz you're just trying. I want anybody, anybody will say yes. Right. But getting to see the difference between. Kind of nitching down versus not like I got to work with very high level athletes and some in the MLB, some in CSLA, um, things of that nature and that like stunt actors and whatever. And then I also got to work with the everyday person who is like a professor 60 years old grandfather just wants to actually like, look good, move, well type situation. Um, then people who are just like a lot of 'em were. Also like injured because I had this special connection to people who had injuries like back injuries or anything that was limiting because like not the fixing of that injury, but the bridging back. So afterwards you're like, what do I do? You know, and everything, you're not as motivated. You need to find a home. And so I could really speak well to that crowd because I had been through that for such a long time. And. I just had this invested interest in trying to like, say like help those people avoid that pain. And so over time, and then I also got to work with gyms. So I also got into this place where gyms, I would write their program. Right. And a couple big ones like New York city and dev or Saudi or something and places like that, where, well, well, like Saudi Arabia. Yeah. Yeah. So like I had really, yeah, actually wait, the, actually, yeah, there was, there was like a, women's only gym in Saudi. Um, I hope I'm not mistaken that, but it was a women's only gym and it was very complicated to program. For 30, you know, 50 people who are like very, the culture's different, what they value is different and totally have to keep that into account. What motivates them? Like they don't care about all these sexy movements I'm doing. It's like, will this make me get too big? Will this make my midsection look better? Like right. All these like simple things. The questions are much different maybe in that context. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. Yeah. So did you get those, did you get those gigs through like just revival? Like they just peep these like, Hey Marcus, can you do this? And then he, Marcus just handed it off to you. A hundred percent. Yeah. I became kind of the person who was like, well, Marcus, wasn't taking on a lot of one on one people at the time or anything like that. And so there were a lot of different coaches on our staff that you could go to, but it was still only five of us or something. I mean, maybe it's way more now, but at the time it was like only five and I. Thankfully was like doing the podcast with him and helped kind of co-create it and publish it, edit it, all that stuff. So I became kind of the person who was like, people were just a little more familiar with my thing, like, oh, MSBA from this podcast and I've heard you on there. And so, um, it was kind of, uh, an. Sometimes an easy sell, like, Hey MSBI is my right hand, man. you know, he's a great at functional body building. And, um, I, I did take my job seriously. Like I delivered to all those clients as best as I could. Um, and so yeah, it, they were, it was kind of like he tried, you know, the, the marketing that he did attracted a lot of people. You know, into the world. And then it was kind of like, well, who's gonna fulfill on this. And us coaches were kind of there to, to do that. And because I was kind of interested in it, like I showed interest in wanting to work with gyms and wanting to, you know, just do flex some of those skills a little bit. Um, you know, thankfully we had kind of the traffic where he was able to hand that off to me. Um, But that's cool. That, that, that was another cool thing that probably wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to do if I wasn't kind of under that network. So for me, this is the other thing, like, we can bookmark this for later, but like often we think like people who create content online and all this stuff, like we're, everybody's doing it to like be a millionaire or have millions of views and be somebody it's like, I think the next generation and future generations is. We're all gonna be making content, but it's like, it's gonna help us get jobs. It's gonna help us get gigs. Like it doesn't have to be your own business. It could be like, what truly is the dream law firm or real estate broker, whoever you wanna work for. And there's a way to like, use your content to connect with them. I mean, that is purely what did it for me. Yeah, cuz there were thousands of coaches who knew way more, you know, uh, way more qualified to do it. But, um, thankfully yeah, it, it worked out in that way where Marcus stressed me as a coach and the marketing that I was doing kind of on my own and on the podcast, like helped to, um, facilitate that a little so when you, when you think about like coaching, that kind of client, what were like lots of, uh, people who came to you who had no idea what remote coaching was like? And, you know, they're signing up. They, they see Marcus's content, Marcus points 'em to you, then you're coaching you, you coach 'em. What were some of the things that you had to kind of set up expectations and things that maybe they were expecting that it wasn't, and then things that they weren't expecting that it was, that was. Both good. And, and maybe not what they wanted. Um, both like from a positive and a negative perspective. So someone who's listening can say, what is this remote coaching? What is it like and how do I do it? Hmm. Um, so there are two types that I often saw like two types of remote coaching and I'll like, one is the type of instruction. Popped up during COVID right. Which is, oh, hop into my class. Well live stream. You get to train with me, I'll train you like literally physically I will watch you while you do it. That is training. Right. Um, we did coaching, which was more a form of like, I'll write your pro like kind of an athlete. I would write a program for them, design stuff out for the year. Their nutrition program, their sleep, treat them, even if they weren't an athlete, like treat them with the respect of how you design and think about and care for that type of person. And so I think it was communicating that up front, like. Getting a lot of like, okay, well, what is the root problem of what we're trying to solve? You have to do that in the online space, because you've got limited time. Like attention span is lower. Motivation is lower. Like it's harder to get people to stick. So, um, really understanding like what, what the mover was for people and what was the hard part. So I would have a great questionnaire, uh, which gave. Talking points for the actual, like, it saved us both time because they got to ponder on like, who cooks the food in your house? You know, how many time, you know, who does the grocery shopping? Um, what foods do you like? What do you hate? Like instead of taking up 10 minutes on our valuable 45 minute hour consultation, like let's just write that down and use that to figure out. Maybe I can give you a recipe. I thought of in the meantime, you know, on our call. So creating kind of things that help communication. um, for both of us, uh, whether that was like, there were certain guidelines I would have for responding back to people and things like that. Um, or like, Hey, if you answer in the messages or comments, that's for like, I'll reply back. If you want me to just see something, but I don't need to respond the comments under each workout, for example, that was where you would put stuff. Right. Right. And then we'd have consultations. In the online space. I found it was very important to have like a one on, you know, face to face type of situation where you get to talk with somebody. Um, and do some people didn't need it as much. Some people were good every four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks. Um, I have sons of clients like that. Like I have some clients that are just like, Hey, Hey, just write my programs and write and respond to me and do a phone call like once every two months, you know? And then I got other people who were like, Hey, now let's meet in person. You know, they're local or that. Let's do a video chat once a month, like every month. So a hundred percent. It is, there is, it is different for every. But really you, regardless, whether it's a call or it's like through comments, like the point is having some form of, uh, like a deadline or check in. So you know, where you're having progress, like, are you losing body fat? And that's the thing you came to me for and you wanted to do, like, let's, let's measure that, right. Or if that's not the thing, are you, are you actually having more energy? I would figure out parameters for even their emotional problems. Meaning like, oh, I feel terrible. I don't wanna do this. I don't wanna do that. It's like, okay, well, Let's let's record your willingness to train. Right. Which is like, how badly do you, how much do you feel like working out scale of one to 10 that I learned, uh, is sometimes an indicator of like, if you are normally excited, obviously, like. And you're not six weeks later. Well, what, what happened? Is it a life circumstance? Is it you're not excited about the workouts anymore? Like it gave us actual topics to talk about that. Wasn't just like, like I expected problems. I would say that. And don't, don't expect, like, everything just goes smoothly. Like your coach is ready for problems. If they're working in the online. And there, you know, so that's, my whole job is I'm a problem manager and I would kind of help solve like, oh, I don't have four days to work out anymore. I only have three. Okay. Well, let's figure it out, you know? Um, yeah. Yeah. And that's where the, the apps and the group classes and stuff, sometimes can't fulfill that need for you. Um, and the people that I worked with, thankfully, like they valued over some of that stuff. They valued like. okay. I know I can always hop back into the classes. I still might, like, instead of being a coach, that was like, Hey, you can't ever hop into any other person's program except mine. I was like, dude, how many times you wanna do classes? How many times will it take to scratch that itch? And for some people, it was once a week, you know? And it's like, all right, well, let me program around that. No big deal. And if you don't do it, you don't do it. But so you have to really like meet people where they're at one on one. Um, yeah. And. I've I've agreed and picked up that philosophy from you over the years. Um, and like, I started out kind of very like, um, I won't say any names, but like I started out very rigorous. I'll say that that was just me or other coaches, dancer. And it's like, you do what I say, do you know? And if you're jumping out, I got really frustrated. It kind of hurt my ego a little bit or whatever. Um, or like just, I they're stupid. Why are they doing that? And then I just started realizing. They still want, it's just fun for them. Like this is their community. This is like their extra bike ride. They, they wanted to get on the weekend or whatever, or, you know, just go hard. And I, I might give them like some, some pointers, like, Hey, if you're gonna do that. And we just did similar movements, like a day or two before, like just go lighter, try not to be stupid with it. You know, like. Those kind of things, but have fun. I've given, I love that about you. I love that you understand that people are more complicated than just like rigorously following all the habitual rules and habits that we, we set out for them. Um, but they, they have. Some needs to kind of maybe relate and commute and sweat with others and kind of be a part of the tribe or whatever. Um, yeah, cuz they, dude, I've gotten to see enough of that, where you're like to really successful top level people where it's like they on paper should be able to follow this. They've been professional athletes or whatever, but it's like, they need a little bit of that. Like they have that Rebell. In them. Yeah. Before it's like, I need to do something else. And it takes one to know one, like, I am kind of that way too. And I, I needed that space with my coach and whatnot so I can respect it, I guess. Um, versus there's a market for that, where it's like people who just do it. Exactly what you. Tell them. And there's no issues. I had some of them too, and it was great. Um, cuz they trust what I'm what I'm saying, but I also understand not everybody's that way. So that's the whole game we're playing with personalized coaching or customized stuff. It's like, it's not just one way let's make this. So it's like, what's your level 10. Like if you hired a $10,000 per month trainer to come like work with you and talk with you and wake you up or whatever it is like. It's a version of that. Not everybody can afford like Kevin Hart, Ken having somebody wake him up at 6:00 AM and train with him, like right outta bed. But like, Hey, you can check in, you can have a 30 minute conversation with him. You can make 'em feel like, dude, you, you, you're in good hands. Somebody's in your corner. You're not really alone in this. Um, um, and most times like taxes, you don't want sometimes wanna do your taxes yourself. You want to kind of find somebody who can be like, all right, am I doing something wrong? Am I not like, right. Some people are like, Hey, don't fill me in on any of it, just do it. And some people are like, Hey, what do I do? How explain what you did to me. And. Depending on if you're that type of client, like I think remote coaching's awesome. Cuz you can get educated and that stuff sticks with you, right? Like you'll learn stuff that even after you stop working with people, I would say this to them on our onboarding call. Like my goal is when we stop working together one day, like you have an arsenal of tools that yes. Yep. You still, you still use and you can and not maybe all the time, but when you need it, you know where to go and um, mm-hmm so it's really. You're, you're not just paying the coach for that one time transformation. It's like a part of it is always gonna stick with you. Um, even if you never hire a coach again, if you've done it for a year, two years or a couple years, you know, Totally. You're so right. It's, it's, it's an, I call it an investment. Like it's an investment that you, you pay for this month and you get a lot out of it, but like you're learning things that you can hopefully take with you for the rest of your life. Right. So like, you know, is there somebody who's too much of a novice or beginner that this is just probably too difficult for them? Um, that'd be the last question, but before you answer that, just talk a little bit of what your protocols were for how you talked about nutrition, not everything. Cause I know it was a lot, but just some of the kind of big bullet points. Lifestyle nutrition, sleep. Those kinds of things that you would coach somebody. Yeah. I mean, here's something I would do is like, I would ask their openness to how much they wanted to work on that. Right. So I'd be like, how about nutrition? Is that something you're looking for support with? Some people would go, you know, I do this thingy, it's a macro program, 10, you know, it's an app every month and I have B blah, blah B. And it's like, great, cool. Keep doing it. If that works for you. If people were like, yeah, you know what I am, uh, I need to get my eating together. Like help me out with. So then I go, okay, well, I would have a, again, a questionnaire type situation or a food log type situation where they would record whether it was pictures that they took of their food or written version or in fitness P. What are you actually eating right now? What does your food and what are your struggles kind of look like? Um, and for each person, even though it's like, there are certain things we should all do, like drink a certain amount of water, right. It's easier said than done. We all kind of might know that, but you would be surprised at the amount of people. Like I had this one lawyer who he. His commute was two hours each way. So he spent four hours a day in the car. And his struggle with drinking water was like, I can't, there's no rest areas for me to stop and urinate if I have to. So I need to hold it in or I need to like, not drink water in that time. Well, Hey, you know what, now it becomes really important. Like even in meetings, you're in meetings all day. that is a simple problem. That for that person is like a key key mover maybe, but for another person who's working at home all day, like that's not an issue we have to maybe think about as much, right. Mm-hmm So to identify where like, I would always figure out what are the quick wins. So what's the low hanging fruit that like without much effort on their end. Yes, we can truly, truly. They will see a difference. It's just that they were turned off by it. It didn't work for 'em in the past. They didn't have the right buy in right strategy, whatever it was. Like, we identify whatever those things are and only complicate things when you need to. So only manipulate and like get really, you know, Strict as it comes up. So that was a strategy I used, like if people needed that, then we would assess in some format and then we would start more with habitual changes, right. Than like, Hey, hit all your macros. There were some people who operated really well on just gimme my macros. But for most of my clients, it was. I need to break that protein goal down even further. It was like, Hey, have one meal with protein, two Palm folds of protein, 30 grams every day. And that's your starting point? Yeah. Like, like people are just embarrassed to admit that, you know what I mean? And that's okay. Like, nobody wants to say that they can't eat that and they are trying to, and like, you know, they're going for chips instead. Like, nobody wants to say that, but like, As a coach, you have to really kind of like, listen, create a space where they feel okay. Telling me those types of things. Right. And then make it super like, like I never was judgmental around it, which I think helped people actually reveal that like, Hey, I'm off the boat, you know? Um, so I think being honest, I've actually been drinking a ton of beer this week. Yeah. You know what I mean? And it's like, yeah, there were plenty of people who had drinking issues or whatever it was where they're like, Hey, look, I drink a lot and I know that's gonna be maybe a thing mm-hmm But like, we didn't touch that. I focused on the movement. I focused on what my area of expertise was and you know what, for some people. The drinking and whatnot that faded away like they're, you know, they started working out, they started eating a little bit better. Like it was a trickle down effect. Um, sure. It wasn't the only thing, but like, I would focus on where I could nutrition. Wasn't my like, area of expertise. I just could listen and turn, break problems down into like habits or things people could chase or that they felt like, oh, I could do that. And so I did that with food, uh, and sleep wherever I could. I'm I'm learning like in a nutshell at what you just said and, and just kind of reflecting on my own coaching over the last three years. The best coaches ask great questions, right? Mm-hmm like, cause they they're gathering great data so that they can have better solutions. And so like, what you just described is exactly that is like this. I'm asking you great. I'm gonna ask really great questions. I'm gonna create a non-judgmental environment. So you'll answer them very. You know, honestly, and then we're gonna create low hanging fruit, great habitual, or, you know, habit solutions, uh, that that'll help in that area. That's so helpful. So did you find that was pretty successful with most people? Just, just doing habit training, uh, No. I mean, with some people it was, and with others, it wasn't, some people were like, they were very numbers driven and they needed like, mm-hmm, just the, they needed the macro approach and things like that. So I was also prepared for that. I had guides and stuff that I would print out, which was like, Hey, this is what you eat every day. This is how you do it. And, um, some of'em could actually follow that. Like I didn't have to check in on it too much. Right. But it's, it's, it's helping them kind of like. For example, if they really love numbers, maybe there's a way to still do the habit approach, but we add grams to the protein instead of handfuls, right? Mm-hmm so people who love objectivity give them that like give them things that make it look that way, but it's like, Hey, if you can check this off. For four days in a row, we'll move on to the next thing. And that's the game. Can you do that? Can you not? And some people can't do that and they want way more before they can even do that. And sometimes that's great. We don't know that we're even in that position and it takes you trying it to see that like, oh wow, what happened? Why actually. You don't even need to talk with me as your coach about it. You will have that realization when you miss it on day three and you go, geez, what happened today? Like how did that happen? And that's the questioning that like we encouraged then helps go. You know what? Maybe that was a little too much. Let me let's, let's adjust your prescription until you can do. Four days in a row and then we add layers to it. So I would make it very bite sized. Two weeks was something, um, like can a change stick with you? If you can see for two weeks, it was also long enough to see body changes sometimes like, Hey, this is what we're doing working. Um, but for people who were shorter attention span three days to six days, uh, for a habit or like a specific task and then change it up or move on to something. That's awesome, man. I could ask you a million more questions. Uh, this has been really fun. Like in closing, what would you say has been, um, like your. Your experience being remote, coached over the years and like how was beneficial to you and why something that's customized and still remotely customized can be really helpful and, you know, and then just kind of sell it for what you kind of have believed in it. We, we know it's not for everybody, but, um, sure. Why would you sell, why would you sell something like that? Here's what I'll say. It's uh, if we zoom out from even just remote, like physical fitness coaching, cause like mm-hmm, the fitness part of the coaching that I got was only just one small sliver of it with some people and with others, it was the talk time that I valued or it was kind of just their, in their aura being in their network. Right. So I'll, I'll expand this to any form of coaching that I've gotten and paid for, uh, remotely. And I will say. It gives you selection. So instead of you walking into a very terrible chiropractor, who will, you'll go six months paying them thousands of dollars and you see nothing, you can now connect with somebody who is across the country, who has your best interest, who has exactly the alignment like Blake, you have kids, you have a family mm-hmm like, there are people who were on my roster, who would've connected way better with you than they did with me. Like they would've listened to you because you. You you come from that place, you have those set of challenges, those set of like, you know, things you can connect with them on. Right. Right. And so it's, it was really being able to, I think, um, you know, if people want to connect with someone who they really enjoy and they have buy in with already. Great thing about remote coaching is location is not an issue, right? Something that you do wanna keep in mind is you should be able to take a look at like the, like you should be coachable, which means you may not know how to open up this app or whatever. I've taught many people though how to do that and they can learn it pretty easily. Right. So can you watch a video and kind of mimic. What, what is going on in the video? And I think if you are somebody whose movement is like, you're not at that place yet where like, oh, sit down on the couch, get up, sit down on the couch, get up. That's the exercise here. Like you might, you need some more hands on coaching, right? And that might be one on one sessions with your remote coach where they're actually like wa Hey, back up on the screen so I can see you. And. They're coaching you verbally through, Hey, do this, do that. And a little bit of onboarding. If you will, to like, mm-hmm, have the skills necessary to do it. Um, That's what I'll say it, it gives you a very access to like very high, high quality training, um, from people who actually understand you, which was the toughest part. Anybody who's had an injury and needs to find a physical therapist or chiropractor knows that struggle of people who are just not hearing you. Like, it's like, oh, don't move at all for the next six months. Like you're screwed. Be never lift again. You want someone who will tell you, Hey man, I understand where you're coming from. I used to also do. CrossFit or whatever you do. I know you wanna move. This is what I recommend you don't do. But I know you will not listen to me all the way. And if you do, here's kind of what it is, you know, what to follow. And I would appreciate that type of person so much where like, that's the difference. I think between me succeeding with a program and not is like, I get to learn and absorb from these people who feel like I put on a pedestal. Right. Mm-hmm but like, there is some change that happens like, oh, they're everyday people. I get to learn about them as humans from just being coached by them. Like they have their own struggles. And, um, I don't know, there was a accountability to it. There was some motivation to that. It's hard to find. And in fact, I, I also think like the, the fact that someone's in your corner keeps you accountable and also makes you feel like you can do it, especially if it's a big goal, like you're competing for something, uh, or you're you have like a weight loss goal. Um, and then. I think the valuable knowledge that you get in those 30 minute consults or text messages that someone that your coach responds with is worth way more than like being able to just take the ebook program off of line, you know, or the subscription program that's just built for general population. There's no one there. That's gonna be like, Okay. You know, your stress levels are at this. You just switched jobs. You also moved across the country. And now you're like getting into this, uh, you know, this heavy cycle of 5 31, you know, and you're like, Hey, it's probably not the best cycle for you because your stress levels are here. The workout stress levels are gonna be here. We need to get your stress level back down here. And so that takes like a knowledgeable coach to sit there and think, and plan that out with you and kinda. Fuck up against you, even though you think it's a good idea in the moment, but have someone kind of see the big picture with you and point out some things that they're anticipating, as you said, anticipating the problems that are coming and try to help avoid those. That's like the number one thing, I think remote coaching offers that. Subscriptions can't offer eBooks can't offer is, is someone who's gonna be a guide through the whole process. And that's where that's really where the, the, the price changes is. Someone guides you in lifestyle. Someone guides you in nutrition. Someone's guiding you in, in, in your actual program selection. And, uh, I'm mapping it, mapping it out with you. Yeah, well, dude, it's the same way. Like we can cut our hair ourselves. We can give our own cars, an oil change. Uh, we can file our own taxes. And maybe if you're crazy enough, you could defend yourself in court. Right. but it also does benefit you to actually hire somebody who does that. And what does it do? It gives you peace of mind when you have a good mechanic or a good barber. You're not like. Oh, no. I'm like, I need to kind of watch over their shoulder the whole time. You're like, this helps me create some space. Like, I don't need to think about this anymore, cuz this person's job is to just think about it all day and they're collecting the data for me. That was another thing like as a coach, you have access to immense amounts of data. Behavioral psychographics demographic stuff that works doesn't work that people are paying for. Right. Mm-hmm so it's like mm-hmm, you're, you're not, you're paying just as much for what works as what didn't work. And for me to like steer you away from some of that, um, and so, yeah, it's definitely it's worth trying, especially how accessible it is now, back when I was doing it, like, it was still kind of a newish thing. Like you had to explain to people what it was now since like the whole revolution of working at home and people just working out at home and doing all that type of stuff. Like there are ways for you to try. This out in some format, I think to see if it's for you. Um, totally. But yeah, it it's totally like imagine having a doctor who was like in your corner doing blood tests, like literally giving you all this data, you didn't need like per I mean, amazing stuff to help you operate at your 100, 10% best to me, it's like hard to do that. Right. Great health insurance and the, the logistics of the medical industry, but a coach is the next best thing in the healthcare world, to me, where like they have the time they have the love for it. They have the energy for it, where they will nerd out on those things with you. And. They will connect, like I've connected plenty with other people's doctors or orthopedic surgeons or therapists. And, you know, they didn't have time for my client beyond that 30 minutes, but I did. And so there were ways where like, even after that appointment, I was kind of the safe Haven for some of these people. And the way my coach was for me, like, I don't know, is this right? What do you think I should do? And, um, we have kind of the love for it, where we are well, versed enough to be like, Hey, this is out of my league, but I know a great doctor. I know a great surgeon in your area, and that makes all the difference. Like being able to be connected with someone who's just got your back real estate agents, same way they know other handymen and people who like once you're there, they've got all the problem solved, who you might need and all that stuff, uh, potentially mm-hmm is, is already. I love that. And that's a great leadway in kind of concluding today. Um, just because the next several episodes we're gonna be doing on, on this podcast are gonna be kinda. Steering people towards certain other experts, right in health. So experts in medicine, mental health, like chiropractor, physical therapy, things like that, that are outside my scope of practice, but they're people that I would refer to locally. And then you can glean from those of my clients that are remote outta state or outta area to. Ask really good questions when you go to seek out someone else, um, or, or, you know, there something that I can help you seek out and find, uh, as your coach. So, cause I do have the time for that, but, um, miss, but this has been so awesome. I appreciate you coming on and, and giving your time. I know you're busy and, um, man. Yeah. I, I actually learned a lot about you today that I didn't know which was, which was really cool. So thanks for, thanks for coming by. Dude, thanks for asking good questions. It's always fun when I'm on this side of the mic and, uh, I, you know, fitness was such a big part of my life and still is that I love recounting on like some of these stories and what I've learned and what's different. What's changing. I don't have it all figured out by any means, but I hope some of what people heard today was useful and they can. Take something from it. Uh, so thanks for, thanks for doing this with me, man. It was a pleasure for sure. So if anybody's listening and you guys are interested in kind of checking this out, you can head on over to Blake che.com, B L a K E. And then my funny, awesome. Last name is S C H E I D t.com. And then on there, there's a quick, uh, form you can fill out that just gives us a couple good questions to answer. That gets a good conversation. Started. I will reach out to you. It's all free just to kind of meet and greet and see if this is a good fit for you. So head on over and check that out. If you're interested. Thanks.