Meeting Isaac King: PT Legend

Speaker 1 0:10

Hello and welcome. Today I'm joined by the PT legend and maybe a few more other things. Isaac King, Hello Isaac.

Speaker 2 0:19

How are you?

Speaker 1 0:20

Oh, I'm awesome. The sun is shining, life is good. How are you doing?

Speaker 2 0:24

I'm doing very, very well, thank you.

Speaker 1 0:25

Isaac, thank you so much for coming in. We met a few months ago and we talked about getting you as a guest to talk about what you're doing and why is it important for everyday New Zealanders. So can you please introduce yourself and let us know what you're doing?

Speaker 2 0:43

Hi, my name is Isaac King. I'm the owner of King Fitness and I've been a personal trainer for 20 years and my major focus is workplace wellness. So I work with companies to help increase the wellness of their employees and the productivity of their employees physically.

Workplace Wellness and Employee Stress

Speaker 1 1:01

That's massive, considering we've got a lot of companies, a lot of employees I mean, I don't know the exact statistics of people working versus being self-employed, working for someone versus self-employed. So you're working with some big companies out there and you see a lot, so what's the number one stressor in the employees that you're funding, that you're working with?

Speaker 2 1:24

The number one stressor probably is just the mental toll that it has on them, and I think that people are finding it harder to cope because they're physically not as healthy as what a lot of people used to be. So yeah, I just think that's where it is just the mental stress of their work.

Speaker 1 1:42

Yeah, so how would you combat the mental stress?

Speaker 2 1:45

I think, having an outlet that they can release themselves. So what I do is I create small groups that companies hire me to take their employees to basically work out together to build a little bit of a culture, a team outside of work, a place to release vent, to learn to address their physical well-being, any sort of chronic pain that they might have, all based around education and equipping themselves.

Speaker 1 2:12

Yeah, and I think that's number one key isn't it when you educate people of how physical movement plays a massive significance on their mental health? I know that these days it's very easy to go and get a prescription for antidepressants pills, and when you go to GP, physical health is not the one they often talk about. They just go okay, here's a pill, it will fix your problems, but it doesn't. The pills actually don't fix your problems. Physical health is not the one they often talk about. They just go okay, here's a pill, it will fix your problems, but it doesn't. The pills actually don't fix your problems as easily, and I know it's much harder to get into the physical exercise. So give us an example of what you do. When you get in there with the companies, what are the first few steps that you take?

Speaker 2 2:49

Well, basically we have like a meeting with the leadership group and find out like where the issues are within their company, and typically a lot of the stuff I'm working with at the moment are within leadership within the company. They're under a lot of like high pressure situations where they've got to make big calls and their workload's very high. To the other end, where I'm dealing with people that have a very physical job very basic job but very physical so there can be a high injury toll in that area. So it's basically creating an avenue for people to have a release outside of work, and the other avenue is helping people to address the injuries that they're facing facing.

Speaker 1 3:41

Yeah, and I think, like on my side of what I do, I see the benefits of people taking part in those programs the physical program but also see the downside when people don't do it. For instance, you know they just bought a house, they're excited, they worked so hard to get there, but then, when they buy a house, and if something happens to them, how are they going to continue to pay the mortgages? Yeah, and this is where you know it's an important element because the physical pressure on their bodies will cause them to have financial pressure.

Building a Community-Focused Fitness Business

Speaker 1 4:05

Yeah 100% as well. So it's all correlated the mental problems, the physical problems, etc. So it's fantastic that you're actually doing that, but how did you get there?

Speaker 2 4:16

So let's go all the way back to the beginning of Isaac King and who he was and where he started well, I've been in the industry for 20 years so for about 16 of those I was just what you would call a standard PT that worked within the corporate gyms, had a a really great time.

Speaker 2 4:33

But I kind of hit a point where I wanted a little bit more than just the groundhog day, groundhog year, and I saw an opportunity where, if I got myself to a level of accreditation and qualifications that through Exercise, new Zealand and IRD, I could become 100% tax deductible. So I went after it, got myself all the requirements that they wanted, and then I just started to reach out to the community. I grew up in this community and I kind of like know a lot of people, so I just shared my story and they love the idea. And I just keep putting myself out there, like how you and I met at the awards, putting myself out there. More people come, things like that, but they see a financial benefit being tax deductible, but then they see a productivity benefit by getting a higher end employee because they're physically stronger and healthier and when somebody's physically stronger and healthier, they tend to be happier and more productive yeah, so that's a really good thing.

Speaker 1 5:34

I love, I absolutely love it, because you had a vision, you had a why, and then you put them together and you're like why am I doing this to help my community, to get my community to be better?

Speaker 2 5:45

Yeah, I think that's the quickest way for health and wellbeing to infiltrate into a community is through the workplace, because there's two sides to the coin. I see where the business gets a way more productive person that's happier, productive in their workplace, less likely to be sick, injured, things like that, so that's a person that the company can rely on. And when they go in there and there's less stress on their body pain, they tend to be happier in themselves. So in turn that business is sowing in to that employee where they're happier and when they're happier they tend to go home happier. So the wife's getting a happier husband, the husband's getting a happier wife. So for mum and dad, peers, they're all going home happy and energized, not tired and broken.

Speaker 1 6:36

Yeah, it's a win-win all around. It does create a better community.

Speaker 2 6:40

And.

Speaker 1 6:41

I think this is where you and I strongly align, that we do want to see our communities be better and thrive better. And what's our input? My input, I would like to think, think is educating people in their finances and helping them to manage their money better, you know, get out of renting situations and put themselves into a home ownership. So this is where my passion is, and it's so cool to meet someone like you that has similar values. I would like to think.

Finding Motivation Through Your 'Why'

Speaker 2 7:13

It's one of the things I really push when I train people is education. It's teaching them to be a good teammate, to know what they're actually doing and why. Because when people know what they're doing and why, they tend to want to share it with other people. So a lot of PTs that I grew up with they might just be counting reps telling them to keep their chest up, just little corrections like this, but they're not actually educating the person. And when you educate the person, you tend to get a lot of longevity out of them in that fitness environment. And then they tend to share it with other people, because when people learn about something, they get passionate about it. So I think it's just an overflown effect and I think that's what you've got to do in the fitness industry is just create like a viral type effect with people.

Speaker 1 8:00

But how do you get someone motivated to move their bodies, especially if they haven't done it consistently in the past?

Speaker 2 8:09

I think one of the major triggers that I see for people is you've got to give them like an outward look, and I think a lot of the times in society people are inward looking. They're always looking at themselves. But I think if somebody goes, hey, I want to be healthier for my husband or my wife or my kids, I want to be um healthier and stronger for my workplace, if you just teach people to look out and find their why, they tend to stick to it, because that's what keeps them um disciplined and consistent. Is this knowing that why? Why they're doing it?

Speaker 1 8:41

I love it. I love I mean it's no different to what I do. Honestly, it's exactly the same. It's when they realize what's their why. Because you know a lot of people come to me and they're like, oh, I want to buy a house. And then you tell them the steps they need to take and then they fall off the wagon Like, hey, what happened when we followed them out? They go you know not the right time, or you know not sure what the economy is going to, is not strong enough. So I guess it's the same for you. If you have a very strong why and if your people know why they're doing it, this is exciting.

Speaker 2 9:15

So what's next for Isaac King? Look, I actually had to really look at myself this year because when we met last year, I won the innovation section of the awards, the electric business awards. I had to think what's the next step? And I was talking to one of my clients, sonia Jackson, and she they- they won the major yeah they won the major one and I was just like what?

Speaker 2 9:35

Because we bounce off each other ideas and things like this, and she's a really cool little mentor for me and she's just like well, I'm going to tighten up on everything and I thought I'm going to do the same. So, like, I'm trying to really up the services that I currently give people, so they're always getting a better version of me.

Speaker 2 9:53

Yeah, so it's just education. I keep studying, I keep myself healthy, I keep myself open to people. I'm always trying to push and bring change to my business so I don't get stagnant. So in turn, they all get in a better version. I mean, that's my goal for the year.

Speaker 1 10:08

That's awesome. You know, one thing I always have to look back at is quality versus quantity. It's not about, you know, getting 100 new clients every month, every week or getting 100 clients more each month.

Speaker 1 10:21

It's not about that. It's about providing the quality service to the ones that we already have and how they can get more out of us to further themselves up. Because you already have those clients. They've already built a relationship with you, they know who you are and what you're about and I'm sure they're already raving about you to anyone they're talking to. Right, but how do you keep the quality up and how do you keep delivering?

Speaker 2 10:46

Yeah, I think that's really important for a trainer, a PT, to actually do, because it's very, very easy to get stagnant in your job and how you deliver and look after people, and that can be a major reason why people fall off the wagon as well. And I think if people are going to hire you, they deserve the best version of you every time and that's a happy person, an energetic person, a well-educated person and a person that teaches them and helps them to overcome those challenges so they stay on the long journey. They might finish with you at some point, but you might see them two months down the road at Pack and Save, but they're still going on their journey.

Speaker 1 11:20

Yeah, and it just goes back down to don't just feed them fish Teach them how to fish, how to fish.

Speaker 2 11:26

Teach them, teach them how to fish, how to fish right. That's what you want to do. You want to like health and fitness needs to be overflowing within, like the workplace and family units, and that's how it hits a community. So that was just. My whole idea is to go after it in the workplace, because what do people hire? They hire family members, so that's how you overflowed into the family union, I think.

Speaker 1 11:47

And I think it makes the employees more stickier, like if they're always looking after them. They matter, they're not just a number. So, if someone else is offering them 10K more per year salary, but this place is actually looking after them by providing them health and well-being. I would say people these days, even though money could be attractive, unless it's like a 50k more increase yeah that they can then go and spend that money on themselves, you know, by doing yoga classes and pt etc.

Speaker 1 12:18

But if they're actually, the increase in money is not that significant. I think people value more.

Speaker 2 12:24

Yeah I look at it like in both ways, hearing you talk like the whole. If an employee sows physically, like money and training into that person, they become more productive in the workplace. So when somebody's more productive in the workplace that increases the turnover of that business where they can give bonuses, they can give pay rises, but if you're getting people that are slowing down as they age, the productivity is dropping.

Speaker 1 12:52

So the business is losing money yeah.

Speaker 2 12:54

So what it is is we want to find ways to keep people at a level where they're constantly increasing and improving, or dramatically slowing it down, and then it increases and then you can get that financial bonus. That's what I love about the program is it has the whole personal aspect to it and family aspect to it. But then on the other side there's the productivity in the workplace, where the businesses are there to create an increased turnover to provide for themselves and these families.

Speaker 1 13:23

Yeah, I love it. I love it. Now, completely different question out of left field for you. So, growing up, I just want to understand a little bit more about your world. Growing up, how much did you know about money and what to do with money, because it sounds like you're running a really fantastic business. So I want to understand your roots, your history.

Physical Health for Work Productivity

Speaker 2 13:42

I grew up in church. I learned to be a giver. I learned to be an outward, looking outward and looking at people and sharing and being kind and knowing that you're blessed to be a blessing. But then when I kind of stepped out into owning my own business where I was 100% responsible for the overheads and everything like that, I was put under a different type of pressure and with that pressure I was really blessed because this initiative has put business owners around me and one of the cool things with people that I encounter I'm really good at building friendships with them and so when you build friendships with these types of people, you learn. So it's not just about me coaching them and teaching them. I get taught lessons every day and financial lessons and business lessons and things like that. So it's quite interesting that my business is have clients. That teaches me to become a better business person. So my business mindset is really, really catapulted over the last five years just with the people that are around me every day.

Speaker 1 14:49

You know I'm a great believer on attracting on your energy level. So you meet people where your energy is. So, as you're growing, as you're developing, your energy is growing. Your energy is developing, you know, and I'm talking about your not just physical energy but your soul energy, so to speak, and I think you are attracting the right people for the right stage of your life that are able to carry you through to the next one. Because that's what I'm finding, that you know sometimes, people like you and I that are givers that are naturally looking after community and stuff. We don't really delve into our own numbers, we don't really look at what's making our business tick, because we're not numbers driven in terms of what's making me succeed.

Speaker 1 15:31

You know I need to get five new clients every month. Whatever, I don't look at that. I look at how can I help these people, but it's that fine balance between being sufficient and making sure you're not burning out and making sure you are bringing the best version of yourself. So it's good to know that you are surrounding yourself with the right mentorship.

Speaker 2 15:50

Oh, I've got some pretty good mentors in my life, so two really influential people just both won the back-to-back, you know, like the respective Electra Business Awards. So you know pretty cool people to have in your life.

Speaker 1 16:04

That's awesome. Yeah, honestly, honestly, it was really cool to see you win that last year and, um, it'd be interesting to see, yeah, where you're going in a few years time to see you come back and re-enter yeah, oh no, I definitely want to.

Speaker 2 16:15

I got asked a few times the other night when I saw you at the opening and it's just like I just want to focus on like building myself. Yeah, but I love the idea of re-entering at some point because it just makes you better.

Speaker 1 16:27

Yeah.

Speaker 2 16:28

Like it challenges you and lets you look at your business in a different way. So yeah, I definitely will.

Three Tips for Better Health

Speaker 1 16:33

Okay, sounds good. Sounds good Any parting words?

Speaker 2 16:38

I just think just always be a giver, always speak good things and look after your physical health. Don't just let work consume you.

Speaker 1 16:49

Yeah.

Speaker 2 16:50

Look after the body that takes you to work. So that's what I see a lot of people doing they just consume themselves with work, but they're not looking after their bodies. So, you've got to look after your body to be more efficient at work.

Speaker 1 17:01

Can you give me three tips, easy tips that people can do today, listening to those that can just get up and do it.

Speaker 2 17:09

Find some form of health and fitness that excites you. It doesn't have to be the gym. It could be going for a walk with your partner every night. It could be going off to play pickleball or tennis or a bit of golf. Just be active and try to find that activity with other people. Surround yourself with people that you can be accountable to and start to. We live in a time of like unlimitless information, so learn. If you want to know something about nutrition, youtube things like talk, ask questions and just keep upskilling yourself.

Speaker 2 17:43

So, yeah, community and upskilling yourself, so yeah, community and upskilling yourself. Those are probably the two major ones I love it.

Speaker 1 17:49

I love it, absolutely love it. Thank you so much isaac thank you for coming in and I would love to have you back in a few months time to hear about your journey with some of the bigger companies and what um. And what I'd like to do is delve into those stories of those people that you're working in. You know how you got them from this point to this point and how they're thriving in their life right now. Thank you, thank you, see you soon.