allied magazine

AlliedI S S U E O N E

DO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE HEALTHY MINDS?

LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

GOING UNDER

COVER WITH

The NudeNutritionist

DREW’S DAILY DOSE

WE CHAT WITH DREW HARRISBERG

AlliedM A G A Z I N E

C O N N E C T

A D V E R T I S I N G

04

1316

GOING UNDER COVER WITH THE NUDE NUTRITIONIST

MICHAELRAMSEY

Lyndi Polivnick is a busy woman – nutritionist, dietitian, consultant and Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Ambassador.

We sit down with Sarah Leung, Founder and Lead Nutritionist at Healthy Energy Mind & Body Holistic Wellness

08

@alliedmagazinealliedmagazine.com.au

Want to talk to us about advertising or partnership opportunities, email us at

[email protected]

We are proud to bring you Allied. A magazine for those involved in the allied health industry who want to share stories of business success.

We want to bring you the latest trends, news

and interviews that will empower health

professionals to reach even more of the general public.

About to open his second practice, Roger cleared some time to answer some questions about business, planning and advice.

RogerMcIntosh

We had the pleasure of chatting with Michael Ramsey, the owner of F45 Port Melbourne.

http://alliedhealthmarketing.com.au/

al l ied magaz ine | 3

What are you passionate about? That seems to be the question we tend to ask a lot. What is your passion? What drives you? What makes you want to be who you are? We asked ourselves those questions and this is the outcome, Allied Magazine. We are driven by successful business, out of the box thinking and health. Allied is the culmination of our desire to see the health industry grow and flourish. As the levels of so many chronic conditions and mental health issues grow day by day, you are the people who are going to make a difference. We want the health industry to find the tools and gain the knowledge to reach out to the public and help them take control of their health.

In this first issue we meet successful entrepreneurs from the allied health industry who are out there preaching what they believe whilst seeing their business grow. From dietitians and physios to exercise physiologists each have different specialities, but each is driven to make their voice heard. I must give my heartfelt thanks to the contributors in this first issue of Allied, we have to start from nothing and these people took a chance on us and have helped us put together what we hope will be valuable content for their peers. Live, learn and grow every day and we hope you are inspired by the words you will read. If you would like to get in touch with us and be involved in Allied, please do get in touch. All the best,Chris

Chris McCarroll Founder

chris_mccarroll

alliedmagazine.com.au

Instagrammers we are loving

@gabe_kennedy

@healthyhappyhabits

@taliaspeechpathology

@inclinicphysio

Want to be featured in the next issue of Allied, simply tag @alliedmagazine in your photo on Instagram!

4 | al l ied magaz ine

GOING UNDER COVER WITH THE NUDE NUTRITIONIST


Lyndi has worked passionately to devel-op her own brand and despite reaching success, she has never let go of her original morals. A staunch supporter of good nutrition, lifestyle balance and eliminating photoshopped images - she is a woman on a mission. A mission that has seen her amass 24,000 followers on Instagram and being featured in major media outlets such as the ABC, Today Show and the Woman’s Weekly.

Luckily for us, Lyndi wasn’t too hard to track down for an interview and was just as committed to sharing her story to her peers.

Lyndi, so great for you to chat with us. Let’s start with where it all began?Growing up, I always struggled with my weight. I started dieting at the age of 11, but like most people dieting only made me gain weight over the long term. By my early twenties, my relationship with food was torturous. I was 20kg over-weight and I had developed binge eating disorder (the most common eating dis-order). I felt out of control around food. One day, it dawned on me that my obsession with trying to lose weight was actually making me unhealthy and gain weight. Stuck and confused, I decided to study to become a dietitian to understand my relationship with food on a deeper level. Interestingly, through studying nutrition, I learnt how to find balance and moderation with my eating. Today, I use my own personal experi-ence with my weight to help my clients – particularly those who are constantly dieting and struggling to lose weight, just like I was.

You’ve since gone on to become a Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Ambassador - how did this come about?How can you not love Jamie Oliver? The celebrity chef launched Food Revolution in 2012 with a mission to put food education back on the agenda and encourage more people to get cooking! He recruited passionate foodies from around the world to join him on his crusade. I’ve been volunteering as ambassador since it started.

As a Food Revolution ambassador, my mission is to spread the word that healthy eating doesn’t need to be complicated. We can all be a little healthier by simply cooking at home more often, caring about what goes into your body and making food a priority by doing small things like eating dinner together as a family.

We love that you have a ‘No Photoshop’ policy, was this always something that you were aware of?It is important that images of me on the internet and in magazines actually look like me, not a perfected, idealised version of what I look like! Working in the media, it is especially tempting to want to Photoshop my images to be better looking. However, I refuse to let others think that in order to be healthy, you need to weigh a certain amount or look a certain way.

Unfortunately, Photoshop has become the norm as almost every photograph in the media (and social media) is digitally retouched. These idealised images suggest that in order to be liked/successful/healthy, that you must have abs, perfect hair and sparkly white teeth. That simply

isn’t the case. If we base our self-worth on what we look like, we will never truly be happy.

In a highly Photoshopped society, I’m choosing to be real rather than perfect. I believe we need to question the unrealistic goals set by the distorted images in magazines and in social media feeds. Most people constantly compare themselves with others, particularly on social media. If I post unrealistic images of what I look like, then I am contributing to the body dissatisfaction.I live a very healthy, balanced and (for the most part!) happy life. My body is a reflection of that lifestyle choice. My body isn’t perfect and I want others to know you can be really healthy and still not have the ‘perfect body’.

You’ve not just created a business, you have created a brand - with you at the centre point of the brand. What made you realise that your success would be based around you rather than just your services?It felt natural to place myself at the centre of my brand. The reason I became a dietitian and nutritionist is so personal. I struggled with my weight and my relationship with food, just like so many people. The aim of my brand has always been to be relatable and authentic. It felt essential to share my story and struggles.

Food is highly personal. We all eat and have struggled with food in some capacity, whether we are a fussy eater, drink too frequently or overindulge on junk food too often. My aim was to show people that I understand what it is like to struggle with food too.

Lyndi Polivnick is a busy woman – nutritionist, dietitian, consultant and Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Ambassador.


C O N N E C T W I T H L Y N D I

@ n u d e _ n u t r i t i o n i s t

t h e n u d e n u t r i t i o n i s t . c o m . a u

@ T h e - N u d e - N u t r i t i o n i s t

Whilst my advice is based on way more than just my anecdotal experience, my story and experience does influence how I connect and treat my clients.

Your website is beautifully clean and reflects you and the brand. Tell us about the journey to create it?From the very beginning, I knew that I wanted to have a beautiful, modern website that reflected who I am and what my business stands for. Friends had warned me that websites could cost thousands of dollars – and still look pretty basic. So rather than forking out big dollars, I built my website using WIX, a website building platform that lets you be in the driver’s seat.

Other than having a designer spend about five hours on making it look nice and setting up the basics – I’ve done everything myself. I spent many hours building the website but I am so glad I made that time investment.

These days, I continue to self-manage, update and change my website regularly. My website is not static, but constantly evolving in real time to meet the need of my growing business.

You seem to be fantastic at diversifying your business - working with media, traditional client services, working with businesses - is there any part that you enjoy the most?I really love seeing clients and specialise in helping yo-yo dieters make peace with their body. It is so rewarding to be able to truly change someone’s life. You don’t understand how much food can control your life until you’re able to fix a problem.

However, I’m really passionate about working with the media and businesses because you can reach so many people. There is so much misinformation about nutrition and part of my job is to help clear up half-truth sand debunk myths. Working with businesses and the media allows me to reach many people – with the same man-hours as clinical work.

Finally, what is next for Lyndi, the Nude Nutritionist?There are so many things I would like to do but it’s important to me that I stick to my own business goals. Everyday, I get sent requests from others asking if I am able to jump on board with another initiative. Whilst it is amazing to be asked, you quickly realise you only have so much time in the day. It’s easy to get distracted from your core business and passion but I think that can dilute your business, key

messages and enthusiasm. This has been a big learning for me over the past year.

Moving forward, I’m going to keep my business focused on my own personal business goals. I would love to continue working with the media and businesses. I’m currently writing my first book too. I’ve realised you can do anything you want but not everything.

Most of the time, just because it is a good opportunity, doesn’t mean it is the right opportunity for you. In business and in life, I’m learning to be strategic with my direction and make sure I pursue the ventures that are most important to me.

In a highly Photoshopped society, I’m choosing to be real rather than

perfect. I believe we need to question the

unrealistic goals set by the distorted images in

magazines and in social media feeds.

“


FIT-TECHTo wear it is to love it.

Receive and respond to notifications in an instant. Track your daily activity. Control your music using only your voice. Pay for groceries just like that. With Apple Watch, important information and essential features are always just a raise of the wrist away.

Get your hands on one at apple.comFrom A$499.00

HIGHLY FLEXIBLE.SUPER NATURAL.Nike Free technology puts less shoes between yourfoot and the ground, allowing your feet to move morenaturally—the way they were meant to.

nike.comFrom A$160.00

Performance. Power. Freedom.

au.beatsbydre.com/From A$259.99


DO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE HEALTHY MINDS?

Reflecting on Mental Health Month, I thought it would be important to share a few of the ways I keep sane whilst run-ning a small business.

As most of you will know, starting or maintaining a small business is so taxing on your mental health. There is just so much to worry about. Clients, bills, rates, rent, legislation, taxes, wages, HR, refer-rals, equipment, paperwork – it all adds up doesn’t it?

I remember when I started my own business there were so many times when I wanted to just throw it all away and go back to just working in a safe, stable envi-ronment. Someone else being responsible for paying your wage is a lot easier, am I right?

I never gave up, I knew (and I know) that I can make a real difference to the work of health professionals. It was an area that I was so passionate about that I was determined to not give up. Of course, there were times when I questioned my own mental health – basically was I mad to follow a pipe dream?

Many people I speak to tell me how hard it is to be out there struggling on their own, unsure of what business decision to take next and unsure where their future cash flow will be coming from.

It’s hard. It really is. But remember -it will all be worthwhile in the end, you put in the hard yards now and you will reap

the rewards. As long as you keep your passion and desire to succeed alive, and focus on your own mental health, there will be great things for you.

WHAT DO I DO TO LOOK AFTER MY MENTAL HEALTH WHILST TRYING TO RUN A BUSINESS?

ExerciseEasy, number one rule for me, exercise. Keep the body active and healthy and the mind will follow…right? Do all of you healthy people out there actually do as much exercise as you would like? I try to fit it in early in the morning, despite shouting at my alarm. Studies show that a huge percentage of the world’s wealthiest people always make sure they exercise (and these guys are running massive businesses).

Learn learn learnThere is no excuse to not know the basics of running a business. Yes, you do have to weave your way through the minefield of information out there on the internet, but there are so many business leaders sharing their own methods and experi-ence, you would be silly NOT to learn from them. If you need something more practical, try Lynda which has thousands of free courses on all sorts of bits and bobs. Basically, the more you learn, the more you know and the more you can put this into your business to make it a success.

Share your storySharing your story serves two purpos-es, it’s a great way to network with like minded people and it’s also a great way to increase your brand. Join networking groups, join membership sites, join a community group – share you story and help others learn from your mistakes and successes.

Seek helpWhen I mean seek help, I mean find peo-ple who are good at what you aren’t. If you know nothing about websites, offload to a marketing guru. If you are terrible at admin, offload to a virtual assistant. If you are unsure of business fundamentals, seek a mentor. Just because you are ask-ing for help doesn’t mean you have failed, it means you just have more time to do what you are good at.

Celebrate!If something is going right, TELL EVERYONE! Have you had a patient change their life, get out there and tell the world – great for your mental health and theirs! Apply for awards on a personal or business level. Send a media release to the local paper. Host a party at your practice. Share the joy and share the love people!

We all know that mental health is a serious issue, and one we don’t talk about enough. If I can help you in anyway, feel free to drop me a line, I am always happy to just have a chat and bounce ideas around – we are all in this together.

LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH


Sarah, was having your own business always a dream for you? Did you always want to work for yourself?Having a multidisciplinary wellness centre has always been my dream since I graduated from university – I have always wanted to be my own boss. The idea of working a 9 to 5 job never appealed to me, although now I work outside 9 to 5 (more like 8am to 12am) but it’s different when it’s your own baby.

How hard was it get your business up and running? When I was in the moment of starting out, it never appeared to me that it was ‘hard’. It just feels like I need to do whatever it takes to make it work.

It did come with a lot of tears, blood and frustrations but you feel they are all worth the hardship. It is only when we look back three months, six months, nine months and twelve months late that we realised how ‘hard’ it actually was and how much we grew during these times.

If you had a list what were the hardest parts of starting a business, what would it include?Budget and profit projection – the first 12 months is hard to predict as there are so many factors that can affect the revenue e.g. seasonality, holidays etc.

Marketing and brand awareness – as we offer something different from

traditional multi-disciplinary clinics, getting our name out there was very hard. We had to keep finding opportunities and networking to spread our mission and vision.

Staff management – finding the right staff member to join the team has been challenging as we want everyone who works at Healthy Energy to have the same values. I know the concept ‘hire slow, fire fast’ but sometimes it’s easier said than done.

What drove you to overcome the challenges of starting your own business?Deep down I believe that I have the ability to create something meaningful with my own hands, my creativity and innovation to improve people’s health. Every time I face any challenges I just go back to my ‘why’ and it keeps me going. Also when I started my business I was only 22, I thought to myself, so what if I failed? I might as well give it a red hot go before I start a family and have kids.

What parts of the whole process excited you?I must say that I enjoy every process of running the business but what excites me the most would be the positive results we receive when we launch a new service, knowing that there’s a hungry crowd wanting what we’ve got to offer. It’s also very exciting to have our clients resonating with our message and believing in us.

Now that you have been up and running for a while, what have been the highlights?Being nominated in three business awards within the first 12 months of operating! Seeing the clinic get set up and having all services up and running within five months and working with a bunch of beautiful people every day.

Have there been any low lights?Low lights would have been the months where we don’t even know if we are going to make it. Cash flow was an issue and the overall stress and uncertainty in the first 12 months.

If you have to go back and change something what would it be?I might have rented a bigger place with more rooms because we’ve pretty much outgrown our current clinic and ready to grow bigger.

What would you class as the biggest challenge in starting your business?Definitely keeping the cash flow going and managing financial and operational reports. I found these are our roadmaps to go forward and it’s always been my weakness. However I have to say now we have systems in place and they are very much in controlled!

In terms of marketing, did you know what you needed to do? Or what did you find the most difficult aspect of marketing your own business?I completed a few business courses and had a few business coaches so I had an

We sit down with Sarah Leung, Founder and Lead Nutritionist at Healthy Energy Mind & Body Holistic Wellness in Glen Waverley, Melbourne.

Healthy Energy


idea of what I needed to do. The problem is, there’s so many things I knew I needed to do, but there’s only so many hours in your day.

As much as I want to spend 80% of my time on marketing, sometime it just doesn’t happen. Sometimes I lose my focus as to what’s the most important that need to be addressed first.

Also, as business owners, we like to do EVERYTHING ourselves so for me is actually letting go and delegate tasks that I am not good at to the experts.

As a nutritionist what do you think are the unique challenges you face?Competition! Everyone claims to be nutrition expert nowadays regardless whether they have proper qualifications or not. A ‘balanced’ view is also hard to achieve, unfortunately people want a quick fix or is attracted to a certain way of eating or dieting.

Our biggest challenge would be how to we package ‘healthy eating’ in a sexier way and how to bring people back to the basics by choosing whole, nutritious, home cooked foods.

However I think this is a healthy challenge because it really gets me thinking outside the box to stand out from my competitors.

After all, there’s no point sitting there complaining and not doing anything about it.

If you had any advice for nutritionists out there trying to grow their own business what would it be?I think going back to the last point about competition, with so many other people, having a niche is very important. Ask yourself: ‘Who are you as a health professional?’, ‘How are you meant to change people’s lives?’, ‘If there’s no limitations on what you could do to make a difference, what will you do?’

Have a plan (doesn’t matter how long this plan is, just write something down) and go for it, don’t let anything stop you if that’s what you want to do.

Are you excited for the future? What’s next for Healthy Energy Nutrition?I am very excited about the future, we are definitely looking at how to scale the business (nationally and internationally), expand our services online and maybe develop a little range of products? That’s all I can say for now!

C O N N E C T W I T H S A R A H

@ h e a l t h y e n e r g y _ n u t r i t i o n

h e a t l h y e n e r g y . n e t . a u

@ h e a l t h y e n e r g y . n u t r i t i o n

INGREDIENTS • ¼ cup chia• ½ cup almond milk• ¼ cup coconut milk• 1 tsp honey• ½ tsp vanilla paste• 5 strawberries, cut into small pieces• 5 walnuts or 10 pistachio nuts

Mix chia seeds with honey, vanilla paste, coconut milk and almond milk, whisk and set aside until chia seeds become thick and gel formed.

Arrange strawberries, chia seeds andwalnut into a small glass. Optional: chill in the fridge for an hour prior to serving.

CHIA PUDDINGParfait

Sarah Leung


TOP TIPS TO GETTING SH*T DONE

So being the owner of an allied health business can be hectic. Well, perhaps hectic isn’t the right way? Madness, yes, let’s go with madness. I work with a fair few ‘healthy business owners’ and

sometimes turnarounds can take a while, and I completely understand that. You have to juggle clients, business, marketing, life, family…exercise! It can be daunting. However, getting the right

things done can make the world of difference to your business and profits. I thought I would share with allied health marketing’s top tips to getting things done!

Words by Chris McCarroll

EXERCISENumber 1 rule, want to be productive – then move more. I do feel like I am preaching to the converted but many allied health professionals seem to forgo their own physical activity when trying to run a business.

Practice what you preach. Get up early, move that body and then you will be ready for the day and to tackle even more.

1.

REDUCE MEETING TIMESWhen I have meetings with clients I try and keep them to a minimum. Let’s get the maximum done in the shortest amount of time as everyone is busy.

If you have to have meetings with staff, contractors etc – write a list of what you need to get out of that meeting and when it’s complete – end the meeting (unless enjoying coffee – always enjoy coffee). Leave.

3.

GET HELPIf you are not good at a particular part of your work, get help to complete it. Why struggle for hours when you can outsource for small $$ and maximum return?

In the world of virtual assistants, online programs, cheap software – why struggle yourself when there are other options out there?

5.

FLAG EMAILSOne of the best tips I picked up was to organise emails by who they came from rather than time received. All email software gives you the latest emails and our natural inclination is to sort from top down.

Next time, why not sort those emails by ‘from’ and you can then work out who needs your attention first.

Some people go down the whole “don’t check your emails except for once or twice a day” but I don’t buy into that. I am about clients and real people who may need answers or solutions quickly.

2.

CHECKLISTSSome of the work I do is repetitive but I have to be on point when it comes to making sure everything is ticked off the list.

Therefore I put together checklists of the bits and pieces I really need to know, that way I run through it quickly and I don’t miss anything out.

So in your health business if you have to do something over and over again – e.g. writing a blog posts, meeting a new patient, completing paperwork – why not create one checklist that you cross reference as you are completing the task?

4.


How long have you owned your own business and what made you decide to start on your own? I started North West Physiotherapy in March 1996. It was a very small existing practice that I purchased from the previous owner.

What do you think has been the main reasons for your success? Being prepared to take calculated risks.

Twice at our previous premises I expanded the clinic and then in 2011 I moved the practice to its current location in a much larger retail space. All these moves required some risk taking due the increased expense with rent and also the cost of employing more staff. These risks have always paid off as the moves were done at the right time to allow for growth.

What would you say has been your best steps getting my clients - marketing, word of mouth, paid advertising? Word of mouth is by far the most effective form of marketing, but we still have to always be attracting new clients who may not have been exposed to word-of-mouth information about us. Website search engine optimisation (SEO) is an area that I have invested heavily in recent years.

You are heavily involved with a local soccer team, do you think that is a great way for your business to gain new leads? It does certainly generate exposure but it’s probably only a break-even proposition with respect to return on investment. I really became involved as a community service more that anything else. It is also very satisfying to see my sponsorship money being put to good use in promoting healthy activities for children.

You launched a new website recently - how did you find that whole process? We have re-worked our website several times over the years due to changing technology and needs of the practice. We work very closely with a SEO company to gain as much advantage as possible on organic search results.

You’re about to expand I believe? Is that exciting or does it have a new range of problems you haven’t encountered before? We are about to open a second practice at Keperra (Brisbane). It will certainly provide some challenges as I attempt to roll out what is essentially a franchise type model. I would only attempt to do this with the right person – that is a person that I have worked with at my current practice and has the right work ethic and drive to succeed.

As the world changes and we move more and more online - do you think physios face new challenges in terms of marketing themselves?Like all businesses, physios need to keep up to date with changing trends in how people communicate and source information. The internet was not used by ordinary people when my business first started and I had certainly never sent or received an email at that time!

I have seen changes right from very basic websites and email communication and now of course Facebook and Instagram. Things like this will continue to evolve for years to come.

Has anyone given you excellent business advice? What did they say? Some say the definition of luck is ‘Preparation for Opportunity’. The best business advice I have had relates to this - always be prepared to seize an opportunity.

If you had to give advice to a physio who is wanting to branch out on their own - what would you say? Start small and keep your overheads as low as possible until a more substantial client list develops.

This may mean not have administration staff for up to a year. Also, start to develop “systems” within the practice so that all staff follow set procedures which will allow the practice to ultimately run smoothly without having to micromanage.

In your ultimate dreams - where do you see your business in five years’ time? I would hope that both practices are running efficiently with minimum input from myself. I would also hope that I would have another one or two practices operating by that time.

C O N N E C T W I T H R O G E R

n o r t h w e s t p h y s i o . c o m . a u

@ n o r t h w e s t p h y s i o

Experience is something that is not lacking. About to open his second practice, Roger cleared some time to answer some questions about business, planning and advice.


Balancing Health and ProfitsWhat global companies are thinking outside the box in terms of employees health?

Cheap gym access? Stand up desks? Treadmill tables? Fitness and well-being are the definite buzz words at the moment for any business, but what companies out there are taking it to a new level?

We take a look at some of the most active global companies out there and pose the question, could this continue to grow and provide new opportunities for health professionals?

General ElectricGE is known for creating innovative, game-changing products, and the company does the same with its approach to employees’ health (all 131,000 of them). General Electric’s Health Coach program offers all workers access to trained nurses who can answer questions on everything from claim issues to chronic illness. The company also offers NowClinic, a program that allows employees to video-chat with physicians 24/7 to obtain a quick diagnosis. And then there’s GE’s Expert Medical Opinion, which enables employees to get a free second opinion from a separate specialist clinic at no cost. The company also takes a proactive approach to health, offering inexpensive gym memberships to employees, their spouses, adult children, and even company retirees.

MicrosoftMicrosoft offers employees the perks that have become commonplace among tech giants: flexible work hours, free gym memberships, and lots of on-site services (dry cleaning, oil changes, and an organic spa). The company really excels, however, in encouraging its 61,756 employees to work hard at the office and also in their communities. Microsoft matches employee donations to charities up to $15,000, but you don’t have to cough up cash to have an impact: The software biz also donates $17 for every hour an employee volunteers.

GoogleMany of the perks of working at Google—and specifically the company’s headquarters, the Googleplex—are well

known: unlimited free meals, four tricked-out gyms, plenty of complimentary services (laundry, car wash, dry cleaning, bike repair, haircuts, massages), and an indoor slide (what?!). The search and Internet giant has put a major focus on employee health in recent years, adding more than a thousand community bikes scattered around the Googleplex, on-site physicians and nurses who are always available, and a company garden for employees to toil in. They’ve also made it easier to make healthier food decisions in the dozens of cafeterias and small cafes with a simple colour-coded label (green for healthy, red for unhealthy) on all offerings. Google has even hacked its 48,584 employees’ eating habits—smaller plates encourage portion control, and putting the salad bar at the entrance and the dessert spread in the far corner makes reaching for the greens a no-brainer.

HallmarkThis card company has put its stamp on helping its 6,600 employees lead healthier lives. Hallmark offers generous health coverage and up to six months of maternity or paternity leave. The company has also recently focused on helping employees make healthier food choices, placing nutritional information next to all options available in the cafeteria, and employees can participate in monthly lunch and learns on wellness topics. Best of all: Workers can purchase and bring home healthy prepared meals as part of the company’s Let’s Do Dinner program. The focus on health isn’t contained to physical gains, though. Hallmark also hosts a number of support groups for those raising a child with disabilities, grieving a loss, caring for elders, missing a loved one in the military, and more.

TwitterTech companies sometimes get a bad rap for having whimsical perks without any concrete benefits. (Everyone gets a scooter!) But Twitter offers complete medical and dental coverage and a generous dose of bonuses as well: free catered lunch and breakfast at HQ, gym reimbursements, and yoga and Pilates classes on-site. Post-workout, the company’s laundry service can take care of your stinky gym clothes. Plus, unlimited


vacation days means there’s plenty of time for employees (3,300 of them worldwide) to recharge their batteries.

CamelBak Products, LLCCamelBak produces water bottles, filters, and hydration packs—so it’s no surprise that they encourage their 138 employees to keep the H2O coming. Just one part of their “Bak to Health” program, a yearly challenge where employees earn points for exercise, hydration, and healthy nutrition. It’s a company-wide game, and everyone’s a winner: All participants earn rewards, and CamelBak donates money to charities selected by the players as a result. Apart from this friendly competition, day-to-day culture encourages the healthy outdoor living that CamelBak’s products champion. Employees can work out with provided fitness equipment, take to the on-site basketball court, pedal around on one of the four company bikes, or meet with CamelBak’s personal trainer for a more structured workout. And all workers receive discounts to various outdoor and adventure companies. We imagine the CamelBak-supported paid sabbatical of four to six weeks gives employees even more opportunity to test out that new camping gear.

Reference: The Greatist, ‘The 44 Healthiest Companies to Work For in America’

6 APPS TO MAKE ANY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL’S LIFE EASIER

DIETITIANS, IT’S TIME TO GET PERSONAL WITH MARKETING EFFORTS

BOUNCE RATE – IS YOUR HEALTH WEBSITE A VICTIM?

F R O M T H E

blog

http://alliedhealthmarketing.com.au/whatwedo/free-brand-review/

http://alliedmagazine.com/blog




Was having your own functional fitness business always a dream for you? Did you always want to work for yourself?I knew I always wanted to work for myself but had no idea what industry, product or service. When I discovered F45 Training I was working as a marketing manager in the oil and gas industry and promoting nightclubs and events on the weekends. I’d previously worked as a part-time personal trainer whilst completing my Bachelor and Master’s degrees and had a strong connection to the fitness indus-try. Functional group training seemed to tie together everything I loved about the industry – the team environment, the practical and beneficial exercise, but most importantly the fun and energy that comes with F45 Training.

How hard was it get your business up and running?There’s a quote myself and my business partner (Mark Armstrong) constantly re-fer to and that is “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it”.Yes it was hard and yes we’ll do it again over and over, I think it’s all part of the journey.

If you had a list what were the hardest parts of starting a fitness business, what would it include?For us F45 Training in Melbourne was fairly unestablished. Coming in to an ex-tremely competitive industry the hardest part was simply building some brand rec-ognition and awareness to drive the prod-uct. The question in 2015 is not “Do you

have a gym membership?” It is “Where do you have a gym membership?” - The fitness industry is such an amazing & op-portunistic marketplace but it’s so highly saturated. Strong brand recognition and reputation holds a lot of merit.

What drove you to overcome the challenges of starting your own business?I think it was the opportunity itself that drove us to overcome any challenges. Having found such an amazing product and seeing the existing growth in NSW & QLD we felt extremely lucky to be in the position we were. Every time there was a set back we simply kept pressing forward. Our first F45 studio was originally meant to be in Elwood, we’d found the perfect site and signed a head of agreement. The site fell through after a substantial amount of time & money had been spent. We could have given up yet kept pressing forward and launched F45 Port Mel-bourne successfully.

What parts of the whole process excited you?Everything. When you take that leap of faith and quit your job it’s exciting & extremely terrifying. What I really enjoyed was creating the marketing strategy because I was able to use my core competencies as business professional and put those skills towards something I could call my own.

Now that you are up and running, what have been the highlights?There are so many! The most rewarding

thing is the transformations and chang-ing people’s lives for the better. Although that sounds like a generic studio owner response it legitimately is the reason I get up at 4:30am every single morning. The people and community we’ve built is indescribable. When we opened we had 1 member Tim. We entered him in the Australia wide F45 9 week challenge and he ended up losing 10kg and coming 3rd overall. Knowing someone had that faith in us to help them achieve their goals we really hit the ground running. Since then we’ve have had members dropping 5, 10, 20 plus kgs and literally improving their standard of living beyond belief.

Have there been any lowlights?There have been many lowlights but it’s all a part of it. I think if you learn from them and be open to self-learning and growth then they can be a good thing.

If you have to go back and change some-thing what would it be?I wouldn’t change much at all regarding our overall business strategy. One value I’ve certainly learnt is the importance of community. If I could do it all again I would focus more on building strong community ties and values as opposed to looking elsewhere for support and new leads.

What keeps you motivated? Do you keep to a regular training routine?The constant desire for improvement keeps me motived - never being satisfied. I don’t think it’s a competitive thing or

F45 is the revolutionary training system changing lives around the globe. Born in Australia, this phenomenal system is now spreading through continents like wildfire.

We had the pleasure of chatting with Michael Ramsey, the owner of F45 Port Melbourne.


trying to be better than anyone else. It’s the possibility of reaching new heights that seemed unachievable in the past. I do an F45 session (or two) every day. If the opportunity is there and I’m not physically taking the class then I’ll always jump in. I also mix it up a bit with Yoga and Boxing through the week. I think it’s extremely important to diversify and experience other offerings within the industry.

In terms of marketing – did you know what you needed to do? Or what did you find the most difficult aspect of marketing your own business?Coming from a strong marketing background I had a good idea of what I needed to do (although I was never certain about anything). I simply made educated decisions based on the infor-mation at hand. With F45 I knew we needed high profile ambassadors to build brand awareness in Melbourne, yet we also needed strong local area marketing as we were only servicing a suburb (Port Melbourne). Although the mass exposure that comes with TV and Print Media is great, majority is wasted as gym/fitness is as much about convenience as anything.

As a business operator what do you think are the unique challenges you face?Specifically as a franchise owner the most unique challenge is maintaining the same community feel, vibe & consistency over all studios. Replicating the vibe Port Melbourne has to our South Yarra F45 is certainly a challenge but one I’m very eager to take on!

If you had any advice for aspiring fitness professionals out there trying to grow their own business what would it be?Leave your ego at the door, work bloody hard and give a sh*t about your custom-ers. This industry is so competitive that if you can’t build repport with the people around you then your business will be eaten up by someone who can.

Are you excited for the future? What’s next for you and F45?I am excited! We’ll be launching F45 El-wood & F45 Armadale early 2016. We’ll also be running a wellness retreat on an island off of Vanuatu launching May 2016 (but it’s a bit of a secret haha). Bring it!

LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR, WORK BLOODY HARD AND ACTUALLY GIVE A SH*T ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS.

“

C O N N E C T W I T H M I C H A E L

@ F 4 5 _ t r a i n i n g _ P o r t M e l b o u r n e

f 4 5 t r a i n i n g . c o m . a u / p o r t m e l b o u r n e

@ F 4 5 P o r t M e l b o u r n e


If it were easy,everyone would be doing it.


follow us on instagram

@all iedmagazine


DREW’S DAILY DOSE

We stumbled across drews’ website, and instantly, we were trans-fixed by what this passionate health professional is undertaking. A man who has lived with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) but has never let this hold him back, in fact, he has taken this condition and used it to help mould his life and profession.In this own words, Drew admits he didn’t fully appreciate him-self until he was diagnosed, but since that point he has learnt to manage his condition so it doesn’t manage him.

We were delighted when Drew agreed to be part of Allied Mag-azine.

Drew, tell us a little about your background, what pulled you into the health and exercise industry?I’ve always had a passion for the human body. Since I was a young I knew that I wanted to do something health and fitness related. After school I completed a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport and then went on to become an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP). Even after completing my studies I still wasn’t exactly sure of what I wanted to do. I had a desire for strength and conditioning and I could see myself working with elite athletes or sport teams. I also enjoyed working with kids, but neither one of them really grabbed me.

Did having T1DM have an effect on your career pathway?Being diagnosed with T1DM was without a doubt the cata-lyst for where my career is heading. It is the single factor that provided clarity during a time of uncertainty. It sent me back to university to get another post-graduate degree in diabetes education and management.

T1DM has allowed me to channel all of the passion that I have for health and fitness into something more niche. It has enabled me to discover what it really means to be healthy. By combining my background in science with my own personal experience in managing diabetes, I have been able to create Drew’s Daily Dose.

What is Drew’s Dose? If you were at a dinner party – how would you explain it?I like to think of Drew’s Daily Dose as much more than a website about diabetes. It’s a home that inspires, empowers and enables people to thrive with diabetes, rather than simply live with it.Drew’s Daily Dose is my way of empowering people to take control of their health, so that like me, they can live a fuller, happier and healthier life than ever before.

In fact I believe it even goes beyond successfully managing dia-betes. It’s an approach to life that lays the foundation for health and happiness - whether you are living with diabetes or not.

After launch what are the initial objectives you want to achieve?Drew’s Daily Dose is in its infancy phase. A launch looks like it may be around the corner, but until then my main focus is to share high quality content to educate and inspire people, with and without diabetes, to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

All of the content that I share will be a product of science-based evidence, combined with personal experience. Content is king.

“Sure, my world shifted when I was first diagnosed, but after making positive changes to the way I live, eat, move and approach life, I can honestly say I am happier and healthier today than I was before my diagnosis. So in a way you could say that diabetes gave me the gift of health.”


What was your biggest inspiration to starting Drew’s Dose?The thing that inspired me most to create Drew’s Daily Dose, was the realisation of the impact that I can have on people across the globe. As an allied health professional living with diabetes, I am positioned perfectly to create a platform to share everything I know. I feel that I have discovered a solution to the problem that many people with T1DM face every day. So I guess I feel that I have a duty and responsibility to do so. That in itself inspires me every day. Do you think there is a real lack of quality information out there for people with T1DM?Information is lacking in both quality and quantity. I come from a family of doctors and I have all the best resources and networks at my fingertips, yet I still found it very difficult to find any information about T1DM when I was diagnosed. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for people who have less fortunate circumstances than me.

Your website looks fantastic, do you have a strong input into the brand that you are trying to create?I certainly have a strong input into the brand in terms of cre-ativity. My brain seems to be equally divided into both arts and science. One thing that many people don’t know about me is that I am a singer-songwriter, and I’m about to release a 3-track EP. So I guess my creative side has allowed me to contribute towards the brand development in certain ways - but it has definitely been a team effort. There have been numerous key players in developing of Drew’s Daily Dose. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without their help. I’m a bit of a techno-logical dinosaur so I knew that I had to outsource the best in the business.

What are you long terms goals for Drew’s Daily Dose, what would you say is the ultimate dream?I try not to think too far ahead in terms of goals. I have a very clear idea of what kind of content I want to share. I know that if I keep delivering quality content and build a community of loyal people, the rest will take care of itself.

I guess if I were to dream, it would be that Drew’s Daily Dose is recognised as a world leading global online resource. Is there anything, in terms of business, that scares you?Diabetes has taught me a lot about life. After being diagnosed I would to say to myself: Do not fear it - respect and embrace it.

That phrase has transcended into everything I do, and I will always take it with me.

There is nothing that scares me in life. I have a healthy respect for everything - business included. There’s a lot that excites me about business though. I am committed to being a life-long learner. I know that I will make mistakes along the way, but they are just opportunities for growth.

C O N N E C T W I T H D R E W

@ _ d r e w s d a i l y d o s e

d r e w s d a i l y d o s e . c o m

@ D r e w s - D a i l y - D o s e


DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR BRANDING AND MARKETING OR SIMPLY WANT TO GET SOMEONE ELSE’S OPINION?

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR OWN IMAGE IS BY ASKING

OTHERS WHERE YOU CAN IMPROVE.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE COME IN. WE SIMPLE LOVE WORKING WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND TOO OFTEN SEE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US AND WE WILL GIVE YOU 5 PRACTICAL WAYS YOU COULD IMPROVE YOUR MARKETING (TOTALLY NO OBLIGATION,

WE JUST LOVE LEARNING NEW THINGS TOO.)

LET US HELP YOU

alliedhealthmarketing.com.au

DROP US A [email protected]

al l ied magaz ine | 23alliedhealthmarketing.com.au

winA MARKETING MENTORING

SESSION WITH ALLIED HEALTH MARKETING

Take a photo of your practice or business on Instagram and tag

@alliedhealthmarketing for your chance to WIN!


ENQUIRIES | [email protected]

allied magazine

Documents