In the 18 years I have been doing Les Mills, one of the most important things I have learned is that true happiness lies in the journey, not the destination.
I have been very fortunate to achieve many of my goals along the way, such as making the TAP (Trainer, Assessor, Presenter) team, being on filming Masterclasses, and working in many different countries around the world. But when I reflect on it all, without a doubt the most memorable and meaningful moments have actually been during the ride on this wonderful rollercoaster of a journey, and not those landmark destinations.
Now don’t get me wrong. Being on a filming, for example, was a wonderful experience, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. It raised my profile and opened the doors to many more career and travel opportunities, and ultimately lead me to where I am today. I am still very proud to have achieved that goal, and at the time I would have said it was my career highlight for sure.
But when I look back, it’s actually the journey that mattered the most, and that’s where the magical moments are found. It’s the people we meet, the connections we make, the voyage of self-discovery, overcoming challenges, building confidence, finding our purpose and ultimately helping others that’s the most important, and the wonderful thing about what we do.
I didn’t know it at the time, but being tapped on the shoulder that day by Terri was a moment that would change my life forever. Throughout this amazing rollercoaster of a Les Mills ride, anyone who I may have influenced, impacted or inspired along the way can be traced back to that butterfly effect moment.
My Les Mills journey began in Morehead City, North Carolina, USA in January of 2002. I was working as Head Soccer Coach at West Carteret High School, where I was also a substitute teacher, and also a Fitness Consultant at Gold’s Gym. One day the Club Manager at Gold’s, Terri Hort, came up to me and said “Do you want to teach BODYPUMP™?” I said, “No thanks!” Back then I was into lifting weights and football (soccer), and I had no interest in what was going on in the aerobics studio. Terri went on to say that she was launching this new fitness class called BODYPUMP and that the creators, Les Mills, had suggested she get some men teaching it. She told me she had already convinced her husband, Bobby, into doing the training, and that she thought I would be good at it, and she gave me the video (VHS tape!) of BODYPUMP 44 to take home and watch. Which I did, and I instantly loved it!
There was this big room filled with so many people, all lifting weights to great music, it was going off! The energy was electric, and you could feel it coming through the screen. Up on a big stage and leading the class were three fit, strong athletes, and front and center was a guy called Mike McSweeney, who I instantly admired. He was in great shape, athletic, charismatic, and had a strong “no nonsense” style to the workout. I liked that. He also had a very unique and interesting look that added to the whole mystique of this thing called BODYPUMP. He was strong and lean, with dark skin covered in baby oil that showed great muscle definition, very short shorts, a black bandana on his head with a pair of Oakley sunglasses on top. He had a staunch, very intense look on his face, but with a sparkle in his eye and a cheeky smile. “Yep, I’m going to have a go at this.” I thought to myself.
Two weeks later I was participating in my first ever group fitness class, which was the Masterclass of the BODYPUMP 44 Initial Training! My Trainer was a guy called Mike LaPlaca who instantly impressed me with his physique, and how cool he was in the Masterclass, but even more so throughout the training with his professionalism, charisma and care of the group. I remember saying in the group circle sharing at the end of the training that I wanted to do his job. He said I totally could, and I should go for it. Mike was not just a Trainer that inspired me to want to be a great BODYPUMP Instructor, he also gave me the belief that I had what it takes to become a Trainer myself.
He said he was actually quite nervous about coming to the class because he was a big guy and he also had some personal challenges going on. It was a big deal for him to walk into the room that day, but I had made him feel welcome, and that helped put him at ease.
I didn’t know it at the time, but being tapped on the shoulder that day by Terri was a moment that would change my life forever. Throughout this amazing rollercoaster of a Les Mills ride, anyone who I may have influenced, impacted or inspired along the way can be traced back to that butterfly effect moment.
I’d like to share a little story that is the most meaningful and powerful memory of my career so far. I am sure that all of you reading this will have similarly powerful stories, and the names of people you have helped may well spring to mind as you read this. I hope so, and I hope you take a moment to feel good about that. And if they don’t, just know that it is probably because the person who you helped to inspire may not have told you yet. But they are out there.
It was back in 2009, when I was GFM (Group Fitness Manager) at Les Mills New Lynn, in Auckland, New Zealand. I was teaching the Tuesday night 5.30pm BODYCOMBAT™ class. I was walking around the room pre-class, doing my general meet and greet, and I saw a big Pacific Island man in an oversize black baggy T-shirt, near the back left hand corner of the room. I went and said hi, shook his hand and had a quick chat. His name was Onny, and it turned out he was the husband of one of my regulars, Rebecca. I did what any of you reading this would do when you meet a new person: checked in a few times during class, and checked in again at the end to see how he went. He said he enjoyed it and would come back.
Fast forward a year or so – and thousands of punches, kicks, blocks, elbows and knees – I received a thank you card from Onny, with a short letter. He said he was actually quite nervous about coming to the class because he was a big guy and he also had some personal challenges going on. It was a big deal for him to walk into the room that day, but I had made him feel welcome, and that helped put him at ease. He thanked me for the classes, and for all the encouragement and support. He loved coming to the gym, and he always looked forward to his BODYCOMBAT class, and with the support of his wife he had managed to lose almost 50kg in 12 months! He was feeling more confident, had more energy, was much happier and his goal was to break 100kg. He was already almost there.
When I received Onny’s card, I learned that what was a seemingly small action from me had actually made a really big difference to someone else.
What an achievement, and such a beautiful message to share. I was very moved, and humbled by his card and I remember showing it to my club manager, Jaci Griffin, who was equally touched. Anyone who knows Jaci knows that she has poured her heart and soul into Les Mills New Lynn, and that she has done an incredible job of creating a positive, supportive and inclusive culture there. It’s the best place I have ever worked and so many good things happen there, so many people flourish, because of her. This story is simply one example of many.
But it doesn’t end there…
Onny and Rebecca had started to bring their son Jonah into class. Mum, Dad and son doing BODYCOMBAT every Tuesday night, how cool is that? Jonah soon started to get great results from the class, losing weight, getting fit, and began to look really sharp in his technique. It was clear that he really loved BODYCOMBAT. I can’t remember if it was me that originally suggested he do the training, or one of our incredible teachers, Lana Aitken, but either way our little BODYCOMBAT community at New Lynn got him started and I registered him for my next Initial Training. Long story short, Jonah was a gifted talent, a hard worker, and soon became a very popular Instructor, inspiring people each and every week in his regular classes. He even went on to make it as a Presenter for Les Mills New Zealand, and was a Shadow Presenter on filming Masterclass for BODYCOMBAT 76. What an amazing story! Oh, and Jonah is also a dad now too. The legacy continues…
My ‘aha’ moment in all this, and what I hope you can all take away from this, is that I certainly don’t feel like I did anything special that day. Nothing over and above what any of you would do. But when I received Onny’s card, I learned that what was a seemingly small action from me had actually made a really big difference to someone else, and it ultimately created a ripple through to his son, and on to all the people who Jonah himself has since inspired. I was instantly struck by my memory of Terri. I had inadvertently become to Onny what Terri had been to me. A butterfly effect moment.
Perhaps one of the most important things that Les Mills has created is the opportunity for this kind of thing to happen each and every day, in thousands of classes all across the globe. And it is because of people like you, reading this, Les Mills Instructors, that millions of lives are made a little bit healthier, and a little but happier. And those people who you positively impact and inspire, go out into their day and spread a little more sunshine to all the people that they then meet. It’s the ripple effect.
So, if I could share a little advice, it would be to know that your value, your influence and your impact lies in the little things you do each and every day. I highly recommend watching this inspirational TED Talk, by a very dynamic speaker named Drew Dudley, which highlights exactly this.
We seem to be so good at celebrating the big amazing things that only some people can do, that we forget how valuable the little everyday things are that all of us can do. And perhaps those little things turn out to be life-changing big things for someone else. Looking at it the other way around, have you had a moment when someone said something, or did something for you that you feel made YOUR life better. And, if so, have you told them? Do they know? If a name springs to mind, be sure to thank them. I believe that every single one of you would have been the catalyst for a butterfly effect moment in other people’s lives, and if you don’t think you have been, they simply haven’t told you yet. You could have another one in your very next class, or a conversation at the coffee shop. Feel good about that. Take a moment to celebrate it. I hope you know you are doing good things and the world needs more people like you.
Have you had a moment when someone said something, or did something for you that you feel made YOUR life better. And, if so, have you told them? Do they know?
It is important to have dreams and goals, of course, and to continue to work as hard as you can to achieve them. If becoming a National Trainer is your goal, I say go for it. Hard! That’s what I did, and I was lucky enough to make it. I have been a Trainer for 5 different agencies now, and it has given me so much personal growth and development, and still continues to challenge and inspire me. It has also given me the opportunity to give back and help so many other people and that, of course, is what it’s all about. However, it is important to understand that there are limited opportunities to become a Trainer. It’s not possible for everyone to make it, and it’s worth remembering that sometimes the reason may simply be out of your control.
It’s important to recognize that we can really make a difference in the little things we consistently do each and every day. It’s the journey, the act of doing that provides true, lasting happiness, meaning and value, and not the destination. Let’s celebrate that, allow ourselves to feel good about what we do, and recognise the importance of our everyday leadership and how we choose to show up in the seemingly smallest of moments.
Thank you for reading this, and thank you for being part of our Les Mills Tribe.
Go out and live life with passion, purpose and together let’s influence millions! (borrowed from Ben Patwa)
Kia Kaha!
Matty T
Originally from Devon, England, Matt is currently the Training Manager for Les Mills China and lives in Shanghai. His Les Mills Les Mills journey began in 2002 on an Initial training for BODYPUMP at Gold’s Gym in North Carolina, US. Since then, Matt has certified in 10 Les Mills programs, becoming an International Master Trainer in BODYPUMP, BODYCOMBAT, RPM, CXWORX and LES MILLS GRIT. During his 18 year Les Mills career, Matt has delivered Masterclasses, Quarterly Workshops, Initial Trainings, Advanced Trainings, education sessions, Trainer bootcamps and group fitness management seminars in more than 20 countries worldwide, and has worked for 5 different markets, living in the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia and now China. With a wealth of international Les Mills experience, Matt is a trusted and respected fitness leader, truly living the Les Mills values of One Tribe, Be Brave and Change the World!
