Dear Reader,
This is going to be a fairly long email so here is the TLDR:
I’m taking a break from updating Bootcamp Ideas for 30 days. That includes new articles, newsletters, courses and podcasts. BootCraft will be running as normal with weekly updates. I’m doing this to make space for a couple of experiments.
Okay, so if you’re wanting to know the reasoning behind this, join me and read on!
Group Flow Flop
I had been planning to write this exact email in about a month from now, after the conclusion of Group Flow. Programs like Group Flow, while rewarding to run, often take a lot out of me.
Running Zoom calls at odd times to cater for different time zones. Checking in with participants every day. Making extra videos to help explain concepts. I knew I would probably enjoy a break.
But then something I didn’t expect happened, as I was sending emails the last couple of weeks about Group Flow, no one was signing up.
I wondered what was going on...
I was charging a little more than I normally do for a course like this, but I still felt like it was good value for what you got. Maybe people thought they’d be in a course with hundreds of others and wouldn’t actually get much time with me, but I knew from previous experience that I’d likely get 10-20 participants and have a ton of time to help everyone as a group and individually.
So $300 felt like a fair price - for a system to help you make more money, free up time, and get personalised coaching with me.
But still no one signed up. So I sent an email to ask why?
I got lots of amazing feedback, people were interested, but I also got messages from people saying they couldn’t swing the price tag right now.
And I get it, because for the longest time, I’ve been the guy who is going to look after you price-wise. I know that money can be tight as a trainer and I try to meet you where you're at.
Nice, Helpful… and Cheap
I turned to ChatGPT to get some ideas for what I could do to get more people in the course.
After some back and forth it very bluntly told me that I’d created a reputation for myself of being ‘Always giving. Always generous. Always affordable. And always available.’
Ha!
I laugh because I know that many trainers struggle with taking on that persona too. Does that ring true for you?
I’ve felt the tension of this. For example: I’ve often encouraged trainers to raise their prices and set more boundaries, but have been aware that I often price my own services lower than maybe they should be so they’re ‘affordable’.
And during my 20s and early 30s that worked fine.
Especially when I was one of the few people online serving trainers and I would get 100s of people signing up to buy a book or join a course.
But now coming up on turning 40 I don’t want to be that guy anymore. I want people to see my value, the years of knowledge and wisdom I bring in the areas of business and health and who want to pay me well for it.
I feel conflicted sharing that with you, because you might not be at that stage of your life. Or you might think that’s an ungrateful or a privileged way of thinking about things.
But I am grateful, for every cent you’ve spent with me because it’s put me in this position where I can make a decision like this.
Taking A Break
Bootcamp Ideas has shaped so much of my life. And stepping back from something that’s been part of my identity for 15 years (over 1/3 of my life!) isn’t something I take lightly. But I do know I can’t keep doing what I’ve always done and expect something new to emerge
So I’ve been trying to carve out more time to really step back and work out how I can be most effective to others AND get paid well for it.
One thing keeps coming to the surface:
I am someone who inspires transformative change in others.
I saw this as a personal trainer and bootcamp instructor. I’ve seen it with the trainers I’ve worked with over the years. I see it even with friends and sometimes even strangers who come into my life.
People seem to find me when they’re ready to make a change.
But how to turn that into a business has been puzzling. Especially when I’m caught up in the weekly content cycle of Bootcamp Ideas.
So, that’s where the 30 day break comes from.
30 Days of Experiments
So what will I do during my time off?
Thinking, journaling, oh, and I’ll be running a couple of experiments:
- I’m starting a mens-only small group fitness class. Although it’s more than a class, it's like strength training meets life coaching where we’ll also focus on establishing healthy habits. And price-wise I'm going to be charging on the high-end.
- I'll also be reaching out to online creators and business owners to hire me as their executive coach. This is something I’ve dabbled with over the years and want to strengthen my skills in. I’ve already guided other business owners through massive change and really enjoyed it. If that sounds like something you'd be into, or you know someone who might be, just hit reply..
And the other thing I'm excited about doing is just being more available for my family.
While I already spend a ton of time with them, my wife’s fitness business is taking off and she has an opportunity to put more time into that. As both self-employed people with young children, our weeks are often a juggling act. It will be nice to just let those scales tilt in her direction for a while after the years and years of support she's given me.
Follow Along With My Experiments
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably someone who enjoys my newsletters just for the updates from me. I often get readers emailing me saying ‘I don’t even run bootcamps anymore, but I just like reading your newsletter.’
So if that’s you, then you might enjoy joining me on this journey.
I’ve started a personal newsletter where I’m sharing what I’m trying out, how it feels to be plunging outside my cozy comfort zone and more.
It’s called The Dadlift.
I'll be sharing about my new fitness business, coaching insights, some Human Design meets business stuff and just how I'm doing.
Anyway, much love to you all. I’ll check-in in a month and let you know how the experiment goes!
-Kyle
P.S. I just want to clarify, if you’re a BootCraft member, there will still be BootCraft updates. I’ll still be adding new workout drills so keep checking in weekly.
