Network Magazine summer 2014 | Page 35

COMMUNITY MEMBER PROFILE: MARY BACON PT & TRIGGER POINT THERAPIST, NSW build rapport, trust and relationships in this business. Time management and financial planning are crucial. What are the best and worst aspects of your job? Where do you live and work? I live in the inner city of Sydney and work in Crows Nest and Baulkham Hills What’s your main role in fitness? My main role is as a one-on-one PT. I also train couples that want to  get fit and fall pregnant. I do trigger point therapy and active muscle releases. How did you arrive at where you are today in your fitness career? The best aspect of my job is the fact that I am my own boss and can work my own hours and take holidays when I choose to. I have an amazing clientele whose generous and honest feedback is very rewarding.  Becoming an expert in something – in my case, pregnancy and exercise – is very satisfying. The worst aspect was when I became a single mum. Managing a PT business and home life with children was a major challenge – it got physically and emotionally exhausting. What has been your greatest career challenge to date? English is my second language, so for me to write a fitness book was a real stretch. I felt so inadequate in my English that I didn’t feel I was good enough to publish. Six months after the birth of my first baby I joined a gym and got hooked on aerobics. I proceeded to do the ACHPER fitness leader course in 1989. Fast forward through 26 years of continual industry education and today I’m the author of Pregnant, Fit and Fabulous. And your greatest highlight? Describe your typical day I would like to be the go-to expert/ spokesperson for pregnancy and exercise on the media circuit. I like to pack a lot into my day, so I get up at 4am. From that point on I train my morning clients, do my own workout, design and develop clients’ programs, go through food diaries, work on social media posts, action emails, and do some forward planning for media exposure and networking. What skills are needed in your role? Being skilled in training techniques and methods to get clients results is critical, of course, but it’s also really important to have people and listening skills in order to What motto or words of wisdom sum up your fitness/life philosophy? I take inspiration from the following quote from Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love: ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves; who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented or fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world.’ And finally – who would be on your ultimate dinner party guest list, and why? Jillian Michaels, Justin Tamsett, Janine Shepherd, Susie Burrell and Chris Smith. This would make for an interesting dinner party with real deal people. These a re people who play big with a humble heart. Want to be profiled in the next issue? For details email [email protected] Publishing my book on Amazon, and my first pregnancy article in Fitness First magazine. What’s your main focus now and what are your goals for the future? Who has inspired you in your fitness career? First and foremost it’s Matt Church and Lexie Williams – a dynamic couple who walk their talk. Matt’s entrepreneurial spirit has been inspirational to me. Robbie Parker is also a legend. And, lastly, my great friend John  Biggaton, a strength and conditioning coach who directed me to the best rehabilitation courses in this industry. NETWORK SUMMER 2014 | 35