The Uneducated PT Podcast - 🎙️ Episode 87: Rewiring the Mind – Transformation Through Language with Greg

Episode Date: June 3, 2025

(@thetransformationcoach_) In this insightful episode, host Karl O'Rourke engages in a deep conversation with Greg, known as The Transformation Coach, exploring the profound impact of mindset and language on personal transformation.Greg shares his journey and expertise on how the words we choose and the narratives we construct can either propel us forward or hold us back. The discussion delves into the psychology of self-talk, the power of reframing limiting beliefs, and practical strategies for cultivating a mindset conducive to growth and resilience.Listeners will gain valuable insights into the subtle yet powerful ways language shapes our reality and how intentional communication can lead to meaningful change.

Okay, I'm going to start with a quote from you, all right? So high achievers fail at fitness, not because they're incapable, but because they try to wing it in an area that needs structure. Can you explain this in a little bit more depth for the listeners? And maybe after that, then kind of explain a little bit about what you do and who you are, Greg. Yeah, absolutely. I think a lot of people, especially kind of who I deal with, fail because they're not applying what they already have very well in this space.

So for me, it will be very patronising to speak to my clients, my demographic and say, you just need a bit of patience. You just need a bit of self-motivation. You just need to have a bit of discipline. You just need to understand the lead gratification. They have that. How can they raise a family, build a business and succeed in the other areas that they are succeeding in if they don't have those? us traits. So my job as a coach is not just to instruct and give a meal plan and a nutrition plan,

right? Chat GPT can probably write a very good training plan, right? Like we're here for a different reason. I don't like the surface level coaching. I like the deeper level, which I guess is what coaching is, right? It's below the surface. So for me, it's helping them connect what they've already got to this area as well. Because I know the value firsthand and I can see it in everyone on inside the program. When it comes to achieving this, how it can echo into and bleed into other areas of your life

and help other areas of life become optimized, I guess. So yeah, my job is connecting that gap. Yeah, I think that's a misconception people have when, you know, they talk about fitness, something that they're struggling with and they go, ah, I'm just not motivated, I'm just lazy and stuff like that.

But like you said, then you can just look at different dynamics of their life and like, it's like, oh, they're really thriving in this area of their life. So that kind of breaks down all these kind of conversations that you're having with yourself, that you are lazy because you have evidence in this space that you're actually a high performer. 100%. A lot of people do that to themselves as well. They, I guess, have that internal monologue that might be a little bit negative.

And I think that is, I don't know, I put it out there, maybe half the battle changing the mindset, you know, an application. Yeah. How do you, like you, you are called basically the transformation coach. Is that correct? Yeah. Yeah. How would you define success for your clients beyond physical transformation? I think the physical is only a very small part of it. And if we get it right, it's a nice natural byproduct. I believe you are kind of a, you are some of your most repeated habits. It's not about being super rigid. and, you know, like a bodybuilder, I guess.

It's more about having better structure when it comes to the repeatable habits that are going to give you back more than they take away. And I guess for me, it's about helping people find that. The transformation then is probably largely around what you get from the other areas. So I know for me personally, and a lot of people inside the program,

I'm a better parent, I think more creatively, I'm happier, my energy is higher, I feel like I've got more of a purpose, and I'm on a high when I'm looking after my health and my fitness, and I'm one of my priorities. I'm a big believer in you can't pour from an empty cup. So transformation for me is beyond the physique,

which sounds a bit bizarre. I have a, I guess, a decent physique. It might sound a bit strange coming from me that actually it is largely how I feel mentally when it comes to what I do and what it gives me in other areas, the extra latitude it gives me when it comes to being productive

and people get a better me, family, friends, you know, colleagues, clients, my team, people that work for me when I feel my best and I feel strong and fit And that's the real transformation, I believe. So yeah, the transformation coach is more about a success story

than an eight-week shred. And I actually say this to people when they come into the program. I'm not interested in having someone who wants an eight-week transformation. I'm not bothered about hosting a picture and selling someone else in on my Instagram from someone else's six-pack. I want to work with people that want a lifestyle. Now, that's transformation for me, you know. it echoes everywhere.

We know the power, right? Of this, it has to be more. Yeah. Yeah. And you know what? One of the questions I was going to ask you was like, how do you help clients, maybe dads and moms who kind of trying to navigate that guilt

that sometimes they have around dedicating time to their personal fitness goals? But like you just said, it's, you know, by doing that thing, you know, you're a better friend, you're a better parent, you're shown up as a better person. it's not selfish, it's selfless.

Yeah. Your children, especially for, you know, from that side of things as a parent, you learn very quickly. They don't do what you tell them. They do what you show them. Like, you want to be leading by example. Because if you're, I say this to a lot of the parents I coach, if your child said, you know, came to you and I just give him to everyone,

giving, giving, giving you say, you need to do something for yourself, son or daughter. You need to look after yourself. I don't like it when you're not looking after yourself. Put yourself first and you would encourage them to take care of themselves. Yet we're not demonstrating that to them. And they see that. They learn that. They absorb that.

So that household culture of, you know, good nutritious foods, active lifestyle, balance when it comes to, you know, indulgence, but some form of structure when it comes to at the same time. I think it's very important. For example, my oldest little boy, he's three and a half, very observant, very observant.

So my partner, Chloe, will train on an evening when we put the boys down. She'll put Buddy down, he wants a story, etc. We're in there together. He wants a story, and Chloe will do a story first.

And I'll come in and so he'll go to the gym and buddy will say to me, where's mummy gone? She's gone to the gym. I want to come and say good night again. Well, no, she's gone to the gym. Why does Mommy go to the gym? and buddy will say, because mummy looks after Bode and mummy looks after Brookee,

mummy looks after daddy, and mummy looks after herself. Yes, that's right, Bodhi, Mommy looks after herself as well. And it's that frame and they're observant of, like, we should be one of our priorities. Like, I get we can't be our only priority anymore if we have a business and dependence. But I strongly believe we should still be one of our priorities. We can have more than one. It's a, you know, there's no rules when it comes to that. You just have to have. Yeah, and you know what?

You touched on there as well even in terms of, okay, I know it's not, I know it's not your only priority, but, you know, it has to be one of your priorities. And then I suppose like this, even with your clients, I suppose it's, it's difficult trying to find this balance of, okay, family life, you know, a career, maybe a very demanding career and also trying to navigate your your fitness goals what do you think are some of the pitfalls some of the mistakes that people make when they're trying to pursue health they're trying to pursue fitness they're trying to get in shape but they're also trying to kind of balance this kind of you know family life and and high high achievers career like what are some of the things that

people make make their life harder in terms of their fitness goals when it comes to the try them to balance all aspects. It's definitely difficult. You're so right. And it is a challenge. And I think firstly understanding that and actually being relatable, like I'm not 21 with no kids and all the time in the world. So the coaching is slightly easier because it can come from a place of like,

I share the same chaos as you. I'm human and we get it wrong sometimes. but having a structure and a skill set around that is very useful. Biggest pitfalls, the perfectionist attitude, perfectionist mindset, the all-or-nothing approach, because it's very unrealistic. It does a couple of things. Number one, it sets us up to fail, which reinforces that negative loop of I can't do this. I don't have time for this.

I'm just not cut out for this. It's just not for me. I can't do this yet. is too much. It's a big reinforcement of that. And people try time and time and time again. It's not because they don't want it. That's a terrible attitude.

They do. They just don't know how. And sometimes it can be as simple as the approach. So I coach this a lot. My team coach this a lot. These two choices. Forward slowly or backwards quickly. And we all think,

no, can I swear? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. We all think, no, fuck that. We all think, no, fuck that. Yeah. I want option three. I want forwards quick.

It doesn't exist unless you can make it your only priority. So consistency beats intensity until the intensity can become consistent. And 80% continuously will always be 100. for one, two, three, four weeks and then back to nothing again. And it's just changing that approach and allowing yourself some grace to know that it will be forward slowly. That's okay. But what's the alternative? A shortcut, a con.

No, I'm going to go, I can do it this time. I just wasn't going hard enough. I didn't want it enough. I need to want it more. I need to push harder. I found this new trend. I found this new fad. This is the answer.

This holds the same. secret. I need to be more aggressive. I need to do what these Instagram people are telling me and drive harder. And then we fall again and now we reinforce even more. I definitely can't do this. I am shit at this. And actually, we just need to understand that the alternative is, is worse. And it's like a payday loan, right? You can have 20 grand in your bank account tomorrow if you want, but there'll be a consequence because you're going to pay 35 back. And it's the same thing. each time we repeat the process where anything in a worse position

and it's just understanding, okay, let's be realistic, let's be honest, which is what most coaches can't be because a lot of coaches aren't coaches, they're salesmen and very good marketers, they go on Instagram, I've got a great physique, fantastic,

well coaches charge very good money, I can do this. They have an incredible offer, incredible physique, and they sell people in on the front end and they've got that many followers, it doesn't fucking matter if it's a shit program,

they just got plenty of people coming in the front end. and selling that dream and it's not realistic, we have to be honest. You can achieve this. Fuck, yeah, you can. But you won't do it overnight. We're going to need to go deeper into habits. We're going to need to tie this to your identity.

We're going to need a skill set as well as just a set of plans. We need a plan for when you come off the plan. Because likelihood is you're going to come off the plan a fuck load of times because life's not linear. And it's real solutions inside your reality that are going to give you that long-term change and it's acceptance of that journey and knowing that 80% done consistently is fucking brilliant because and again this is something I teach a lot inside my program at my events I promote this a lot this concept and idea of like if we could only eliminate your backward steps you'd be where you want to be like think about that most people know what to do

largely. And they've probably had a handful of times across the last few years where they've moved forward, lost 10, 12, 15 pounds of body fat, you know, built a little bit of muscle, started to like what they saw and then gone back. And they lose the same 10 to 15 pounds every time. Imagine if you could add all those 10 to 15 pounds up. If you where you want to be, so really the focus is not how do I get there faster is how do I stop coming off it? How do I stop defaulting back what do I need to put in place to make this realistic a lot of coaches talk about make your journey sustainable sustainable's bullshit you don't why the fuck would you want to sustain a deficit and durable yes how can we endure the process to get the result so you actually cross

the line then how do we make the lifestyle sustainable yeah because there's always a period of work right and if we could eliminate the backward steps, it looks like this. Progress. Shit hits the fan, bad time, chaos, stuff's happening, family work, consolidate. Clouds part, sun shines again. Progress, pick up where you left off. Another season of pulling. Okay, consolidate.

Clouds part, sunshines, pick up where you left off. Progress. That's a staircase. Over the years, you're still moving forwards. versus this. Progress. She is to fan, family work, chaos, go backwards. Sun shines, clouds, part, progress again, but we're progressing from the bottom. If we could learn how to not fall below zero and she is the fan and just consolidate, be happy that we're not going backwards. When we inevitably get that kick of momentum again, we pick up where we left off, we stack them on top, so really,

most people need to focus on eliminating the backward steps with actual system solutions tools because we're all pretty good at the forward steps yeah we all we all get we all got these this boost of motivation it's like can we sustain it then i even i you know what i even see that myself in terms of like i i know it sounds very obvious but i've like figured out that if you want to be successful and anything, just do it longer than anyone else is willing to do it. And like, I know that sounds so obvious, but I even look at it in terms of like, uh, this podcast, right? I'm like, I'm on episode 87 now, right?

Nearly going to hit on 100. And I'm like, there's so many podcasts that, that don't make it to 100 because they, they got a boost of, they got a boost of motivation. They did 10 and then they stopped. And I was like, you know, well, if I just keep going eventually, if I can make it to a thousand podcast episodes. Like, it's,

it's not about what you get in the end. It's like, who you become in, in the process of it. And like, if I can, if I can just, like,

last a long enough time, things will just fall into place. And then I was thinking of, thinking of that in terms of the context of, like, weight loss. And I was like, well, instead of someone looking to lose 10 kilos,

it's like, can they aim for a hundredth gym sessions, you know, or on a hundred walks and, like, like, that's just puts you in the perspective, okay,

I'm going to, played a long game with this and if I can play a long game and if I don't quit because you know life got in the way and I'm more likely to get the outcome that I want but it's all just because I just stuck to the process I could not agree more and that is why taking it back to the beginning of the conversation I help the people I coach by showing them they already have the skill set they just need to apply it because they've done what you're talking about in other areas of the life when you were thinking, oh, I can apply this to fitness.

That's what we do. You've got evidence. Confidence comes from evidence. If you've got evidence in something, you can now be confident. And there's no evidence in this field, so they don't have confidence. But if we can collect evidence in other areas and sectors of your life, then that's confidence that it can happen here too. And isn't coaching a lot about helping people believe in themselves?

Like, I don't do anything for anyone. and I just unlock what's already there. And I think people talk about what you were saying there. People talk about, and I think it's bullshit, right, where they say, like, you don't need motivation, you just need discipline. You don't need discipline either. You just need identity.

If this is your identity, you don't need motivation or discipline. It's who you are. And this is probably the strongest thing I teach. each inside the program is to tie this to your identity. Hmm. Yeah, I'm really, sorry, sorry, I was just gonna say that makes perfect sense because like, I don't need discipline to go to the gym, I just go because I actually enjoy it.

It's who you are. Yeah. It's who you are. So there's a really nice example, um, let me use something other than fitness, like smoking, right? So let's imagine I smoke. And yesterday I quit. I quit yesterday. Me and you go for a drink tonight. go out and you're going to smoke an area because you smoke in this example. Do you want a fag, Greg? No, thank you. I quit yesterday. I'm trying to stop versus this.

Do you want a fag, Greg? I don't smoke. Now like there is, even though I only quit yesterday, that's not my, I don't smoke. Why would I be tempted? Why would I want? I am, I've literally decided it and the whole language I'm using is now different. don't smoke. So if you can tie something to your identity,

I'm not saying like, this is the magic solution. You try this with anything and you're going to do it. But it's a massive step towards success when you tie this to your identity. I am not that person who does that anymore. I am the person who does this. And then you can ask yourself questions in the moment.

Will this action line up with my intention? Will this take me closer to my goal? further away. Do I really want this or is it just a learned habit that I'm falling back into? Anytime you can put space between an emotion and a response, you have the opportunity to make a different decision on that. It's just another tool to help create space and you're then going to make these different decisions or you're certainly going to make better decisions more often, which again is just going to take you to go a little bit quicker, a little bit closer to your goal and when you then move towards your goal the momentum picks up anyway because you see the

benefits now you're buying to it now you've got confidence because you've got proof so you believe in yourself more and you know then you start changing your circle of people he start talking to yourself better and differently in your mind and so a big one for me is identity that's how i help people people change. Do you think that with identity, do you think action needs to come first for identity or do you think that you can also like, you know, focus on the good quality of thought to then create the action. Well, I'm thinking just in my head as an example of like, okay, like for me to say, like, I am a public speaker, but if I've never done any public speaking before, like it might be a little bit harder for me to then try to identify with that thing until I actually do that

And even sometimes then when I do it, I might still not believe that I am because I've only done it once. A hundred percent. I think an element of both is really nice to use because again, you're just trying to collect evidence, then you can build actual confidence.

So, you know, it could be a smaller group setting and then, so I used to do this. I'll share something personal. I can remember doing this from the age of 12, 13 years old. So it's been something I've done. And I've only just recently in the last few years realized what I was doing.

I never did it with intention. I just did it. And it actually was really smart. I always, it's going to sound like lying, but believe me, it was never lying. I always spoke about myself and thought about myself at the next step already. I operated from that.

I was already there. I talked like I was there. I acted like I was there. For example, when I started PT in, I did this, I've done this consciously from the age of 13, but a big one for this example is when I kind of got into this industry,

I was like, was I like 17, 18, 19 or something? I've been coaching for like 17 years now. Somewhere around that age, 18, 19. And I, you know, I've got one or two clients and I remember someone asking me, how many clients have you got? Now I'm going, oh, I've got like 10 clients now. I'm absolutely loving it.

and I'd only had like two or three, but in my mind, I had that 10, I had that 10 already. I would always talk about myself at the next stage. You know, if I had an idea and a concept

but I knew would work, I imagined it was already working. I was already underway. I spoke about it. I've got this new business. I've got this new brand. And I would talk about that like it is already happening. Now the world just needs to catch up.

That makes perfect sense. And in, in, in relation to let's say your clients who are looking for transformation like how could that play out to help them so we use a lot of things like certain frames with them visualizing things and acting like the version of themselves who've already achieved this you know what would that version of yourself do what decision would that version of yourself make in this moment and that you know can help you help take you one step closer to that by

just deciding that this is who I'm becoming, this is who I am. Not this is who I want to be and this is how I hope things will happen and I hope this band call on the weekend goes well. I hope I can enjoy this, you know, meal out with my family and these cup of drinks without completely going overboard

and then spiraling and losing two or three weeks' progress and feeling so guilty and lethargy. But I hope I don't have to miss it. Rather than thinking like, I am going out this weekend, I am going to eat this meal. I'm going to choose what I want off the menu. I'm going to have a couple of drinks.

I'm going to enjoy it. And then afterwards, I am going to go straight back to normal. I'm not the guy that has one or two and then goes out and gets absolutely wankered. I'm not that guy anymore. I am setting this as my intention because this is who I now am.

I can have that balance. I can create that. And it's talking about it before you go as if it is happening. Now it can't not happen. It's like the whole, I don't smoke. Why would I be tempted?

Oh, I tried to quit, but we're in the sun and I was having a coffee with breakfast and that's just when I loved to have a fag. None of them situations are going to tempt you anymore because you're not a smoker. You know, these, and I am aware, it's not as simple as I am making it out, but surely it has to be more effective than the opposite.

And I think we get too carried away on, how do I guarantee this? how do I just move towards it a little bit further and then see what happens from there? And I know if a damn sure thinking about things this way is more effective than thinking about them in a different way. So why not start there? Why not give it a try? Why not entertain it?

Do you know what? It just reminds me of actually the power of language. Like, and when you explained that, I was like, it, it's actually, it actually is so powerful because, like, the opposite is like, if you have any creeping self-doubt, whether you're going to do the thing or not like it's just setting you like you said it's just setting you up for failure but if you just decide that i'm going to do it like you do you do it mindset is everything and positive self-talk is everything that's why i'm a big fan of gratitude like i'm not very spiritual i'm i'm not religious personally so the gratitude thing always was like it's not for me

It's a bit too. However, I've then started to understand the concept of it. You're letting in something positive. You're opening up for opportunity. You're casting your mind into abundance. So even something as simple as that, when you wake up, can change how you react. If I wake up and I'm like, today is going to be incredible. Life is abundant.

I'm going to be able to help so many people. I've got the opportunity. to work with so many cool people today. I get to lead. Today's going to be incredible. And I go downstairs and I spill my coffee. Oh, wow, I'm glad that didn't go on my t-shirt. You know, I drive to work and someone cuts me up.

That was close. I think this guy must be in a rush. Thanks having a bad morning. Verse, if I get up, fucking raining again, man. And my diary is full of clients who are just going to give me shit all day. And I would really need to make another few grand this month. Otherwise, I'm not going to be able to pay my staff and my team. Are we going to do it?

Is it out there? Can I, I'm going to cut out for this? And everything creeps in and you set your day up totally different. You go downstairs, you spill that same coffee. Fuck sick, I knew it. The day has already started shit. I need to wipe that up now and I'm already fucking late. Someone cuts you up.

You fucking asso. What the fuck is wrong with this country and this society? And you're just miserable from the start and you've wound yourself up. Now, I can't prove that the first version does anything cognitively change. I mean, studies do show, by the way, the reticular activating system is a very, very powerful thing. And the more you prime that, the more you actually can absorb things subconscious. So there is actually science behind this, but that's not my field. While I can't clinically prove that myself, even though there are studies,

I certainly know it's fucking better than the second example. So why would I not go for the first one anyway, even if I can't, you know, prove it? Yeah, there's, I think there's actually a great trend going on social media now at the moment. And it's, and it's exactly what you said. It's like, it's two people. It's the exact same person. One's like in color, ones like black and white. And it's like, you know, relationship ended, relationship ended.

Like life goes on, life goes on. It's how you see you, how you see. And loads of different examples of that. It's like, it's the same event. One example goes one way, one example goes. Yeah, exactly. It's just a lens in which you're looking through life, regardless of what happens, which, which I do love.

What I was going to ask you as well is so like 17 years serving people, 17 years, you know, on the on the gym floor, coaching, like making real, real transformation. What do you think of all the years you've spent doing this and helping people to transform? not just their bodies, but also their lives and their mindset. What do you think you've learned about people from serving people? I've learned people are more capable than they think they are or than they know they are.

I've seen people transform. I've seen people change and impact every other area of their life positively, like a career, like family, like relationships and just go on to excel everywhere else. to the point where I remember asking one of my clients who lost nearly seven stone, built some insane business off the back of it, like the guy is crushing life, relationships better, just this incredible change. I remember saying to him,

how was this guy inside there? How was this guy that makes these decisions that's caught himself here? How did he get to that? place, you know? And when you, when you have that crossroads in your life, when you're ready to make change, there's a lot of power in that, like people have a lot more power than they think. Sometimes it's just about believing in people and helping them unlock that from themselves. But yeah, I guess my biggest, the biggest thing I've learned is people have more potential than they actually give themselves credit for. And if we can take some ownership in certain areas,

of our lives and really want to change. And for some people, it does take a big crossroads in life. Like, unfortunately, like a health scare or a marriage interrupate or a, I don't know, bankruptcy and whatever it might be. For some people, it does take a big pivotal moment. But, man, we're capable of way more than we think. And we shouldn't be settling. Like, I think happiness lies in effort more than it does anywhere else.

Like, is that whole saying, isn't it? Like, easy path, hard life. hard path easy life i think like we're wired to like well we are look at everything else like when we break something down it repairs stronger yeah you know it's it's it's biology like we need that bit of stress bit of challenge and it we become very strong from it and the impacts i can have on your life is massive i've seen it thousands of times do you think because that's actually a really good point um and i just thought about this in my head like do you think that the the worst place that someone can be is like in that kind of comfortably numb zone because like you said

sometimes it takes you know breaking up with the the partner or you know having a health scare that kind of that pain kind of drives them into action to actually get more out of their life but a lot of time people just get stuck in there around just everything's okay like i'm you know my my health isn't great but it's not terrible or you know um you know i'm doing well in work but i'm not doing amazing or my relationship's okay but it's not amazing do you think they get caught in that kind of comfortably numb zone? Yeah, I do. I think it's also important to say like that

it's okay if you're happy there and you want to be there like some people do like that but I think most people if they're really honest with themselves want to feel like they're more, want to feel progress like to feel progress like that like having some having a task having a bit of a challenge I think we enjoy that I think most people do

anyway and and you take that away from yourself I think it's difficult and nothing really changes unless you do challenge yourself and that could be physically mentally I call it the comfort zone because it's for cunts the cunt the cunt first zone yeah yeah exactly it's for cunts don't stay there but you know what I it's so true because I remember having a I talked with a client before and you know, it was the first time they finally entered the gym and they trained with me for six months and, you know, one thing that they said to me that was quite profound was like I didn't realize how much pain I was walking around in until I actually started to make them changes. I think. Wow. People don't realize that they're like they

there could be a lot more to their life and sometimes it takes like you said them health scares to force them into action. That's huge isn't it? What an awesome feeling and for the for the client and for yourself and I've had things similar you know people say like I'm not waking it with a headache anymore as in like wow you thought that was like the standard you thought waking up like that foggy and headache and slow on the thought you thought that was like that was standard that was the default wow like you you see a lot of people who change and then something happens and they don't have the skill set to consolidate they go backwards what we're talking about earlier And then they were, oh man, now I feel worse

because I know how good I used to feel. And it really highlights the difference. And we're not talking about being extreme, like a bodybuilder, but it's just stacking some different habits together. And you can feel massive. And that's why it has to be, I guess, full circle background, more than just how you look, because it can impact you elsewhere so much as well.

And you should have other metrics when it comes to your success. What do you think, how do you think relationships play in this dynamic? of transformation of real transformation and from your experience working with people relationships coach to claim or I mean I mean yeah like interpersonal relationships whether it's their friends or family or yeah how does that play because that play a key role in terms of holding people back or pushing them forward or I think it's huge I think it's huge like you you you tend to become your environment or you tend to be shaped by your environment.

So if that environment is a of a culture that doesn't serve you, then getting out of that environment is one of the first steps to being able to change. So I would say your environment and your company you keep is paramount because that's what you hear every day. That's what you see. That's your current standard. elevate that standard, be around people that are pushing themselves,

challenge themselves, are where you want to be in any domain, not even just fitness. It's very healthy. That's how you reach that next level. It's a really nice saying. It's not my saying.

It's from Westside Barbell. And he says, Louis, he says, walk with the limb and you'll develop a limp. Yeah. You want to be out there with people that are, pushing you and running faster than you so it challenges you to to keep up so when i was doing

just gym floor work where i was was very well known for having the best trainers like in our area yeah and people used to say like why you know why you all working there it's so competitive down there no it's not the reason why we are all together is because we push it we have to keep getting better because we are around the best like be around that competition because it If they're pushing, motherfucker I'm pushing. And if they're push, motherfucker I'm pushing again, be around that energy. Like competition happens at the bottom, collaboration happens at the top. And if you can work together and surround yourself, that becomes your standard.

Our standard was so high that everybody in there had to be high as well, or you get left behind. Hence by I talk about the comfort zone. Like, get out of there, like, all yourself around. The second thing on kind of relationships and friendships and environment is I don't think people do it very well. Like I hear a lot of people complain, my partner, my friends, they're steering me away from my goals and they're not supporting me. Well, have you actually asked for support? And then deeper than that, have you actually told them how you wish to be supported? Because not many people have. Have you had the conversation of like, this is what I want.

This is what I need for this, this, and this reason. And I would love you to show up for me as my friend, as my partner, like this, this, this and this. Then, like, you will truly find out if that person is good for you or not. But until you ask them to support you and tell them how that support looks like or what that support looks like for you, how you want them to support. you you can't blame them you have to blame yourself you know and then again if you've directly asked for that and you stay around them once again you can't let them you have to blame yourself yes yeah you send your choice yeah that makes that makes and like you know what it sounds like it's something so simple but it's actually something people fall down on all the time with relationships it's the communication and I remember like I've I've I remember even um before when I was coaching um you know I would have a conversation

conversations with clients and you know we would be discussing how their week went and the habits and what they've implemented what they haven't implemented and then they'll go off on a tangent of how their partner you know didn't do this or doesn't support them this way or that way and it's like oh will you have you communicated that with them it's like no I'm just going to pitch about them to my coach. What in terms of the clients that actually that also reminded me as well even when you talked about environment there like someone someone working with you um like even around obviously having a coach is going to be really really important but also a community of other people who are actually doing or like two or three steps ahead of what you're trying to do like that reinforces the good

behaviour as well huge it's probably one of the best things about team tc is the community yeah and again that becomes your new standard yeah you know and you've got that support network because if Greg the professional tells you to do something, of course you're going to say that. You were born this way, Greg. You popped out of the womb like this. This is your lifestyle. Of course, you are going to tell me this.

However, if a normal person tells you this is how they've done it, it now carries much more weight. Wow, this is realistic. They were like me not months ago. And they're now where I want to be. You listen to that person more and more, certainly more than, you know, in those situations, a coach can be great. But of course, that's what you're going to tell me.

Of course, it's easy for you, you know, whereas if it's a community, it's like, okay, I've got to take real ownership now because I'm seeing this happening. You've got more people to ask questions to, more people to get support from. And people with different lifestyles that are very similar to yours. And you can pick bits from each of them. So it's very, very powerful as a tool is a community. and it's something that we leverage and lean into quite a lot. Yeah, because it's like sometimes it's harder to take the advice of someone

who might be like 10 or 15 steps ahead of you versus the person who is two or three steps ahead of you. Absolutely. It feels more achievable if it's closer to you or if you know a little bit about where they came from. So if when I feel like jujitsu, my jujitsu coach, he tells us, to do this. When you roll, which is like aspiring, when you, when you roll at the end of the session, roll with someone who's better than you. So you can really try and work and like, you know,

learn something from them. They might do something to you and then ask them, you know, you tap out and like, that was fucking, how did you do that? Like, what did you do to get me in that? Like, roll with someone who's worse than you. So you can practice a little bit of that on them and, you know, have a bit of an easier target to sort of practice on, and then roll with someone who's equal to you, so you can have a good bit of challenging competition. And it's, you know, the similar thing with the community,

you've got people a few steps ahead of you who will pull you forward, a few behind you, who you can feel empowered by helping them along. It can actually help your journey. It can help you buy into it more if you can feel like that person who's, I am doing this, I can help others.

And then people alongside you who can hold you accountable, like look I had the same week as you last week and I navigated it like this. Yes. Did we make a different choice? Yeah, you know what? You're right. I think I need to. So you're right with the community.

It's massive. And that's such a good point on, you know, how much it benefits you to teach someone else. Like I could even think in that in terms of, okay, if I want to learn something and I want it to stick in my brain, it's like I learn it and then, you know, I might write about it. And then if I can try and teach it to someone else, even if that's like, you know, know, teaching it to clients or something like that, then it sticks so much quicker and it just reinforces it. So just like that reinforcing the behavior by teaching it to another member who might be a little bit further behind you. And sometimes when you're telling it to someone else,

you're actually talking to yourself. Yeah. And you know, you're allowing it to sink into yourself as well by like preaching it almost. So you're so right with that. Um, do you think that you have a stronger mindset now than you did 10 years ago? And if so, what do you think helps to create a stronger mindset for people? That's hard to answer. I feel like I've always had quite a strong mindset, but I feel like it's because I've always decided that I've got a strong mindset.

I definitely feel like it's stronger now, and I think the answer is very simple, like everything else. Repetition and what we said earlier around, like, confidence comes from evidence. I've now got more and more evidence of my capability, so it's easier for me to have a better mindset because I've got proof of how that helps me and works until you've got evidence you just need to believe it and you know people people say fake it till you make it

I don't like that saying for me it's believe it until you can start to achieve it you know and it's that whole thing of like deciding it's going to happen it's more likely to you know what's that what's that really saying that's everywhere where it's like

if you whether you think you can or you can't you're right everyone's heard that saying right and that's a big thing with mindset and I believe how I've improved it is just by being humble like I'm still learning

and I can learn from everyone everyone I'm always looking to learn a lesson I'm a bit of fan of dual use of time. So like, I don't really have lots of space to prioritize reading, physical reading, but I understand the benefit and the importance. So I leverage dual use of time. I drive quite a lot to places backwards and forwards meetings. I've got other businesses as well. Driving backwards and forwards to places or like to the gym. I'll purposely go to a gym that's a bit further out so I've got this little bit of time in this window and I'll digest good content.

So I'll use like audible. So I'll listen to podcasts or audiobooks from various different people on various different topics and I'll I'll expand my mind. I'll open my mind to things and I'll learn about things and I'll entertain other people's thoughts and ideas. That's genuinely how I believe my mindset has improved, absorbing good content and then just good networking. Speaking to people you admire or who are doing good things. And there's always nuggets. Someone listening to this podcast might pick up, you know, one or two nuggets from what we've spoken about.

That might improve their mindset. Something that we've spoken about today might just stick very hard. And that's improved their mindset. And that's from them taking the time out to digest, I hope, good content, like what we're doing here. And it's putting that F in and knowing you're going to get a return. I always try and take like just one or two things away sometimes I'll listen to a podcast for 45 minutes to an hour

my goal is to discard as much of it as possible and take you know one two three really key points when I do my live events for my program and a lot of them are full day events at a hotel with guest speakers and presentations and it's big chocker block day and I will always stand up at the end and say I want you to pick three

key things that you've learned today retain them, implement them quickly discard the rest once they're locked in, look back at your notes, watch the recordings of the event again, pick three more. It's like if someone tells you loads of jokes, if you go watch a comedian and you're like,

oh, was it good? Yeah, it was brilliant. What jokes did they say? I can't remember, isn't it? Because you're trying to fucking learn them all and remember them all as they come through, you know? And sometimes you're going to forget more, so pick some key points. But there's a, I'm trying to, I'm trying to look up here who says it, but there's a great, I remember listening to him

and he was speaking on a podcast, and he said exactly what you said. He goes, don't worry about consuming all the information. The good shit will stick. Yeah. And I think that's right. It's like you don't need to get so kind of invested in trying to know everything or learn everything at once,

because there's so much information out there anyway that like it's gonna be just information overload. So what you and I've also found that even if I have like listened to a book or I've read a book or maybe even if I listened to a podcast twice, but I listened to it maybe now and maybe in two years time or like I listened to it last year and I listened to it now because like I might be on a little bit of a journey of self development. What I didn't hear the first time I hear clearly now or I've interpreted the information a little bit differently because I'm able to absorb it more because. you know now I'm more capable of taking on that information. I love that. It's really powerful. And sometimes you'll have a conversation with a person.

And years later, I get what they meant there. Yeah. I now know why that's applicable. Yeah. And you're right. And the more you expose yourself to something, the more chance you've got of getting a benefit from it. So even if you just put aside, you know,

two 30 minute windows a week, to digest and consume some good content. Don't worry what it is. Don't think what's the best one. Just download a load and start listening, start absorbing. And you'll be very surprised how much you do learn from it. And yeah, that's I guess where my mindset's being improved by listening to others. Will Smith says it, running and reading.

Two things everyone should do. Reading, there's not one problem you're going to have in your life. past or present or in the future that someone else hasn't already had an experience and written about it and running which is I think it kind of just means exercise in general

there's nothing better to clear your mind clear your head and prioritise your health than exercise and yeah Will Smith running and reading two things you should do yeah well I think that's where most of my self-development has really come from I think it's just going for a walk and listen to a podcast and just doing that on repeat and even like when I think about

clients and stuff like that let's say they're just trying to improve their their overall perception of food or nutrition or even exercises and stuff like that they're getting their steps in and they're having this little voice in their head that is helping them to make better decisions or to look at something a little bit more differently

and I think the beauty about podcasts as well is that like you don't feel like someone's telling you what to do it's like you just feel like you're kind of earwigan on someone's conversation more so than anything. And like when people feel like they're being told what to do, they're far less likely to

implement it. But when they feel like it's their idea because they listen to it at a podcast, they're far more likely to kind of engage in that behavior that they learned or listened to. That's powerful. I think you're so right with that. Yeah. It's a choice then. Yeah.

100%. We've only five more minutes out. And there's loads of questions that I wanted to get in. I have to talk I have to ask you about family because I know it's a huge aspect of of your life it's something that you prior even though you've a hugely successful career you're doing all these wonderful things like you come across as someone who it's like you know family is the most important thing to me and that's what I prioritize so I just wanted to ask you a little bit about like what what are some of the lessons that you've learned

from family life what what has it taught you about life you're gonna get it wrong that's one thing I've learned and that's okay. As long as you're trying and you're aware, you're doing fantastic because we're all going to fuck us kids up. One way or another, we're going to fuck them up in some capacity. As long as we're trying our best not to, then we're doing really, really good.

So for me, I've seen a lot of people. I surround myself with people I want to become and I admire and that's again where I've learned a lot whether that be podcasts or actual real people and I've got a lot of friends close to me who I've seen make mistakes and who've given me advice

from the other side and it's always been that whole thing of like remember who you're doing it for and why are you doing it and don't lie to yourself either be honest and say do you know what I'm not doing it for them I'm doing it for me

selfishly because I love it and it's who I am it's part of my identity. I thrive off it. That's me. I thrive off it. So allowing in a little bit of like, it's okay to be selfish.

But then also knowing that, but it is also for them. And I don't want to get to the end of it and have nobody to share it with. Like, I think it's Dana White that says this. I might be wrong. Whoever it is,

it's beautiful. Someone asked him on a podcast. what do you want your legacy to be? Something like that. And he said, I want my kids to say that I was great. I want my kids to say, we had a great dad.

And I thought I was so powerful. And it's like, you know, you pursue these things, but make sure you're trying to be balanced the best you can as well, or at least be aware of it. And there's going to be seasons of pushing and pulling where you will have to spend less time

with your family because you're trying to push something over the line. But if your intentions are there that you're doing it for this reason and you're not forgetting about that reason and the time does come, then it's okay to have seasons of pushing and pulling with it. Chloe, my partner, said something to me a couple of days ago. I was like, I feel really bad. And by the way, I spend so much time with my boys way. Way more than the average person could because I don't travel an hour to work

and rush hour traffic and have to say. off at 6.30 in the morning before they're awake. I don't have to work until 5, 6 and then travel an hour back and I get home and they're in bed. I manage my own time. So even though I work around the clock, there's always windows of time every day where I can solely be present with my family. So I spend a lot of time with my boys. But there's sometimes where you're like, I've been so busy and had to push so much forward that I just feel guilty. And Chloe said to me, like the fact that you're aware of that shows that you're a good dad. And it's like, do you know what?

It is like I'm conscious of it. I don't, I want to do it. It's like a desire. It's not a, uh, something I must do to, I must spend, I have to spend time with them or, well, I better, better go and see them. It's like a desire I want to. And when you want to then, and you know it's important to you, you'll, you'll get it right. But there's going to be seasons of pushing and pulling.

as long as your intentions are there then you're doing a good job love that and then the last question that i have for you in terms of legacy it's probably a nice way to kind of to finish it up what do you hope um to leave as kind of your legacy uh in your work particularly as a transformation coach like what would you like that you know people who worked with you say about you when when you finish up to answer because it's never been part of my conscious thought. Yeah. I've never thought I must do this to have something said about me or I must do this for an appearance to the point where I've never really, never really given it thought.

I think what's more important to me is how my legacy feels to me. Yeah. Well, can I reword this question actually? What fills you with excitement about your work? It's probably a better way to put it. Yes, that's my legacy, how I feel during it. I want my legacy to be for me. I want to die knowing that I've fulfilled something. And for me, it's about cliche as fuck,

but the journey, I get excited about imparting knowledge, things that, I've seen work for the people and work for me and sharing that and helping people become empowered and feel that themselves. I get a big high from that and it probably comes down to psychology of me, maybe wanting to, I guess, please people because it makes me feel good. There's an element of that, but I just enjoy the process of building and growing and teaching and educating and being involved in this industry.

I think it's just who I am. I need to feel like I have a purpose for me. I just, I enjoy it. I am at my best when I'm giving. And I suppose I'll leave one last question because I know I have a lot of personal trainers who listen to this podcast as well. Do you have any advice for anyone who might be kind of at the start of their journey as a business owner as a personal trainer or an online coach or

someone providing that kind of a service. If you do this because you want to make money because we charge good money, like the average coach or PT that just does well earns what, surgeons, pilots, doctors, lawyers

will earn. If you do this because you want to make good money, you probably fail. Or it would be very short-lived. If you do this, this because you genuinely want impact. You want to help. You want to spread your knowledge, your passion.

You want to educate. You make a fucking fortune. Yeah. You know what? And just going off on a side tangent of that when you said that, it's like it's funny one because it's like when you say that, you know, the ones who get in it just to make money,

they end up having a two year career as a personal trainer. They turn it to a business coach. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you know what? I had this conversation. about two hours ago with a friend who rang me for a call just to chat over his business

and kind of run some ideas by me for him to implement. And he was like, there's so many business coaches out there that haven't even going to business. They make all the revenue from coaching people on how to build a business. Like, their success comes from telling other people how to be successful. They're not actually being successful in their very thing. They're teaching other people to be successful in. Like, I would look at, oh, the personal trainer who's being in. in business for 17, 20 years and be like,

oh, well, there's a bit of evidence that someone knows how to live along and successful career. Maybe I should ask them for some advice, you know. Yeah. And I said this, I presented and spoke to a group of coaches early this year.

I think it was January to a room full of coaches. And one thing I said, you know, my talk was titled my 16 year overnight success. Yeah, nice. Like you got to eat shit for a little bit, you've got to put the time in, you've got to earn your stripes. If you want to be a coach.

If you want to be an instructor, that's different. If you want to be a coach, get to work. Put some time in. Greg, this has been unbelievable. Thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate it.

If people wanted to go and follow your work or maybe ask a couple of questions, maybe inquire about your program, where can they go to find you? Instagram. at the transformation coach, and I think it's underscore at the end, and all my details are on there.

But if anybody wants advice, help, wants to chat, coaches, clients, always happy to talk. This is what I love to do. Greg, you're a gentleman. We'll leave all the information in the show notes, the links so that people can get access to your account straight away and be able to send a message.

But listen, thank you for today. I know you're a busy man, so I appreciate you. Pleasure. Thank you for having me.