September 2009
Early September 2009
I am finally getting my ass in gear and returning to a healthy routine now that summer is over. No more vacations. No more excuses. Well, there are excuses, but I’ll leave them out for now. My gym membership was on hold for the summer because we were out of town so much. On September first, I went back and was glad to be there. Although I have only belonged to this gym since January, it feels very familiar and homey. I like being there. On my first day, I dove back in with cardio, pilates, and resistance training. My workout followed this schedule.
Then I hit the shower. The next two visits followed a similar routine omitting the pilates class because it was not offered. I also omitted the post-pilates cardio. I like to add a little cardio after pilates or yoga to get my heart rate back up before I go to the weight room. A little more cardio after resistance training loosens my muscles for an end-of-exercise stretch.
I had been suffering from shoulder pain after painting the ceiling of my breakfast room. Initially the pain was severe. I popped Percocet tablets left over from my broken ankle just to get to sleep. Although I was continuously stiff and sore, the condition was manageable until I tried to lie down in bed. Then the pain was intolerable, hence the pills. My doctor told me to stop painting for a while. No problem. Happy to comply. I did not lay any tile either, and the breakfast room is still bare floorboards. My husband went to the tennis court by himself to practice his serve with no one to return them. I’m a clod anyway. The workouts cured my shoulder, which was improving on its own time.
I could not press as much weight as usual but did my normal number of reps and sets with half-resistance. My lower body got no such break. Now I can gradually increase resistance to my normal level and go from there. I feel pretty good. Maybe I’ll start with the tile.
Thursday September 10, 2009
Even though it is almost midnight, I decided to write this entry while I am still fuming. I just checked my email and received a message from a potential client with whom I have been communicating for the last few weeks with vacation delays in between. The client, who I shall call Joe***, wanted lessons for his two children. According to Joe, the children are beginners who have skated at a couple of birthday parties and public sessions. Joe found my bio, rates, and contact information on the rink’s web site. His previous message asked about admission and skate rental fees. I provided the information. In his last email he tried to haggle for a lower lesson rate. I responded with a brief: “Sorry, but the rates are preset”, which is true. My rate is in the computer system and rings up automatically on the cash register.
The economy is bad, and it seems everything is up for bids. Sorry, I am not. I do not charge exorbitant rates. My rates are middle-of-the-road for this area. If I lower my hourly fee for one person, in fairness, I would have to do the same for everybody or risk angering my loyal clients and losing students. Yes, private students are hard to come by these days. However, I doubt dropping my fee would make new students come out of the woodwork. I would also risk cheapening myself, upsetting other coaches, and ultimately losing money. This is not K-mart. Skating lessons do not go on sale. Joe can sign his kids up for groups or look for someone less expensive. He can get a teenage coach who charges less, has no professional experience, and may not be much older than his children. Granted, I do not have world-class credentials; but I am a certified schoolteacher with years of work experience, a record of reliability, and 35 years of skating under my belt.
A client like Joe looks like trouble even in the ten-point generic font of a plain text email. I don’t need somebody bargaining with me and possibly not paying at all. If he cannot afford my coaching, I do not want him as a client. Nobody wants a customer who might skip out on his bill. I was so pissed, I did not offer alternative suggestions to Joe in tonight’s reply. I had already told him his kids could share a lesson or do fifteen-minute lessons to minimize costs. Let me put it this way: I’m not interested in his kind of crap. It’s just not worth the headaches looming on the horizon. If he writes back to make an appointment, fine. If not, I will be just as glad.
*** Names have been changed.
Week of September 13, 2009
Remember “Joe”, the cheapskate client from my last entry? Well, he emailed me again and was willing to pay my regular fee. He arranged for a half-hour lesson for each of his children. We met at the rink’s front desk. I was a little nervous because he had wanted lessons for a lower rate. I did not want to reopen that discussion. However, Joe stayed true to his word and paid as agreed. He seemed to be a nice man and his two daughters were sweet, enthusiastic kids.
Each child enjoyed her lesson. I had a bag of colorful markers in my pocket and drew on the ice for them. Little paths to follow, where to put their feet, a start line, a finish line, jump on the star, that kind of thing. Kids love visual aids and learning to skate in a fun format. We all had a good time. The kids are definitely beginners with all of the typical needs and issues. Bend the knees, keep the feet closer, stand up straight, hold the glide, avoid the toe picks, etc. I am teaching them to swizzle, glide on two feet, and stop. Both girls were very receptive and jubilant with their successes.
After the lessons, I met with Joe and his daughters. Each girl explained what she learned, and we talked about what to practice. I gave Joe advice about buying skates. Joe was pleased with our interaction and what he saw on the ice. He scheduled another set of lessons for next week. His children may become regular weekly students. That would be nice. I can sure use the business. No one mentioned prices again. Maybe Joe could see that my teaching was worth the money. Both of his kids were smiling and happy. They had done well in their lessons.
I’m glad this is working out with Joe and his family. I’m glad my impressions were wrong. The economic situation seems to have altered people’s perspective. Products and services that were not previously open to negotiation now are. This approach probably gets results for the savvy buyer more often than not. At least, it’s worth a shot and everybody is trying to bargain. Joe is not necessarily a tightwad or on a limited budget, he is just following the current trend. Everything is up for bids, just like on The Price is Right.
This is Kay reminding you to have your pet spayed or neutered.
The content of this site is copyright by K. J. N., 1999 - 2009
My Time at the Gym
Cheap Skate
Joe’s Kids
