“Losing kilos and building brands”

On Thursday the 3rd of March, the Australian Institute of Business (AIB) hosted a networking event at the InterContinental Sydney, featuring Australia’s most influential personal trainer, Michelle Bridges, best known as the straight-talking trainer of Channel Ten’s ‘The Biggest Loser’.

As keynote speaker at the event, Michelle shared her expert tips on self-branding your way to success before an audience of more than 220 guests including AIB alumni, current students, and industry guests.

Michelle shared an inspiring, motivating and interactive presentation with the audience, including her own self-made journey to business success, the importance of having a plan (and then actioning it), the power of ‘JFDI’, and the fact that sometimes you don’t have to accept the word ‘no’ without going back and having another try.

“Having a plan is not enough. Yes, you need to know what you want, but most importantly, you need to have actions. Without action, even the best plan goes nowhere,” she said.

“If you’re sitting on your hands with your plan thinking about it, nothing is happening. If you make that first step, already there’s change, and with that change will then come the next step. It’s just the way the universe works.”

An occasional over-thinker, Michelle described the power that taking an immediate action has on her life, particularly when she doesn’t feel motivated to do something.

“Trust me, when my alarm goes off at 5.30 in the morning, I do not go, ‘Woo, bring on that 10k run. I cannot wait to get out there.’ That is not me, I promise you. No lie, I’m just like everybody else. I consider hitting the snooze button eight times, maybe nine. I think about all the things I could do, like ‘If I sleep in now, then I can train at lunchtime. I can train this afternoon,’” she said.

Speaking about her business journey from the early days, and trying to build her brand and reputation, Michelle talked about her attempts to add a fitness segment to the ‘Mornings with Kerri-Anne’ show.

“I chased her literally around the gym with this pitch and she finally put me onto her producers. When I finally convinced them, they told me they weren’t going to pay me, I said, ‘That’s fine. Let’s film five of them and if you like them, we’ll talk.’ We filmed five, they loved them, and away we went,” Michelle said.

“So a ‘no’ doesn’t necessarily have to mean ‘no’; it just means that maybe you’ve got to go back and rethink it, or maybe you’ve got to and look at the brief and really listen to the client and what it is they’re asking for in order to get the ‘yes.’”

The forum concluded with a Q&A session, where many guests took the opportunity to ask questions, and a few lucky guests were handed signed copies of Michelle’s new book, ‘Make it Happen’. Within the session, Michelle spoke about the roadblocks she’s faced as an entrepreneur, and how her business is adjusting to the popularity of online learning.

Attendees took to AIB social channels to share their experience from the event:
Was great to hear of the struggles to make it to the top; pushing Kerri-Anne to give her a go, then trying to get a manager on board, and even being knocked back by many publishes by a book that became a best seller. Inspirational. Thanks Michelle for your story, and AIB for putting together such a great event – Phillip Batten

Fun and inspiring night filled with simple yet effective life and business advice – Iva Alley

I took so many things away from last night and yes even set the alarm clock and took my first step this morning towards a goal. JFDI. – Nick Griffin

Photos from the event can be found on the Australian Institute of Business Facebook page.