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Speech Transcript (very little editing so not exact)

Unknown Speaker  0:00  

Hey, this is Sidnee Newman from FM fitness. If you really want to learn how to level up your life, you should be listening to the time to shine today podcast with my great friend Scott Ferguson 

Unknown Speaker  0:11  

Time to shine today podcast. Firstly, squad. This is Scott Ferguson, I got a little home cooking here in South Florida with my really good friend Sydney Newman. Sydney was kind of part of the corporate rat race, but she found her we’ll call it a calling within the health and fitness and mindset sector. And she I know kind of personally and I know and I’ve watched her train clients, and her empathy shines through but at the same time, she’s a fantastic motivator. She wants you to know your why she wants you to get out of that comfort zone, stretch that carbon free zone and just get right out of it. And she is just a fantastic person. people gravitate to her. Her energy is just off the charts and she’s going to drop some serious, serious knowledge nuggets in this interview I did with her. So you might want to grab your notebook. So sit back, relax, and break out your notebooks and get ready to live your best life with my good friend Cindy Newman. Let’s level up.

Unknown Speaker  1:13  

Time to shine today podcast varsity squad. This is Scott Ferguson in that too often do I get to interview somebody? That’s literally a neighbor. She rocks the whole South Florida region helping people level up are named Sidney Newman. She’s a graduate of the University of Florida go Gators chomp chomp there in the swamp had the awesome experience there in the swamp a couple times. She’s a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer, a strong first certified kettlebell strength instructor and a certified and registered yoga teacher. Cindy helps others achieve their goals mind body and soul by offering a well balanced, customized holistic approach through one on one training both in person and virtually. She loves to always be a student, lifelong student continue to learn and educate herself. She’s a featured speaker all around here in South Florida, in the Jupiter, Canada Palm Beach Gardens area, but she’s ready to make the leap also into other stages, which we’re going to set her up with. Moderation is her motto. She can’t preach that louder. She’s proud to be a resource for her friends, family colleagues, develop a work life balance, eat well and live a healthy lifestyle. That’s not just temporary, but will shift your overall happiness. A fun fact about Sydney is like if you look at her you like Man, she’s a beautiful woman if you’re watching her, but she’s a black belt in Taekwondo. So she whip your ass. Alright, so anyways, my really good friend, Sydney Newman from Essen fitness, and I’ll have you introduce off the time to shine today podcast. First you scrub the first Sydney, what’s your favorite color? And why?

Unknown Speaker  2:40  

Oh, good question. My favorite color is purple, like a deep eggplant purple. It just lights me up. It’s a little bit feminine. It’s strong. It’s my favorite.

Unknown Speaker  2:49  

And it’s Royal and regal. Exactly. You rock it. And I love it. I love it. So Sydney, like, I know you’re personally kind of right. And I know you’re pretty well put together and both body and mind. But let’s get to the roots of what you had maybe shift you in to the lifestyle business. And you know how you came to the the need and want to help others level up?

Unknown Speaker  3:13  

Yeah, good question. I will do my best to make a super long story short. But I worked in the corporate world for many years, I have a journalism degree. And I woke up one morning and I was unfulfilled. I was supporting others who got to really help people. And I was like, Wait a second, I’m supporting them. But what am I giving back to the world? How am I helping people? So I went back to the drawing board. And I thought about what do I love to do? What do I gravitate toward? Or what do people gravitate toward me for? And I realized that the health and wellness space was my true true passion. And within the industry, I could always challenge myself but always be helping somebody new with some sort of new challenge. So I really just turned my life upside down. And the more deeply I get into it, the more I love it.

Unknown Speaker  4:02  

I love that’s an awesome way to condense a story because over coffee, you told me the whole thing. And you just walk those cliff notes. But I think everybody gets it because you’re born for more. And not just you know, you’re watching other people help others level up, but you weren’t feeling fulfilled. I love your transparency there. So what do you think makes a great health and wellness coach or lifestyle? Person?

Unknown Speaker  4:26  

Good question. So, first and foremost, they have to love what they do. If they’re not passionate, and they’re moving through the motions every day, then they’re never going to be great. Secondly, they have to continue their education. They’re always growing their mind and therefore they can continue helping new people in new ways.

Unknown Speaker  4:46  

Love it. And yeah, because there’s so many trends that kind of come across and you know, quick hit fixes and stuff like that in this world. And then we need people like you out there to disseminate what’s real and what’s junk. Right. And so you’re out, you’re telling, you got to level up not only your own body, but you got to stay in tune with that latest fad and make sure people understand it’s a journey and enjoy the journey, right?

Unknown Speaker  5:11  

100% I mean, social media has really messed with our minds. And we have to remember that every booty we see online is not necessarily real. I’m gonna say for that.

Unknown Speaker  5:23  

It’s quite if you go over to Sydney’s IG, and if she lets you in, like, you’ll see that she’s a real person, she’s absolutely out there crushing it, and making it happen. And loving people along the journey. So when you’re working with someone, one on one, Cindy, which I know you do a lot of in your book to the gills, and that’s awesome. But when you’re working with someone, one to one, during that discovery period, what is some of your secret sauce and maybe help them find their locate their blind spot?

Unknown Speaker  5:52  

Yeah, what a great question. It’s different for everybody, to be honest, I, as a teacher, you really have to feed off of your audience and read your audience. So people come to me all the time, for different reasons, a lot of times, their goals will be one thing, and I will notice a need for improvement somewhere else. So the first time I meet somebody, I sit down, I chat with them, I look at what their lifestyle is, I look at what physical activity they currently have. I asked them what their goals are. And then I do a quick movement assessment, I move them through a flow of movements, both strength and flexibility, mobility focused. And from there, I can notice spots in the body that are maybe imbalanced, or areas for improvement areas for strength building. So I take that information that I gather on my own, plus the information that they give me and combine it for a customized program.

Unknown Speaker  6:52  

I frickin love that because you are that only listening, asking powerful questions to make them think and not only listen with your ears, but also the other nonverbal things you could be picking up on to find that blind spot. And I say

Unknown Speaker  7:05  

that correctly. Yeah, totally. Not everybody realizes everything that they truly need. We all want things. But sometimes we need additional things too. And there’s a very fine line to work with somebody and give them what they want, as well as what they need in an enjoyable, challenging, fun way.

Unknown Speaker  7:24  

I love them and you made it fun. Fun is huge in this because you live in the lifestyle which I live as well. It’s it can be monotonous. But as long as you’re keeping it fun, and you have someone like you to help them level up, they’ve got to take responsibility for their own actions and about responsibilities. Sydney, what is your definition of responsibility?

Unknown Speaker  7:48  

Oh, I think accountability. So responsibility means you’re holding on to something that someone else can rely on. So I’m responsible for others when they’re in my care for that hour of training, I’m responsible for making sure that they move safely, that they’re enjoying their time, that whatever outside factors are maybe involved with that hour of time that they’re, they’re separating from that and not letting it get in their way.

Unknown Speaker  8:23  

I love that. And you know, my mentor always told me the responsibilities, the ability to respond. And what you just said it’s rooted right in the word, right? Yes, said to be accountable. In your love. I love the transfer you transfer. So you’ve given me so what do you think your strengths are Sydney.

Unknown Speaker  8:43  

My strengths are to be able to pivot quickly. Um, I’m definitely a planner. I’m super organized, that comes from my whole corporate background. And so I’m super grateful for that. And I definitely apply that. But I also have to be able to take all of my knowledge and switch it up on the fly. If somebody comes in and they’re like, You know what my back’s a little off today. I don’t know if I’m up for deadlifting. So we have to switch on the fly. And so give them what they need, and what they want in a fun way. But switch it up, that will be specific to what they’re experiencing in that moment.

Unknown Speaker  9:17  

And that’s why you’re a great coach, mentor, personal trainers because you’re open to new things if depending on the mood, the energy and I love that. Thank you. So you know so we got you there. So what extent you think you appreciate your strengths.

Unknown Speaker  9:36  

I think every day i i appreciate it more. You know, sometimes it’s tough to be confident and to acknowledge your gifts and acknowledge your strengths and acknowledge that there’s always room for improvement. But as a woman sometimes that confidence is hard. I definitely work in a man’s world. So you’ve got testosterone around all the time and you have experts around all the time, there’s always somebody smarter than you in the room. And so I have to remind myself said, you’re great at what you do, you’re continuing to learn so you can continue to be great at what you do. And so sometimes we have to remind ourselves every

Unknown Speaker  10:15  

day, self talks everything, right? I mean, you have to be so important. Huge. So, and especially if you verbalize them, you know, like, you know, you can think a negative thought. And it’s been proven that if you think negative thought, there’s probably a 30% chance that it’s going to come true. If you verbalize it goes up to 60 or 70. Like I’m fat, or I look feel like shit, you know, it’s a it just well, and I love that you can pivot on the fly. That’s fantastic. So to what extent then to Sydney. So I say this, like, appreciate your limitations?

Unknown Speaker  10:50  

Oh, well, on the flip side of what I just said, I really my limitations, which is why I’m always continuing to grow my mind grow my education. I know, there’s always room for improvement, there’s always something new to learn. That’s what I love about the industry, right? There’s always a new school of thought coming out. And really, the only wrong way to do something is if you hurt somebody, there are so many right ways to do something in this industry. And people are creating new devices, new schools of thought all the time. So you have to stay up on that. I understand that I don’t know everything, and I will never know everything. Sure. You have to know those limitations and be open minded to new things. Somebody coming in asking why are you doing it that way? Have you ever tried it this way? And instead of being closed minded? Try it. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t work? Right? Love it?

Unknown Speaker  11:45  

So when you’re starting to work with somebody, Sydney, is there any good question that you wish they would ask you, but never do?

Unknown Speaker  11:55  

Well, I love when people ask me why? I’ll have them do something. I’ll teach them a new movement. And it’s really hard. And they’re like, why am I doing this? What does this do for me? Actually, I’ll have people do a carry with too heavy, you know, kettlebells or dumbbells? And they’re like, why are you making me do this? I love the question why? And I don’t get it often enough. Because I love to explain to them. The reason that we’re doing this and all of the areas that it will affect them in this moment of training, but also throughout the rest of their life, whether it’s posture, core tension, how do they breathe? So the question why I wish everyone would ask. And on the flip side of that every trainer should be able to answer why to every movement. Somebody? Yeah, you

Unknown Speaker  12:41  

better if you’re putting them through because you just said that you can hurt people if you’re careful. Oh, you know. So had a question in. It hasn’t come to me how I want to ask you, but I’m going to ask you this. Have you seen the movie Back to the Future? Yes. Okay, let’s get that delorey with Marty McFly. Let’s go back to the 18 year old Sydney. Okay, what kind of now I know we want to do we got a knowledge nuggets as we come here. Time to shine today. What kind of knowledge nuggets would you be dropping on 18 year olds, Sydney to maybe help her level up last through and maybe shorten a little bit of that learning curve.

Unknown Speaker  13:21  

I would tell her your comfort zone will kill you. If you don’t step out of that comfort zone, you won’t grow. You have to push yourself to continue to try new things. And when you feel nervous about trying something new.

Unknown Speaker  13:38  

push ahead. Right. I remember the question, do you find yourself wanting to be fired by your clients eventually?

Unknown Speaker  13:50  

Some of them yes. What an interesting,

Unknown Speaker  13:54  

negative way to get leveled up. They don’t need Sydney

Unknown Speaker  13:57  

100%. Yeah, they say that the best leader is one who can lead someone that uplifts themselves so much that they go on to do bigger and better things outside of that leader. So I look at myself like that. The thing about training though, and pivoting on the fly is sometimes someone will come to me for a specific issue, a running imbalance, for example, and we’ll fix that. And then we switch the goals. So they allow themselves to continue to work with me because they’re continuing to grow and change their perspective. So that client, for example, might be with me for many years, and she can go off safely on her own. But we’re continuing to do new things all the time. But if somebody Yeah, go for it. Sorry.

Unknown Speaker  14:42  

You’re picking up on their limitations also. We mean like you get them right like deadlifts. They nail it. Right. But now, the hip flexors just off you know, we need to make sure those hip flexors are right. So you’re picking up on their limitations. They’re noticing them that that is a sign of a fantastic train, you know, our own time to shine, you know Fitness in Detroit, Michigan for years, and I always said, you know, work yourself to get fired, but also pick up new steps along the way. You know what I’m saying? Like, dude, that is awesome that your biggest success

Unknown Speaker  15:11  

would be somebody getting to those levels. And then maybe they don’t train with me as often. And I trust them and they trust themselves to go train on their own separately as well. In a different kind of way.

Unknown Speaker  15:24  

Yeah. Beautiful. Beautiful. So, how do you want your dash remember, so need that little line in between your incarnation date and your expiration date? Hopefully, it’s a long time away, but your life date and death date and your tombstone? How do you want your dash remembered said,

Unknown Speaker  15:38  

I want to be remembered as someone who really cares about others and has helped someone else be a better person for themselves and for their family.

Unknown Speaker  15:50  

I love it. And then along the way, enjoying enjoying that whole journey, right? Enjoy the frickin journey, man, enjoy the journey you have to in fitness, it gets harder, you know, I’m coming up. I’m 50 years old, I’m not gonna getting up is a lot harder than it was before, like 32 is a lot easier for me to swing my legs out of bed and fire up. You know, now it’s like I swing my legs off, let the synovial fluid sit there for a get right. And yeah, get going. I’m sorry, age, no matter how much Yoga I do, no matter how much whatever I do to keep myself leveled up. You got to keep up with I love. I love your transparency there. So what do you think people misunderstand the most passivity?

Unknown Speaker  16:37  

I would probably think it’s less so now than it was in the corporate world. But I think people’s first impression sometimes is that I can be a little uptight, because I’m very to the point. I’m very organized planner. And I know that I have those moments, but it comes from such a place of care. Yeah. And sometimes over carrying that sometimes it translates as being a little extra.

Unknown Speaker  17:05  

You could be almost like, no, cuz I’ve watched you train people before, you know, I remember. And so it’s like, I wonder if people look at her like the hammer and everyone’s a nail. Which I know you as a person, but maybe people can’t, everyone,

Unknown Speaker  17:22  

and you have experienced me with specific clients in the past who really needed that hammer. And so I don’t always give the hammer for the record to everyone. Yeah, this is what I was mentioning before, right? You really have to read your audience and I have to shift who I am with every single person. Some people need a soft coddling perspective, others need to be, you know, they need me to be a drill sergeant, because that’s how they’re going to get motivated. That’s how they’re going to get the work done. So I have to shift and you’ve experienced me super tough, which I can be, but

Unknown Speaker  17:57  

all good you have to be, you know what I love about us, you’re you can be the right horse for almost every course. Like when I coach people, you know, executive coaching, I don’t take on a lot of people, because there’s a certain way that I coach, where you are different in the fitness world, which is a whole different world, you know, with fitness is that you’re open to interpretation and open to changing things as you go along. And that’s the phenomenal trait that you must have. And that’s awesome. So then what keeps set me up at night.

Unknown Speaker  18:30  

Um, you know, just the ever changing dealing with new people. Usually when I when I get a new client, I get a little anxious about working with them, because you never know what you’re going to get. But I think that what keeps me up is just continuing to go. In this industry, there are zero guarantees, although it’s so important for your health to move to have proper nutrition, it is not looked at as a necessity. So if someone shifts their goals, outside of health and wellness, they never prioritize health and wellness, right. So getting the new boat sometimes gets priority. And so their budget gets caught and cut and they’re like, oh, did you anymore? Yeah, so that’s the most anxious thing. I could have a full book of business today and not tomorrow and it’s just part of the reality but it’s also part of what drives me forward. I also want to touch on something that you just said if you don’t mind. You mentioned I can work with anybody while I love and so appreciate that I will be the first day that that I’m not and it’s so important to realize that not every coach is the right fit for everyone. I have a very specific way of training I might be able to deal with anybody personality wise, but if you’re looking to be a competitive bodybuilder, I’m your muscles but I’m probably not the person you know. So I like to be the first to say that I know I am not the perfect fit for everyone but do my best to rise to the occasion with those that I do work with as they shift and change and grow.

Unknown Speaker  20:05  

Love it. I love it that you’re real with yourself. Yeah, and not just, you know, and I’ll be like some people out there. So, what then is Sydney’s definition of a life well lived?

Unknown Speaker  20:19  

Balance, right, you said at the very beginning, I preached moderation, it’s true, you have to practice what you preach. And so I do my best to do that to have balance to have moderation a life well lived is one that you enjoy what you do for work, and it doesn’t feel like work, even though you’re working really hard. And you have an even balance of social play time rest, so you’re enjoying your off time, but you’re also enjoying the hard work that helps you pay your bills,

Unknown Speaker  20:48  

right. So you get after B, also take a little daily sabbaticals, and make sure that you get your mind clear. You know, it’s funny, like you say, balance, and I say harmony. Like, it’s like, that’s just that is balanced to me, is zero, right? We’re harmony, I liken it to like a jazz band. I love jazz, right. And like your family and relationships could be the drums, your money could be the horns, your business could be the guitar, if one of them is out of whack, it sounds like shit. You don’t do that.

Unknown Speaker  21:18  

I love it, it’s a way better way to put it in balance. Because people have a perception of what that means. And sometimes it’s like, well, I can’t do that.

Unknown Speaker  21:26  

Right. I got it from James Arthur ray in a speech that he gave me years ago, and I credit him with it. And it’s true. That’s how I’ve lived since probably 2004 is finding harmony in anything. Because if I try to find balance, it’s just like somebody. There’s, I don’t believe in winners and losers. I want everything just to flow. You know, that’s just less than meeting and then that’s different. So then let’s take out of this equation, your cell phone, your tablet, your computer, anything electronic. Okay, what are three things that Sydney cannot live without?

Unknown Speaker  22:08  

Well, my cat sounds so nerdy. But she’s, she’s my little companion. You know, she’s been with me for almost 10 years. And when I’m down or not believing myself, she’s always there. I also have a ton of plant babies. I’m a total green plant nerd. I have a huge patio garden, so I can’t live without that. And of course, my family and my spouse who I include as part of my family, you can’t do anything without a solid, supportive family and family doesn’t necessarily mean mom and dad always it’s the family that you make. So it’s your spouse. It’s your closest friends. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker  22:47  

love it. Love it. Love it. Time to shine today podcast versus squad. We are back with my good friend Sydney, my neighbor kind of actually here in South Florida, and Sydney. We are going to take you through our loving up lighting around you and I could talk an hour easily about each one of these questions, but you got five seconds with no explanations. You ready to rock? Oh, geez, I will try. Let’s do this. What is the best leveling up advice Sydney’s ever received? Your Comfort Zone will kill you. Yes, sure. One of your personal habits contributes to your success. Planning ahead. Yeah, other than your website, which I’m gonna say it out loud here, but don’t go there yet. People Sidney newman.com. And her name is s vi, D and E. It’ll be in the show notes. Go there visit other than your website and of course time to shine today.com Shameless plug. What website does Sydney like to go to level up?

Unknown Speaker  23:40  

The foot collective.com Love it.

Unknown Speaker  23:43  

We’ll have to put that in the show notes brother. Awesome. So you see me like man for us to start looking right. He’s in his doldrums a little bit. What book are you handing me?

Unknown Speaker  23:52  

I’m handing you two books. First Book is how to be an imperfection is by Steven Geiss. And the other is breezed by James Nestor.

Unknown Speaker  23:59  

You’re great both phenomenal reads send you what is your most commonly used emoji when you text the Winky kissy face Gotcha. New Year’s resolution if any.

Unknown Speaker  24:15  

Ah, I’m out of my five second um, Year’s resolution. Get more consistent with my nutrition. Practicing what I’m preaching. Show sir

Unknown Speaker  24:27  

checkers. Checkers. Love it favorite charity and organization like to give your time or money to hmm,

Unknown Speaker  24:40  

there’s several so this is hard. I’m probably quantum house here in West Palm.

Unknown Speaker  24:47  

Beautiful. Great, great place. Last question. You can elaborate a little bit on this but what is the bust decade of music 6070s 80s or 90s 80s

Unknown Speaker  24:58  

I love 808

Unknown Speaker  25:00  

I don’t care I love it I love it. How can we find your love?

Unknown Speaker  25:06  

You can find me on social media Facebook look me up Sydney Newman I’m there Instagram Sydney Jane fitness to ease J I and II and my website as you mentioned before Sydney numa.com

Unknown Speaker  25:18  

Awesome in squat that’ll all be in the show notes and Cindy do me one last favor and leave us with one last Knowledge Nugget we can take with us internalize and take action

Unknown Speaker  25:32  

you can only help others and take care of others if you take care of yourself first

Unknown Speaker  25:37  

love it. It starts with your temple right? I mean he got to take care of that body in squad we have just had an awesome awesome discussion actually kind of a free masterclass with the knowledge nuggets, my good friend Cindy dropped, know she was kind of part of the corporate rat race life, you know, and she wanted to really help level up so she turned to the health and wellness and in helping you level up in that aspect along with your mindset. She’s actually crushing it, you know, a coach, she feels has to love what they do they walk that talk, they’re always leveling up. They’re always taking their knowledge to the next level, what’s going on, because fads come and go, you know, they stay to what’s true, they will help you and guide you to level up. You know, she’s somebody that plans stringently, but she can pivot quickly. And I love love that she does that. And also, when you’re working with your trainer, ask them why you’re doing a specific movement. Don’t be annoying about it with every single one. But if someone’s hitting you a different way, and it really sparks your interest, please ask your trainer, why you’re making that movement and a good trainer will be able to fire back exactly why Okay, she’ll remind us that your comfort zone will kill you. And as we say here at time to shine today. We love to stretch that comfort zone. We don’t want to get out of it so fast, but we want to stretch it to the point where you automatically grow right out of it and do things step by step or like we say inch by inch, it’s a cinch by the yard. It’s hard you didn’t put on the 30 pounds. In two months. Don’t expect to take it off healthily in two months. inch by inch. It’s a cinch by the yard. It’s hard. Someone like Cindy will get you there. And my good friend Cindy let me make introductions because she does virtual as well. You know, she lives a life of harmony. She loves her spouse, she loves her family. And I think she might love some really cheap meals every once in a while too. But we’ll pass on that but seriously saying thank you for coming out. You’ve earned your varsity letter here at time to shine today. You level up your healthy level up your wealth. I’m blessed to know you. I can’t wait to collaborate with you.

Unknown Speaker  27:32  

Thank you so much for having me. I really loved our time today. Love you guys. I’ll talk soon. Talk soon.

Unknown Speaker  27:39  

Hey, thanks so much for listening to this episode of time to shine today podcast. proudly brought to you by Sutter in New Jersey real estate real estate excellence who can be reached at 561-249-7266 and online at www dot Sutter in nugent.com. If you’re a business owner or professional who would like to be interviewed on time to shine today, please visit time to shine today.com Flash gust if you’d like this up, so please subscribe on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, I Heart Radio or wherever you get your podcast. There’s a link in the show notes to our website. Also there you will see a recommended resources. We hope that you will support our show by supporting them. If you like what you’ve been listening to, it’d be great if you could just give us a five star rating and tell your friends to subscribe while you’re at it. I’m your host Scott Ferguson. And until next time, let’s level up it’s our time to shine

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