Dear Potential Personal Trainer: A Word of Warning

I will begin this post with a link to the excellent blog rosstraining.com and a particularly succinct and well written rant about online arguements and the winning formula in achieving sporting success as a coach.

http://rosstraining.com/blog/2013/03/02/winning-debates-vs-winning-events/

A quote from this article:

Look at any successful coach from any sport and you find similarities. Perhaps the most commonly shared trait is a ridiculous work ethic. To be truly successful at the highest level, you must be obsessed with winning. Your life must revolve around it. You wake up early, work long hours, and bring the job home with you. There isn't extra time to waste. You always wish you had more. Thats the lifestyle.. Either accept it or find something else to do. Ross Enamait

 

Now applying this to Personal Training I would exchange winning for success, particularly in achieving exercise related goals; whether it be having the confidence to go out in a dress for the first time, or get down to a size 10 for the first time, or be able to perform a full range of motion squat with 100kg or win a national boing competition or fight.... all this is another version of winning, particularly in the eyes of your clients.

Now, with the recent surge in Personal Training course availability and subsequent reduction in the amount of time it takes to 'get qualified' suddenly everyone thinks they can be a Personal Trainer and the field is flooded with endless amounts of so-called Personal Trainers.

It's easy right? Just shout at people for an hour and, you know, results will definitely happen!

Wrong.

First of all, attracting clients, even with a good reputation and following can be quite difficult, Personal Training is the first thing to go when money is tight.

Client retention can also be very tricky even if you are an excellent Personal Trainer and motivator for similar reasons.

But in my experience of working with literally dozens of Personal Trainers and so-called Personal Trainers the biggest problem is that it is just a job to most who have passed through the various Personal Trainer factories where there is little to no chance of even failing the exams in the first place.

Rigorous testing? Hmm, I think not.

And where's the passion? If you don't love training, and the training or people and the countless hours of research then really, what are you thinking? How the hell are you going to inspire others to achieve more than they know is capable of their bodies with an attitude like that?

You aren't.

And each and every one of those PT's who are in it just for the money or just because it's a job have invariably not attracted enough clients, or remain stagnant and bored with where they are, what they are doing, and subsequently offer people nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary and nothing inspirational.
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This is where the importance of the quote I began this article with becomes clear. Personal Training is one of the most time consuming, multi-faceted, complex, tiring and all encompassing yet rewarding jobs out there. If you are not prepared to put in EVERY SINGLE FUCKING HOUR YOU CAN then forget about achieving any amount of success or respect in the field of Personal Training.

It will take everything you have got if you are starting from scratch (and even if you're not) to build up a career, income and knowledge base in order to cater for a wide range of clients in order to help them win, achieve success and conquer their specific goals.

You must be a motivator.
A leader.
A shoulder to cry on.
Someone who leads by example.
Someone who immerses themselves completely in the field.

In order to be a successful Personal Trainer it must be your LIFE, your blood and your PASSION.

I've been lucky enough to achieve a lot of success with various clients, but the quest has only just begun.

Mr. Robert Beattie, who's achievements in changing his body image are some of the proudest, and most significant successes of my Personal Training career.
Who also is a member on our facebook group in case you think it's one of those made up before and after shots you see put together by morally bankrupt PT's that have no place in or around our company.

However its not all about "the big stuff" seeing someone's face when they first have the confidence, new found fitness, coordination and joint fitness to suddenly be able run on a treadmill for the first time when aged over 50 feels incredible to see! This is the winning that you must drive for. the success that you push every single day for.

The Grandmother, still the most influential coach, mentor and person in my life, although her success will never be recognised by the media or by many people even, she has instilled in me the drive to get things done no matter what. What a lady!

I research for countless hours every week, new exercises are tried all the time and it's extremely rare that I get time to have a full day off, let alone have a holiday. But I have never loved anything more and I thank every single one of my clients for the opportunities they give me every single day.

In short, if you're not prepared to give Personal Training absolutely everything you've got, perhaps it is best to look for another quick-fix, easy money form of employment and quit wasting your time and other people's money.

If, however you have the drive, passion and the "when in doubt DO MORE HOURS'' approach to getting things done properly, then perhaps, just perhaps, you have what it takes to make it in the field for a sustained and rewarding career.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Chris K
Level 3 Personal Trainer