Article for those who want to become a trainer

[billy]

Here's a good article I found from Elitefts about wanting to become a personal trainer.

http://elitefts.com/documents/personal_trainer.htm

[EMISGOD]

This is a very good article for people to read before they get into it. I don't think it covers the entire spectrum of experience, but it does cover probably the majority...

[ThaiFighter_83]

People have been telling me about "how hard, competative, and unstable" it is to be a personal trainer, and blah, blah, blah ever since I first started 2 years ago.

Well, guess what! EVERY JOB is like that! I can't tell you how many jobs I tried applying for when I was in college, with the employer ALWAYS either saying "we're not hiring," "uh, we're accepting applications," or "we'll call you back in a week." And then NOTHING ever happens.

Training and martial arts is the one thing I've always had a major passion for, and that is why I finally got hired for work in this field. Instead of giving up and saying "I'm not cut out for this," I actually choose to better myself and learn what I can do to have what it takes to be a success with personal training.

That's why I'm going for my CSCS certification later this year, after I order the study materials later this week. Right now I'm working at a crappy little LA Fitness, but I intend to move on to bigger and better things, like Spectrum or Equinox, and eventually private training. And maybe I don't have the best salesman skills in the world right now, but like a smart person, I'm reading books and asking other sales people for advice, so I can actually LEARN.

Personal training is a must for me. I like having my own schedule, so I can have time to train for my REAL passion: MMA and martial arts. I like being able to sleep 8-9 hours a night, lead a healthy life, train as much as my body needs, and STILL have time to work full time (around my schedule). I also love it because I get to teach people about what I love and inspire them to improve their health. That's a great feeling. Call me spoiled, but I don't think life has to be boring, where you're chained to a desk 8 hours a day, getting 4 hours of sleep per night, and never having time to do what you have a passion for.

[Code_B]

Thank you for the link

[RooRooTJ]

Thanks this is something people should read before tryin to become a trainer

[HardGainer82]

That is VERY true. Not once in any of the certification programs do they mention the amount of sales you'll have to do.

I think a lot of people (including myself originally) just go in expecting that you'll learn how to train people and the gym will take care of the rest. So very untrue.

[hublife]

As an independent trainer and business owner I have only one realization. Training IS NOT a sales job. It was for me in the beginning. But the bottom line is long term it's a decision job. Clients who will continue to resign and buy more session can't be "sold" they must make the "decision" to get in shape. I've changed my approach to fitness and personal training. Sales is the old school method. The new thought approach must be to HELP as many people as possible and let the chips fall where they may.

Just my .02

[HardGainer82]

As an independent trainer and business owner I have only one realization. Training IS NOT a sales job. It was for me in the beginning. But the bottom line is long term it's a decision job. Clients who will continue to resign and buy more session can't be "sold" they must make the "decision" to get in shape. I've changed my approach to fitness and personal training. Sales is the old school method. The new thought approach must be to HELP as many people as possible and let the chips fall where they may.

Just my .02

I think that's a much healthier outlook, but if all your clients make the wrong decision, don't you go broke?

[kserajuddin]

People have been telling me about "how hard, competative, and unstable" it is to be a personal trainer, and blah, blah, blah ever since I first started 2 years ago.

Well, guess what! EVERY JOB is like that! I can't tell you how many jobs I tried applying for when I was in college, with the employer ALWAYS either saying "we're not hiring," "uh, we're accepting applications," or "we'll call you back in a week." And then NOTHING ever happens.

Training and martial arts is the one thing I've always had a major passion for, and that is why I finally got hired for work in this field. Instead of giving up and saying "I'm not cut out for this," I actually choose to better myself and learn what I can do to have what it takes to be a success with personal training.

That's why I'm going for my CSCS certification later this year, after I order the study materials later this week. Right now I'm working at a crappy little LA Fitness, but I intend to move on to bigger and better things, like Spectrum or Equinox, and eventually private training. And maybe I don't have the best salesman skills in the world right now, but like a smart person, I'm reading books and asking other sales people for advice, so I can actually LEARN.

Personal training is a must for me. I like having my own schedule, so I can have time to train for my REAL passion: MMA and martial arts. I like being able to sleep 8-9 hours a night, lead a healthy life, train as much as my body needs, and STILL have time to work full time (around my schedule). I also love it because I get to teach people about what I love and inspire them to improve their health. That's a great feeling. Call me spoiled, but I don't think life has to be boring, where you're chained to a desk 8 hours a day, getting 4 hours of sleep per night, and never having time to do what you have a passion for.

Spoken like a man!
Hublife, you too -
That article sucked - way too negative - if you want to hear the other side of the story, visit my blog www.super-trainer.com -

[hublife]

I think that's a much healthier outlook, but if all your clients make the wrong decision, don't you go broke?

Not sure...Haven't had it happen yet.

[ModlinMan]

Great article, first post.