Top 5 Traits of Successful Personal Trainers

[askthetrainer]

What do you think are the Top 5 Traits of Successful Personal Trainers BASED ON YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF OTHER TRAINERS ??

List your Top 5

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I will have to think about this one a bit...

[BSCSCS]

1. Hustle
2. Hustle
3. Hustle
4. Knowledge
5. Appearance

[Rval86]

1. appearance
2. creativity
3. outgoing personality
4. knowledge
5. hard working

[NorwichGrad]

Based on observation of OTHER TRAINERS (specifically my mentor):

1. (Highest Rating) Knowledge - i.e. reputation of producing fine athletes / physique
2. Personality - Tough but fair.
3. Hardwork - i.e. Train clients 7 days a week, whether at 4:30 AM or 9:30 PM
4. Passion - Truly loves helping clients
5. Confidence - Not to be confused with arrogance. Believes in applying science to achieve goals.

[BC02]

1. Good salesman
2good at sales
3.good at sales
4.doesnt prepare clients to be able to go out on their own
5.willing to sacrifice integrity of a workout to do things that look "fun"

[nickmanzoni]

1. Good salesman
2good at sales
3.good at sales
4.doesnt prepare clients to be able to go out on their own
5.willing to sacrifice integrity of a workout to do things that look "fun"

You sir are the reason personal trainers get **** from members at corporate facilities. YOU are the joke and I really do pity you.

[BC02]

you sir are the reason personal trainers get **** from members at corporate facilities. You are the joke and i really do pity you.

i just speak the truth. Just being good at training and getting results gets you no money and labeled a "bad trainer"working at a coorperate gym. Being good at sales makes one a "great trainer"according to the gym whether you are getting results or not

[labradarep]

i just speak the truth. Just being good at training and getting results gets you no money and labeled a "bad trainer"working at a coorperate gym. Being good at sales makes one a "great trainer"according to the gym whether you are getting results or not

Being a good trainer & gretting results means you do not have to work at a corporate gym & allows you to MAKE money.

[nickmanzoni]

i just speak the truth. Just being good at training and getting results gets you no money and labeled a "bad trainer"working at a coorperate gym. Being good at sales makes one a "great trainer"according to the gym whether you are getting results or not

Now ladys and gentlemen, I'm getting bawd at for negging his previous post.

If he keeps it up I will be sure to post some hilarious stuff of his.

[broad.stance]

Now ladys and gentlemen, I'm getting bawd at for negging his previous post.

If he keeps it up I will be sure to post some hilarious stuff of his.

I think you're getting worked up over nothing.

The question was "What do you think are the Top 5 Traits of Successful Personal Trainers BASED ON YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF OTHER TRAINERS ??" Sure the answers he gave were from a corporate standpoint, but he wasn't wrong. In corporate gyms some of the most successful trainers are the ones who are excellent at selling their services and renewing clients. This doesn't automatically mean they are good trainers, and the list doesn't mean he's talking about himself.

Those two traits translate over for some independents as well. Everyone needs to be good at marketing/sales. And I know independents who are great at getting results yet fail to give clients the tools to continue progress on their own, thus ensuring a renewal. Then there are others who pick clients with long term goals so they can be worked with on a continuing basis.

[chrisklintworth]

Hustle
2. Hustle
3. Hustle
4. Knowledge
5. Appearance

[Wanderlei]

i call a succesful personal trainer someone who has estabilished themselves extremely well over any period of time.

i have 2 protege's that i train for free, good friends which trust my knowledge and ability to train them to achieve their goals to become better professional athletes. i'd have to say i am succesful in what i am achieving based on their performances.

from them i have had numerous oppurtunites to train more people like them, for me, seeing what these athlete's can do is payment in itself. this is the road i would like to take, and since ive started, word of mouth has been in my favour greatly and now have greater oppurtunities.

i myself aspire to compete professionally in MMA and i am trianing full time, so its hard for me to find decent part time work that works well with training. when i start my business i know i will be "succesful" as most ppl see ppl like us (PTs) in a monetary sense.

[jules_d1]

Had a long think about this. Its a tough one.

1. Knowing how to market
You dont get paid if you cant attract clients. Whats going to make you stand out from the now masses of average trainers? And dont tell me you have a special whiz bang degree, have lost over 150lbs yourself or have won bodybuilding/fitness comps.....it means jacksh*t if you cant market your BUSINESS effectivley.

2. Understanding the psychololgy of the prospect/client
Asking the right questions/saying the right things to direct them to a sale. Adapting and effectivley communicating/dealing with different clients to ensure compliance and effective and enjoyable training sessions. If you dont get along with people or they dont enjoy the sessions (no matter how effective they might be), you are screwed.

3. Above avergage knowledge of anatomy/physiology/knowledge base of exercises/dealing with injured or special needs clients.
Once again, whats going to set you apart from other trainers once you sign them up? If you dont know how to effectivly and SAFELY train people (esp those with unique conditions) you WILL hurt people and you will get a bad reputation and maybe even a lawsuit.

4. Perseverance/Integrity
Get lazy and you're screwed. Training the clients is the easy part. Dont think your job finishes as soon as you walk out of the gym. Thats where it begins. Its all the behind the scenes stuff that makes or breaks your business. Follow up phone calls, education, completing and implementing marketing campaigns, paperwork, book keeping, following up with clients, consultations with prospects, meeting with strategic alliance partners etc etc. This list goes on.

Always have standards for yourself when it comes to the service you give, the image you portray and even the quality of the client you train. Let any of these slip and its trouble.

Basically you have to do whats 90% of people dont want to do. You have to bust your ass and think long term.

5. Always want to be better/progressing
One of the best business quotes i have heard is "If you're not growing, you're dying". The minute you become complacent you start moving backwards. This industry is a cut throat one thats for sure so when you take your foot off the accelerator you'll be overtaken and eaten up.

It doesnt matter if you are brand new to the industry or have a full book and a waiting list, you need to be asking yourself "How can I do better/make more money/offer more services/accomodate to more clients?". There is always a way to improve. It might be changing to group training, finding your own studio, hiring a new staff member, increasing your rates or getting trained up in another service you can give. The list goes on.

Thats my take on this as a BUSINESS OWNER (not just a trainer...... you are all business owners so you need to think of your job that way).

[Mr.ILL]

Had a long think about this. Its a tough one.

1. Knowing how to market
You dont get paid if you cant attract clients. Whats going to make you stand out from the now masses of average trainers? And dont tell me you have a special whiz bang degree, have lost over 150lbs yourself or have won bodybuilding/fitness comps.....it means jacksh*t if you cant market your BUSINESS effectivley.

2. Understanding the psychololgy of the prospect/client
Asking the right questions/saying the right things to direct them to a sale. Adapting and effectivley communicating/dealing with different clients to ensure compliance and effective and enjoyable training sessions. If you dont get along with people or they dont enjoy the sessions (no matter how effective they might be), you are screwed.

3. Above avergage knowledge of anatomy/physiology/knowledge base of exercises/dealing with injured or special needs clients.
Once again, whats going to set you apart from other trainers once you sign them up? If you dont know how to effectivly and SAFELY train people (esp those with unique conditions) you WILL hurt people and you will get a bad reputation and maybe even a lawsuit.

4. Perseverance/Integrity
Get lazy and you're screwed. Training the clients is the easy part. Dont think your job finishes as soon as you walk out of the gym. Thats where it begins. Its all the behind the scenes stuff that makes or breaks your business. Follow up phone calls, education, completing and implementing marketing campaigns, paperwork, book keeping, following up with clients, consultations with prospects, meeting with strategic alliance partners etc etc. This list goes on.

Always have standards for yourself when it comes to the service you give, the image you portray and even the quality of the client you train. Let any of these slip and its trouble.

Basically you have to do whats 90% of people dont want to do. You have to bust your ass and think long term.

5. Always want to be better/progressing
One of the best business quotes i have heard is "If you're not growing, you're dying". The minute you become complacent you start moving backwards. This industry is a cut throat one thats for sure so when you take your foot off the accelerator you'll be overtaken and eaten up.

It doesnt matter if you are brand new to the industry or have a full book and a waiting list, you need to be asking yourself "How can I do better/make more money/offer more services/accomodate to more clients?". There is always a way to improve. It might be changing to group training, finding your own studio, hiring a new staff member, increasing your rates or getting trained up in another service you can give. The list goes on.

Thats my take on this as a BUSINESS OWNER (not just a trainer...... you are all business owners so you need to think of your job that way).

Couldn't have said it better myself. I really like like #5 and its what I'm trying to do. I'm solid booked with a waiting list but I'm afraid of getting lazy. So far I've added supplements to my business and raised my rates twice now. Next I'm going to try and team up with a tanning salon. Great write-up.

[tovlakas]

Had a long think about this. Its a tough one.

1. Knowing how to market
You dont get paid if you cant attract clients. Whats going to make you stand out from the now masses of average trainers? And dont tell me you have a special whiz bang degree, have lost over 150lbs yourself or have won bodybuilding/fitness comps.....it means jacksh*t if you cant market your BUSINESS effectivley.

2. Understanding the psychololgy of the prospect/client
Asking the right questions/saying the right things to direct them to a sale. Adapting and effectivley communicating/dealing with different clients to ensure compliance and effective and enjoyable training sessions. If you dont get along with people or they dont enjoy the sessions (no matter how effective they might be), you are screwed.

3. Above avergage knowledge of anatomy/physiology/knowledge base of exercises/dealing with injured or special needs clients.
Once again, whats going to set you apart from other trainers once you sign them up? If you dont know how to effectivly and SAFELY train people (esp those with unique conditions) you WILL hurt people and you will get a bad reputation and maybe even a lawsuit.

4. Perseverance/Integrity
Get lazy and you're screwed. Training the clients is the easy part. Dont think your job finishes as soon as you walk out of the gym. Thats where it begins. Its all the behind the scenes stuff that makes or breaks your business. Follow up phone calls, education, completing and implementing marketing campaigns, paperwork, book keeping, following up with clients, consultations with prospects, meeting with strategic alliance partners etc etc. This list goes on.

Always have standards for yourself when it comes to the service you give, the image you portray and even the quality of the client you train. Let any of these slip and its trouble.

Basically you have to do whats 90% of people dont want to do. You have to bust your ass and think long term.

5. Always want to be better/progressing
One of the best business quotes i have heard is "If you're not growing, you're dying". The minute you become complacent you start moving backwards. This industry is a cut throat one thats for sure so when you take your foot off the accelerator you'll be overtaken and eaten up.

It doesnt matter if you are brand new to the industry or have a full book and a waiting list, you need to be asking yourself "How can I do better/make more money/offer more services/accomodate to more clients?". There is always a way to improve. It might be changing to group training, finding your own studio, hiring a new staff member, increasing your rates or getting trained up in another service you can give. The list goes on.

Thats my take on this as a BUSINESS OWNER (not just a trainer...... you are all business owners so you need to think of your job that way).

Epically well-written post. Not much more can be said about that.

[MT1979]

Hustle
2. Hustle
3. Hustle
4. Knowledge
5. Appearance

Age: 16

WTF? I know very few 16 year olds that have had to hustle for anything.

[flexapeal]

1. Knowledge .... It helps if u know what your doing.
2. Outgoing personality. ...nobody likes a part pooper.
3. Apperance .. Practice what you preach.
4. Be on time and get back with your clients.
5. Keep an open mind and never stop learning about health n fitness.
Ok that's 2 but I couldn't resist.

[flexapeal]

1. Knowledge .... It helps if u know what your doing.
2. Outgoing personality. ...nobody likes a part pooper.
3. Apperance .. Practice what you preach.
4. Be on time and get back with your clients.
5. Keep an open mind and never stop learning about health n fitness.
Ok that's 2 but I couldn't resist.

Success can be measured in many ways. To me it means the success of a client reaching their goal. If I have changed or made a difference in someones life , well that's success. If your in this business to get rich, your in it for the wrong reasons.

[NorwichGrad]

Had a long think about this. Its a tough one.

1. Knowing how to market
You dont get paid if you cant attract clients. Whats going to make you stand out from the now masses of average trainers? And dont tell me you have a special whiz bang degree, have lost over 150lbs yourself or have won bodybuilding/fitness comps.....it means jacksh*t if you cant market your BUSINESS effectivley.

2. Understanding the psychololgy of the prospect/client
Asking the right questions/saying the right things to direct them to a sale. Adapting and effectivley communicating/dealing with different clients to ensure compliance and effective and enjoyable training sessions. If you dont get along with people or they dont enjoy the sessions (no matter how effective they might be), you are screwed.

Very good points. After over a year of being a part-time trainer, I finally shifted gears and have been focusing on marketing for the past couple of weeks. On second comment regarding psychology, I just finished reading "Change or Die." Very good book on how to internally motivate people.

Continuously learning the trade is indeed important, but it is a business and businessmen have to be good marketers as well.

[tovlakas]

If your ONLY in this business to get rich, your in it for the wrong reasons.

fixed. Nothing wrong IMO with wanting to make a lot of money doing what you love...

[flexapeal]

fixed. Nothing wrong IMO with wanting to make a lot of money doing what you love...

Well if your a good cpt you will be blessed.

[BC02]

Well if your a good cpt you will be blessed.

how good of an actual trainer you are has very little to do with how much you will make as a trainer sadly. as a trainer inmost cases you are nothing but a glorified salesman

[askthetrainer]

Lots of good stuff so far.. I'll throw in a few

Empathy - Being able to separate self, the usual above average to extremely fit personal trainer w/ the average Joe/Jane who sits on their duff drinking Duff most of the time.
Knowledge - Nothing new here, a trainer may succeed temporarily without the best education/experience but most of them eventually go down.
Patience - Being able to trust their science and implement it without trying to kill a client every session
Appearance (Not that I think it is 100% necessary but it definitely gives a trainer an edge and can put people who are not so proficient w/ the other traits over the top).
Business practices - Marketing, maintaining policy, being able to deal with people as a business transaction as well as helping their fitness...
Hustle - I like this one, This may be #1 because I see trainers that work their ass off are usually the ones who make the most money out of it, if that is indeed what you consider a success...

[flexapeal]

how good of an actual trainer you are has very little to do with how much you will make as a trainer sadly. as a trainer inmost cases you are nothing but a glorified salesman

Denied...thanks for playing.

[SassyPants13]

1. Good salesman
2good at sales
3.good at sales
4.doesnt prepare clients to be able to go out on their own
5.willing to sacrifice integrity of a workout to do things that look "fun"

Please tell me this was intended to be tongue-in-cheek.

[BC02]

Please tell me this was intended to be tongue-in-cheek.

from a coorperate point of view im dead serious

[askthetrainer]

from a coorperate point of view im dead serious

So with your thinking Barry Zito (10-17, 5.15 ERA, $18.5 million salary) was more "successful" than Tim Lincecum (18-5 2.62 ERA, $400k salary) in 2008?

Not everyone sees: money = success

[labradarep]

What do you think are the Top 5 Traits of Successful Personal Trainers BASED ON YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF OTHER TRAINERS ??

List your Top 5

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I will have to think about this one a bit...

Great question. Really making everybody think & that is always a good thang!!

[LittleCharlie]

1. Personality
2. Knowledge
3. Knowledge
4. Knowledge
5. Application of knowledge

[Celtic16]

If your in this business to get rich, your in it for the wrong reasons.

Not that I fully disagree with you or anything, But this is one hates, when people say this. Would you guys be doing PT if it was the same money as gym instructing? NO! The bottom line is EVERYONE is in PT for the money... Gym instructing lets you help people just as much as PT'ing if you invest enough time in it.

Before anyones jumps on this, i DO believe if you don't fully care about your job, like anything else, you'll not be good at it, you'll not excell and you'll pretty much not get anywhere. Personal training in my opinion (not that that means anything) Is a lifestyle and not just a job or career.