Reflective Practice

[ekpt]

I've just past the 6 month mark of being out on my own as a PT and the business has died down for xmas so i have had a bit of time to reflect on the past 6 months.

Reflective practice is a phase i have recently came across while studying for my sport and exercise science degree, i always knew the concept of RP and the meaning behind it, in essence to evaluate yourself, your teachings and what have you.

For me, the last 6 months have been nothing but a huge success in which i'm thankful. I started of during the summer renting out of a boxing gym and from the first day i had a steady flow of clients and before i knew it i was doing 12 hour shifts most days and even working on sunday's......i had my own keys, choose my own hours it was heaven to me working as your own boss.
couple months later college starts back in september, so clients are moved to mornings and evenings, and now were in December were ive only a few keeping me ticking over.

So what have i learned, and more importantly about myself?

first of i've made a few mistakes, and not afraid to admit it but all in all i kept myself going with the head down, constantly learning and revising even over some of the most basic stuff.

I've learned how to work better with people, how to deal with pressures of working 12/14 hour days and juggling my own training/college and social life into the mix.

My biggest downfall or weakness would be my personality, i need to separate my normal life from my business life (because after all we are business men/women delivering a service) in other words, i get on too well with a few of my clients which can be a bad thing because the majority of them simply want to train for the fun of it (mostly women who are neighbours)

I have no real progress photos and have let myself down on this side of things where i should take a firmer stance with their nutrition and training outside of the gym and be more authoritarian inside it

i have also learned how to devise my circuits a bit better......to match fitness levels etc.

so all in all i've learned a lot over the past 6 months and i have a lot to improve on. one thing is for certain is that i love my job, i love what i do and will never stop learning. i only want to improve and be honest with myself and those around me.
Many ego's in this game but ill always be grounded

Have any of you done some RP recently?
had similar weaknesses / problems?

[tbrady1pttools]

the first year as a pt you will learn the most! I've learned more through my mistakes then I have through anything else in life. Keep it up!

One thing I agree on as well is keeping clients more dedicated to the nutrition. If there is no follow through with that then it doesn't matter what there doing in the gym. This is where you must learn to inspire them vs motivate them.

motivation is temporary. If there not motivated from the get go and think the trainer will solve their lazzy a** then I won't work with them. Sooner or later your reputation is on the line. People will see if your getting good results with cilents or not.
Best of luck in the new year!

[ekpt]

the first year as a pt you will learn the most! I've learned more through my mistakes then I have through anything else in life. Keep it up!

One thing I agree on as well is keeping clients more dedicated to the nutrition. If there is no follow through with that then it doesn't matter what there doing in the gym. This is where you must learn to inspire them vs motivate them.

motivation is temporary. If there not motivated from the get go and think the trainer will solve their lazzy a** then I won't work with them. Sooner or later your reputation is on the line. People will see if your getting good results with cilents or not.
Best of luck in the new year!

Cheers bud, like you say sooner or later my reputation will be on the line and its all about experience in the first year or so. I pulled a couple of the girls this morning and told them changes are happening in the new year, time to knuckle down and take it more serious!

[Ronin4help]

I don't know if you learn the most your first year. I think that once you have a few years under your belt, then you can start to solidify the style you wish to carry you through your career. But it take a few years before you can filter out the stuff that's just not you and polish the things that are perfect for your personality and fitness philosophies.