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I had a little extra time today, and I started thinking about all the things I’ve learned during my decade of training. I’ve been training people since 2001 and have read and seen a lot of things. I’m sure if I stick around another decade, I’ll have much more to add to this list. This list reflects my own personal experiences and observations of the fitness industry.
- Be fair in your business dealings. Be willing to work with people, especially those who really want to be trained or coached. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard of a trainer or coach who didn’t work with someone because they didn’t want to negotiate a package.
- Don’t be selfish with your knowledge. I know you think you have all the training knowledge in your gym or community and don’t want anybody else to know the “secrets” you do. But when you give more, you get more in return.
- Do the right thing regardless of the consequences. People are attracted to people who have values and integrity.
- Don’t do things just to do them. There will always be some new fitness trend out there. Make sure you research the pros and cons of these and see if it’s appropriate for your clients or athletes.
- Always try to find ways to help your clients and athletes. If you know they need help with diet plans, send them recipes when you find them. The EliteFTS cookbook is a great place to start.
- Be adaptable. Don’t force your client to do movements that hurt. Find something different yet still affective.
- Read, read, and read some more. Education is key. It will benefit you and your clients and athletes.
- Let the haters hate. My mother told me this last night. She said, “You will always have jealous people out there, especially if you’re doing things for the right reasons.”
- Understand that you’ll always be in a state of flux, especially with business. There are ups and downs, so be strong enough to deal with them.
- Always leave the door open for clients and former clients. Keep them updated on things that you’re doing. They are your best form of advertising.
This is just a small list of things that I’ve learned and observed over my ten years of training. Feel free to add more to this list in the comments section.
About the Author
Charles Gardner graduated from Oakwood University with a bachelor's degree in science. He is certified with the ISSA, AFFA, and Parillo Performance and is an amateur powerlifter/Strongman. He is also an adjunct professor at Oakwood University. For more information, visit his website and YouTube page at
www.newsynergyss.com and
www.youtube.com/SynergyStrength1.
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Great article, short but straight to the point.
Would it bo ok to list:
11. Don’t waste time on people who have no intention of taking good advice and direction and who want to do their own thing at all costs, even though it goes against everything they say they want to achieve regardless of how much money they pay.
I have this in mind because a client/ athlete can only succeed if they themselves put in the effort. In particular I know of a woman who goes to the same gym as I do. She’s fat, smokes weed then eats too much food, gets drunk and goes to bed late. She then tries to slim down her fat ass by walking on the tread mill and using the rower machine. She often comments about not being able to get out of bed in the morning. These kind of people are not a good advertisment for the personal trainer/ sports coach.
That’s what I think anyway.
As a new gym owner, I can appreciate your points. Some of them I do and others I will consider. Thanx for sharing.
@ kieth and vic, Thanks for the comments guys, I always appreciate feedback. Keep it coming!
Agreed. I like this article.
A few points of interest though:
@1. Without discussing extremes of ‘free’ vs ‘pay for my time’. If they dont want to discuss
a package but want to learn what you have to say, how can you still make a living? What would be your typical ‘negotiation’ tactic here?
@2. When I start to see my programing show up at the local high schools, or trainers in the gym who take what they see me doing and make money off it…I am hesitant to just give anything out for free.
@ Glen What I mean with point one is not to give some thing away for free what I mean is workout a payment plan for the individual where both parties are happy. With point two I mean if there is a kid doing something wrong in the gym don’t hesitate to help them out. As far as intellectual property goes everything that you put out runs the risk of being taken and used one should should look at it as a compliment that someone would atttempt to use your “exercises.”
Optimum!
I have just linked in my blog.
Duccio