Everywhere I go, in most conversations I have – it almost always inclines towards health, fitness, or personal training. And I don’t start these topics off, it’s just that these topics always come up, and all the more when people know what I do for a living.
And about 95% of the time, all I hear are complaints, bad experiences, and some form of frustration that they have either towards their health club/gym or a bad experience with a personal trainer. It’s funny how there are more ‘horror’ stories on bad experiences with PTs compared to horror stories on surgeons messing up their patients, mechanics messing up cars, lawyers messing up cases – what is it about PTs that too few people have something good to say?
I’ve been hands-on in the Fitness Industry for about 5 years now. I’ve also had the privilege to work with many fresh upcoming PTs preparing for international certification. I’ve worked with clients from all walks of life – from CEO, to employee, to the man of leisure. I’ve learned a lot working with people who are successful in life, lessons that money can’t buy. And with that, I’d like to leave you with my very own list of 7 steps that I believe will set you apart as a Personal Trainer. Do you want to be the best in what you do? Do you want to deliver results to your clients? Be successful in your career? Here we go, in no particular order:
1. Walk the talk
Live the life you preach about. If you’re helping a client with weight management issues, and your own staple diet consists of fast food, then you’re really in no position to give such advice. This also means you need to look fit – people should be able to look at you and go “that’s what I want to look like!”. You don’t need a ripped six-pack – but you do need to look good. Overweight trainers are a joke – and should be sacked. Health clubs that have overweight employees are a bigger joke. Would you go to surgeon who has a track record of patients that died during surgery? A lawyer who has never won a single case? A mechanic that can’t get his own car to work? No right … then why hire a trainer who can’t even sort his own mess out?
2. Education & Knowledge
Reading fitness magazines don’t qualify you to be a trainer. Also, just because you have a great physique does not mean you know everything there is to be fantastic in your job. Besides having a related degree/diploma, obtaining a certification makes all the difference, and gives your clients some confidence that they are safe in your hands. You’ll want to look for a certification that is accredited and internationally recognised – not a home-made fitness certification that will get you nowhere (except a little poorer). Also, it does not stop there – continuous education and keeping in touch with the latest trends and research is essential in an industry as fast-changing and diverse as the Fitness Industry. Help your clients get the kind of results they deserve.
3. Love what you do
Too many trainers I see take their jobs like a …. job. I’m sorry, but I think that being a trainer/coach requires more than that. This is a job that changes lives. If you’re a trainer just out there to ‘pass time’, or if it’s just your part time job for some side income, or your way of killing time because you can’t find anything else to do… you’d probably end up being a lousy trainer. Why? Cos your heart isn’t 100% into it. I left a high-paying career in the IT industry to pursue what I loved, and here I am today. What would you give up? Or would your PT career be the first thing you ditch the moment the grass seems greener on the other side? I see so many trainer who hop from health club to health club – some hop from being a trainer to become a sales consultant (and vice versa) – what a joke. Imagine walking into a fine dining restaurant only to discover that the waiter has decided to be the chef for the day. Yummy.
Last but certainly not the least:
4. Differentiation.
Answer this – why should your client choose you? How do you differentiate yourself from that other trainer in your health club? To the layman, you guys all seem the same (except of course for the overweight ones who even a 5-year old knows would be a bad idea to hire!). There are thousands of trainers, ranging from RM50 to RM300 per session – what’s so special about you that he/she should hire you? If you can honestly answer that question with 100% confidence, then you are on the right track.
The 4 steps above are easier said than done – but in my opinion, they are absolutely vital and would set you apart from the competition to be a successful and significant fitness professional.
Just last Saturday night, I was treated to dinner at a restaurant at Changkat Bukit Bintang, when the owner popped over to our table, and as expected – the conversation eventually led to his experience with his personal trainer. Just when I was thinking to myself “oh no, here we go again with another bad story…”, but he surprised us when he actually shared that he had an awesome experience with his trainer at Fitness First, who really helped him to be disciplined with his routine. He now has his own home gym, and in terms of his lifestyle, etc – he is who he is today because of his trainer. What a relief to hear such a story. Transformation like these don’t happen with ‘average’ trainers – so to whoever his trainer was… well done.
Wherever you are at now, there is always room for improvement. There IS always time to start. The question is whether or not you’re willing to take your career seriously enough to want to improve yourself.
Be a better trainer – your clients deserve that.
The Incredible Coach Herny, at my Body Transformation Camp
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This post was written by...
Noel Chelliah, ACE-CPT, ACE-LWMC, has been recognized as one of the Top Transformation Experts in Malaysia. No stranger to being overweight himself, Noel has gone through a life-changing transformation himself, from fat, to fit. In 2010, Noel founded the DailyMuscle Body Transformation Camp, which today helps hundreds of individuals exercise and practice healthier habits. In his spare time, Noel serves the community with various programs that promote a healthier lifestyle, and enjoys playing with his dogs.
My name is Noel Chelliah, and I’m a Transformation Specialist and founder of the 
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I like your comment about walking the talk. We often see tubby trainers at commercial gyms. Makes me wonder what criteria do these gyms look for when hiring a trainer?
For some health clubs, even if they had some ‘criteria’… they would probably struggle enforcing it cos the employers themselves have weight management issues.
For example, if the fitness manager (head Personal Trainer for that club) is a little on the chubby side… how can he/she tell his subordinates to get fitter/look leaner? He can’t.
Great stuff, DM.
As time goes on I’m more convinced that PTing is something that I can pursue seriously. But yeah, the fear of not being able to earn at least as much as I earn now is an issue for me.
The being certified, walking the talk part is pretty much ok. I’m leading a much healthier lifestyle now than before.
Thinking of doing part time PT which is definitely possible but a bit difficult since your time and the client’s time must jive.
great stuf…and yes, a committed PT makes all the differences. He/she not only must lead by example, he/she needs to inspire as well.
I believe yourself and a few other PT i know fits the bill perfectly, and for that reason alone, the clientele is only limited by your time constraint – even that, if the client is willing to be training at 2am in the morning, i am sure you and those few, will commit.
:)
good points,,Most important things all the trainers have to be in mind,,..we should practice what we preach..,really enjoy reading your blog.
My funny experience at the gym.
When signing for membership, the chubby PR lady ask “why do you want to joint? What Is your aim?”.
I answered toughtfully “… hmmmm……because I don’t look good fat.”..and I pause looking at her ….and continue saying , ” I know some people do. But my main aim is to be fit and healty “. I feel so mean.
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There is a certain hilarity to walking into a gym and being greeted by an overweight receptionist.
Perhaps its part of the ‘motivational’ side of the business.
Hit you in the face with ‘what you COULD look like if you stopped training’ as soon as you walk in.
Not too sure if this adds or detracts from the discussion, but thought I’d through this out. Making the committment to change the habits that have led to an unhealthy body is a difficult journey. Seeking help from someone is much like therapy. There needs to be a feeling of trust between the client and the trainer. This is not always easy to achieve. Trainers need some sensitivity in understanding the psychological basis of persons who have let their bodies go. I don’t want my trainer to be a psychological therapist, but I do need for my trainer to be cognizant of the fact that there are a number of factors involved in how the physique ended up looking the way it does.
I am feeling embarassment, shame, and judged about the way my physique looks. As a man, I’m more inclined to seek a female trainer as I feel that she will be more able to understand the sense of self-consciousness that is a part of my desire to get fit and stay fit. Again, its not that I want a counseling session, but my instinct tells me that a female trainer will have the basic understanding of the psychological perspective as well as the physical.
Health centers and trainers are a major business and I’m glad that they are there. But I think trainers could take their business one step further if they engender a sense of trust, respect, and bond with their clients to help them with their motivational difficulties.
FF national fitness manager is the biggest joke…he himself looks like freakin Michelin tires