"The Roundtable Discussion"

 

 

 

"I think most people who believe that all a trainer/coach does is train people, change weights, write programs and supervises sessions are right.

 

I agree 100%.

 

Most trainers do only that, in fact many trainers only change weights.

 

I would guess about 60% change weights vaguely paying attention to their clients in between their own mental masturbatory pose downs in the mirror, 25% change weights and really pay attention to their client-like the first 3 and last 3 of any set-and 13% do the prior mentioned including writing a horrible yet meaningless program, and I’m willing to bet that 2% at best know what the hell they’re actually doing or are remotely close when it comes to real program design, application, support, guidance, motivation and truly caring about their client…and caring doesn’t mean wiping down their machine or handing them a water bottle…hell any incompetent can do that.

 

So I agree with the public, most trainers are merely pin pushers, plate stackers, guessers, assumers and babysitters. Very few actually have an idea of what they are creating and why they are applying them at the present time to elicit so and so benefit and result.

 

I think that’s why I feel most comfortable not employing anyone at my firm presently. I haven’t met anyone that has wowed me yet with their knowledge, understanding or view on training. Doesn’t mean someone isn’t out there, heck they could be right under my nose and I may have passed right by them unknowingly in a supermarket, convenience store, gas station or park.

 

All I know is that my firm simply can not afford to employ some dumbbell jockey for the amusement of collecting a paycheck and bragging to their friends about they’re so tough day. My clients are like family to me in that I truly care about their commitment, desires, goals, achievements and ability to live each day better than the last. It’s a whole package. If your job is turning into just a paycheck for you, get out of the business, it’s not the right industry for you. Understand why.

 

Sure you may only spend one to two hours a week with a client in person, but the support via email, phone, direct mail and consultations beyond the end of the session itself is what separates great trainers from good trainers. All of my clients know they can reach me when something important arises and it calls for attention.

 

Now am I setting them up for failure once they decide to venture on their own again? No, I’m simply instilling in them that they can achieve what they want, that their support system is the most valuable and important piece in the puzzle of their achievement adventure/mission. Also, as I’ve mentioned in prior roundtable pieces, I am very fortunate and in a wonderful place in my career in that in that I choose who I will train.

 

I can not tell you how many people I have turned down even when two or three slots have been open-I like to cap my clientele at about 10-12 individuals-because I did not feel they were the type of person who truly wanted to change their lifestyle to achieve their goals. I’m not ashamed of that either, playing picky.

 

In fact, I hope more people think that trainers are convenient as the above mentioned. It’ll force trainees to value the services of a great trainer, not a person looking to rake some money off someone’s back sweat with lies, misconceptions and misinformation.

 

That’s why we have solid experts rather than Johnny and Suzy Look-Good-(some not so good) with no practical knowledge of creating effective training designs and or knowing how to implement them.

 

On a candid note, I’m rather an expensive investment for potential clients, but I LOVE every time a client tells me I don’t charge enough for my service. It happened tonight when I was signing another individual up for 7 months worth of training sessions. That’s a great feeling and an amazing return on an investment.

 

The client is happy and the advisor/educator/motivator/trainer is happy; nothing like being respected for giving someone what they want and a few ‘your welcomes’ along the way ; ) Actually, last week I gave all of my clients yet another piece of equipment they can use for their home gyms-and I even supplied my prior clients with them too! I don’t only take money from my clients I give them back something useful, motivating and rewarding for their consistent efforts and achievements. Remember it’s all about them, not you.

 

And if you’re a trainer reading this, get with the program and start giving your clients the attention they deserve. I don’t care if you dread having to train your 4 o’clock, either drop them as a client or give them to someone else who’ll care for them, because your certainly not doing them the service they desired in the first place, and if they are merely using you in retrospect for the bragging rights of a trainer, then drop them. Don’t waste your time with someone who doesn’t really need the service or desire it. But most often I’ve discovered it’s the trainer, and not the trainee, whose ‘missing’ during a personal training sessions.

 

So if you’re not going to support them, and all you care about is another increment in your paycheck, then you may need to find a new career or start admiring your clients for who they are…someone who trusts you with their most prized possessions…they’re health, appearance and body."

 

Chaney Weiner:

 

"Most people feel that a fitness trainers job is to just stand there and watch them work out, count reps, and be a cheerleader. While that may work for some the reality is, is this the kind of person you want that you are paying to change your body and life? In fact I will also go as far as to say that MOST trainers are not even writing program for their clients. With all this being said what we see out there is a misconception of what the fitness professionals job is. A fitness professional provides, or is a provider, of fitness services. That entails many things from the actual training of clients, to giving seminars and workshops, there is a broad spectrum. The biggest misconception out there is just that, that all a trainer does is work their clients out. In addition and THE MOST important aspect BY FAR of a trainer or any fitness professional for that matter is the ability to get inside the minds of their clients. You will see out there in ads for trainers that they will motivate you and all that "what you want to hear stuff" but the reality is that VERY VERY few even know how to get inside the heads of their clients and truly motivate them. People should be paying for a fitness professionals skills in both how well they write programs and how they get their clients to believe that they will get the results they desire."

 

Steve Payne:

 

"In my opinion, probably the biggest misconception many people make is that, as a trainer, all we do is sit idly by and wait for the next person to come see us. They have no real conception of the hours of study that a true professional continually goes through to improve their ability to perform their craft to a level of expertise on par with that of a physician, an architect or engineer. I believe many erroneously believe that we simply hand people weights, talk with them about their _____ (insert day, job, family, diet, rest, etc) and make sure they feel good about themselves before they leave. Those things may have a place in the framework of a trainers "gameplan", but they do not begin to scratch the surface of the overall picture and scope of responsibility each fitness professional should undertake."

 

Rick Karboviak:

 

"One misconception I've had to face in a small, rural area is that my service as a trainer means that I 1) must work for someone, or for a fitness center only, and 2) that all I do is 1 on 1 training only.  Other misconceptions are: "All a trainer needs to do is give me a program and tell me what to do", and "Don't trainers do things for an hour?" (I specialize in 30 minute training sessions).  Perhaps this is what they hear from their relatives or friends in bigger cities, like the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul.  I'm often compared to those down there, and its a hard thing to get them to realize that I'm much different than the fitness culture that exists there. I need to be because of the differences in the way of life in big city vs. rural.

Personal training is a relatively new concept to this area, too. Back in 2004 when I moved here, I was told I was the first certified trainer, ever, in the history of the city, a city of about 9,000 people.  I guess others who tried to do training weren't really trainers, but just set up programs on machines and people thought that was all that trainers needed to do.

So, I am creating a new paradigm up here in regards to fitness & sports training workouts.  That is my challenge and I expect to exceed it."

 

John Izzo:

 

"I think the most common misconception of personal trainers is the fact that they must look a certain way. If they don't possess rock hard abs, chicled physiques, or awesome Californian tans -- then the advice they give is dismissed. This is too bad for many potential clients as I have met fitness professionals that looked like they had never been "under the bar", but they possessed incredible knowledge and DID train. I think we, as a sociey, needs to understand that teh fitness field is growing and evolving and the role of a trainer is changing."