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What is the most influential factor that keeps you, the fitness professional or coach, keep doing what you are doing?

Roundtable #12

What is the most influential factor that keeps you, the fitness professional or coach, keep doing what you are doing?

Roger White:

First, I wouldn't want to do anything other than work with athletes. They are highly motivated and work hard for the most part. There is no nagging about eating right or working out...they know what the consequences are if they don't.

Second, I want to be the best. When I was an athlete, I wanted to be the best. I might not have made the NFL and became the best, but I certainly gave it my all. That is exactly what I do when I train. I read everyday. I am always learning. Each session I learn something new. All this is done because I want more. I want people everywhere to know who Roger White is and what I've done. That is my goal and what keeps me going.

Rick Karboviak:

The most influential factor that keeps me going is client satisfaction. Just today I had a client tell me that during his latest doctor appointment, his cholesterol's dropped 45 points, and now he can go off one of his blood pressure meds. I also had a nice email testimonial from a mother, whose young boy I'm training for youth fitness objectives. There's been many a time where I almost gave up on this career because of some rough starts, but it is days like today that keep me going.

Steve Payne:

Wow, this is deep. I guess the MOST motivational factor (of which there are many) would be the sheer joy and pleasure I receive from living vicariously through the successes of my clients. Whether they are simply losing weight and regaining self confidence, rehabilitating a debilitating injury, or seeking the health and stamina to simply die young late in life, their success is my success.

I tell them all at the beginning, that I will take no responsibility for their failure but I will accept all the accolades they care to share for their success. Life is a do it yourself project, and I am a guidance counselor.

Dr. Kwame Brown:

First, let me explain what it is that I do. I design and executing motor skill development / physical fitness programs for children, and shape/provide curriculum for the IYCA's Youth Conditioning Specialist Certification. The number one factor that keeps me doing what I'm doing, is the state of physical fitness in today's youth and the lack of respect for or knowledge of principles of child development by many coaches in youth sports. I know from firsthand experience that the schools are not doing the job (though not for lack of trying), and many parents are clueless (sometimes through no fault of their own). Did you know it has been predicted that this generation will be the first in history to have a shorter life span than their parents? It seems our lust for convenience and luxury has finally come back to haunt us. Children are suffering at an alarming rate from heart disease, diabetes, motor delay/dysfunction, and even clinical depression! Also, the number of orthopedic injuries and cases of "burnout" among youth athletes have been on the rise for some time. This is what keeps me working long hours!

Matt Shuebrook:

The majority of my clients tend to be overweight females, with low self esteem.

It fires me up so much when I am able to be a apart of their life completely turning around. To see an overweight women lose tons of fat, to see her feel confident in herself, to hear about how her husband can't stop admiring her new body, it just recharges my PT batteries. I mean sure its nice to help them lose weight, but I also show them the better side of life. I try to show how the love of Jesus Christ can far surpass ANY hurt, pain or feeling of inadequacy. Not all of my clients will receive the Gospel message, but I know it impacts their lives regardless.

So all in all I have to say that the combination of helping the client lose weight and helping them see the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ is what keeps me getting up at 5:30 in the morning and getting in at 9:30 at night!

Robert Belley:

I'll tell you flat out the principle reason why I keep training people and why I believe I can change the lives of individuals day in and day out-its simple really-is beacuse I get a high knowing that I help people better their lives through training, nutritional and motivational guidance. I mean the money is great, don't get me wrong, but the simplest answer is the intrinsic reward that accompanies results and the complete understanding, that as oneself, I can help any individual change the way they perceive, feel and take in life. I can not think of any other reason to be in this field, I mean I've earned the pay that I receive and my rates just keep getting higher, but, my clients understand why I charge so much, I
better lives. I work primarily off referals, and I also write for several of my local media including a national media outlet but the best reward comes from a woman who can actually lead a healthy lifestyle and be a positive role model for a teenage daughter or son, or a man who can wake up
at the age of 35/45 free of aches and pains. That's the key for me, but I would be a liar if I didn't say that the money is gravy or the icing on the
cake. I'm just happy that I wake up each morning looking forawrd to start my day and get to work, I'm lucky and I hope that every other fitness/health professional feels the same-otherwise they should just get out of the business and find something that they do love to do.

Narina Prokosch:

This is an excellent opportunity for us all to reflect on what motivated this career choice. For me this involved a major life change as I left an exciting and challenging career as a member of the Open Heart Surgical Team in the Operating Room at our local hospital.

Being involved in sport and fitness most of my life, I was acutely aware of how good it felt to be strong and fit. This feeling was the motivating factor that initially spurred me to gather the necessary education to pursue a career as a personal trainer. Having trained in gyms for the past 27 years, I constantly observed people attempting to make exercise a part of their life. For the most part, I was aware of the women entering a public gym for the first time, only to become quickly disillusioned and frustrated as they were left on their own to struggle. This was before the personal trainer was a visible member of the gym staff. Even today, gyms in my City, do not market their personal training staff with any enthusiasm, so gym members are seeking alternatives to the large impersonal atmosphere.

Five years ago, I decided to take the leap and provide an alternative to the large gym and opened a personal training studio that could cater to those individuals who wanted to incorporate fitness into their lives and wanted help to do that. The studio proved to be a huge success from the day I opened my doors and continues to flourish and attract new clients from all walks of life, all age groups and varied fitness backgrounds.

What continues to motivate me is the challenge of learning and applying that new found knowledge. As our clients continue to improve and challenge themselves it keeps my staff and me busy to meet their challenges.

I firmly believe I have the best of both worlds. I have the opportunity to be my own boss and take pleasure in the continuing success of my business and that challenges me as well. I also have the pleasure of going to a work to do a job I love and look forward to each day with enthusiasm. For this I have to be thankful to a wonderful group of clients - past, present and future that allow me the privilege of sharing in their lives and providing me with a lifestyle that I love.

Vince Burke:

I look at both of my professions (Physical Therapist & Sports Trainer) as one. I never look at what I do as "JUST A JOB". I feel when one treats their profession as “JUST a "JOB", it gives off negative energy that adds stress to your day causing you to get burned out and being unhappy. Taking your profession serious and being professional is the key. Often I am told how happy I am a work and my response is; “I love what I do and I don’t consider what I do as a job, I just happen to get paid for what I love to do.” Another factor that keeps me going in what I do is my passion for family, good heath, fitness, and wellness. I feel that my personal and family practice of good health helps because I am not only “branding” my clients but my family with the good health values that are needed to live longer, healthier and happier. Being a professional trainer it is important to give total commitment in that you continue to take courses and/ or go to school to learn more and keep up with the latest research, most innovative and current fitness issues and training techniques that you can execute for the best and safest results. Having this type of commitment will also allow you to build a “colleague” network in which all can feed off of each other, exchange ideas and experiences to help you continue to grow.

Seeing results from my dedication and the patients and clients efforts on a daily basis is truly the icing on the cake. Whether it is seeing someone walk normal without pain after a total knee replacement, run and return to sport after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction to an athlete getting a college scholarship after four years of training them is just chilling and priceless.

Being appreciated and respected from my knowledge and program design from the communities I serve makes it all worth it. The ability to respect and understand others is one of the most important things to do in order to survive in this profession. It is truly a gift not to compare and treat everyone as an individual without judgment will make you not only more humble but looked at as a “SPECIAL” clinician and trainer that everyone will want to be around.

Being told “thank you” from everyone I serve everyday tops it all !!!

John Izzo:

The most influencial factor for me to sustain in this field is both self-serving and passion. I have alsways been fascinated with improving the human body and "lifting weights". I have always looked at those that had muscular physiques as stronger mind-ed, stronger willed, and stronger physcially. It equated to power, resource-fullness, and health. I am addicted to that....and that is the part that is self-serving. My passion is to continue tyo maintain my own powwer, resource-fullness, and health and feed my passion to give those qualities to others. The unique thing about health and strength is everyone has to work for better health, more strength, or increased self-esteem. Some of us through exercise, others through discipline, and some through realization. I believe we can achieve all these through fitness and sharing what we know with others.

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