Comments on: “HOW DO I GET STARTED IN PERSONAL TRAINING?!?!?” My Definitive Answer To Starting A Career In Fitness ….

By: Sherrie Grennell

Sherrie Grennell — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:24:16 +0000

I’m glad I ran across this article. I have been looking at getting a personal training education and have just become overwhelmed and confused by all of the different schools and certifications. I have pretty much taught myself and designed and implemented my own training over the years after quitting smoking 8 1/2 years ago. I got into the best shape of my life within about 2 years of reading, and implementing my own program from books and articles I have read. I have hit some obstacles…a few injuries, illness and surgeries, over the years, but I keep bouncing back. I’m not in as good a shape as I was a few years ago after a major surgery, but I don’t give up and I am very passionate about wanting to help others transform their lives, bodies, health and fitness. I’m 53 years old and was pretty set on enrolling in the NPTI (National Personal Training Institue), but after doing some research, I got cold feet. (My 1st day of school would have been today)! $5900.00 isn’t a lot of money, but it is a chunk of change for me. I visited Heritage College last night and the cost of their program is almost 15,000.00. I’m not knocking education, but I’m just not ready for that expense right now. Maybe, instead, I can just jump right in and start working on getting an ACE or NASM certification and then work on getting a specialty cert. I agree that you can never stop learning. I have been dragging my feet on this for a few years. Seems I start researching, get confused, and give up. I don’t want to give up on my dream and I’m not getting any younger. There are better things for me than working for corporate America, sitting at a desk in front of a computer terminal. I’m not happy there. I believe that helping others to help themselves is my passion and I know that I can do this. I transformed my own body by reading and implementing, and I know that I can teach and motivate others to do the same. Thank you so much for your article. It has helped me to realize that I need to ‘get a move on’. Thanks again!

By: Layma

Layma — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:08:33 +0000

Thank you for this article! It really got me pumped. I have been working in corporate business and almost done with my MBA. I just realized that I don’t want to be doing this for the rest of my life and that I really want to get into personal training! I had some people support me and a lot telling me not to do it, even people who did it for a living. They said they didn’t make any money and the competition is hard, well I feel they didn’t try hard enough and I know I can make it. The classes for certification start in October and it will take about a year to be done. I am so impatiens and I want to start now! Is there anything I can do now to get into fitness world while I get the certification and possible quit my office job? Any advice is welcomed! Thanks!

By: Raj

Raj — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:11:42 +0000

“BTW my career as a Physician Assistant for 15 years paid me CRAP compared to the lucrative salary I make now as a fitness trainer”. – I feel you a 100% on this one soma. I myself am majoring to become a clinical laboratory science nd then I was going to become a physician assistant but I’m so glad I found out about this now!

I like this post because it tells the truth. Of coarse you’re going to have to put in work because it’s your business. How much you makes depends on you only.

By: Yavor

Yavor — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:41:44 +0000

Another excellent post from you, Kaiser.

Thanks!

By: Kaiser

Kaiser — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 07:59:08 +0000

Hey Christine – yeah, good questions about schedules – personally, I’m like you – working early mornings is not a possibility for me, no-matter what the money – I usually train at mornings between 10-1 and evenings between 6-10, and I work 3-4 hours on weekend mornings to early afternoons – I’m working a lot of hours these days, but I end up with 2 and occasionally 3 days off a week -

How do you make it work? You just say these are your hours, and that’s that – take it or leave it – you can’t accept every client, and you can’t accept hours that don’t work for you – if you set boundaries on who you accept and what hours you train, they’ll respect you more for it –

Easier said than done right? It comes to having choice – that’s from having your marketing handled – working to get your name out there and get leads coming into your pipeline, which you’ll see described in the web-report (in the services section) and in a new post I’m working on – remember you only need about 12-15 clients for a thriving practice – the referrals and spontaneous new leads you develop will actually leave you over-booked if you’re doing your job right -

Speaking of which, you’re own personal credibility plays a big part in that – that’s one of the major purposes of this site – how much do you believe in your services and their value? How do you come across to others? Are you a professional on par with, or better yet, ABOVE the other professionals these individuals deal with day to day? Pay attention to these things – these are the personality points that once you’ve mastered, you make your own rules –

Yeah, that experience you already have helps – you have to get it somewhere – a gym environment is a structured, quick and dirty way to get it, but if you’re motivated it’s not mandatory – no matter what, you’re going to have to learn to sell expensive training to clients, and get comfortable with training them – a gym environment kind of FORCES you to do it, but it’s not like playing with house money – the client still pays the same amount, even though you keep less – so if you have it in you, in my opinion you can bypass this step, although I know few trainers who have -

Hey Michael, thanks for the positive feedback – I know I go overboard with the LIFE talk sometimes, but that’s one of the main lessons I’ve learned from this job – I was in a really low place personally, and this profession was the vehicle that pulled me out – I owe it all to Personal Training – everything I’ve learned, responsibility I’ve learned, and people I’ve met are all directly related to this work – and unlike other professions, these are all peak experiences – this is more than just a career – for those that are lacking it, it’s an entire life and lifestyle –

By: Michael D

Michael D — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:43:28 +0000

This was truly an amazing post. Thank you for writing this, because I am grateful for having read it. You have the exact attitude I have adopted – although Kaiser is talking about personal training in particular here, parts of this article could even be about how to be successful in life. I’m sure every nearly every person who has achieved their own success and fortune in life has the same attitude as this man here, and he’s right; the ones that do average are the ones who play it safe all their lives.

By: Christina Evangeline

Christina Evangeline — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:15:35 +0000

I have read your ebooks and a few articles on your site and I have a couple questions:
What hours do you work? I have been told that you have to work in the early morning and afternoons.

1) I am not an early morning person, never have been and am just miserable no matter what I do if I have to wake up before 7 or 8. I would much prefer the hours of 8-11 and/or 2-5. I like to workout in the afternoons. How would I make this work?

2) Are you suggesting that new trainers start out independent or do you agree with others that every trainer should start as an employee in a gym, to get that initial experience?

I currently have expirience as an aerobic instructor, but none as a personal trainer. I have had 3 trainers myself, and 2 of them were good. My goal is to train women in weight loss and physique transformation, and as I get expirience, possibly figure competition as well.

Thanks for your help!

By: bill moore

bill moore — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:42:21 +0000

Nice job Kaiser, this post sums up the some HARD facts about the “job” and lifestyle needed to be committed to this field. Discipline, motivation and energy are words I live by and preach about everyday !!!

By: Kaiser

Kaiser — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:38:20 +0000

Thanks – I wrote this in a stream of consciousness last week and it just flowed naturally straight from the heart – deep down this is how I feel about Personal Training and what it means to me. It’s done a lot for me. So has this blog, in opening my mind up to new things in this industry. In my attempt to put out quality info and share my knowledge, new things are opening up for me – funny how that works, huh?

By: Somagenesis san Diego Personal Trainer

Somagenesis san Diego Personal Trainer — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:40:43 +0000

Very elegantly stated Kaiser. Yes, I agree with 100% of the value of education vs. doing whatever you, and giving it your best. Working for yourself is always the best choice with or without a degree. Either way, you control your work hours, salary and success and fame. The Personal Fitness industry is a marginally tapped industry, and God only knows there are NOT enough trainers to go around to take care of the fat, unhealthy and infirmed. Be an excellent trainer and market the shit out of your business. I am a firm believer in heavy marketing and public exposure. Never give up and look for the positive no matter what.

I had learned how to become an entrepreneur at age 10, and that hard work and persistence always pays off. I had my own lawn and rotatiller and dog walking service, My 3 biggest customers where William Macy Jr. President of Macy Department Store and May, Jerry Bic, the owners of Bic Pen company and the Chancellor for SUNY Stoneybrook. My hard work and perfectionistic qualities paid off as I acquired numerous VIP referrals from within their social circles. By the time I graduated high school I had a new car, and 40 K to contribute to my college education.

BTW my career as a Physician Assistant for 15 years paid me CRAP compared to the lucrative salary I make now as a fitness trainer.

Kaiser,reading and feeling your passion is very inspirational. I believe you are on a very important crusade, which will handsomely reward you in the long run. Keep pumping out these killer words of wisdom. I really appreciate the time you put into this… Your #1 fan Rivak