Some trainers, even the most knowledgeable ones, often get too caught up in the training part of this profession. They think that just additional training knowledge will break them out of the 
ruts they’re suffering through in their careers.
While noone will argue whether a strong background in training is a must, at some point you need to think critically about this as a business. You’ve got to think not only about your body of knowledge, but about your career as well, or you’re never going to have the type of lifestyle that should typify someone in the fitness industry.
For me, the breakthrough came when thinking about my own personal image, positioning, and marketing. But on a much bigger scale, I recently got to pick the brain of a guy running not just a private practice, but what could be called a training empire touching nearly every area of Personal Training, Mike Boyle.
Mike’s one of the OG’s in the Training Industry. He’s universally known and respected in this business, and it’s apparent he’s just as skilled and focused a businessman as he is a trainer. He’s got his hand in everything, and still continues to grow his position as one of the top of this industry.
What are some of things Mike’s into? Here’s a partial list:
- He runs a nationally renowned gym in Massachusetts (called one of the top gyms in the country by Men’s Journal).
- He’s got top national accolades, including being named one of the top 100 trainers in the country (also by Men’s Journal).
He’s a celebrity trainer (I even caught him getting a nice shout-out from Jennifer Garner on the Letterman Show).
- He’s trained numerous professional athletes.
- He’s one of the leaders in the online marketing and information marketing industry.
- Written several well-known books in Sports Training.
- Happily married with children.
Hitting in just one of these areas would be a great step for any trainer; Mike’s a big player in every one. Here’s a clip from our conversation where he talks about the set-up of his training business, how he manages to run a studio that makes a profit and delivers a consistent product, and how the different parts of his training business are related:[youtube uyxTRADlWCM nolink]Mike mentions The E-Myth in the clip. For those of you who haven’t read it yet, it’s a must; no matter who you are or what you do it’ll change the way think about your business. I also recommend the author Michael Gerber’s earlier book, PowerPoint. It’s a tell it like it is, ass-kicking book that’s especially relevant to trainers since for all purposes, we ourselves are the entire product and business.
If you want to look at some of the things Mike’s involved in, here’s a list of resources on the web:
- www.bodybyboyle.com – the site to his gym and training business.
- www.michaelboyle.biz – a great resource for tons of free information.
- www.strengthcoach.com – Mike’s new paid membership site
Mike’s written an e-book on creating a fitness studio. I haven’t got my hands on it yet, but I’m sure it goes into a lot more of the details of his gym and business.
We often hear about career burn-out for trainers, but Mike clearly defies that idea. He’s still keeping things fresh with all of the ways he’s getting his knowledge out there. If you’re a trainer with a sound knowledge background, you’ve got to start thinking along the same lines. You’re doing yourself and the pubic a disservice if you’re not actively trying to get your skills into the hands of more people!