10 Step Guide to Becoming a Successful Personal Trainer

Is personal training still a good career? How do you get started in the industry? What certifications are the best? All of that and much, much more in this 10 step guide to becoming a successful personal trainer….

First, you have to care about people, not money. If you care about people and you’re passionate about exercise, health, and nutrition, then personal training should be a great career fit for you.

However, it’s not rainbows and lollipops.

Most trainers barely eek out a living. If you already have a job, the best thing to do would be to volunteer to train a few friends at all times of the day (you’ll need to enjoy training someone at 6am and 7pm on the same day if you want to have a full time job in the industry). It’s not a 9-5 gig, but if you love it, you’ll live with that, right?

What about the economy? Will personal training remain a viable career in the new economy?

The good news is that fitness bootcamps have become more popular and that gives you the opportunity to help more people while making an equal or greater income than regular one on one training.

Other bright sides: Depending on where you live, there is likely to remain a desire for one-on-one training from upper income individuals. Obviously if you live in Hoboken, NJ, the demand will be greater than if you live in Detroit, MI.

My friend and successful personal trainer studio owner Alwyn Cosgrove says that both the low-priced big box gyms and the high-end private personal training studios are doing well right now, but the guys in the middle are not.

Corporate fitness programs also seem to be a positive opportunity going forward as companies work to decrease their health insurance costs (among the many benefits of having healthy, fit, employees).

But there’s also the reality of the the down side. I’m not optimistic the general US economy is going to get better anytime soon…nor the economy in Europe…although Canada and Australia should fare better and Asia probably holds the greatest opportunity. The South American market is maturing, but will be years before it is like that of Canada or Australia.

That said, marketing expert Dan Kennedy likes to say, “all weather is local“…meaning no matter what the average American unemployment rate, there is always going to be areas where there are a lot of people with above average incomes and interest in one-on-one personal training…I guess it all depends on where you live – or on your flexibility in traveling for this career.

And if you’re just getting started, your options are like most other industries…you will need to “apprentice” somewhere when you start out…and this could mean working in a private studio or a big box gym.

Like everything in life, your success depends on the connections you make. In order to make the right connections, you will need to invest in your education by traveling to seminars or in an internship. These types of investments are usually worth every penny and more.

While still in University (which cost a large fortune), I spent a smaller fortune traveling to strength training seminars. But again, it was worth every penny.

With that general advice out of the way, let’s get into…

The 10 Step Plan for Success in the Fitness Industry

Here’s what I would do if I had to do it all over again…

1) I would get a certification from ACE, ACSM, NSCA, NASM, Can-Fit Pro (if canadian), CPTN (if Canadian), ISSA, or CHEK.

2) I’d get insurance (you should be able to do this without a certification – but I’m not 100% sure).

3) I would start training everyone and anyone I could for free (friends, family, work mates)

If you take the 6am-7pm personal training test (mentioned above) and pass it with passion, then keep going. If not, admit the fitness industry is not for you, and just stay passionate about fitness as a hobby, and re-commit yourself to your current job or continue to look for something else on the side.

I’m one of those optimists who believe that we all should be able to find a vocation in life that we love and are passionate about.

Also, one exercise I suggest you do – even before you start all of this – is to ask yourself:

• “What is my purpose/higher calling here on earth?”
• “What did my higher power put me here on this earth to do?”
• “Who was I put here to serve?” (this helps you determine your “niche market”)
• “What skill/ability do I have that NO ONE else in the world can do better?”
• “What do I want my legacy to be?”

This will guide you through the rest of the steps…

4) As soon as possible, I’d start finding paying clients through referrals.

(NOTE: I’d be doing all of this as a “side gig” while sticking to real job. Yes, it’s going to cause burning the candle at both ends…but these transitions always do).

I’d also develop a business based around group training (semi-private groups or large bootcamps) as soon as possible.

5) I’d start connecting with all local experts/veterans of the fitness industry. Find a mentor. You might have to knock on 20 doors till you find the right person, but it will be worth it.

6) I’d start attending seminars as soon as possible. Be strategic about your attendance…make a list of questions to ask and people to meet and don’t leave until each objective is crossed off. The most successful trainers are often the ones who leave with the most resources. And never, ever stop learning. If you do, you’re done. You’ve lost your passion and it’s time for you to move on.

7) I’d continue to network, build relationships, help others, and grow “the pie bigger” rather than trying to increase only my slice of the pie. Help as many people as you can.

“You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Zigler

Each day I’d spend time focusing on my gratitude for the opportunity to work my dream job (if the earlier line of questioning has determined this is it). I’d focus on being happy and ignoring the negativity that fills the world. I’d take the energy that other people spend on fighting the negativity and I’d direct it into even more passion towards helping others, learning more, and becoming better at what I do.

People are attracted to passionate people.

Remember the Crocodile Hunter (RIP). Crikey, he made people care about snakes and spiders. If he can do that, then you and I can make people care about feeling amazing and reaching their full potential through nutrition and exercise.

9) I’d follow passionate people in other industries through Facebook and Twitter. Follow Gary Vaynerchuck (read his book, “Crush It”), Carrie Wilkerson, and your favorite music stars and actors (positive people only). Watch how they interact with people and make their followers happy. Learn from them and do the same for the people who look up to you.

10) Believe in yourself. Whether it is losing fat or building the career of your dreams, everyone success story I’ve met KNEW that without a doubt they were going to be a success. They ALL believed in themselves. You must do that too.

So think back to when you were doing something that you KNEW was going to happen (could have been when you KNEW that you were going to get your spouse to marry you, or when you KNEW that your team was going to win your high school football championship or when you KNEW that you were going to ace that final exam)…that’s the feeling that you must have now.

You MUST have that feeling, you must have confidence, you must have passion, and you must have that helping mindset (others call it an “abundance mentality”). Those are the “gotta haves” that only you can build in yourself…the fitness info is easy to teach (it’s not rocket science)…the technical skills should never be an issue…its the “inner game” that is up to you.

That’s it. The 10 steps to becoming a successful personal trainer.

Your friend,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, TTBootcamps Workouts

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3 Tips From the Bootcamp Bootcamp Weekend

Do anything good last weekend?

I had a couple of family events, including a good ol’ family reunion.

Great times!

But that meant I couldn’t make it to the “Bootcamp Bootcamp” in
Louisville, Kentucky on the weekend.

So I had my good buddy, Pat Rigsby, give us three of the best darn
bootcamp tips from the weekend…

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3 Killer Tips From Bootcamp Bootcamp – By Pat Rigsby

We just wrapped up an incredible weekend with about 100 of the top
Fitness Bootcamp owners in the world at the first ever Bootcamp
Bootcamp.

We covered everything from the Top 5 Lead Generation Strategies for
Bootcamps to ways camp owners can maximize results for their members
using tools like bands, kettlebells and the TRX.

 

 

 

There had to be over 100 tips, tricks and strategies shared that
could propel a new camp to the six-figure mark in a hurry, but
sharing all 100 would make for a pretty long post – so here are my
top 3.

#1 – Pick two lead generation strategies and become epic at them.

Most mediocre business owners dabble in a bunch of things instead
of really committing to anything. Don’t be one of them.

Pick two high ROI lead generation strategies like public speaking
or power networking – and work them relentlessly.

You’ll get into a rhythm, be able to test and tweak and more than
anything else – you’ll get better and more confident at them.

So spend the next 90 days focusing on your top two lead generation
strategies and watch you business explode.

#2 – Don’t spend all your time chasing new people.

It’s often been said that it costs 10X as much to acquire a new
client as it does to re-sell and existing one.

Then why do most bootcamp owners spend all their ‘business growth
time’ chasing new prospects?

I can’t answer that – but I can tell you it’s a mistake.

Start spending more of your time focusing on internal marketing and
less on external marketing and your business will grow twice as
fast.

Instead of only offering one month of camp at a time, start selling
3 or 6 month memberships – or at least putting people on
auto-renweing memberships.

If you can get people to stay with you for 6 months instead of
four, spend $249 a month with you instead of $199 through upselling
them on Nutritional Coaching programs or supplements and get them
to refer someone here and there – your income will multiply right
before your eyes.

#3 – Great marketing is no substitute for a great camp.

I don’t care how good your marketing is, if you’re not delivering
great workouts with tons of energy – your camp will never become a
destination and you’ll forever be chasing new campers.

You have to create an atmosphere that campers love and can’t stop
raving about.

 

 

 

Greet them by name, provide better workouts, add music to the
workouts and create a competitive environment with Transformation
Contests.

If you want your campers to stay longer and refer often – you have
to make your camp more than a workout – it has to be an experience.

There you go – 3 tips that are easy to implement and guaranteed to
grow your business.
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Thanks Pat, awesome stuff!

Now get out there and apply those tips to your bootcamp,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

PS – If you need more time to spend on working your top two lead
generations strategies…

…than “outsource” your workout design to the Turbulence Training
Bootcamp Workout programs.

You’ll get 31 done-for-you, no-equipment workouts – plus a whole lot
more marketing tips from top bootcamp biz owners.

Click here to get your TT Bootcamp workouts

Let me know if you want more tips from Pat!

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Bootcamp Marketing Tip #1

Here’s bootcamp marketing expert Steve Hochman’s world famous “human billboard marketing tip”…

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The first thing I’m gonna talk about is my now world-famous human billboard marketing system.

Now, the human billboard marketing system works off of the law of reciprocity, where you do something nice for someone and they feel compelled to do something for you.

And it goes a little bit farther than that, but here’s how it works.  You’re gonna get 21 people that they’re gonna be your human billboards.

In other words, they’re gonna barter your Boot Camp services, and in exchange for getting free Boot Camp, they are gonna sign a contract that they will agree to refer one paying client per month.  All right?

So, they get free Boot Camp services.

But they’re gonna get YOU one free client per month.

And I’m gonna tell you about some really innovative tools you’re gonna give your human billboards to make it easier than heck for them to refer you tons of clients.

Now, let me show you how significant this is, and how you could go from zero to a six-figure income in 60 days with the human billboard marketing system.

If you take 21 human billboards and you times that by $199.00 per month, which is what I charge for my Boot Camps for a year contract on auto debit.  So, it’s $199.00 a month times 21 human billboards.

So, if each person refers you just 1 client, in 30 days, you’re gonna have 21 paying clients.

Twenty-one (21) paying clients at $199.00 a month equals $4,179.00 each and every month, after only 30 days, without spending one single penny out of your pocket.

Now, in month 2, those 21 human billboards are gonna refer you one more client.  That’s gonna bring you up to 42 paying clients at 199 a month, which equals $8,358.00 a month, by day number 60, without spending any money.

And $8,358.00 a month times 12 months equals $100,296.00 a year.

So, you see how powerful that is?  How easy it is to grow a Six-Figure Boot Camp?

How easy is it to get 21 people to be your human billboards, have them each refer 1 person a month, and sign a contract stating that they are going to do so?

Not only are they gonna refer you one person a month, but they’re not gonna tell a single soul about the very special deal that you gave them.  And after two months, you are on track to making $100,000.00 a year.

So, now, what you’re probably wondering is, “That sounds great, Steve, now where in the heck do I find these human billboards?”  And where I find them, and I’ll usually find about 21 of them in the first couple of days even, is on Craigslist.

But it’s more than just Craigslist.  You gotta know where to advertise on Craigslist for free.  Okay?

And there are six magical places to advertise for your bootcamp workout human billboards on Craigslist.

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To discover Steve’s 6 magical places to advertise your bootcamp on Clickbank…

…you’ll need to get your copy of the “Done-For-You” Turbulence Training Bootcamp Workouts and Steve’s bonus report on, “7 Killer Ways to Build a 6-Figure Bootcamp for Free!”.

Click here to get the Done-For-You TT Bootcamps Workout & Marketing Package

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