[quote]PGA wrote:
gymbunnie wrote:
PGA wrote:
One of the worst fields you could ever enter. Good luck.
Right. The only thing I’ve ever had a real passion for…I’m sure I’ll be one hell of a lot happier than if I were sat behind a desk bored out of my head all day. Don’t talk to me about the terrible hours, don’t talk to me about the crappy pay; I’ve heard it all before and I still don’t care. This is what I want to do, it’s what I love!
I wasnt talking about those points, but run with them. Being a personal trainer is about being a salesman first and foremost. Then comes how you look followed by what you actually know.
I speak from experience. Its a horrid industry.[/quote]
"PGA, Strength Coaches are just Personal trainers with a little higher education!!! Are the coaches on this site sales people as well?? I’m speaking from personal experience… I’ve been in the fitness business for 12 years…
[quote]tgatl wrote:
"PGA, Strength Coaches are just Personal trainers with a little higher education!!! Are the coaches on this site sales people as well?? I’m speaking from personal experience… I’ve been in the fitness business for 12 years…
[/quote]
Are the coaches on this site personal trainers? The education they have is much more than paying $500 to call yourself a personal trainer.
[quote]Sxio wrote:
If this is your attitude then it’s no wonder you didn’t make it in the industry. You have to enjoy what you do man and you sound like I do when i talk about my old job in the teleco industry.
It’s not for everybody, maybe it just wasn’t for you. [/quote]
You’re definitely right. You have to enjoy it. Unfortunately the beliefs going into PT were completely different from the reality of it all. I don’t like salesman and trying to be one feels incredibly awkward. It was weird becoming a PT’er only to become a salesman first.
For the very few PT-ers that get the clients they love to work with, I’m sure its great for them. Around my area its nothing remotely close to that…
Totally disagree with those that say it’s a horrible job. I"m not one myself but my bf is and I employ them as I own a gym.
You can make it what you want to - WHERE you work matters the most. And as mentioned your personality, confidence and knowledge/ability matter alot as well.
Try to get a job in a gym that allows you to be more self employed than an hourly payed trainer - much more potential, especially if you can set your own rates.
PGA makes some good points. I am not in the industry but I have been around gyms long enough to see exactly what he is talking about.
And are the writers on this site salesmen? Absolutely. They are excellent salesmen and business people. They know you have to sell yourself to get ahead, as well as commit to continuous improvement.
I really wouldn’t worry about it Gymbunnie. If you’re passion in life is in being a PT then go do it. Of course this is comming from someone who always did what he wanted in life anyways.
But hey its gotten me a job I thouroughly enjoy, and the money is decent. I never went to college though, and honestly from my Point of view unless you get a masters or a Doctorate your not going to earn a whole lot more than an everage joe. Of course I work in a completly different environment than most people so…
I also would not worry about not being “Good Enough” since you obviously have a concern with treating your clients right, I’m sure you will.
As far as the whole salesman thing. Honestly everyone who has a good job is a salesman. You have to sell yourself from the get go at an interview. People who spend money dont spend it on something they view as crap and thus they will not spend money on you if they think you will not give them a fair exchange. That applies to everything in life not just sales. You need to know what people want and give them that.
Gymbunnie, if this is your atitude, and you bring this attitude to work with you everyday, you will succeed and do very well and attract clientele.
You have to be smiling, knowledgeable, pleasant to be around and know what you’re talking about. If you can do this, you will be fine.
Don’t lose this attitude or this spark. If you do, you may as well change careers. I do not have a fitness degree. I have an ACE certification. I make as much or more than the NSCA or the ACSM certified people. They have book answers for things, I have experience answers. I’m not knocking the other certifications, they do not determine who you are as a professional.