If you're thinking of becoming a Personal Trainer 

...or looking to be the best.

This is what you should know.

It is not poorly paid.
Working for someone else or a commercial gym can be poorly paid as they decide what you're worth.They do this under the guise that you need experience and to follow a track before you can earn the big bucks. Clean some toilets, man the reception, wipe down the machines etc... As I work for myself, I decide what I am worth. The proof of that is that I deliver far more than I would as a paid employee.  It's my direct income and reputation that is at stake. My clients like dealing with me directly as if there is a problem, it is solved quickly without a chain of management or policies.

You don't have to work in a gym.  
Gyms are just one place you can find a trainer. I have never worked in a gym as I decided to have my own studio, it's a functional room with purpose flooring as well as a large raised deck in a private garden surrounded by trees. I use this in summer months for small group classes. I know lots of fully booked trainers who don't have a home gym but train in local parks, community centres or their gardens in all weathers. In my gym I clean it after every client.  I don't have to man a reception, cover classes or maintain or clean grubby equipment or do company paperwork. (I do have to do my own paperwork though).

You will never regret choosing the right education provider for your learning style and aspirations if...
You want to be an outstanding trainer who is confident to handle any client. It makes sense to pick an educator who offers the best quality of courses and a lot of after qualification support, you're going to need it. I fully endorse Faster Fitness. I vetted loads of potential educators and mentors and all of them gave me the heebie jeebies that my money - thousands of ££s was just going to a generic course. I wasted so much money on courses that I thought would fill the gaps in my education. Without really know what that education was supposed to look like! I walked away midway in courses because they were so poorly designed and out of date.  It was very frustrating. I would then be flung out in to the world having been told I would find a job in a gym for pennies. Faster was different, they weren't pushy at all.  I spoke to an actual tutor who listened to what I wanted and built me a bespoke package of learning. The timing and methods of delivery suited my needs - I am not a workbook kind of person, I despise short courses that have a time limit for no reason, no access to talk to a tutor and exams that are based on regurgitation of information not actual knowledge.

You don't need loads of equipment or a fully stacked gym.
My gym is very simple, I use the bare minimum of equipment and I do not have machines. There is a lot of room to move. I teach skills that will serve my clients in their chosen activities. Machines are for those who want big muscles or endless indoor cardio. The equipment I have invested in cannot be found in a commercial gym as it is bespoke to my kind of skills training. You'll see from the image that my red mat, my Faster Hub, can only be used by a skilled trainer who knows how to use it with a client. Become a client with me and you will get one as part of your training. 

Don't just charge the going rate.
Set your prices against what you want to earn and the high standard of service you deliver. You will have spent a lot of money on your education and setting up. Getting this back as fast as possible is important.  I meet a lot of trainers who are working extremely hard and are flat out busy - but can't take a day off or they lose money. My income is built around lots of different modes of delivery - online, recorded, in person, group and courses. My clients take holidays and so do I. My clients programmes are planned for at least 6 months in advance as I am thorough in goal setting. Their programmes change subtly as they progress and for their needs. 

Continue to  invest in yourself.
You don't know everything, running your own business is shatteringly hard. It is easy to get stuck in your own head and find it overwhelming.  Getting an industry mentor or two is fundamental to staying on top of your game. Having someone experienced and clever to talk you off ledges when things get hard or confusing is amazing. You have to find someone you trust. I tried a few and knew when I had found the right ones.  They have looked after me and helped me develop my business. They don't have a "process", but a lot of experience and insight. If you'd like to know more about mentoring, I am not a mentor, but happy to make introductions. 

Join a community of likeminded trainers.
I am lucky to have been welcomed into a select network of trainers nationally through Faster as part of their training packages- not just a facebook group of shouting opinions- but a group I probably see on virtual meetings several times a week, on WhatsApp, and several times a year in our Faster Trainer Expert courses. I never expected to make friends, other trainers locally are really competitive!

Get to know your ideal client.
I have heard this time and time again from marketing experts. As a specialist trainer, I know exactly who my clients are and my messages are specifically for them. 

You are running a business, and to do so, you will need to have some specific education. I am not talking about an MBA but something suitable for your business. There are lots of places to find generic courses - but it would be best to find one specific to our industry. Feel free to reach out and I'll refer you, I do not get incentivised in any way for this, no kickbacks or commissions. 

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