I discussed this exact thing with him actually. I told him, being the independent trainer that I am, I've always opposed the "transactional trainer."

He wasn't sure what I meant by that.

I explained that a transactional trainer is your ordinary trainer you find in a gym who herds clientelle like cattle trying to get the highest number of transactions and therefore make the most money. I explained that I think most gyms are set up so a) they hire bad trainers want this and more importantly, b) management of most gyms promote this for obvious reasons.

I explained that I understand the need to make money. That's what pays the rent! But most gyms take it to the extreme and I think there needs to be a happy medium.

He agreed 100%.

I also explained that I'd have trouble meeting quotas, if there are any. I'm not about quantity... I'm about quality. If I want to take an extra 30 minutes with a client to explain something, I don't want to feel pressured b/c I'm supposed to be cruising the floor looking for my next sale.

He actually said he's the same exact way, and that's how the conversation evolved into him giving me a choice. I can either be a usual trainer with a set schedule or I can just do my own thing and however many clients I train, I train. In either case though, quantity wouldn't be an issue. He said he doesn't care if I train 3 hours each week.

I'm not sure if that answers your question or not, now that I'm re-reading it.

To be more precise and to add to what was discussed... I'd be starting off by doing the free, initial evaluations they give to each of their new clients. From there, it's on me to convert that person to a client of my own. Really, it's the gym's client and I train them... they take a huge chunk of the hourly rate, which I expected. When I'm not training a client, it's up to me what I do. He said most of his trainers just leave... not even working out at the gym!

I'd be working out myself and hopefully make such a name for myself there that people will willingly approach me to ask questions. I want to be very open, since it seems that the current trainers aren't doing this. The manager explained that there have been numerous complaints, even from guys who normally wouldn't care about such a thing, that the current trainers aren't approachable and these complainers are actually holding in questions rather than asking the trainers.

That's bad.

That's what I plan to change.

that's the answer I wanted to hear... and would expect nothing less from you.. good to see that he wants the same thing...

Create that environment and it will make money...

That's my thought.

We'll see how it pans out.

Steve, this sounds like your wet dream come true. I am stoked for you man...

I know your feeling mighty good right now, good on you and congrats.

Hahahaha....

My wet dream come true would be winning the lottery so I could build my version of the 'pefect facility' and run my business from there.

That will happen with time, I predict. Patience and consistent effort is all I need.

With that not being a possibility right now.... this is a close-second. So yea, I am stoked. It was nice to walk into a big gym like that and get that sort of treatment. And I'm excited to start working with people one on one again in the gym setting.... it's something I miss.

Thanks man.

words to live by -

For everyone

What's cool about this is you have the potential opportunity to change this gym into something you really want and use it as a test experiment for when yu do build your own gym... (and hire me to be the receptionist at the gym

Ya, that's what I was thinking. And honestly, I could see myself aligning with the manager of this gym. He's got a lot more experience than me on the club management side of things. He has made a ton of connections that could really be useful, and seeing as how he isn't sure if he wants to remain at this gym forever (yea, he told me that too), there may be some potential there for a relationship.

And it's funny.... everyone wants to work at my 'future facility.'

Don't you know I work my employee's into the ground and pay shit.

Funny, I was thinking how you could probably learn a lot from this guy for your future endeavor, seems like you two have similar methods and goals when it comes to business practices. A gym that cares... who would have thunk?s

that'd be cool...


Damn so I'mnot special


I work myself into the ground now and get paid shit... but at least i'd have the opportunity to get into peak physical condition

and I can suck up like no body's business and make awesome brownies too ;D

lol forum bullies

lol

Hey we're badass..

Don't mess wit us or we'll like -umm - oh i don't know.. .

lawl

internet is serious biznezz

Yea, until now, I used to blame it all on management for hiring the turds that call themselves trainers.

But he certainly gave me an interesting inside-perspective. Namely, he needs trainers. And the pool of trainers out there flat out sucks. It's amazing too, considering the importance of what personal training is.

It's easy to blame trainers for being lazy incompetents. And for the most part that's true. I mean, I just ran out and purchased the material for the NASM certification exam and passed the exam a week later. In theory, that's all one needs to call themselves a trainer. And most are too lazy or short-sighted to ever do any research or reading beyond that certification material. In reality, that stuff is worthless. It prepares you to pass an exam. Not help people reach their goals. If all trainers made it a point to read an hour per day literature regarding the industry.... it would be much better off. So from that angle.... it's the lazy trainer's fault.

But from another angle, you have the ease of entry. Someone or something needs to step up and create a higher barrier to entry. Maybe a requirement for a 4 year degree. Or even harder yet, a requirement for a 4 year degree pertaining to human health and fitness. Or maybe some sort of universally accepted certification agency who creates an almighty exam that weeds out the duds from the rest, and have this be government run. I mean, what other occupation dealing with people's health and well being is there where you can have a high school drop out providing the instruction.

It's a screwy industry.

It's definitely a multi-factorial problem and passing blame on this or that is very easy. Fixing it is something else. But in the meantime, I take pride in the fact that I try and go that extra mile to stand out from the pack. And I make it sound like it's all bad. It's not. There are some very good trainers out there. But their 'goodness' is over-shadowed by the problems that plague this industry.

Indeed.

A lot of fires are burning.

Oh no, you're special.

Just not in this particular facet.

At this rate I'm going to have 50 receptionists and no trainers, lol.

True.

On a serious note, that's something I never got. I received a flyer in the mail for a local club. One of the things they highlighted was a pizza night once per month where you could bring friends and whatnot.

Pizza..... fitness/health.... weight loss......

Hmmmmmmm

the internetz is fun!!111