Why Most Aspiring Personal Trainers Fail

The cold truth about the fitness industry:

• Most aspiring personal trainers are young men that come from athletic backgrounds. And they’re using their own training to train others.
• The entry level guidelines are not only far too low, & said guidelines steer aspiring trainer into the wrong direction for success.
• Most aspiring personal trainers want their own business. Going the corporate route is far from ideal in most of our minds.

I’ve always been intrigued about the “why” of it all for everything I’m interested in. I was that kid that didn’t just want to know that 2 x2=4, and memorize my times tables. I needed to see the logic behind it. I’ve been a personal trainer for 5 years(total) now with 3 years as a corporate trainer. And I learned early on via various surveys amongst gym managers that most aspiring trainers move onto another career within 6 months of getting a baseline certification. The first reason is obvious, lack of education due to the entry level guidelines being what they are. Combine that with the mentality of the average personal trainer coming from said athletic background, and things are starting to make sense. But theres got to more to it, and thats has me thinking lately.

In my 3 years as a corporate personal trainer Ive easily seen 30+ trainers come and go. And most within the window that managers mentioned in the aforementioned survey. So what gives:

• Education levels are far too low!
• Expectations are unrealistic.
• Most aspiring personal trainers aren’t aware of what they’re getting into.
• Baseline personal training certifications are aware of all of the above. And they’re ok with it(and make lots of money because of it).

To the last bullet point, most corporate gyms are also aware of all of the above. They also know that most new trainers are looking too get hired while aspiring for their own business. To that end, any trainer that complains about the gym collecting too much money should take a close look at the numbers. Fast forward, most corporate gyms don’t invest time in developing personal trainers, And why should they? After all, this a business(like all) and the bottom line is what matters. My one piece of advice for all of the new trainers I’ve seen:

• Capitalize now, because you’re only going to be the “new” trainer for about 1–2 months.

Corporate gyms will always over-hire to create competition, which they should.Does that put us personal trainers in a compromised space for our own well being, absolutely! After all, trainers get to use the marketing, expenses and equipment of corporate gyms without any liability absorbed by the gym. And if they’re willing to put in thew work use that as a stepping stone for their own business.

Most trainers fail because they’re led down the wrong path from the beginning by baseline certifications that aren’t even fitness companies. Personal training is like all other aspects of life and business. As a personal trainer, instructor of the new trainers and a guy that changed careers after 17 years I always give this advice to my students:

• Always look to educate yourself more
• Have a positive attitude/ mindset
• Focus on what you can control, and don’t be concerned with anything outside of that
• Be a great person before being a great personal trainer

The entry level guidelines for aspiring trainers likely won’t change any time soon. But I’m doing my part to help the next generation.