We are Personal Trainers NOT Salesman!

Tonight I really needed to write this Blog as it has angered me since starting a career in Fitness how many Gyms treat Personal Trainers as their Sales People. I understand that a Personal Trainer does need to make money and obviously we require financial stability like everyone else but when it comes down "How good are your sales skills" instead of "How good are your fitness skills" it is a joke! 

Now, I take my career seriously and fitness is something you really need a PASSION for or else you will not succeed. It's a continuous path of knowledge, skills and training but when you adapt there is no turning back. I love what I do regardless of how tired I am feeling or the guilt I experience when I must leave my son to go to work. There are ups and downs with every career but you work around them if you really want to achieve your dreams.

My experience working in a Gym left me quite disheartened. There was very little direction, other Trainers trying to ruin your reputation and "STEAL" yes "STEAL" your business and the Gym expected way too much of your time for FREE. They make you feel like they are helping you SOOO much when all they are doing is concentrating on that dollar sign CHING CHING $$$$$ Why would you bother you ask? Well, I didn't bother for longer then I had to believe me!

I don't want people in or out of a Gym looking at me thinking I'm hunting your cash but it's what the industry has unfortunately turned us into. My idea of being a Trainer is someone who loves what they are doing, wants to help others become stronger and more confident while learning more as they grow. I don't want people avoiding my Business or s=Services because they see me as a "SALES PERSON" when I'm far from it! 

I want people to see my hard work, dedication and results and say "You are someone that I need to change my life around. I need your motivation and want you to give me your time to help me" They are the words I wish I heard. Instead, I'm questioned straight away "So how much do you charge?" You know what..... I don't blame anyone for that because this industry again has made it very difficult for anyone to put trust in us when all they have seen are Trainers in Gyms SELLING and UP-SELLING their services, doing and saying anything to make that SALE! 

We are not all honest, loyal and caring people. I have stumbled and worked with a couple of very "Money Hungry" Trainers who have no guilt into tricking clients into expensive sessions or programs that don't honestly work. These Trainers ARE Sales People and I do look down on them because they are the cause of our society losing control with their health and fitness. Shame on them for treating something so important as a gamble on people's lives. 

I highly doubt I will ever find a Gym facility or Gym Manager that will want me on their team without something financially in their favour. The requirements are ridiculous especially for a Trainer with a family like myself. Free Gym Floor Hours up to 12hrs per week, up to $250 for rent p/wk and splitting your session charges with them. There is just no point hence why Trainers like myself are concentrating on running their own businesses to avoid these cut throat deals. You want a Trainer to be focused on your session not   stressing about how many sales they need to make ends meet at the end of the week!!!!!!

I'm thankful I have found my confidence and am able to instruct Group Fitness classes now. The only thing I must do is prove my skills to management and they pay me to assist their members with exercise. I have my own mobile PT clients who I visit on a regular basis and hopefully with a new Boot Camp running by October 2013 I can still be what I always wanted to become - A successful Personal Trainer

Hopefully my in-site and opinion on Gyms and how they operate will give you a better understanding of what we face when we first step into the Fitness Industry FRESH and BRIGHT EYED. Nothing is as                                                                             good as it seems and that is why you must confide in a                                                                         Trainer for what they can provide you and not how they                                                                           can persuade you. 

Trainers who are confident, successful and know that their time is valuable will charge you more but just ensure that this is the case. Check out their experience, qualifications but most of all how they connect with you. If you are uncomfortable or not feeling energetic about your sessions then maybe you just need to look further for a Trainer to better suit you. Most of us want the best for you, this I promise you.