Personal Trainer insecurites

Richo · 04-25-2007, 10:37 AM

ok guys, straight off ballin', my career mid-term goal, or maybe short, is to become a qualified personal trainer or strength and conditioning coach. and long term goal is to own my own business to do with fitness.

anyway, whenever people ask what i want to do with my life, i always reply with 'umm not sure, whatever comes really' cos i am too insecure to say i want to be a trainer.

there is a reason to why i am insecure.

the stereotypical trainer
* Tallish
* Has muscle (some have bulk, some are cut with noticable muscle, some have athletic bodies)
* Girls go 'omg he is so hot'
* Confident

now me
* Short
* Skinny as
* Girls dont go 'omg he is so hot' or anything close to it
* Not confident

so would personal training really suit me? i mean, i love training a couple friends, but i want to expand. i am going to get qualified soon, but im afaird people wont want to hire me cos they will see me and think 'like he knows what he is saying' or something. i am really insecure bout it.

am i worrying too much? do looks really matter in the fitness industry? somehow i think it does.........

**romanaz** · 04-25-2007, 01:33 PM

just because you don't look the part doesn't mean anything, sure you'll have to work harder so that you are NOTICABLY better then the other trainers you would be competing with.

Good example would be Dave Tate imo. He trains people and he doesn't look like your average trainer.

**skelooth** · 04-25-2007, 04:21 PM

Confidence is everything. People are not going to believe what you say unless you are confident.

I've seen some very out of shape trainers, but they speak with confidence, and people listen.

**Ikaika** · 04-25-2007, 04:30 PM

Skel makes a great point. One of my managers at GNC was fat as can be...maybe 350 pounds and only 5'7" tall. But if you saw that guy sell stuff to customers, you'd be amazed. He outsold almost everyone at our store simply by being confident. He CRUSHED some of the well-built guys who didn't have the confidence he had.

Don't go into personal training on a whim; it isn't easy and is very time consuming. You've already shown a desire to learn and improve yourself, and if you can use that to bring results to your clients then you can definitely succeed with some hard work.

**Trick D** · 04-25-2007, 04:39 PM

Exactly... confidence is the key, but you need to really study your shit. You got to give your clients the 100% confidence in you. And if you don't have the look, you need the knowledge... of course it would be beneficial in marketing ventures for you to start bulking, but you are still young, so that will come in time. Just know your shit, and be confident.

**skelooth** · 04-25-2007, 08:29 PM

I have been told multiple times by multiple people that I should be a trainer. It's not because I'm in amazing shape, and it's not because I'm strong. It's because they know and see that I am passionate about weight lifting, and when I start preaching they listen, because I say it with confidence.

Personal training is about more than just a certification... because if you're respected you can train without it. Being a personal trainer is about being able to motivate someone through a workout, teach them the proper way to do things, and to keep them interested throughout the experience.

I really wouldn't bank on being a personal trainer as a career path though. It's very dead end, with the top of the ladder buying your own gym. It's not often you hear about 'well to do' trainers that drive hummers and own yachts.

**Ikaika** · 04-25-2007, 08:32 PM

Yeah but be realistic...how many people own yachts anyway?

JJ_Sungirl · 04-25-2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelooth

I really wouldn't bank on being a personal trainer as a career path though. It's very dead end, with the top of the ladder buying your own gym. It's not often you hear about 'well to do' trainers that drive hummers and own yachts.

He's right. I'm currently a personal trainer. I train an average of 2 clients a week, but I also work in the weightroom as an attendant and I teach all sorts of group fitness classes (aerobics, aquafit, spin etc...). I'm putting myself through school doing fitness, because I am passionate about it. However, it is stepping stone to other careers. Eventually, I am going into Sports Administration.

**skelooth** · 04-25-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ikaika

Yeah but be realistic...how many people own yachts anyway?

Realistically speaking, most people with a MS or greater make enough money to own a yacht.

**Ikaika** · 04-25-2007, 09:30 PM

Man what the hell kind of yachts are you seeing, those things are like 500K+ lol.

**skelooth** · 04-25-2007, 09:38 PM

When you're making 150k-200k a year you can get a mortgage/loan on anything under the sun your heart desires.

**Ikaika** · 04-25-2007, 09:46 PM

/end hijack. Return to your regularly scheduled thread topic.

**DJSTARER** · 04-25-2007, 10:10 PM

be professional, reliable and knowledgeable. Your ability to get people to improve will make your success

Richo · 04-26-2007, 06:57 AM

thanks for the replies guys, and also for the yacht convo, it opened my eyes and made me realise something, i dont want a one lol i want a car instead lol

well what can i say, ive gone from insecure to total stressbag. was on the phone to a guy of the Australian Institute of Fitness and we had a brief chat about things. he is sending out a information pack on monday for me, but what has got me stressing is that the part-time course (which i was looking at doing) starts next year, and i cant wait around for that.

but wait, there is more

so i decided to ask about full-time course, 8 weeks, 9am-4pm, and he said it will cost around $5,000!!!!!! it starts on the 14th of May and its a $500 deposit on enrolement. i can handle that deposit, but what has got me stressing is...

*Paying for the rest of the course
*Finding a job to help pay
*Traveling everyday to go to class (i live about 150kms from the place)
*Alternate, i could move in with a mate for the 8 weeks but then there is rent, food i have to pay as well as the course, as well as somehow getting to my football training and games 3x a week (so i need to borrow a car as i dont have my own)

and yeah, right now i need to talk to my dad about it, but he is really sick at the moment, i also need to chat to my brother, but he is still away on his honeymoon and i dont know when he will be back, and i am going to speak to my old schools career advisor wednesday about everything. but yeh, crazy mind is flying.

anyway i just needed some e-support from my buds here at IM. but i best be heading off to training, catch yas tonight

**skelooth** · 04-26-2007, 11:17 AM

Richo, not sure what country you're in, but I'd imagine schooling works the same way. Get a loan! Banks give out student loans like candy, and a $10,000 loan 'aint that bad!

Richo · 04-26-2007, 11:24 AM

im from australia

but i never thought of a loan. do you know the terms and conditions of a loan or anything? cant be bothered searching right now

**skelooth** · 04-26-2007, 11:30 AM

School loans are usually low interest, and you aren't required to pay until 6 months after graduation from full time school. Full time is considered 12+ hours per week I think.

04-25-2007, 10:37 AM	#1
Richo IMPC Contestant Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 491 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 12	Personal Trainer insecurites ok guys, straight off ballin', my career mid-term goal, or maybe short, is to become a qualified personal trainer or strength and conditioning coach. and long term goal is to own my own business to do with fitness. anyway, whenever people ask what i want to do with my life, i always reply with 'umm not sure, whatever comes really' cos i am too insecure to say i want to be a trainer. there is a reason to why i am insecure. the stereotypical trainer * Tallish * Has muscle (some have bulk, some are cut with noticable muscle, some have athletic bodies) * Girls go 'omg he is so hot' * Confident now me * Short * Skinny as * Girls dont go 'omg he is so hot' or anything close to it * Not confident so would personal training really suit me? i mean, i love training a couple friends, but i want to expand. i am going to get qualified soon, but im afaird people wont want to hire me cos they will see me and think 'like he knows what he is saying' or something. i am really insecure bout it. am i worrying too much? do looks really matter in the fitness industry? somehow i think it does......... __________________ Richo's Road to Track & Field Journal Thread http://www.ironmass.com/forums/worko...ack-field.html ----------------------------------------------------- Stats Age - 18 Weight - 50kg 1RM Benchpress - 42.25kg 1RM Barbell Row - 45kg 50m Time - 8secs Standing Long Jump - 2.20m -----------------------------------------------------

04-25-2007, 04:21 PM	#3
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 7,202 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 158	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites Confidence is everything. People are not going to believe what you say unless you are confident. I've seen some very out of shape trainers, but they speak with confidence, and people listen. __________________ http://loseover100lbs.com/misc-f7.html

04-25-2007, 04:30 PM	#4
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,771 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 216	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites Skel makes a great point. One of my managers at GNC was fat as can be...maybe 350 pounds and only 5'7" tall. But if you saw that guy sell stuff to customers, you'd be amazed. He outsold almost everyone at our store simply by being confident. He CRUSHED some of the well-built guys who didn't have the confidence he had. Don't go into personal training on a whim; it isn't easy and is very time consuming. You've already shown a desire to learn and improve yourself, and if you can use that to bring results to your clients then you can definitely succeed with some hard work. __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

04-25-2007, 08:29 PM	#6
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 7,202 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 158	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites I have been told multiple times by multiple people that I should be a trainer. It's not because I'm in amazing shape, and it's not because I'm strong. It's because they know and see that I am passionate about weight lifting, and when I start preaching they listen, because I say it with confidence. Personal training is about more than just a certification... because if you're respected you can train without it. Being a personal trainer is about being able to motivate someone through a workout, teach them the proper way to do things, and to keep them interested throughout the experience. I really wouldn't bank on being a personal trainer as a career path though. It's very dead end, with the top of the ladder buying your own gym. It's not often you hear about 'well to do' trainers that drive hummers and own yachts. __________________ http://loseover100lbs.com/misc-f7.html

04-25-2007, 08:32 PM	#7
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,771 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 216	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites Yeah but be realistic...how many people own yachts anyway? __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

04-25-2007, 09:30 PM	#10
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,771 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 216	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites Man what the hell kind of yachts are you seeing, those things are like 500K+ lol. __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

04-25-2007, 09:38 PM	#11
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 7,202 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 158	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites When you're making 150k-200k a year you can get a mortgage/loan on anything under the sun your heart desires. __________________ http://loseover100lbs.com/misc-f7.html

04-25-2007, 09:46 PM	#12
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,771 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 216	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites /end hijack. Return to your regularly scheduled thread topic. __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

04-25-2007, 10:10 PM	#13
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 4,049 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 114	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites be professional, reliable and knowledgeable. Your ability to get people to improve will make your success __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

04-26-2007, 06:57 AM	#14
Richo IMPC Contestant Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 491 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 12	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites thanks for the replies guys, and also for the yacht convo, it opened my eyes and made me realise something, i dont want a one lol i want a car instead lol well what can i say, ive gone from insecure to total stressbag. was on the phone to a guy of the Australian Institute of Fitness and we had a brief chat about things. he is sending out a information pack on monday for me, but what has got me stressing is that the part-time course (which i was looking at doing) starts next year, and i cant wait around for that. but wait, there is more so i decided to ask about full-time course, 8 weeks, 9am-4pm, and he said it will cost around $5,000!!!!!! it starts on the 14th of May and its a $500 deposit on enrolement. i can handle that deposit, but what has got me stressing is... Paying for the rest of the course Finding a job to help pay Traveling everyday to go to class (i live about 150kms from the place) Alternate, i could move in with a mate for the 8 weeks but then there is rent, food i have to pay as well as the course, as well as somehow getting to my football training and games 3x a week (so i need to borrow a car as i dont have my own) and yeah, right now i need to talk to my dad about it, but he is really sick at the moment, i also need to chat to my brother, but he is still away on his honeymoon and i dont know when he will be back, and i am going to speak to my old schools career advisor wednesday about everything. but yeh, crazy mind is flying. anyway i just needed some e-support from my buds here at IM. but i best be heading off to training, catch yas tonight __________________ Richo's Road to Track & Field Journal Thread http://www.ironmass.com/forums/worko...ack-field.html ----------------------------------------------------- Stats Age - 18 Weight - 50kg 1RM Benchpress - 42.25kg 1RM Barbell Row - 45kg 50m Time - 8secs Standing Long Jump - 2.20m -----------------------------------------------------

04-26-2007, 11:17 AM	#15
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 7,202 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 158	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites Richo, not sure what country you're in, but I'd imagine schooling works the same way. Get a loan! Banks give out student loans like candy, and a $10,000 loan 'aint that bad! __________________ http://loseover100lbs.com/misc-f7.html

04-26-2007, 11:24 AM	#16
Richo IMPC Contestant Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 491 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 12	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites im from australia but i never thought of a loan. do you know the terms and conditions of a loan or anything? cant be bothered searching right now __________________ Richo's Road to Track & Field Journal Thread http://www.ironmass.com/forums/worko...ack-field.html ----------------------------------------------------- Stats Age - 18 Weight - 50kg 1RM Benchpress - 42.25kg 1RM Barbell Row - 45kg 50m Time - 8secs Standing Long Jump - 2.20m -----------------------------------------------------

04-26-2007, 11:30 AM	#17
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 7,202 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 158	Re: Personal Trainer insecurites School loans are usually low interest, and you aren't required to pay until 6 months after graduation from full time school. Full time is considered 12+ hours per week I think. __________________ http://loseover100lbs.com/misc-f7.html