I can’t quite believe it’s been a year since I opened for business. I knew that it was going to be a rollercoaster, and with everything that’s happened in the wider world, that ride has been extra scary at times. The important thing is that I’m still here, and I thought I’d share some of the key things I’ve learned…
Face-to-face training is my favourite
I’ve worked with a few online clients throughout the year, and it’s something I wasn’t taught to do, but figured out as I went along. I know that I’ve done a good job, but it is frustrating not to be able to fully connect with people. In some ways, I’ve been additionally flattered by those who want to work with me online – there is no shortage of personal trainers, and whilst some clients have wanted to train at home for good reason, it’s still blown my mind slightly when they’ve chosen someone well outside their own geographical area to train with.
The connection and the improvement in someone’s skill that you see is enormous when you train in person though. I love to watch my clients blossom on the gym floor, and fully get to know their personalities whilst we chat between sets. It is, after all, what I really wanted to do.
Adaptability is key
I knew that it would happen, thanks to my own experience as a client, but I’ve learned first-hand that personal trainers have to make things up on the spot. I will never walk into a session without a plan… or without being willing to adapt the plan. Clients fail to mention existing or new injuries, or other factors about themselves that impact their training. Sometimes, this is an innocent mistake – or an uncharacteristically poor consultation on my part – and sometimes it’s because the situation has very recently changed.
There have been occasions where I’ve had to rapidly flip through exercise options and combinations in my head (it’s also happened when the gym has been completely rammed and we’re on a schedule). Do my clients know I’ve panicked? I hope not. Well, they might now – but I still haven’t given away any details!
Always tell one more person what you do
I met one of my clients at an event completely unrelated to personal training. I just happened to mention it in passing, and she jumped on my comment, as she was in the market for a coach. This was at a point when I was struggling to make some headway, and thought I was boring people with my message. Lesson learned – say it once, say it twice, and say it louder for those in the back. You never know who is listening (in the best way).
Planning time out was a good move
Wow, did it feel risky to go away on holiday less than six months into business… but having been at home throughout a pandemic, my itchy feet got the better of me and I needed to escape for a while. Planning was key – my existing clients were aware of what was happening; my online pages were set up to show when I would return… and nothing bad happened. In fact, it was all good, as I had my time to recharge, got what I needed, and came back to carry on doing what I had been doing.
I’ve had to compromise slightly at other times of the year, but I’ve taken a couple of shorter breaks and I know that it’s absolutely the right thing to do.
Learning opportunities are endless
Client feedback. Observing other gym users and trainers. Listening to queries on the gym floor. Taking on board social media comments. Finding opportunities for guided learning. There’s a lot to take in, and it’s important as a self-employed person to push yourself in this direction – nobody is going to do it for you, but when your business is people (and people are constantly changing), it’s critical to keep developing yourself in order to ensure that you provide a brilliant service.
What next?
Hopefully, more clients and more growth! Having survived my first year, I’m taking a deep breath then diving into year two. If you’d like to work with me, please drop me a line and we’ll make it happen!