Finding the Formula for Your Success
The formula for your success as a personal trainer is, well, personal. What you define as success may not be the same thing as another trainer. I have found throughout my years in the field that you have to strive to find the right work/life balance. You should have as many clients as you need to be successful financially, but still have time to things in life you enjoy. In my book, Your Fitness Career, I outline several ways to find clients and achieve success, but here I want to help you answer the question about what success means to you.
Define Your Success
When I say you should define your success, I don’t just mean it in terms of how many clients you have. While that is certainly a part of your fitness business success as a trainer, it’s not the whole story. Something else you have to consider is how much time you have do the things you enjoy.
I enjoy traveling and I’ve come to a place in my career where I have a great balance between my work and time to do the things I enjoy most. Take stock of what success means to you outside of your bank account or business balance sheets and work toward making that a reality.
Take Time for Yourself
It may not be feasible to take two weeks off each year to travel – you are a small fitness business owner, after all. But short breaks and weekend getaways are an awesome idea. They can help you to recharge and relax, making you even more motivated when you return to your regular schedule. The difference will be apparent not just to you, but to your clients as well. They’ll love the rested, relaxed version of you too! When weekend getaways and short trips aren’t possible, take an afternoon and visit someplace you’ve never been before or meet up with friends. Make the most of your time off to help you avoid the word dreaded by fitness experts around the world: burnout.
Just Say No
When you own your own fitness business, many times your first impulse when offered new work is to say yes. You must resist this urge. If you’ve vowed to yourself (and your family) to take Sundays off, but you have a client that wants to train on Sundays, then it’s in your interest to stick to your guns. Be upfront with existing and potential clients about your schedule and your boundaries – you’ll be happy you did, so don’t feel bad about it!
Your personal training career is what you make of it. There may be times when it doesn’t meet your expectations, but at the end of the day, you’re doing something you love and truly helping people to lead fitter and healthier lives. Establishing a work/life balance is one of the keys to your success in the fitness business, so find a formula that works for you and go with it.
Looking to become a successful personal trainer? Make it possible with my book. Your Fitness Career