Thirty Reasons Why Most Personal Trainers and Boot Camp Instrutors Fail

Seeing a client ONLY in terms of monetary value, and not seeing other ways they can help you – ie, leading you to other similar clients, being willing to help your marketing with testimonials, or any other way they can help you achieve your goals as a trainer.

Chris, I've even heard you and Zach H say you've had clients help you with your article writing! Why not?? If they're your biggest fans, I say go for it.

Great list Chris!

I have to remember to get those before and after pics now that I am working in the gym and working with many members before I decide to go independent and/or build the website by next summer. Also not great at being funny but know I can at least bring enthusiasm and passion for what I do and hopefully have them enjoying themselves when they work out with me

Great Post

Chris,

Great post! I am very happy with how my bootcamp business has grown the past year from 0 to just over 200. I can honestly say that I have tried to avoid those 30 that you have mentioned above.

I still struggle a bit with being too much in my business than working on my business, and I also need to work at getting my site optimized for keywords such as health clubs… I dominate the bootcamp keywords, but need to do better with other keywords.

My hardest area to let go is to delegate more. I am getting better at having others teach the bootcamps, but all the responding to email and $ crap I am still doing!

Thanks,
Dustin Maher

http://www.madisonbootcamps.com

I definitely find myself waiting for everything to be just right and also worrying about little things in the big scheme of business. I am realizing that sometimes you need to shoot first and aim later.
I think you kind of touched on this Chris,and you say it a lot in other videos and posts, but a lot of people try to go right ahead and sell something instead of giving up information first. Get a blog going with great information and people will appreciate that a ton more than just pushing products.

I've made a lot of these mistakes originally, but after following your advice and the advice of your circle of kick *ss marketing friends…I've totally flipped my biz insdie out.

My most costly mistake was trying to do everything myself…spent hours and hours each day trying to multi-task and didn't get sh*t done b/c I was so overwhelmed. In the last couple months I've outsourced pretty much everything- it's tough to let go, but when you do, your biz takes off like crazy and you can sit back and focus on your big levers.

Now I'm building my 2nd and 3rd sources of income on my new blog (thanks to FWF) and letting the training run on auto-pilot.

Thank you for the inspiration and resources…just bought MA the other day and can't wait to put this to use!

Good post man,

#13 is what makes our 'job' so damn EASY……like Chris said in one of the Marketing Manifesto videos….the highest paid trainers are usually the trainers that make their clients LAUGH

Hey Chris,

Dude I think at one time or another I have been guilty of everyone…

Some more so than others esp working IN and not On… gotta learn to let go… I think we all go through it

@Brad…you will love MA mate… outstanding value (just ensure you put it to good use)

Thanks again Chris

AT

Trying to do everything yourself is definitely a big one – severely limits what you can a achieve if you have to do all the admin, web design, SEO etc! We need to focus on our strengths and the acitvities that need us and outsource the rest!!

I could do with outsourcing more, but finally took a 2 week vacation in October without having to check emails etc by hiring a fab VA! This year I need to have someone to cover my bootcamps so I can chill out on my forthcoming trip to Maui…

My biggest mistake is not asking. Being scared to ask for money. I don't want to be a salesmen, but if you have a good product and believe in what you do I guess you don't have to sell… Right?

Excellent post Chris.

My main problem is that i don't have a referral system in place… any ideas, really having trouble putting one together for this industry? I offer a free session or a cash discount for referrals to Bootcamp but it hasn't taken off???

Also still working to much in the business and not enough for the business, but i have already spoke to my business partners and have informed them that i am signing up to your market annihilator program ths week and want time to start on that and work on our business.

Scotty from very cold Canberra Aust ( – 3 right now)….

Hey Chris what you say is great. all of the people you show seem to be in shape, and of a particular persuasion. I'm just recovering from a major illness, big, and not of the majority persuasion. What do you have for me Big Dog??

be honest, I'm not playing the "persuasion" card…. this is a sincere question. Either way. I'm digging your story of rags to riches. Keep on ripping it up.

BTW. My previous post is a total lead in yet another kick-ass, kick-back blog. Trust me people want to know about this…..Even if it dosent matter, they want the hear it from you.

Yeah – most over time definitely but alwasy getting better with some totally eliminated and others going.

Like an overweight person on a shit diet, I am learning new behaviours all the time and developing as a person and businessman.

Right now I have to be better at
Sales – I practically convert everyone but need to do bigger packages
Retention – Some poeple have been getting results so quickly they go off on their own. I want to remain a good trainer but build my skills at retaining (or selling correctly at the start?)

What do you recommend Chris?

Anyone else have tips on investments to make and research.

email address will be found via the link

Cheers

Mike

@Adam…I feel like a kid in a candy store. After just a couple of days I can see just how powerful this info will be….will definitely take some serious action!

I think that we as entrepreneurs need a good ol' fashion kick in the ass every once in a while. I am proud to say that your blog is my regular kick in the boo-tay. Thanks Mister McCombs.

You never fail to overdeliver and tell it like it is. Love it!

Great things to keep in mind, Chris. I'm relocating to CO from CA in a few weeks; had great results applying many of the things above while in CA. Hoping to replicate them with my new endeavor!

Dave
http://www.frontrangekettlebells.com

Chris
I always feel that I have to be perfect at what I do, or I won't do it. I am a bad marketer and I hate asking for help. I have never been at such a low point before in my life, and it is scaring the hell out of me, so I must succeed at this. My training will be soccercise and I feel more comfortable doing that because I have done it for most of my life. What do you think?

I love Personal Training and I am new to the industry, I have been training for about 7 months now and I will be going back to school for my Masters in Exercise Science. However I feel a depression coming over me- it is so difficult to sell PT sessions, I work for a gym and I have been giving FREE PT sessions( only one) so that I have an opportunity to show them what I have to offer and most of them are amazed at how their form had to be corrected and the burn they were feeling, towards the end they ask how much are the packages so I tell them and they all say the same thing "I can't afford it right now" I get so depressed- the gym is not paying me to be at the gym- so I am basically giving away sessions so I can build my clientele. I dont know I am seriously thinking about giving up- SERIOUSLY.

Giving up or investing more in your business?
You either get lucky or you gtfo.

Fitness business = keep your head above water long enough to get a line. = first thing I learned

http://www.madisonbootcamps.com

You are coaching 200 campers rigght now?
for 200 bucks a month.

Wow.
Food for you dude, if I had your looks Id probably be modeling though
ROFL