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Prime Time Personal Training in 2009
By Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS
Happy New Year! Welcome to the infamous time of year when people flock to fitness, seek out trainers to whip them into shape, and make goals that typically last for a few weeks. As we personal trainers and performance coaches embark upon 2009, it is a great time to truly prepare our clients to be “Prime Time in 2009.” Here are some things we are doing at Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego that maybe you can adopt with your clients to assist them with their goals, increase revenue, and increase your effectiveness as a trainer.
· Invest in yourself and set some lofty goals. What would you like to accomplish in 2009? How many clients would you like to work with a week? Do you want to create any new programs (ie. Boot camp, 21 Day Transformation Program, teleseminars, a product, a retreat, etc.)? If you had to accomplish one thing specifically in Quarter 1 of the new year, what is it? Write your goals down and read them everyday. A goal that is not written down is simply a wish.
· Set S.M.A.R.T. goals with your clients and FOLLOW UP. This is the perfect time of year to set goals with your clients. Remember, goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive. An example of this may be “I want to lose 10 lbs in the next 8 weeks. I will accomplish this by exercising four times per week (2 with a trainer and two on my own) and improving my nutrition by:
a. Keeping a food journal for four weeks
b. Decreasing my calories by 200 calories per day
c. Not eating after 8 pm
d. Focusing on having a fruit or vegetable with each meal
These are just some examples. Be specific with your clients, have them write down the goals, and then follow-up with them. Email them during the week, create an “email distribution list” so that you can “talk” to all of them at once, or give them spot-check phone calls. This will enhance customer service and that is a key ingredient in connecting with your client and promoting adherence to your program.
· Test your clients. It’s a good idea to measure your clients in the next couple weeks by assessing their inches, scale-weight, body-fat, and even taking “before & after” pictures of your clients. Furthermore, you can “fit-test” them by conducting tests to measure their overall fitness. Examples may include:
a. Pushups (max)
b. Situps (1 minute)
c. Wall Sit (max time)
d. Hover plank (max time)
e. Pullup test (regular, TRX, or Power Tower set at a standard number that you set)
f. 1-legged balance touches (max in 60 seconds)
g. Optional—Bench press (1/2 bodyweight; max reps)
h. Optional—Leg press (5 repetition max; max weight)
These are just examples. Come up what works for you and your facility. The bottom line is you should encourage your clients to be assessed and then be sure to set a date to re-test them. This may be 4-8 weeks later but it will help them stay on track and help them make their goals come true.
· Show your clients something “new.” What can you offer your clients to create a “great experience”? For us, we will be offering a few new things. We will have a new four week Boot Camp program starting January 5th. We will be starting 30 minute stand-alone “Integrated Flexibility Sessions.” We will be further emphasizing our customer service with our staff. We are hanging some new motivational pictures and quotes around the facility to offer some “freshness” for the New Year. With the Integrated Flexibility Sessions, I will be teaching our staff a combination of manual stretching and a new-found great machine called the D.M.S. (Deep Muscle Stimulator). This will allow us to expand our services, allow our staff to increase their client-load, and offer a great option for our clients that are looking for improved flexibility. While some of our other services offer this benefit (yoga, Pilates, and even massage), these “Integrated Flexibility Sessions” will take on a different feel and provide a great benefit to our clients. What are you willing to create to expand your services and increase your bottom-line revenue? Listen to the needs of your clients, be creative, and then don’t be afraid to get it out there.
This is a great time of the year because so many people are enthusiastic about their health and fitness. Let’s be sure to embrace that energy, cultivate it, and help transform our clients mindsets to consistent positive change. Challenge your clients, motivate them, hold them accountable, and continue being a great, positive role model in their lives. During this busy time of the year, I wish you well in creating a successful, positive year. Let’s all collectively step-up our game and make sure we are “Prime Time in 2009”.
Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS, is a personal trainer & massage therapist who motivates, educates, and inspires people world-wide. He is the owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA, where his wonderful team focuses on personal training, massage therapy, Pilates, yoga, and nutrition to help transform people’s bodies, minds, and spirits. He is the Head of the Under Armour Performance Training Council. Todd trains dozens of NFL & MLB baseball athletes and provides motivational talks and programs to companies and conferences world-wide. He has appeared in 60 Minutes and been featured in Sports Illustrated, Business Week, Prevention, ESPN the Magazine, Self, Shape, and the NY Times and Washington Post. You can sign up for his FREE award-winning Ezine newsletter, the “TD TIMES”, at www.FitnessQuest10.com or www.ToddDurkin.com.
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