I don’t know that ‘too many’ is the problem as most leave the field quickly. Maybe, but I doubt it.

I touch on the career path of trainers (or lack of one) in my post. Please comment after reading that as I’d like to see your thoughts.

Frankly, the entire health care industry (at least in the U.S. as it’s the only one I can speak to intelligently) is broken.

While I am in 100% agreement that the changes that need to take place are far reaching – much broader than just the fitness industry – I also think that the best starting point for change in any area is typically in the mirror.

Perhaps I’m naive, but I feel as if each of us did a better job with the things in our control we’d get much farther than the typical approach of telling others how they need to change.

So if we do a better job infusing physical culture back into the lives of the people we work with and help them lead healthier lifestyles instead of just selling them memberships – then those people are far more likely to raise children with the same values.

If we take it a step further and actually offer sound youth programs then we can help children develop habits early on rather than spending all of our time trying to change 30 years of poor habits in adults.

So, as I said – I agree the issue is bigger than just our industry…but if we can’t improve then how can we ask others to?

Within the next 10 years close to 400 million people worldwide are predicated to die of premature and preventable disease caused by our inactive and sedentary lifestyle and our low quality food supply.

Children being born today are estimated to have a 20-30 year shortened lifespan. Many will not outlive their parents.

2600 people die every single day of a modern ‘chronic lifestyle disease’ mainly the big three – heart disease, cancer and diabetes
in the US alone.

88 million baby boomers are reaching around 60 years old in the US and their health is poor due to a lifetime of inactivity. The ‘harvesting’ of these people has begun by the ‘sickness treatment system”.

It is unrealistic to blame gyms and trainers for being unable to fix the greatest health threat the world has ever experienced.

The current “health care” system could better be called an “illness treatment system” treating symptoms and diseases after they occur. This system is dependent on sickness to survive; therefore, it must insure that there is plenty of sickness to keep it busy.

It has nothing to do with health and fosters a culture of medical dependence and irresponsibility for one’s own well being.

This “sickness” business is reactive; no one really wants to be a customer of this system until they are forced to when stricken by illness.

However at this stage the human body has already arrived at a broken down state and it may be too late. Wellness cannot come from drugs, hospitals and doctors.

The greatest health challenge our society faces today is the fact that 50% of people in the world has at least one illness and many have multiple chronic conditions with the majority of the population being overweight or obese.

Sadly, incredibly powerful, money motivated forces are not helping people to take control of their own health and are actually encouraging them to gain weight and become unhealthier to continue to feed the “sickness” system.

Where are the voices of outrage about this? Do you care?

This has to be changed before it is too late for the sake of our own lives and our children’s. A new focus on wellness, not sickness, is essential for a 21st century health system. Without our health, little else in life can be accomplished.

But health is not a given right – and wellness means becoming more proactive and taking responsibility for ones own health and well-being and finding and practicing solutions to ensure this.

Gyms and trainers can hardly put a dent in this situation. It is unrealistic to expect them to.

The solution needs to come from elsewhere but where?

Maybe this is the question that should be asked not what to do about a broken ‘fitness system’.

Carolyn Hansen

After 17 years of owning two gyms in New Zealand I have had the experience to say that it is people who need to be educated about the importance of exercise.

But who is responsible for this education? It is not the gym or any single personal trainer. We are all doing our best but people are lazy and don’t really believe they should pay.

They wait until they are broken and then frantically look around for a solution. They wander into the gym like we have a magic wand and can fix them. Then they quibble about the price.

Should this education not come from higher up. Look at the ‘sickness treatment’ system, they do not want people well – how would they make any money? And they have the gall to call it a ‘health’ system. What are they doing to keep people well?

20 years ago gyms were full of normal people – now we have an army of the ‘walking wounded’ and are expected to be able to help them without payment.

Somehow they have to accept they have two choices ‘do it or die’.
So when you answer the question of whose responsibility it really is you might have some answers.

Carolyn Hansen

Also, I believe I can only speak for myself in saying I was not perceived as good enough with some
prospects. People are still spending as long as they see the value in what they are paying for.

I think this will be an advantage to those that are well trained, professional, and deliver results.
This will allow those trainers to shine as a step ahead of the rest. I am going to be part of that brand.

Thanks for sharing great information on your blog Pat.

10 Reasons Why Your Personal Training Business is Not What it Could Be

1. You think because you are a personal trainer, people will come running to you.
Wearing the word “TRAINER” on your back means squat, really. Personal trainers are a dime a dozen these days, especially when you can do a 2 hr. course and get ‘certified’. What is it that makes your service a quality one for folks who are seeking guidance from a professional? Don’t sit and wait for word of mouth until you have established yourself in the community and have earned it.

2. You think you know it all.
You don’t. What would suit you best to learn more about the target audience that you train? All of the letters after your name are confusing to the lay folk. Dazzle them with solid knowledge and reasons why you are teaching them what your message is. Be prepared to answer their questions, because remember, you are the professional who they look towards.

3. You talk about yourself.
You profession is not about you nor what you do, did, or desire. People pay you to be listen, guide, instruct, and be the corrective feedback loop they need. Filling the time in with what dazzles you is a turn off and a waste of their hard earned money. Turn the table to them when they ask about you; often times they do this because they get anxious about their new endeavor. It is up to you to help them remember why you’re with them. That is being a professional.

4. You’re boring.
Do you find yourself repeating the same exercises and the same routines with your clients? Even if you promise that ‘every workout is never the same’ still has the same undertone of a boring skeleton of moves. Maybe you’re boring because you’re bored. Nobody is watching over you and you have to get better, creative material or else your reputation will sink. Be active in delving into creative movements that your clients would never think of, let alone do themselves.

5. Your biggest claim is that you will get your clients ‘results’.
The only people that can get results for your clients are the people themselves. This ought to be first and foremost on your list of engaging in a smart business practice. Results, guarantees, pie- in -the- sky claims may sound good to hook potential people in, but the real work comes in the education that you provide for them to achieve their own results. It’s your job to educate and instruct, unless you want to personally do the workout for them.

6. You’re not listening to what your clients are saying.
Most of the time your clients simply want to be heard whether it is an ache/pain; what is most important to them in their fitness goals; some emotional strains they are going through; or just to blow off steam. Moving the body and the ability to express all of these go hand in hand. Listen up.

7. You are not marketing yourself, constantly.

No, this does not mean wear your ‘TRAINER’ shirt everywhere and shrink wrap your vehicle with your brand. The best place to market yourself is in your very own community. The more ways and times that people see your name the better they will connect with you. Once a month do a pro-bono talk for a small group. Groups are always looking for speakers to bring to their followers and your message is worth a listen. The opportunity to brand yourself and your message to a variety of people will not only get your message out there, but will help you become a better leader in the community.

8. You do what all the other trainers do and you sit in ‘trainer stew’.

Be different, be bold, and explore what other trainers are not doing & saying. Be intelligent about your new approach. The fitness industry is HUGE and getting larger. Why crowd yourself in with what everyone else is saying and helping to lead the same groups of people down the same road to fitness. Sooooo….. boring. When you come across information that may be helpful to a client and/or to simply to add to your knowledge base ask yourself: why does it make sense? Take a stand on a view that is off center. Find other words to use beside the buzz ones. They have lost their sting. (Warning: this may require you to do extra credit research.)

9. You are a good counter.
20 years ago when I started in the industry, the man whose company I worked for showed me a very good lesson that I taught myself. Somehow he earned a reputation as a ‘good’ trainer because he was a football coach, young & handsome (the ladies loved that), and was a business major who had success in starting his business. The one thing he did well was count. Yep, he counted reps, loud and clear. That never made sense to me; it held little meaning for what those people were paying per hour. What drove me to succeed was that the service that I provided was good instruction and quality use of their money. Stop counting, it sounds stupid.

10. You treat your clients as if they work for you.
‘Give me 25 push-ups’ you say. Or ‘Wow, I am impressed that Mary did 20 more squats than Sue’. Somehow the punish me attitude of driven- workout -maniac people present an opportunity for authority and status. Who are your clients giving pushups to? If they are giving them and any other exercise to you, what are you doing with them? Again, it’s not about you. Don’t confuse your clients by asking them to impress you, because somehow they will work to do that. Then you’re dragging them along, and they become your fan club rather than efficient exercisers. Maybe you want a fan club, check into that. Consider this: your job is to help your clients become autonomous. That means that through time they depend less on you because you have lead them through an educational fitness program. This is a good sign of success and one that will keep you in the right frame of mind too.

Look forward to hearing more….
Best. to you Pat.

Yes, I could’ve been more positive. I do think this is an advantageous time for trainers that provide a quality service and not just a bunch of exercises scattered on a sheet of paper. But I would like to see our level of professionalism and perception improve.

I think we can do a whole lot better. The next 10 years will be very interesting.

Look forward to reading your next post.

I’m no business expert, but I seriously believe in giving 100% into everything you do. If you own a fitness facility, you’re doing every member a huge disservice if they aren’t getting results.

I’m not a fan of commercial gyms in my area, and even more how the average personal trainer is conducting business. It’s far too easy for any Joe/Jane to become a “trainer” by passing a weekend course. That pisses me off more than anything; it’s one thing to be passionate about this business and devote years to learning and education, but to just take an exam and expect to start being the best trainer around is a whole other story..

I think I ranted on 3 different directions, but this trend has to stop. The smaller/results friendly/group training gyms are going to thrive, where the trainers and staff actually care about their clients/athletes getting results. Todd Durkin recently explained to me at the PB Seminar in LA to deliver an experience to your clients that they will NEVER forget and want to talk about. That is how it should be!

Keep up the great work, Pat!