[Jean-Paul]

Vahagn, somehow I missed this last post, so this is a late answer... Sorry.

I think that the problem with the fitness industry is that most fitness professionals are just not business-minded. There are obviously some people making veritable fortunes in the fitness industry. There are just a lot of fitness pros trying to make a go at it who have no business running a business.

Sometimes for fun I secret shop my competition to see how they sell themselves on the phone, and I am generally appalled and amazed that they get any business at all. Rarely if ever do I get asked a question, like my name or how I came across their names. They spend way too much time telling me about what bodybuilders they have trained, or competitions they've won. They are shockingly lacking in understanding of the market.

One of them actually slammed me (not knowing they were talking to me). They said, "don't call him. He only trains the cream of the crop," which tells the potential client that he's NOT the cream of the crop. He also talked about how I was a Nazi on smokers, which tells the potential client that JP is more serious about accountability. I couldn't believe it... The guy was so stupid that he was selling me FOR me! Then he went on to drop the names of many bodybuilders he'd trained, which for someone who doesn't know or care, was the icing on the cake. If you own a business you should try this some time. It's a good way to help you build your phone scripts.

The main thing that kills us trainer-cum-businesspeople is organization, and frankly I'm no different. I am probably better now at this point, but I know my weaknesses, and I make enough to hire someone to help me manage the business side of my business, allowing me to focus more on my strengths (sales, marketing, training). If you don't have the discipline to organize, then you'll eventually fail. If you are very organized but you're shy, you just won't last.

The people who actually make it have a combination of many traits. I don't know that I necessarily have all of them or I would have achieved a lot more by now. You don't necessarily need all of these traits in every industry. I doubt engineers have to be real charismatic.