[Jean-Paul]

Originally Posted by chrism

I think this industry easier to break into than most people think. I was early 30's when I started, about 30 pounds above fighting weight and had ZERO sales skills.

Within a year I had a six figure income. Now six years later I have 15 trainers doing all the training for me and I work part time from my home office.

Man I didn't even graduate normal high school, I went to continuation school and most of the jobs I've had in my life were as a bouncer making just barely more than minimum wage. If I can build a good PT Biz ANYONE can do it... trust me

My biggest tips:

1. Get real good at training and getting people into shape.
2. Collect and use as many before and after pics as possible in your marketing
3. Get good at direct response marketing
4. Get a direct response based website and get good at Internet marketing ( including getting traffic and converting that traffic into appt's)
5. While your getting established, fill every hour that you're willing to train with with clients who you train pro-bono but will pay you with referrals
6. Train groups and charge 25% - 100% more than most trainers in your area. Position yourself in your marketing as the guy who gets results, NOT the guy who specializes on having the lowest rates in town.
7. Find a few hot fitness models and train them for free and use their modeling pics along with testimonials in your marketing
8. Focus on your goals, don;'t worry about the economy or gas prices
9. Spend AT LEAST 2 uninterrupted hours every day on the big levers in your business that will drive it forward ( Creating the vision, the strategy, the systems, and the marketing and sales conversion processes)
10. Observe the way 90% of trainers go about their business and do the exact opposite
11. Get hip to books like the E-Myth and ANYTHING from Dan Kennedy
12. Get people into killer shape
13. Always Ask for referrals and acknowledge clients who get you referrals
14. Get hip to consultative selling and create and stick to a script that works for you
15. Treat all your clients and everyone you come in contact with the way Dale Carnegie teaches in "How To Win Friends and Influence People"

My two cents,
Chris
Personal Training Marketing Outlaw

Good luck!

Your advice on the whole is absolutely correct, and interestingly enough I have a very similar story to tell, and give very similar advice (down to the E-Myth and Dale Carnegie). My main point is that many people don't have the right psychological make-up to do all that, because you can't just do that at "normal" capacity. You have to be firing on every barrel every day. We know that because we are wired that way, but to someone who isn't we make it look easy, which can be deceptive.

I would hate to pump someone up who has a family to support only for him to fall into financial ruin. I welcome any and everyone compelled to this industry to go for it, but only with both eyes wide open.