In serious need of information

[Bill Tackett]

I am at a turning point in my life and need some info. Due to my job *which I HATED but did for the money* going away and being offered a 2 year program where I can go anywhere I want and get a degree and they will pay me and pay for it. Basically I cut ties with the company and they allow me the time to move on to a new career without the pain of unemployment.

I am fed up with being overweight and have started a life change. I have always been interested in nutrition and working out and have yo yo'd weight wise for a long time. I am ready to get myself into shape in a healthy way and stay that way.

I am STRONGLY considering going to school for an Associates of Applied Science in Sports and Fitness management (personal trainer type stuff). It is something I love to learn and research about and I want to use the education to get myself where I want to be goal wise and hopefully help others that have gone through what I have in my life with weight and health.

Now that I have babbled all this time, what I need to know is will a 2 year degree be enough to be able to get a foot in the door and be able to take care of my family. I'm not looking for a BMW and plasma screens but I do have to know that they will be taken care of and I won't have an opportunity like this for schooling to change my career again.

I am VERY willing to go back to school to get a higher degree in the future but I will need to be in a full time work enviroment after I finish the 2 year. Sorry about being so long winded but wanted to get the info out there so anyone that is willing to help with information would know what I am in for.

Thank you in advance for any help and be safe

[John Izzo]

You can defitely start a career with a 2-year degree. But, if you need to provide for your family, you should probably look into 4-year degree and opportunituies that provide growth (gyms, studios that help supply clients, staff development, continuing ed., etc)

Develop some sort of goal as far as "how much do you need to make" to sustain your family? What types of changes do you need to make to your own budget, in order to fulfil your dream of becoming a trainer? Ask yourself:
Am I ready to work long, odd hours?
Am I ready to receive a different pay check every week?
Am I ready to go out an get clients?
Am I ready to give up some things?
Am I ready to train different kinds people all day?

I understand if you hate your job. I don't blame me for wanting to get out. No one should work in something they hate. But, if you were a single guy, this would be easier. But if you need to provide for a family, you really need to put yourself in an advantageous position to succeed--whether that is a 2-yer degree or 4.

In the end, its really "who" you know in ANY field. The EASIEST way to becoming successful is finding someone who is "in line" and ask them for "cuts". There are plenty of people in this field that have made it based on the connections they have.