[Liz]

I know you all don't really know me, and probably don't really care, but I passed my NASM exam today and couldn't be happier! Great timing too, because just last night, I had a group of three ladies ask if I would start training them. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time, but there's no better way to learn than to just jump in and go for it right?

I'm frantically trying to put together all of the business side of things, so I can start out prepared and professional. Does anybody have any advice though on getting over those "newbie nerves"? I have been training my friend, or who I like to call my "human guinea pig" for the last three months and it has gone well. She's trying out for a pageant and needed to lose body fat and gain muscle. She has lost 7 pounds and several inches all the way around. Training her has definitely boosted my confidence in myself, but I wasn't charging her full price either.

With these three ladies wanting me to train them all together in a group, and they are my first "real" clients, I'm a bit nervous about pulling it off. I read the thread about group training, which was very helpful, but my one big question is what do you have the other two do, while you are doing the assessment on the third? Does that make sense? Should I have them each come at individual times for their initial assessment?

Sorry this post is so scattered, but I feel like a million thoughts are running through me. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Liz

[Christina]

[megfit]

Congratulations, Liz!

We actually ALL care about your success! That's why we're here; to support others and get support FROM others.

How exciting! Now the fun REALLY begins! I also have never trained three people at one time. I have done couples before, though.

I know when I worked on my 'guinea pig' client, the thing I did NOT do was set up my forms, so, in your head, close your eyes and visualize that first assessment session.

Even after doing assessments for years, I would also make myself a little list of the things I wanted to make sure to cover. Thinking about them ahead of time makes you THINK you'll remember everything, but I promise that if you don't have a list, you will forget something.

Everyone does initials differently. I always would go over several questionnaires with them in person, so that I really knew what was going on with this person and what their ultimate goals are (beyond the stated goals).

Now, this does remind me of something, and it could be a strategy you use. For my couples, I would use one form and two different colored writing tools, so I knew which answers were for him and which for her. For these three people, since they are probably not related, you could have your forms in triplicate and do, for instance, BP on each, skinfolds on each, etc, etc. And for the questionnaires, if you do it one-on-one, you could ask each person the question. Granted, your assessment could become VERY long. Mine were always 2 hours...

Here are some other things to consider:
The downside to meeting each person individually is the time commitment from you. How will you bill if you see each separately? However, the advantage to meeting each separately is that perhaps one or two will eventually fall off and you will have created a relationship, separately, with each person.
Again, on the other end, the advantage of assessing all three together is to further build that sense of commitment and camaraderie among the three.
You may be able to think of other pros and cons, and hopefully others on here will have some ideas based on experience.

Make sure you have all your contracts and figures down and very clear. Do not be afraid to discuss your billing procedures with them. You are now in business! Also be sure you have all your necessary emergency forms, too.
I do have forms available (some free, some for a fee) on my meg-enterprises.com site.

Finally, although right now you're deep into the details of getting your first clients started, I can't encourage you enough to take the time to work on creating what this business is all about and what it will look like 1, 5, 10 years from now. Not only does this involve developing your vision, but being clear who your ideal clients are, understanding what it is about you that will draw them to you, and how you will tell people what you have to offer. Then don't skip the process of writing a business plan, which helps you identify and put on paper (VERY important) what your goals and objectives are. And then the marketing plan, which is HOW you will make these goals and objectives become reality. It really is all possible if you can imagine it, Liz, but you HAVE to plan for it.

Above it all, enjoy this period of your life and your business! This will be an incredible year for you!

Margie

[standAPART]

I would encourage you to gain some hands-on practical experience before worrying too much about building a business. I have seen many trainers fall out of the field within their first year because of the frustration that mounts with meeting different clients and meeting challenges. With more experience, the better trainer you'll become and the business will develop with ease as your understanding becomes more clear. Worrying about the business first before trying "to be good", will ensure that your frustration will lead to drop out.
A typical mistake I see in new trainers is riding the horse before its saddled. Don't you think if you are a good trainer, the business will come to you? Get your paperwork squared and work on getting some practical hours in. Work with different people and deisgn different exercise programs.
Its not meant to be negative and most people will try to accuse me of. But it is being realistic. Take it from people that do it for a living. "Understand" the trade --not just memorizez exercises. I wouldn't be saying it if I hadn't seen it time and time again.

[megfit]

Hi John,

I totally agree with you on the experience, but here is MY experience with trainers: They ONLY focus on the hands-on experience and ignore the fundamental aspect of running a business. If trainers go into 'seeing clients' by just... seeing clients, they will not know how to handle business when it either decreases OR increases!

In other words, mapping out HOW to handle growth will help a successful trainer be in a position TO grow, rather than closing the doors because he/she didn't plan for what's next.

Liz, I think you're on track with working with these women. They will give you good insight into what you like, don't like, are good at, and what you're not good at.

Part of planning for growth is planning for who you will need to bring onto the venture when it starts expanding. Most trainers just try to do it all. However, this then leads to running himself/herself ragged, realizing that perhaps their 'idea' wasn't such a good one, afterall. If a trainer has a vision for what he/she wants to create, they can then, in their plan, set up goals for hiring others to help them grow. Having that proposition JUMP on you can throw a trainer into a tizzy, not sure what to do. Often they end up doing nothing.

Margie

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Liz,

Congrats on Passing
Congrats on Getting 3 Clients off the bat
and
Congrates on your "Guinea Pigs" progress!!

Sounds like you are doing well. Just keep the momentum going and take what Margie, John and Christina say to heart!

Awesome Job!

Dave

[Liz]

Thanks you guys! I feel really spoiled to have so many experienced trainers helping me and giving me such great advice! This is JUST what I need.

standAPART: I know what you mean and I appreciate the advice. The only obstacle I face with that is that I don't want to work in a gym, and I know of no other private trainers I could ask to shadow. I highly doubt a gym would let me shadow a trainer if I wasn't working for them...Too bad I can't just put a web-cam on all of you experienced trainers out there! (ha ha) Really though, I would like to be mentored by another trainer, I just need to figure out how.

Meg: YES! I DO need to get my business forms and things in order. I can already see how frazzled I would become if didn't start out in an organized way. A business plan is definitely something I need to do, because there are so many aspects of teaching health and fitness that I'd like to do, that I need to narrow it down and know what I focus on. For example: I'd love to teach younger kids in a group setting, I'd love to write articles for our local newspaper, I would like to start some sort of blog or website... plus, I want to do the obvious and train people in my home gym. I can see why I need to really figure out what I want and then stay focused...otherwise, I'm afraid I will go bonkers! (I'm a bit excited can you tell?) LOL!

And of course, Dave and Christina - I just think you guys are awesome! This was the first place I came to when I wanted some encouragement to go for it and you guys really made me feel like I could! So - THANKS!

Liz

[kelli m]

Liz,

I can't echo Meg's responses enough. I feel that our new business would not have had the opportunities that have been recently presented without the formal plan that we have. If you only spend a small portion of your day, every workday formulating these plans you will soon reap the rewards.

[Christina]

[megfit]

Liz,

I can't emphasize strongly enough the benefit of focusing on one target market as Christina said! I know it's hard, and I know the entire process is hard, but also as Kelli mentioned, if it's something you pick away at, diligently, it will all come together.

Grin, I do also want to point out that this is exactly what I help clients do, is work through the entire process. Generally clients can work through the entire process in 4 months. Of course, you can also wait and buy my book when it's out. But basically, through a series of exercises, you walk through all of these issues, and become very clear what your ultimate vision is, who your ideal client is, what it is about you that draws those clients to you, how to tell people what you do in conversation, then work through the business plan (your goals), your marketing plan (how you achieve your goals), and your marketing calendar.

There are a lot of great resources, though, and we are all here to help you find those resources.

Margie