Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze? Part 2
24 Feb
I received a ton of feedback on part 1 of this post however some felt my take on the fitness industry was overly negative. I disagree and counter that it was honest and direct. My purpose it not to discourage folks from becoming trainers – we still need a ton of high-quality trainers in the world. My hope was to spark some intelligent dialogue about what being a trainer actually means as it relates to my career transition.
In that vein one of my readers, Shawna, shared some feedback on her 10 years in the fitness field and I wanted to post her comment in its entirety as I think she offers some valuable insights. I will be back with Part 3 soon discussing things I would have done differently during my transition if I was to do it over again. Enjoy!
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the great post! I have worked in the fitness industry for the past 10 years and can agree with what you are saying and thought that I could offer a few other thoughts. After completing a degree in Kinesiology and getting more fitness certifications than I’d care to admit, I’ve been able to navigate an exciting career path. My original plan was to become a sport psychologist until I discovered that my job prospects in Canada as a female were almost nil. I shifted my focus to personal training and “gasp” triathlon coaching, along with presenting and writing articles on various diet and exercise related topics. I’ve had some great jobs and horrible ones along the way and have learned a lot of things through experience that should be considered before making a career shift:
-Being a personal trainer has been glamorized by tv shows- making the job look like it’s easy and fun (this is true, just not ALL fun and games). Most people don’t realize how much time goes into program planning, especially when you first start out. It also SEEMS like you’d be able to work out all day but a) Your body can not handle the beating of working out with every client day in and day out. You will burn out or get injured, fast, and b) As a trainer, your priority should be making sure that your paying client is doing the movements properly, not worrying about how great your own biceps look.
-Your day isn’t just training for 8hrs long like most office jobs. You need to account for travel time between facilities (if like many trainers do, you need to work at several locations to get your hours), prep time, paperwork/ charting, and if you run your own business even more time is spent doing accounting, budgeting, marketing, program development, banking and many more “office” type tasks. This doesn’t include the time needed to stay on top of current info, trends, maintaining your certifications etc.
-Your hours are typically long days with- split shifts. For example, as the Head Coach of a Triathlon Club, I had to coach starting at 6am and finished coaching my last swim session 10:30pm, despite only “working” an 8 hour day. As a full time personal trainer, my schedule wasn’t much different, especially on days when I had to open the gym at 5am. Split shift can be good for doing personal errands in the middle of the day when most other people are working, but then not as a result, you aren’t home early in the morning or in the evening to spend time with family and friends. Often times as a new trainer, you also have to work weekends, because you need build your client base-which takes time.
-Certifications are expensive to get and to maintain. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have the cert. offered in your hometown, you have travel costs such as hotel, car rental, and flights on top of the certification costs. Some certifications may not be considered credible in your area, so you may need to comply with standardized certifications in order to be considered “qualified” to be a trainer. Some of the “credible” certifications aren’t even worth the paper they are printed on, and are taught in a weekend workshop format, instantly making you a personal trainer! Not to say that all weekend workshops are bad- I’ve been to some really great ones (like OPT Nutrition 201 etc) but you can’t quit your day job, take one weekend course and suddenly expect to be the next Robb Wolf.
-In order to be a good/credible personal trainer, you need to look the part and stay fit. It is almost impossible to get in a good workout at the gym you work at because staff and members keep asking you questions or wanting to chat. Consider where you plan to work out!
-The hourly rate for being a trainer is amazing but you can’t base your salary off that. Most clients drop off in the summer months, September (back to school time), and in December then January is usually so busy you can’t keep up with all the resolution-ers. It can be very tough to balance a budget with a constantly fluctuating income, so you’ll need to be good at budgeting your money. Another thing most trainers don’t know until they get in is that some gyms pay on a sliding scale. So for example you make half of what the client pays. They buy one training session for $100, you make $50. But sell a big package (50 sessions) so that their cost is lower, say $40/session, you only make $20 for that same hour. Be very clear on how you are going to get paid before you jump!
-There is lots of B.S. and favouritism in the fitness industry, just like anywhere else. In this industry it’s definitely who you know, not always what you know. I’ve been beat out for jobs by trainers with far less experience or qualifications because of who they know. After all, look at some of the fitness and diet experts on Oprah and look up their qualifications. The Veganist- Kelly Freston (on with Michael Pollan) was a model turned author. Her credibility? Her hubby was one of the exec’s to start Oprah’s TV network!
-For every Robb Wolf, James Fitzgerald etc, there are hundreds of quality trainers out there and thousands of trainers who were certified from online or weekend courses. Similar to being a CEO of a company, you only make money in this industry once you reach a certain level. Can you hack it?
So needless to say, after 10 years of adventures, working for various gyms, running my own business and ultimately maxing out my salary- I realized the only way to further increase my income was to own my own gym. I didn’t have the capital to move forward and ultimately decided it was time to get out. I thought the only way to help people become more healthy was to be a trainer, giving diet and exercise advice. Now, a few months out from finishing my RN program, I’m about to help people change their diet and exercise habits, only this time as a nurse. Being a trainer and a coach was a fantastic gig, and probably something I’ll continue to dabble in for fun for years to come. I do encourage people to really look at their options and figure out why they want to be a trainer, talk to credible professionals in their area and find out what it really takes before they dive in head first!
Cheers
Great stuff! This is definitely something that trainers deal with everywhere. It is also a 24/7 lifestyle. Those who have success in the industry understand this and truly believe in what they do. Keep it up, all ^_^
Thanks Kyle! I’m glad you like the posts. Much more to come on this….
Andy,
Thanks for this. I am reading it while sitting in a Marriott and attending a TOGAF cert course, so I feel your pain/pleasure.
I have been considering the idea of a gym/PT shift so it is good to have the details.
Greg
Ah TOGAF – sounds like a blast!
I’m not encouraging you one way of the other on this one – just trying to share my experience. Try to stay awake during class.
Thanks Andy,
A real eye opener. I do dream of one day coaching strength and conditioning but was torn whether to choose to forward my future business endeavours as an athletic trainer/physiotherapist or personal training…
No simple answer to that although I think you could create some type of combination or hybrid job where you may be able to create additional stability via the physiotherapist role while still enjoying being able to train folks (and increase your hourly rate).
Andy,
I appreciate the sober tone of both your last post and this post from Shawna. I wonder if some of the apparent disappointment on the part of your readers comes from the part of us that just wants to imagine that there IS a dream job out there that is, you know, all good and none bad. Everybody longs for that. I made the transition from being a tech support geek to being a psychotherapist ten years ago, with the same dewey-eyed I’m-gonna-help-people-doing-the-funnest-thing-in-the-world sort of attitude that I think you were describing. The reality is that it’s been a very tough road. I’m still not back up to the income I had when I left the software industry, the paperwork and all the other crap that you have to do to get to your nice client hour is a real grind, and it can be hard to find time to take care of yourself. That said, the work itself is terrific, but there’s a lot of other sh*t attached to that work that I hadn’t really thought about when I initially made my career change.
Thanks for the honest and un-romanticized reflections.
-Greg
Thanks Greg – I think you hit the nail on the head. There is so much stuff attached to career changes and I see many folks who don’t really think it through until it is too late. They can be very positive experiences, but definitely not always in the short term. It is often an uphill climb!
Andy –
This is a great series of posts! As someone who currently works in the tech industry as a senior consultant (who has lost passion for the industry) and is also a paleo strength nut I have struggled with the idea of changing careers for over 3 years now. (However, a wife, 2 kids and mortgage keep me scared enough from straying the course)
It’s very easy to be ‘woo-ed’ by the startup stories of some of the CF gyms that cropped up throughout the nation over the past 5-10 years where it appears that the owners are making money hand over fist.
The freedom, autonomy and ‘being your own boss’ are great motivators into taking that step, but I think it’s human nature to assume that the grass is greener and to dismiss all the hard work, hours and commitment it takes to get a business into that realm of being ‘successful’.
Love the blog!
I think the grass CAN be greener just not out of the gate and often folks don’t consider all the components of their switch. My experience is that most CF gyms aren’t making hand over fist – I know there are some that do, but that would not be the norm. One well known owner once told me that if your goal was to make a lot of money then opening a gym is honestly not the best option.
Yep, this is a fantastic series – much appreciated, Andy (and Shawna).
I’ve got a full-time self-employed gig going already (web design), so the idea of transitioning to training wouldn’t be as night-and-day of a shift as it would for folks leaving 9-5 careers, but lots of elements would be very different, such as the “energy management” of being face-to-face with people all day, the hours (split vs. continuous), etc.
One thing I’m taking from this series is the wisdom of starting small and easing into it, to see how it goes… and I’m quite grateful that my current lifestyle allows such a gradual change.
Definitely keep it coming – great stuff.
Thanks Adam – I think the idea of starting small and seeing how it goes can be a great route to take. I don’t think it is doable in all industries, but I have seen it done in the fitness industry. Love your site by the way!
Thanks, Andy; I’m looking to build out my garage gym and get a few clients to start… and hey, if it all goes to s***, at least I’ll have a sweet home gym.
And I know you’re in good hands w/ Amber, but if you ever need anything WordPress-related, don’t hesitate to ask!
p.s. keep those awesome coconut-quotes coming – I’m a huge coconut freak (obviously). So far, I’ve got you on record with:
and
I see t-shirts in (y)our future…
Adam – thanks for the offer. Let me know if you ever stop by the site and just see some generally recommendations on things I could improve. Its always a work in progress.
I love those quotes – I’m thinking I should work on some shirts for sure!
Did you see the Mark’s Daily Apple reader submitted coconut cookbook? Some great ideas there!!!
re: site – will do. I’ll add you to the list for the WebsiteWOD…
re: quotes – anything with coconut in it or on it, and I’m there.
re: MDA – oh man, I didn’t! I kinda unsubscribed a while ago; nothing personal, just needed a bit of a media break. I just put my name in again for it, though – a coconut-only cookbook is a worthy cause.
Thanks Adam!
Andy Deas!
I loved the Matt Lalonde Unleash the Crackin episode. Now keep blogging and write about us women folk why don’t cha?
xo
deb
Thanks Debbie – I’m working on it!
Andy,
Thanks for this great series. I was going to comment on the first post but I was too busy with school and work. Listening to Paleo 68 reminded me to check back in to your blog.
I am finishing up my degree in exercise science and also finishing up my 20 years in the Air Force all about the same time. I was seriously thinking about personal training or corporate wellness because I have half my current income covered by my military retirement. I have the flexibility that others don’t have but I certainly can’t live off my retirement with a wife and three kids to feed and shelter.
Your first post was perfect timing for me because it highlighted that I should at a minimum get a transition job that is steady and once I get settled in start looking into the fitness or coaching industry. It was an eye opener for me because I had the picture of the dream job with no downside clouding my vision. I appreciate the candor.
I can honestly say I am surprised that working in one of the top 10 gyms in the US doesn’t pay better but then again Chico isn’t the cheapest place in the states to live either.
I have also considered getting my Master’s and being a research geek for a while so I can still work with the training industry while actually getting paid on a regular basis.
Kevin
Kevin – Thanks for the comment. I think having the retirement is helpful, but 3 kids and a wife definitely makes everything much harder. Working in the fitness industry is extremely rewarding, but it takes time to build your business. I think some sort of a transition plan can be very helpful.
NorCal does play well relative to the industry, but we are a small college town without a ton of industry so we don’t charge near as much as folks in big cities. Additionally, a portion of my income is from teaching group classes and a portion from personal training. The personal training is more lucrative, but it has taken some time to build up that side of my training practice.
I think the research geek angle is one to consider – not the same as coaching full-time, but as you said the paycheck would be more consistent. There are no perfect jobs – just trade offs. Good luck!
I had a similar experience in the golf world. During the second year of my MS in Kinesiology program I became the IT person for the campus recreation center. As graduation time came I realized I could make a much better living as the IT guy than as the fitness guy, so that’s what I did. 10 years later, with a wife, small child, and mortgage, I was really burned out and took a job as a golf pro. Golf was my passion, and I had gotten to know a few people in the business. I thought if the grass was greener anywhere, it would be at the golf course.
The hours were insane – 70 or so a week, and my one day off was always a workday. Similar to working in fitness, there’s almost no time to play, and members always want to chat (or watch) when you’re working on your own game. The money was also pretty lousy, but I knew that going in and we were able to budget for it. Building a teaching practice is virtually impossible until one becomes a PGA member, and that takes at least two or three years and several thousand dollars. Even then it can take years to build a large enough stable of clients to make a decent living.
After a while I realized that even though the money could improve a lot in a few years, I would still be working the same type of schedule, which was unsustainable for my family. I decided to go back into IT. Intellectually I knew about most of the issues I would face, but in retrospect I think I had to experience it to really understand. I didn’t touch a club for six months after I quit, but soon I found my passion for the game again. (It’s actually suprisingly paleo/primal – walk four miles carrying a 20 pound bag, and make 40 or so explosive full-body movements along the way.)
Even though it didn’t work out, I’m ultimately glad that I gave it a shot. One big difference between golf and fitness is that the golf industry isn’t setup for people to be able to teach part-time – it’s considered a concession for the head pro, and they view it as money that should be going into their pocket. I would love to be able to give a couple of lessons on the weekends, but it just doesn’t work that way.
Thanks for sharing your story! I think many of these jobs (trainer, coach etc.) can be very fulfilling ways to make a living, but there can often be a long road to get it to a sustainable place. My personal experience is that making a career change when you are very established in one career can be much more difficult than starting in that career originally.
Excellent posts, and might I say “Classic Deas”. The message you delivered, while containing details specific to the fitness industry, hit home for many people facing real life decisions. All major decisions we make in life have benefits, and costs. We often times will inflate the benefits and downplay the costs so that we can convince our rational mind to pursue what our heart desires. Only in hindsight do we get the opportunity to review our decisions and (hopefully) apply what we have learned. In no way did I interpret your post as a “don’t follow your heart” message. Rather, it just reminded me to look at my decisions with a clear mind and ultimately……own the decisions I make.
It is indeed rare, that you find someone (like yourself) that is willing to completely divulge, in DETAIL, a “real-life decision” so that we can apply that second-hand knowledge as if it were our own; always the counselor Deas!
Thanks Clay! I appreciate the support!
Hey Andy, good posts. When I started into CF I went hardcore and started being a trainer at our local affiliate while maintaining my “day job” in LE. It was great at the start but quickly stopped being fun and my own fitness/health ended up taking a backseat to working at the gym. I don’t work at the gym anymore but just workout there. But to help satisfy the urge to work with/help people I do it as more of a hobby with people who seek me out. This way they actually want to work at things and I don’t feel like I am wasting my time.
It’s a nice comprimise and I don’t have to give up the security of my “day job”.
I really respect the sacrifices you have made to follow the path you are on. Let’s hear more from the Love Hate series:)
Chris – I totally understand where you are coming from. It is so hard to prioritize your own health/fitness when you are always helping others. It is a constant struggle for me and I often find was in better shape when I just trained people as a hobby.
Hey Andy great posts. I just read part 2 today, the day I gave my notice at the gym I worked for. I was working at a “Globo” as a crossfit certified trainer. I was full and really loved my job. However, I’m a single Mom and it took 6-7 mths to build my clientele. I didn’t get paid that much the first 6 mths so my savings took a major hit.
I finally realized a few things-
50 percent of my cleints were willing to do the work. The other 50 liked to say they had a personal trainer and barely did what I needed them to when they showed up.
I was never going to get out of the Red even as a full/successful trainer. I’m not great at budgeting and those fluctuating paycheques we not my friend!
My own fitness took a major hit because I’d be there all day working split shifts and not having the energy to train myself
I need paid sick days with a small child!
I really miss Bumper plates and Chalk
My daughter and dinners at the kitchen table were way more important!
Just my 2 cents
I’ve realized that every job has its pros/cons and most fitness jobs aren’t going to come with paid vacation, sick days etc. Depending on a person’s priorities and life status that may not be doable. I can so relate with losing interest in your own fitness – such a struggle!
it seems that many people choose to enter the fitness/nutrition industry due to their passion re health and helping people. I can understand this given the fact that I chose medical school for the same reason (I am a psychiatrist who loves to learn about nutrition and fitness topics, and have often fantasized about being a yoga instructor or personal trainer.) But I think that any job that is going to be mentally and financially rewarding requires years of effort that our passion may not sufficiently carry us through. see some of the posts at this site for interesting ideas:
http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/10/16/the-passion-trap-how-the-search-for-your-lifes-work-is-making-your-working-life-miserable/#more-891
Great points! Thanks for the link – good stuff!
Andy, I heard you had a falling out at NorCal. True or not? I used to go there and also thought Robb could be a butthead. I got tired of the way they ran that place. I suppose that’s part of the learning experience too. Probably a good thing that you are someone who can pick up and try something else and even move town when you want. Why in the hell would you choose Chico over some of the great cities you have lived?
Ha! Well I picked Chico to work with Robb – I do like much of the town, but it is too small for me. Basically NorCal and I just weren’t a long term fit so I am no longer working there.
Hi Andy,
I got a feeling if there is a part 3 it ends with you going back to the corp. life. Hope everything works out for the best.
Thanks Steve. It probably looks something like a hybrid – some corporate stuff plus opening my own gym. There will a part 3 just not likely soon…
Andy,
Good for you for having the kahoonies to pick up and move. You are being kind by saying that you and NorCal “wasn’t a good fit.” There are some good people there, but there are some things that I know aren’t right or ethical there and I commend you for leaving. I have done that with a few employers over the years and although it’s difficult at first, in the long run your integrity is all you have.
Yes, Chico is way to small for most people. I feel sorry for people who grow up here and never experience the excitement and opportunities elsewhere. You have been to some ALIVE cities and it sounds like you have the ability to go where you want. People get bogged down by families and can’t just move, but at least you can escape Chico when you want.
What are you doing for income now? What cities are you thinking about? I’d like to know so that my own list can change to what you think about. Arizona or Ohio? Or are you thinking about a new city?
Thanks Melanie! Haven’t decided where I’m moving yet – have a few things in the works, but nothing concrete yet.
Andy, where are you working now? Are you moving back to your home state?
Haven’t decided where I’m moving yet – have a few things in the works, but nothing concrete yet.
Hey, but you’re a Red’s fan, right? Gotta go near Ohio to root for your team! I was there last year and I loved the city and the excitement there. I sometimes feel sorry for the people in Chico who think going to the city means Main Street in Chico. Their lives are so limited because they have no dreams and don’t realize that there’s so little here, no access to jobs or opportunity. Life in a big city in incredible, especially when you’re young. Chico is okay if you’re about 80, but it’s early death in terms of dreams or experiencing the world. Good for you for being able to pick up and move around. I envy people like you who do that. Go Reds!
Well I do love the Bengals, but Ohio is cold! Folks in Chico are also always like we are going to the city (meaning San Fran), but I’m like there are lots of big cities out there. Maybe they are visiting Phoenix, Chicago, Boston, Philly, or New York. People are funny!