Union Hill Athletic Club in KC, 2007 - 2009
I am sitting in the training office, in front of a very large picture of my boss on the wall. It is not only very large, but a black and white bodybuilding portrait. A picture of perfection.
I am making meal plans for a group of clients that I had been given. There is only one person who has paid for sessions, but has not called me back.
It is the most awkward training time in my life. I have never taken over sessions for another trainer before.
I am making meal plans for a group of clients that I had been given. There is only one person who has paid for sessions, but has not called me back.
It is the most awkward training time in my life. I have never taken over sessions for another trainer before.
It is the fall of 2007. Four weeks earlier, I asked to come back and work for my boss, after a year of being a community health service coordinator.
Not only did he have a position for me, but it was a head trainer position at a new club in Midtown, Kansas City. I am taking over for one of his best bodybuilding trainers. That trainer is rejoining him at his primary location, which has a larger bodybuilding clientele. The idea is that since I am not a bodybuilder, but have the knowledge to train all types of clients, that I am a better fit for this more corporate, Kansas City location.
I am feeling excited and becoming comfortable in my position, until I hear a knock at my office door.
Not only did he have a position for me, but it was a head trainer position at a new club in Midtown, Kansas City. I am taking over for one of his best bodybuilding trainers. That trainer is rejoining him at his primary location, which has a larger bodybuilding clientele. The idea is that since I am not a bodybuilder, but have the knowledge to train all types of clients, that I am a better fit for this more corporate, Kansas City location.
I am feeling excited and becoming comfortable in my position, until I hear a knock at my office door.
Standing at my door, is a tall and very muscular man in his early 30’s. I've seen him several times before. He is the strongest (and most muscular man) that I have seen lifting at this location. I often see him doing intense sprint intervals on the treadmill, on his off days from lifting.
“Hi.” I say. “Can I help you?”
“I’m Marcus.” He says. “ I am ready to start my sessions.”
I nearly stopped breathing, as I search for my response. Marcus had purchased a start up package of 3 sessions, with the bodybuilding trainer I had replaced. It had been weeks, and he had not called me back to redeem them. Here he stood in front of me ready to go.
“Can we start tomorrow?” He asks.
“Hi.” I say. “Can I help you?”
“I’m Marcus.” He says. “ I am ready to start my sessions.”
I nearly stopped breathing, as I search for my response. Marcus had purchased a start up package of 3 sessions, with the bodybuilding trainer I had replaced. It had been weeks, and he had not called me back to redeem them. Here he stood in front of me ready to go.
“Can we start tomorrow?” He asks.
I am terrified. At this point, I am in my fourth year as a trainer...but I have been working with primarily beginners and seniors. My history has been distance running. At this point in my life, I only strength train two days a week.
From somewhere, I summon professional words. “ I think it would be best to start on Monday. That will give me time to prepare something for you. Can you come in and tell me more about your goals, and what you were hoping for out of your sessions?”
From somewhere, I summon professional words. “ I think it would be best to start on Monday. That will give me time to prepare something for you. Can you come in and tell me more about your goals, and what you were hoping for out of your sessions?”
He came in and sat down. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you back. I signed up with Robert, and I didn’t want to work with you...no offense. But I’ve seen you training the other people, and I think you can help me. I want to build more muscle and lose this fat,” He said, as he lifted his shirt to show me his abdomen.
I couldn’t even see where he would have any bodyfat to lose...and he already looked huge to me.
His words where doing nothing for my terror. He looked like he should be my trainer. How in the world would I be able to show him anything he didn’t already know?
I couldn’t even see where he would have any bodyfat to lose...and he already looked huge to me.
His words where doing nothing for my terror. He looked like he should be my trainer. How in the world would I be able to show him anything he didn’t already know?
“Can you tell me exactly what your workouts look like right now?” I asked, as I got out my notepad.
As he kept talking, (and I started writing) I realized that he was already doing much of the bodybuilding style workouts that I had been trained (by my boss) to build.
My heart started sinking even further.
As he kept talking, (and I started writing) I realized that he was already doing much of the bodybuilding style workouts that I had been trained (by my boss) to build.
My heart started sinking even further.
But, it seems that all of my questioning and note taking are making him feel even more confident in my abilities to help him...in just 3 sessions.
At this point I am just glad he isn't asking me for a refund on his sessions, since the trainer he originally wanted was gone.
I explain that I have been studying to be a strength and conditioning coach.
I tell him that if he was cool with it, we would try some things I had learned, mixed with a bodybuilding style program. He sounded excited by that, and left with a smile.
At this point I am just glad he isn't asking me for a refund on his sessions, since the trainer he originally wanted was gone.
I explain that I have been studying to be a strength and conditioning coach.
I tell him that if he was cool with it, we would try some things I had learned, mixed with a bodybuilding style program. He sounded excited by that, and left with a smile.
It is Thursday. I have 4 days to figure out what to do during his 3 sessions. Truth is, I haven’t looked at my strength and conditioning materials since 2005. I pour over the program design chapters, and write out a 3 day program design. It will be the first time I mix bodybuilding and strength and conditioning style into a client's program.
Monday morning comes, and we get started on day 1 of his program. I can feel the eyes of the other members of the gym on me, as we go through the session. I do my best to tune it out. It is the first time I have ever noticed people staring at me, while I trained someone. He leaves at the end of the week, tired and happy with his new program.
Monday morning comes, and we get started on day 1 of his program. I can feel the eyes of the other members of the gym on me, as we go through the session. I do my best to tune it out. It is the first time I have ever noticed people staring at me, while I trained someone. He leaves at the end of the week, tired and happy with his new program.
The next week, another client of mine told me that he heard Marcus talking about me at happy hour.
“What did he say?” I ask, (very nervous to hear the answer).
“He said he’s never felt so sore. He said the program you made is awesome.” My client smiles as he tells me.
“What did he say?” I ask, (very nervous to hear the answer).
“He said he’s never felt so sore. He said the program you made is awesome.” My client smiles as he tells me.
That day marked a permanent change in me. It instilled a quiet confidence, that has never left me.
It also planted the seed in me, that I could be a strength and conditioning coach...even though I didn’t take the test until 7 years later… in 2015.
The good review from Marcus, helped kick start my success in selling personal training packages of my own. Until this moment, I had never had a review of my training impact my sales, and help me build rapport with others.
The nearly two years I spent at that club in Midtown, showed me how much a trainer could impact the lives of a community of people. It also showed me how the trainer/client relationship could lead to and transition into permanent friendships. This would forever plant the seed in my heart, that personal training was much more than a profession...but a gift.
After I left midtown, I went on to train at a studio in Raytown and in Overland Park, where I met my current coach.
At each new location, the clients I had turned to friends.
It also planted the seed in me, that I could be a strength and conditioning coach...even though I didn’t take the test until 7 years later… in 2015.
The good review from Marcus, helped kick start my success in selling personal training packages of my own. Until this moment, I had never had a review of my training impact my sales, and help me build rapport with others.
The nearly two years I spent at that club in Midtown, showed me how much a trainer could impact the lives of a community of people. It also showed me how the trainer/client relationship could lead to and transition into permanent friendships. This would forever plant the seed in my heart, that personal training was much more than a profession...but a gift.
After I left midtown, I went on to train at a studio in Raytown and in Overland Park, where I met my current coach.
At each new location, the clients I had turned to friends.
When I graduated college with my Exercise Science degree in 2004, I still didn’t want to be a trainer. I didn’t see the point. I thought if people just had the right program for results, that they would do it. I thought I would end up in community health work, or remain at a recreation center as a director.
I didn’t realize what personal training was. I didn’t realize that relationships with clients, would have such a dramatic impact on my life. I didn’t realize how much love there could be in a training space. I didn't realize that it wasn't just the programming clients looked for...but the company in making a life change.
The love (and referrals) that clients have shared, has happened at every single location I have been to.
I didn’t realize what personal training was. I didn’t realize that relationships with clients, would have such a dramatic impact on my life. I didn’t realize how much love there could be in a training space. I didn't realize that it wasn't just the programming clients looked for...but the company in making a life change.
The love (and referrals) that clients have shared, has happened at every single location I have been to.
I am blessed now, in my 13 years of personal training to have hundreds of friends from training. I have not had to look for a “job” since my return to training in 2007. For the last ten years, my life has been sustained by groups of people who I serve.
Every few months I get calls, or offers for new training/gym management opportunities. Word of mouth of my work is passed from person to person, and their “love” opens up doors for me to continue to serve...without me even having to ask.
Clients regularly give me unsolicited help with advertising, website and app review, and referrals.
I think about where I might be, had I went to art school like I had originally planned.
But then I open up my FaceBook, or I walk into the current gym I manage...and I see the people I’ve worked with. I see the community of people I serve, and realize just how much they have served me in return.
Every few months I get calls, or offers for new training/gym management opportunities. Word of mouth of my work is passed from person to person, and their “love” opens up doors for me to continue to serve...without me even having to ask.
Clients regularly give me unsolicited help with advertising, website and app review, and referrals.
I think about where I might be, had I went to art school like I had originally planned.
But then I open up my FaceBook, or I walk into the current gym I manage...and I see the people I’ve worked with. I see the community of people I serve, and realize just how much they have served me in return.
Just yesterday morning, one of my clients (I’ve had for almost 2 years), brought me a protein waffle he made for breakfast. It is not the first time he's made me one.
He has also given me other gifts over the years...as many of my clients have done.
He has also given me other gifts over the years...as many of my clients have done.
It is these moments, that my purpose is solidified.
It is in these moments that I can see the impact of my presence.
It is not the gifts themselves...but the realization that I am part of their life beyond just the hour they see me for their program. It is the relationship we share, as we journey life together that gives me the most fulfillment, and solidifies my calling.
It is these relationships that keep me going, on days that being a trainer seems too hard.
It is these relationships the cement my passion and my purpose.
It is these relationships that give me the courage to press forward.
Mai Trainer is a result of YOU. I’m so glad you are here.
It is a gift to me, to be able to impact you now in 2017, in the online personal training space. It is a gift to me, to be able to share these stories with you, in effort to accompany you on your journey.
I hope you will come back for part 3, of “I never wanted to be a trainer.”
It is in these moments that I can see the impact of my presence.
It is not the gifts themselves...but the realization that I am part of their life beyond just the hour they see me for their program. It is the relationship we share, as we journey life together that gives me the most fulfillment, and solidifies my calling.
It is these relationships that keep me going, on days that being a trainer seems too hard.
It is these relationships the cement my passion and my purpose.
It is these relationships that give me the courage to press forward.
Mai Trainer is a result of YOU. I’m so glad you are here.
It is a gift to me, to be able to impact you now in 2017, in the online personal training space. It is a gift to me, to be able to share these stories with you, in effort to accompany you on your journey.
I hope you will come back for part 3, of “I never wanted to be a trainer.”
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