NOTE: I was recently playing some of my old blog posts and met this. I read it again and remember how embarrassed I felt when what I describe in the post below really happened. I felt that it would rebuild it would be a nice reminder to all fitness professionals to remember … you always watch. Act accordingly.
I felt like a fool yesterday. And when I say “I felt like an asshole”, I don’t mean “haha, I did something stupid and I feel like an asshole”. I felt straight like a bunch of asshole.
HINT: I was a fool.
To get to the point: I left a client down. And it was 100% for me.
I hope this will be a lesson for every professional gym reading that you are always watching and that you are always Making decisions – either directly or indirectly – that will affect your business and people’s perception of you.
However, before brushing in my knife yesterday, I hope you don’t mind if I take a second to dive into myself and break a scenario where I was less soft.
I think it goes without saying that most personal trainers and coaches – at one or another, have experience in a commercial gym.
Of course, this box (not always) suck. One of the greatest signals is that many trainers remain for themselves in terms of harvesting their own customers.
This can be a discouraging work for those young people in the field are a little more introverted and inexperienced.
Whenever in contact with someone who asks me on advice on this issue, my immediate answer is:
“You act as if you are observing or always judging.”
A good example would be how you approach the floor hours.
Most (new) trainers in most clubs are required/obliged to accumulate the number of floor hours per week. It is more or less the version of the gymnastics industry for destruction or testing/cleaning, where you walk around the club that feels like a tool that gets after the chaos of everyone else.
If I had to liken it to anything, it would fall somewhere between your tax preparation and jumping in the mouth of a shark to the things I would rather do.
Anyway, when I had to do it, I used it as an opportunity to reach the eyes of many people as possible. I would say hello, make eye contact and occasionally offer some tips on technique, unique core exercises, or maybe hit the conversation with Gi Je’s favorite characters.
You know, because I was cool.
I all said I used my floor hours as an opportunity to give a service and rest people as customers.
And talking about customers, when I was with one, I would always be, always make sure to pay them my full attention. I would be in time, I had my programs ready to go, and I am always proud to be more active, giving slogans and feedback at any time. You know, training.
As a result, in many cases, I would be approached by other people asking if I had openings because they had watched and observed me throughout the weeks or previous months.
I knew little – at that moment – that I was continuously be observed and judged.
Then he echoed with me and is something, still, this is important to me now. He never gets older when, after working with me for a handful of sessions, a new customer reports how much they appreciate my approach compared to their previous experiences with other trainers and coaches.
They are coaches and not babysat.
I’m not saying this to be vainglorious, but to interpret it as you wish.
But back to what I am a piece of asshole
All this to say: We are all fucking from time to time. Or, maybe a little more than a German way to put it: to have a light decision on the crisis.
Most days I show 10-15 minutes before customers appearing in the core.
I had two customers scheduled to appear yesterday at 4 pm 3:30 Bump and I was still at home preparing the blog of the day’s blog and attracting emails.
3:40 hit and, while I knew I was pushing my luck (my gym is just one mile of my apartment but still 10-15 minutes Move at that time of day), I I had To post the article on Instagram.
Priorities, right?
“Okay,” I thought about myself, “I will probably be a little small piece late.
Without Biggie.
I feel justified, I rushed out of the door and headed to the core.
I arrived at 4:03. Both customers are waiting outside the side of the building trying to avoid the first oppressively hot day.
Joe, a comprehensive businessman here in Boston (his 12,000 employees) who just started with me three weeks ago and was an exemplary customer – every session is ready to work on his ass – he was the first to greeted me.
“Hi, it’s beyond 4 o’clock.”
“Yes,” I said, “I’m sorry I’m a little late.”
“Stop posting on Instagram and let’s get to work.”
Saw my position. Called my BS.
What a fool I was.
Joe was not malicious or nothing, or even crazy. I think. It didn’t even make me delay something. He said what he said, and we did, we are right at work. However, the issue of his real way of calling me out in my instant hits really brought me into the gut.
And, honestly, served as a nice awakening call.
I’m better than that.
You’re better than that.
Let this be a lesson: You always watch.
Always.
