THE QUICK READ
• You’ve got one month to create the right
impression of yourself as you embark
on your PT career
• Be prepared to give away free advice,
free sessions and free consultations
• Make yourself known to the most
influential members and staff within the
club
• Be tidy and professional in your
behaviour and presentation and lead by
example when it comes to your own
fitness and wellbeing
• Be relentless, but not pushy, in booking
appointments and making friendly
contact with members in the club
• Keep moving, avoid distractions, train
acquaintances in your 'downtime' and
remain positive.
about having to eat a meal every two to three
hours, but do trickle away at high energy
whole foods just like a Tour de France cyclist
would. Sleep well.
Train efficiently, keep it interesting,
avoid training alone and wear gym clothes
on brand rather than on point. You don’t
have time to waste, so show everyone what
a 30-minute session looks like. Train via
multiple methods. Get creative and always
learn. Setting quick sessions with fellow
trainers and staff members is key. Try to
attend at least one group fitness class per
week, again opting for 30-minute classes if
they’re available because your time is super
valuable. Follow up your workout with a
cold shower, kill the sweat and don some
clean clothes. Be a rockstar of a neatness
and professionalism, with a pleasant aroma
to boot. Check yourself. Click, point, and
wink… you’re ready to get back to work.
5. Ask
It’s true what they say ‘Don’t ask, don’t get’,
so strengthen your power to ask. Asking is the
most powerful way of getting what you want,
and when what you want aligns with what the
other person needs, you’ll have an instant
agreement. Practise asking everything from
‘Can I help you unload those weights?’, ‘Can I
show you a cool feature of the treadmill?’ and
‘Can I help write you a new gym routine?’ to
‘Can I book in to see you tomorrow to record
your body composition?’ and ‘Can I help you
with your training by being your trainer?’! Ask,
and you shall receive.
14 | NETWORK AUTUMN 2019
always want to train with the busy trainer –
so get busy!
6. Stay positive
The story of the rotten apple in a barrel goes
that one rotting apple will rot the whole barrel
(by giving off excessive ethylene gas that in
turn quickly over-ripens the rest of the fruit,
if you want the scientific explanation!). Often
used to illustrate the dangerous impact
that one negative person can have on a
group, don’t allow anyone else’s thoughts
or opinions to ‘rot’ your own. Follow
Arnie’s advice regarding naysayers: ‘pay
no attention to the people that say it can’t
be done’. And as another wise person also
said, ‘If people are trying to bring you down,
it only means that you are above them’.
7. Keep moving
WARNING: Standing still for too long will
often lead to sitting down. Members don’t
want to hire a trainer that stands still and is
often seen lounging around. This happens
very easily if you stop to talk with other team
members. Keep these conversations to the
office to avoid being seen hanging around
with other staff, which can look cliquey and
lazy and be off-putting. If you’re standing
still and chatting, make sure it’s with a
member. Consider the behaviour of wait-
staff at your local restaurant: you’re OK with
the staff talking with other patrons, but if you
witnessed a lengthy chat between wait-staff
when you were waiting to give your order,
you’d soon become irate.
8. Mates rates
Train your friends and family as often as you
can squeeze them in. Train them for free
in your free time. Your free time currently
yields $0 per hour, so you may as well get
some bang for your buck by showcasing
your talents to the gym floor and training
your mum or your neighbour! Members will
9. Distractions
Slightly controversial in 2019, and ironic as
you may well be reading this on your phone,
but my advice is to delete the distractions
for your first 31 days. You only get your
first month once. If you can’t help yourself,
deactivate your accounts! They’ll still be
there once you’re up and running. Yes, you’ll
miss some ‘crucial’ followers. While there
might be a 1,000 people on your Instagram
that can marvel at your nice technique and
strong back squat, this is worth nothing
compared to the gold-plated, platinum
laced, diamond-studded market that you
have right in front of you: club members just
champing at the bit to get results. Put your
black mirror down.
10. Go for it
You’ve studied hard to become certified in the
greatest job in the world (I’m biased), you’ll
work with the most amazing people, and the
results you get with your clients will not only be
life changing for them, they’ll totally enhance
your life forever. Be proud of your career,
it’s awesome! The early days can be hard
work, a steep learning curve and financially
unrewarding, but they can also set you up for a
fantastic future, so stick it out and keep going
until it’s going. Giving up is the fastest way to
coming last, so never give up.
Pete Gleeson
The head of personal training at Goodlife Health
Clubs, Pete has a passionate drive to ensure all PTs
have a successful client base that delivers an
abundance of results. This passion has led him on
a 16-year journey across four Australian fitness
brands, encompassing roles from PT to
management positions. goodlifehealthclubs.com.au
12 – 14 APRIL 2019 / ICC, SYDNEY
THE FITNESS INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST WEEKEND
IS BACK AND NETWORK MEMBERS SAVE!
Pete Gleeson will be sharing his valuable PT business
insights with delegates in his FILEX session:
• From Service-Call To PT-Client In Under 24 Hours – Guaranteed!
Go to FILEX.com.au to check out the full program, featuring
sessions on everything from PT and Business, to Group
Fitness and Nutrition.
Network Members get the best available prices: simply register for
the Member Rate using your Network Membership number.