or touch footy. From 1:30 to 2:30 I train a
corporate session, and after that I go for
a walk or have a little downtime until 4pm,
then it’s three hours of training clients and
groups until 7pm.
What do you do in any downtime
during the day?
I get outdoors. Whether it be playing sport,
socialising, going for a bushwalk or hitting
the beach, I aim to get my mind away from
work when I get the chance. I’m a firm
believer in having downtime to avoid burning
out. I’m a family man and my kids come first,
so they will always play a part in my day in
some way, shape or form.
How much do you charge?
$100 for 45mins of private training, and
$250/month for our unlimited group training
membership which entitles members to 20+
weekly training sessions, both indoor and
outdoor, as well as access to all of our events.
What do you do in terms of your
ongoing education?
I work with mentors and take part in events
and workshops, and I’m always listening to
podcasts and audio books.
How many clients do you have?
100+ (including group members).
How long, on average do your
clients stay with you?
I’m still training some of the first clients I
picked up around 12 years ago. If clients
aren’t going to be the right fit, it’s a transition
that happens immediately. Otherwise, people
only usually leave if they’re moving away.
How do you get new clients?
As I mentioned, we are big on events, which
bring the community together and are a
great way to network. Outside of our events,
we have ongoing promotions in the gym and
run Facebook/Instagram ads, however word
of mouth has always been our number one
source of new business.
Do you vet clients before you
agree to train them?
100%. I make sure I, or other staff, sit down
and go over the client’s background and
what they’re after, specifically. This clarifies
whether they’re suited to the program or not,
and which trainer is most suitable for each
client.
Do you ever turn clients away or
refer them to other PTs?
Yes. Every trainer and training model is
different. If a client is more suitable to
someone else, I’ll send them their way. We
want people to find a program they not only
get results from, but that they can stick to.
If other trainers are more knowledgeable or
suited to a specific client, they should be
training that client.
What differentiates you from
other trainers?
The personal connection I have with my
members and clients. I genuinely care about
everyone I see. If there’s no connection it
simply doesn’t work out and we’ll know this
immediately. I also have a different outlook
to most. I eat burgers and drink beer with my
clients. I am a strong believer in living a balanced
lifestyle. Life is too short to live off kale.
What is the best thing about being
a PT?
Watching people’s lives change outside of the
gym. It’s all well and good to see clients lose
a few kg’s or add size to their biceps, but the
ultimate reward is watching people become
happier. The happier a person becomes, the
better their life becomes.
And the hardest?
Work-life balance. PT hours are extremely
long and if business is not systemised
correctly it’s easy to burn out – which I have
done previously – and it’s not pretty.
What’s the biggest misconception
about working in fitness?
That it’s easy money. From the outside
looking in, people work out that if you’re
charging $100/hr, you only need to work 20
hours/week and you’re making over $100K
a year. They don’t see the cancellations, the
tax bills, the rent, the fitness registration, the
insurance, what happens when winter hits,
the early mornings and late nights, and the
hard work that’s put into picking up (and
keeping) those clients.
Where would you like your career
to take you?
I simply want to reach more people. I
currently run a training facility, outdoor boot
camps, events and health retreats. I want
my voice and message to be heard by as
many people as possible. My aim is simply
to expand upon what I’m currently doing.
Whether that be in the form of more facilities
or bigger events, I’m still working it out.
What is your fitness philosophy?
Be real, don’t believe everything you see
on social media and surround yourself with
good people.
What advice would you give to
someone starting out as a PT?
Firstly, experience as much of the fitness
industry as you can. Secondly, find
your niche. Thirdly, find a mentor that
compliments that niche.
Want to be a future featured Real World PT? For
details, email [email protected]
NETWORK WINTER 2019 | 17