seen him engaging with people
from such a wide variety of
backgrounds, making it easy for
him to patiently relate to the
struggles of those trying to
change the way they look, feel or
eat. “I can see things from their
perspective more than I would
be able to if I hadn’t had all
these challenges.”
The FFP family extended to the
gym. A close-knit bunch, long
stretches of empty time meant
he got to know people pretty fast
and they looked out for each
other’s development,
recommending books,
programmes, sharing
experiences and techniques.
While boxing and martial arts
side is a specialism, 50 per cent
of his clients don’t do either, they
do general fitness.
“A mistake a lot of people make
is that they try to specialise in
everything. Like if I get a client
16 FM
“
They tell you
stories
about their
problems.
They expose
themselves
and their
insecurities
to a stranger
and it’s not
easy.”
that says ‘I want to look like
Arnold Schwarzenegger’ I will tell
them straight; “I can’t do that. I
can help you build a substantial
www.exerciseregister.org
amount of muscle and you will
look completely different. I can
get you closer, but then I will
have to recommend you to
someone els’.”
Perhaps, in keeping with aimless
youth, he says: “I won’t try to sell
a dream to someone elsel, I
think one thing every single
client will say is I’m always
honest with them.” And the faith
that clients put in him has had a
big effect on his self-worth. “They
trust you with their life. They tell
you stories about their problems.
It’s nice to have that trust. They
expose themselves and their
insecurities to a stranger and it’s
not easy.
“Making sure that both you and
the client are accountable for
results is definitely important.
“Sometimes the results might
not be achievable for various
reasons out of your control, but
as long as the client knows this