8 CAREER TRAPS FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS TO AVOID
Today’s guest post comes from Detric Smith, a Virginia-based personal trainer. If the title isn’t enough to hint at it, the piece below offers solid advice for fitness professionals on common things that can derail career growth.
P.S. Not listed: male pattern baldness and big biceps… ;o)
This is a great read, and I hope it helps any personal trainers who read it.
Welcome to an industry where someone with an overnight certification or a few shirtless Instagram posts can take clients and money away from you. Even if it’s unfair, there’s not much you can do about it except rise above those who only care about one thing.
Those who lack dedication, knowledge, and real passion for personal training will likely fall by the wayside while you keep putting in the work to build a good living. But some of you have the potential to be great and just need a little direction to become a career trainer.
A career trainer sets out to change lives, which helps you stay in the game. You must put aside distractions, long hours, and temporary setbacks.
No one would blame you for falling for these eight traps because easy money is almost always tempting. However, if you want a lifelong career as a personal trainer, read on to learn how to avoid these eight potential pitfalls.
TRAP #1: GETTING PROMOTED TOO SOON
Is it too good to be true to become a gym manager or personal training supervisor within your first year of employment? Financially, it might be the best option. But are you really prepared?
Getting promoted before you’ve had a chance to learn from mistakes and mentors may derail your career. Because if you aim to make fitness a profitable career, you need years on the floor, interacting with clients and perfecting the art of coaching.
This doesn’t mean turning down a promotion if you’re doing great things. But if you do get promoted, continue to train people and handle the smallest jobs as well. The best business owners understand their customers by investing time into what matters—listening, coaching, and problem solving.
TRAP #2: CONFUSING IG AND FB LIKES WITH SUCCESS
No one’s arguing Instagram and Facebook are powerful marketing tools. But they’re just tools, not a guaranteed path to sustainable income. You don’t own or control the platforms and can be kicked off at any time.
If that happens, then what? Even if you have enough likes to monetize on IG and FB, it could be taken away in a heartbeat. For career trainers, judging success by social media likes is a trap. Instead, focus on turning those likes into real-life clients by collecting their emails, engaging with them via DMs or stories, and helping solve their problems.
TRAP #3: NEGLECTING CONTINUING EDUCATION
Graduation and certification don’t mean you know everything. This industry and its market are constantly changing. People I trained ten years ago are different from the ones I train now. Physiology matters, but what clients care about is results—like losing love handles.
If you’re short on what to learn next, study business management, psychology, finance, the art of coaching—anything. Learning new things keeps you excited, challenges your brain, and helps you become a more creative and compassionate coach.
TRAP #4: UNREALISTIC INCOME EXPECTATIONS
Remember, you want to be a career trainer, not a part-time one. No degree or certification instantly makes you the trainer to the stars earning millions. It took others years of training before they reached that level.
You’ll invest a lot of time, effort, and probably your own money into your business for a long time before you see real profit. You’ll likely work 12+ hour days, with many early mornings and late evenings. You may need a second job to make ends meet at first.
If you’re not prepared for this, you’ve been warned. But if you love what you do and embrace the grind, you’ll be rewarded. You’ll be able to work for yourself, set your own hours, and earn real money once you prove your worth.
TRAP #5: TARGETING THE WRONG MARKET
Some new trainers want to train athletes or people who look like them—20-somethings in great shape with lots of options who don’t really need you. The reality is you should train everyone who walks in the door until you figure out who you enjoy helping.
Typical clients are general population ages 30–70 who have time and disposable income. Differentiate yourself by being better than trainers who overlook them, then show these clients how you can make a big difference in their lives.
TRAP #6: SACRIFICING THE TRUTH FOR QUICK CASH
Sure, a flashy ad might bring in one or two sessions, but is that a sustainable long-term approach? Selling should come from identifying a problem you can solve and then solving it.
Listen to their story, because they may not even be fully aware of their problems. Build a connection, uncover their why, and address their objections with genuine investment. When trust is earned, money isn’t the main factor and clients stay with you longer.
TRAP #7: SELLING A PRODUCT BEFORE IT EXISTS
This product is you. Take time to intern, find a good mentor, and gain experience. Know when you don’t know and don’t pretend. If you don’t know, say you’ll find out or connect them with someone who does. People decide based on trust, especially with health.
Even if you lose a client today, you’ll gain several more later by earning trust while expanding your expertise. After gaining experience, study business and build your product. This is your career, not a side gig. Learn from the best about growing your personal training business.
TRAP #8: FOLLOWING THE CROWD
If everyone is doing something, it might be tempting to follow. Remember your mom’s question about jumping off a bridge? The money may be there short-term, but long-term you won’t stand out unless you’ve created something unique or spent decades studying a topic.
Instead, go the opposite direction. Do what no one else is doing because there’s likely a market somewhere being ignored. Maybe it’s the over-50 crowd who want a safe, effective, team-based group training with personal attention. Find them and go all in.
WRAPPING UP
I’ve been a trainer for 20 years and I’ve seen trends come and go. Don’t be a one-trick pony if you want a long-term career. Invest in yourself, your career, and the right clients, and you might just crush it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Detric Smith, CSCS, ACSM EP-C, PN-1, is the owner of Results Performance Training in Williamsburg, Virginia. He has more than two decades of experience as a personal trainer and sports performance coach. He develops personal trainers through DetricSmith.com and serves as a mentor through various fitness organizations. Follow Detric on Facebook and Instagram.
