Mike Robertson released his latest resource this week: the Complete Coach Certification. It’s on sale for a limited time this week, through Friday. If you’re a strength coach, a personal trainer, or work with athletes—and even if you work with everyday clients—this resource aims to help you become a more well-rounded health and fitness professional. I asked Mike about his coaching philosophy and what our industry needs to do better.
His goal with the certification is simple: push the industry forward and help thousands of trainers and coaches around the world. He’s observed a gap where many people come through traditional schooling and certification but struggle to add real value on the gym floor. They can’t connect with clients, they can’t progress or regress programs smoothly, and they often can’t even design a coherent plan. He says it’s not entirely their fault; we’ve created a culture in training that makes this harder. The aim is to fix that by teaching clear systems and procedures that make a coach’s life easier and improve results. It’s not about memorizing every exercise variation; it’s about mastering a handful of solid movements, knowing how to adapt them, and delivering strong coaching. He believes acting professionally and getting really good at what you do can turn coaching into a rewarding career with real earning potential and a satisfying life outside the gym. He’s just 41, but he’s already thinking about his legacy—what he’s contributed and how he’s helped push the industry forward.
We also discussed common mistakes in program design. The main ones include not having a clear goal, trying to chase too many goals at once and constantly switching programs, and not understanding the basics of program design—how sets, reps, and time under tension work together. Poor exercise selection, a lack of coherence across training and conditioning, and failing to meet a client where they’re at were named. Coaches who let their own beliefs drive what their clients should do, or who keep programs boring or too random, were called out as well. In short, the industry still has a long way to go to raise the standard of program design.
Mike also shared two big shifts in his own approach since he started coaching. First, he’s much better at planning and programming all parts of a program, moving beyond a single-strength focus to create well-rounded plans for almost any client or athlete. Second, he’s worked on smoothing transitions between different phases—so moving from one block to the next doesn’t shock the body and disrupt progress. He wants athletes to move through speed, strength, and conditioning in a way that makes sense and protects their bodies.
We touched on the role of soft skills in coaching. Mike believes soft skills matter just as much as technical know-how. Early in his career, his ability to relate to people, empathize, and build rapport helped him on the floor more than any single coaching cue. Research supports the idea that clients who like their coach and feel positive about the relationship can achieve better results, sometimes even more than someone with a “superior” program. The best approach blends strong programming with strong relationships—trust and communication accelerate progress without sacrificing the quality of the plan.
On the topic of the Complete Coach Certification, Mike emphasizes that investing in oneself pays off: it helps coaches stay in the game longer, reduces burnout, and often leads to greater success and earnings. He’s highly regarded in the field, and this program reflects his experience. The course covers anatomy, breathing mechanics (which he stresses as crucial), coaching essentials, and practical program design, including his R7 protocol. It also comes with bonuses like training templates, exercise regression and progression charts, and access to a fitness business webinar.
If you’re looking to elevate your coaching and your career, this resource is on sale this week and offers flexible payment options.
