I have always been extremely dedicated to health and fitness.
- During high school, I played every possible sport.
When I headed to college, I took classes in sports science and physical therapy. My goal was to make my living as a personal trainer. I had no idea how competitive or demanding the industry actually is. Along with a long list of certifications, experience is extremely important. It’s just about impossible to get hired at a larger gym or get connected with a major sports team until you are established. I first needed to gain a client list. This is rather difficult and often discouraging. I started out at a smaller gym where the members were not overly receptive to personal training. They certainly weren’t willing to pay very much for the service. Plus, I was so young that my clients doubted by ability to help them. For several years, I worked an assortment of odd jobs on the side. I waited tables, worked as a valet, did construction and even delivered newspapers. My job as a personal trainer was not sufficient to pay the rent. Eventually, as my clients began to see results, word-of-mouth put me in demand. With a larger client list, I was able to move to a bigger gym. This visibility brought in even more clients. It has taken a very long time, but I’m finally able to support myself as a personal trainer. I now have clients who are professional athletes and CEO’s of major corporations as well as people recovering from injuries or simply looking to get in better shape.