Keys To Building Your Schedule

The purpose of this article is to give you as the reader insight on some helpful tips towards attaining clients and building your training schedule.  The first part focuses on "WHY" someone should want to work with you and can be applied to almost any business.  The second part is more specific to trainers and discusses the simple exercises that will help you attain, progress, and keep the individuals you train feeling great!

Part 1: Four Keys to Getting Clients!


1.) SMILE 
I think we can all agree that it is no fun being around negative people, something as simple as a simile can make someone's day!

2.) CONNECT
It is very important to connect with people, without any connection it is very hard to work together as a team.  Which is what you and your clients are, a team! Jordan Spieth is a perfect example, in every interview he says "WE" because he knows without his team, it wouldn't be possible to achieve the massive success that he has had.  If you think about it, our clients see us more then they see some of their friends.  Therefore, we must be friendly and able to connect with them!

The first question I ask everyone is "Why are you here and what are your goals going forward?"  This is an effective way to start connecting with the people you train.


3.) CARE 
It is very important to show that you care and that you are going to do whatever it takes to help someone achieve their goals.  

Think about this quote:

"No one cares how much you know, till they know how much you care"

Most people you train could care less about the certifications you have, they just want you to be able to help them reach their goals! 

4.) COMMITMENT

It is important to tell your clients that they are going to have to make a commitment and a lifestyle change to get what they want.  There are 168 hours in a week, they might spend 1-4 of those hours a week with you.  Therefore, it is essential to continually express how important it is to stay committed to diet, exercise, and happiness!  This helps keep a positive mindset and a full-time commitment.  Thomas Plummer talks about how you should have a 90-day plan for your clients.  We all know that different circumstances pop up, but if you are able to create 3 phases of programming for 4 weeks each, you can essentially have a 3-month progression plan.  Then re-evaluate and keep building.  

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Part 2: Training Essentials

After we find out what individuals want and their why.  I tell them our first goal is to make you a better human, which just means helping them move better, feel better, and get stronger!  As a trainer, it's important to keep it simple and to get really good at teaching how to squat, deadlift, push and pull heavy objects, carry heavy sh*t, and to be able to stabilize the core! 

Below are 6 exercises that you need to know how to teach well.  If you get good at teaching these movements, it will be easier for you to attain clients and help them reach their goals!

Deadlifts:

Almost every human that can tie their shoes has the ability to pick something up.  Therefore, proper hip hinging and spinal stabilization is important for everybody.  This is why it's important to get individuals good at this motion.  If you get good at teaching the progressions and regressions of this movement, it will be very easy to progress the people you train!

Phase 1: Proper Hip Hinge Patterning
Phase 2: KB Deadlift
Phase 3: Barbell "Assisted" Deadlift (2" elevation)
Phase 4: Barbell Sumo Deadlift or Trap Bar Deadlift
Phase 5: Conventional Deadlift

Push-Up:

Push-ups are one of, if not the best pushing exercise on the planet!  Thankfully with tables, benches, and smith machines it is easy for everyone to have a perfect push-up.  

Phase 1: Elevated/Assisted Push-Up
Phase 2: Conventional Push-Up from the floor
Phase 3: Alternating MB Push-Up
Phase 4: Swiss-ball Push-Up
Phase 5: Weighted Push-Up

Anti-Rotation Press:

One of the best exercises to help stabilize the abdominal area is the anti-rotation press.  I have almost everyone of my clients do some sort of anti-rotation press.

Phase 1: Half-Kneeling Anti-Rotation Press
Phase 2: Standing Anti-Rotation Press
Phase 3: Standing Anti-Rotation Press Holds
Phase 4: Standing Anti-Rotation Press Up/Downs
Phase 5: Standing Anti-Rotation Press w/Rotation

Split Squats:

Whether you are 2 years old or 88 years old, what is one thing every human wants to physically be able to do throughout their life?

Stand up of course!

One of the best exercises to strengthen the legs and stabilize the lower body is a split squat.  This is an important exercise to get good at teaching, this is because it is one of the hardest exercises for humans to execute.  

Phase 1: Assisted Split Squats
Phase 2: Body Weight Split Squats
Phase 3: Goblet Split Squats
Phase 4: 2 DB's Split Squats
Phase 5: Rear Foot Elevated Split Squats

Rows:

A row or pulling motion is an important movement for shoulder health, back strength, and bicep strength.  

Phase 1: Seated Row
Phase 2: DB Row w/Deadstop
Phase 3: Conventional DB Row
Phase 4: DB Row w/A Pause
Phase 5: Pronated Grip DB Row

Carries:

Carries are one of the best exercises for posture and shoulder stabilization.  Not to mention the grip strength you can gain from them!

Phase 1: Farmer Carry
Phase 2: Suitcase Carry
Phase 3: Waiter Carry
Phase 4: Front Rack KB Carry
Phase 5: Overhead Carry


There you have it! I truly believe if you get good at finding the why behind your the people you train and get really good at teaching these exercises you will have a lot of success in life and as trainer.  For any questions or more specifics about anything in this article feel free to email me at [email protected]!