Although I have written a newsletter on this before, I have had a couple of new insights from my own experience to the benefits of hiring a coach. Last year I was fortunate enough to travel to LA on an educational trip. The mentor/ coach on that course asked the group of wide eyed business owners and trainers, "how many of you have your own trainer?"... One or two hands went up..." For those of you who have hired a coach, well done... for those who have not you are hypocrites. How can you teach and sell something that you don't believe in and invest in yourself?"
The penny dropped for many of us and although I myself have been very open to consulting and attending educational courses, I did not have a trainer myself. The group of guys I used to train with had all moved on and training on my own was rubbish. It took a tremendous amount of willpower and focus to get in there and even then, I could only train at perhaps 70% of the intensity I had previously been doing.
With my schedule getting busier and having less time to spare, my workouts began to take a hit and I started to miss workouts... Obviously as a trainer you feel like a fraud when you kick your clients butts all day and then don't practice what you preach. I needed to hire a coach for myself. The problem was that I was being a total snob and the people I trusted and rated were all fully booked, had waiting lists and I would be looking at £200 a session minimum. Training 4x a week and looking to sustain that was going to be a challenge. That £40K a year on training will have to wait a bit :-).
So after doing a little bit of research and figuring out logistics I hired a coach. A couple actually and it has completely transformed my mindset, saved me so much time and energy. Here are some of the reasons.
1. Accountability
Knowing I have 3-4 sessions a week booked in with a coach who will be waiting there to kick my butt keeps me focused. They know I run a personal training business and so their expectations will be higher. Being competitive I of course have to be up for it and prove myself.
2. Mentorship
Although I may have more experience (or less), I can leave my ego at home, go in with an open mind and learn lots of new things. I can tweak movements I knew before and even learn to coach them better. If I have any questions or find things challenging my coach has been there to mentor me through them.
3. Technical Observation
I have strong squat of about 180kg for one rep and can deadlift 215kg for one rep. having a coach correct me on a couple of technical faults that would have led to my injury has been a real payback on investment. Certain mobility drills I have been given have actually improved these movements already which means the much sought after 200kg squat is a touch closer now.
4. Extra Motivation
At this time of year, the weather is not great. It's wet and cold and our moods tend to take a bit of a hit. My coaches have been able to pick me up, refocus me and get the best out of me when I am not feeling it. I pride myself on being consistent (better than I used to be but still very much a work in progress), and so these guys keep me on it. On my own I would have missed the gym at least 50% more.
Good coaches will be in the trenches with you, getting that extra 20% out of you in sessions and these guys are doing a great job.
5. Save yourself time and let your coach do the thinking for you
Now I don't have to think, I do not know what is coming up in the workout. All I know is that I need to be somewhere at a certain time and do what I am told. I feel as if I have almost double the energy and will power than I used to. That heavy weight of expectation both internally and externally has disappeared. cannot tell you what a relief that is.
Conclusion
Some people have been surprised that I have a trainer, but the experience has already taught me so much in terms of how clients think, why they buy, what they like/dislike and what I can do to better my service. That's not to mention the increased fitness levels and spark of life it has given me. Best investment this year by a mile!
How are you getting on with your coach? If you haven't got one, try one you trust, it could be a life changer.
Yours in Health
Patrick Fallis