Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008 - (Page 14)

[THE B A L A N C I N G BY KELLI CALABRESE ACT] Editor’s Note: This column is the ﬁrst of a series by Kelli Calabrese aimed at helping you balance your time and energy in the hectic life of a ﬁtness pro. FOCUS ON CREATING A FUTURE OF SUCCESS Almost all ﬁtness professionals jumped into this industry with a burning desire to help people become more fit. Any competent trainer following basic principles of exercise science and nutrition can coach a client toward ﬁtness, yet trainers sometimes boast about how their guidance forever improved the lives of clients. That boasting quickly turns to frustration, however, when we discuss the life management of those same trainers, who sometimes are slaves to their schedules, work 40+ hours a week but get paid for 20, observe less competent trainers earning more money, live paycheck to paycheck and are too exhausted and confused to know how to improve their situation. There are ﬁve critical ideas to keep in mind when looking to eﬀectively manage your life. To help you remember them, I’ll use the acronym F.O.C.U.S. (Future, Observe, Clarity, Unify, Success Planning). The word focus has to do with concentrating one’s thoughts into a central point of attraction, attention or activity. Most trainers are not focused enough on the future to identify what’s really important to them, to know how to get the most out of themselves, to remove the clutter in their lives or to multiply their talents by getting others to help them. That’s a huge mistake. So let’s take a look at your future and create an actionable plan to bring your life into balance. First, list 10 goals spanning all areas of your life — physical, mental, spiritual, social, family, professional and ﬁnancial. Once you identify those 10 goals, write them down, beginning with “I,” followed by “will,” a verb, then a positive statement ending with a deadline. Examples: “I will save $5,000 towards expanding my facility by November 1”; “I will enroll in a nutrition certiﬁcation course by February 1, 2009.” Turn one goal into a question. For example: “How can I save $5,000 towards expanding my facility by November 1?” Write 20 responses. They may include having an automatic deduction into a savings account, putting oﬀ getting the latest cell phone, carpooling, eating more home-cooked meals and cutting out gourmet coﬀees. Prioritize the list of 20 responses from one to 20. Begin with number one, and take that ﬁrst step in the direction of your ideal future. Succ Prescri Creating a client stream Receiving referrals from physicians not only improves your ﬁtness business, it also helps you build credibility and respect throughout your community. However, not all physicians will be ready and willing to refer their patients to you right away. You must ﬁrst gain their trust by demonstrating that you are a ﬁtness professional who gives back to the community and treats the ﬁtness profession as more than just a job, but as a career. Even with all these qualities, don’t expect to just walk into a medical oﬃce, give them your business card and have clients begin calling you. Working with the medical community takes planning, preparation and a lot of patience. Don’t get frustrated if several physicians say no to you and your services. The key is ﬁnding the ﬁrst physician who says yes! e By Michael Y. Seril STEP 1: Professional Preparation The ﬁrst step in receiving referrals from the medical community is developing yourself into a credible and respected ﬁtness professional: ¸ Degree: While not mandatory, earning at least a bachelor’s degree in the ﬁtness/exercise ﬁeld will improve your chances of being noticed and respected by the physicians. ¸ Certiﬁcations: Being certiﬁed by an accredited ﬁtness organization will enhance your credibility. ¸ Practical skills: Gaining practical skills from internships, seminars, conferences and school-related projects are vital. ¸ Work experience: Health club settings, corporate ﬁtness centers and private ﬁtness studios provide valuable and unique experiences. STEP 2: Marketing Kits Preparing marketing kits for education department directors and physicians shows your professionalism and willingness to go that extra mile. Prepare the kits with the documents listed below, and place them in professional folders with binders and clear plastic covers. For education department directors: ¸ Resumé ¸ Community ﬁtness and exercise projects that you have been involved with ¸ Detailed job descriptions of previous work experiences ¸ Fitness/exercise articles that you have written in the past ¸ Testimonials from clients that you are currently working with ¸ Fitness/exercise programs that you oﬀer ¸ Contact information VIEW THE EXTENDED VERSION OF THIS COLUMN ON OUR PFP+ SITE — COMING SOON! SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 5 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008

Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008 Contents Letter from the Editor, Writers Adding Pilates and Yoga to Your Clients' Workouts Combating Youth Obesity Prescription for Success NEW! The Balancing Act Technical Necessities Product Profiles Current Controversies Mark Your Calendar Coaching Your Client's Diet Life Coaching 101 Exercise Spotlight Product Profiles New on the Market [Spotlight] Gregg Miehle

Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008

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