Elite Trainer Academy EP 01: Why Most Trainers Fail — And What the Great Ones Do Differently with Sal Di Stefano
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Jul 14, 2025 
Sal Di Stefano, co-host of the fitness podcast Mind Pump, shares invaluable insights from his years in the industry. He discusses why passion for people outweighs mere fitness skills, emphasizing the necessity of mentorship in shaping successful trainers. The conversation addresses common pitfalls, like transitioning too quickly into online training, and the importance of building strong client relationships. Di Stefano also tackles imposter syndrome, encouraging trainers to embrace vulnerability and tenacity for a sustainable career in fitness.
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Passion for People Over Fitness
- Passion for people is more critical than passion for fitness to succeed as a personal trainer.
- Loving fitness alone won't sustain a career due to the challenges of client behavior change.
Mentorship Reduces Turnover
- Poor mentorship is the largest reason for high trainer turnover in the industry.
- Good mentorship significantly lowers turnover and supports sustainable personal training careers.
Start in Big Box Gyms
- In big box gyms, find a successful trainer to shadow and assist for free.
- For online coaching, gain in-person experience first to be effective before transitioning online.