Andrew Coates is an Edmonton, Canada based personal trainer who has been training clients for 9 years. He is a fitness writer and contributor to T-Nation and the writer and co-host of The Fitness Devil Podcast. He is also the co-founder/organizer of The Evolve Canadian Strength Symposium. In this episode, we discuss why you should attend in-person fitness events, why one client can easily turn into ten and using social media to gain business.     Timestamps: [04.36] - Why has he put so much time into attending different fitness seminars and conferences? [14.33] - Does he think you can attend too many events? [16.58] - Does he do anything post-event to ensure he's applying what he's learning? [20.46] - How Andrew's career as a PT started? [27.13] - How his first client set off a chain of referrals [30.13] - Has he found that you get less "energy vampire" type clients as the years go on? [40.35] - Why it's useful to question your own bullshit [42.56] - How many personal training sessions he tends to do per month [46.23] - What he's done to generate business [49.33] - Closing messages.      Find More About Andrew: Website Podcast   Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook  

In this episode, I'm joined by Alex for another fitness industry conversational episode. We start by discussing where Alex would work if he had to go back to being a brand new PT and then get into a discussion around employed vs self-employed PT. Then we get into a discussion about why you should aim to stick with and work through the tough situations rather than just deciding to get out right away.       Timestamps: [5.42] - If Alex was a brand new personal trainer and he was deciding where to work, where would he choose? [12.37] - Should you move for a job in PT? [14.52] - Why working in a commercial gym can be a great place to start [23.37] - Why having many options for a career in fitness can be a hindrance rather than a help [25.52 onwards] - Alex talks about how the more final a decision is the more chance we will begin to like it       Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

On today's episode, I chat with Tom Hamilton. Tom has been coaching for almost ten years, working with a wide range of clients from the gen pop to world record holders. He currently coaches at W10 in London, is the Head of Education at the IFBA and runs his own online coaching business. Tom has also competed at both bodybuilding and powerlifting, with a highlight being winning the world drug-free powerlifting championships in 2016. In this episode, we discuss low hanging fruit trainers that you can add to their coaching tomorrow morning, how to programme and get your clients strong and dealing with serious injuries. It's one of those "take notes and get actioning some practical stuff" kinda episodes.       Timestamps [4.11] - What does he wish he knew about programming back when he started? [7.26] - Why results don't have to mean getting a client stronger or seeing weight loss [10.37] - Low hanging fruit that trainers can fix that will make their lives easier when coaching and training clients [12.47] - How to be a more commanding coach when managing sessions [15.21] - When Tom noticed he had to start adapting and improving the way he coached people [19.06] - The importance of covering a variety of learning styles and a few other coaching tips [21.11] - How Tom thinks about getting clients strong from a programming standpoint [25.36] - Why do you increase intensity and decrease volume as training blocks progress? [29.28] - How and why he tests every 12 weeks [32.41] - Why you should vary the loads you programme for clients [34.51] - How he's dealt with overcoming some horrible injuries in the past [37.21] - How his injuries affected his identity as a personal trainer [39.58] - The importance of having mentors     Find Out More About Tom: Website Instagram The IFBA     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

I always have such enjoyable conversations about business with Sally, who is a returning guest after her first appearance on episode 164. Her journey into now owning a facility is incredibly relatable and I always appreciate her honesty about the challenges she's had. One of those challenges was how tough her first few years were, and how much she doubted herself and her business during that time. 99% of us go through that stage but we don't talk about it anywhere near as often as we should, so that's where we begin this podcast. We also discuss why managing your money is a huge part of business success as well as how she decided to she wanted to go into facility ownership.     Timestamps: [03.05] - How Sally's business has progressed over the years [07.19] - Why she has had to be incredibly patient with business over the years [10.42] - Why we need to have more discussions about the harder aspects of business [11.50] - Why Sally decided to get a business coach [21.50] - Did she have a vision in her head for what she wanted her business to look like? [23.57] - Have her doubts reduced over time? [29.40] - What does she wish she had known about business? [29.50] - Money management and why this was a huge thing for Sally. [37.50] - How she has gone about making the decision about jumping into facility ownership. [45.20] - How much of her business is the gym going to take?     Find Out More About Sally: Website Instagram Facebook     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

On today's episode, I talk to LTB's head honcho Chris Burgess, Mark Fisher from Mark Fisher Fitness and Business for Unicorns and Pete Dupuis from Petedupuis.com and Cressey Sports Performance about their experiences with public speaking. We cover what their first time on stage was like, how they prepare, dealing with nerves, audience engagement and much more.   Timestamps: (02.30) - What each of the guests first professional public speaking appearances were like.  (09.06) - Why speaking about subjects you truly care about and have experience with is so important. (11.35) - How Mark approaches preparation for his speaking engagements. (12.31) - Why Chris decided to get a public speaking coach. (19.46) - How Pete deals with nerves. (21.01) - How Mark deals with nerves. (26.17) - How Chris deals with nerves. (29.56) - Why being nervous is actually a compliment to your audience. (36.56) - Engagement and interaction tips. (45.31) - Why taking a class or getting a coach can be a huge help for improving public speaking. (46.26) - Why Pete studies the most-watched Ted talks as part of his preparation.     Find Out More About The Guests: Mark Fisher Pete Dupuis     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook  

In today's episode, Stuart interviews Dr. John Berardi. John is a Canadian-American entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Precision Nutrition, the world’s largest nutrition coaching, education, and software company. He's also the founder of Change Maker Academy, devoted to helping would-be changemakers turn their passion for health and fitness into a powerful purpose and a wildly successful career. Over the last 15 years, he's advised Apple, Equinox and Nike as well as the San Antonio Spurs, US Open Champ Sloane Stephens, and 2-division UFC Champ Georges St. Pierre. He's also been named one of the 20 smartest coaches in the world and 100 most influential people in health and fitness.   We cover creating a career in the fitness industry, work: life balance, growing your reputation, marketing and much much more.        Timestamps: (2.27) What it's like for JB reflecting on the career he's had so far. (6.40) Has not having a 5/10 year plan meant he's struggled to fully commit himself to things? (10.01) How he balanced putting family first whilst also pushing on with the growth of Precision Nutrition. (27.00) Does he think you have to have a "grinding" phase to become successful? (35.18) How to make sense of the career direction you would like to go in. (46.00) The T-shaped learning model and how you can apply it to your career. (48.30) If we took away all of his connections and reputation, how he would he approach a career in health and fitness? (50.10) How to build a reputation. (1.08.40) How PN content machine works and why it probably doesn't apply to you. (1.13.25) Separating career from entrepreneurship (1.17.13) Where you can find out more about JB's work and get a free chapter from his new book coming out in November 2019. (1.20.46) The thinking aloud strategy and how it helped him create his book.     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook     Change Maker Book Discount Codes: Change Maker will be officially released on November 5th, 2019. But if you pre-order now, before its official release, you'll get one of the first copies, save 10%, and receive a special bonus package. Even more, you’ll get the chance to win over $100,000 in free education from some of the best companies in the health and fitness industry. Here's how.  STEP 1: PRE-ORDER CHANGE MAKER NOW AND SAVE 10% Pick your location and click the corresponding link to pre-order Change Maker. You'll automatically save 10%.  USA: Click here to pre-order and save 10%https://www.amazon.com/Change-Maker-Passion-Powerful-Successful/dp/1948836556 Coupon code to use at checkout: 10GNCM CANADA: Click here to pre-order, save 10%, and get free intl shippinghttps://www.bookdepository.com/Change-Maker-John-Berardi/9781948836555Coupon code: none required INTERNATIONAL: Click here to pre-order, save 10%, and get free intl shippinghttps://www.bookdepository.com/Change-Maker-John-Berardi/9781948836555Coupon code: none required STEP 2: SEND YOUR RECEIPT, GET YOUR BONUSESOnce you pre-order Change Maker, send your receipt to bookreceipts@changemakeracademy.com. You'll get instant access to your bonus package which includes more than 50 templates, scripts, activities, worksheets, and summary pages to help you with your business, coaching, and reputation.  STEP 3: SMILE AND GET READY TO ACCOMPLISH BIG THINGSWith Change Maker and Dr. Berardi's expert help, you'll learn how to create a successful career—on your own terms. 

In today's episode, Stuart welcomes back on Dr. Brad Dieter (previous #54). Brad is a trained Exercise Physiologist, Molecular Biologist, and Biostatistician. He received his B.A. from Washington State University and a Masters of Science in Biomechanics at the University of Idaho, and completed his PhD at the University of Idaho. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship in translational science at Providence Medical Research Center, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital where he studied how metabolism and inflammation regulate molecular mechanisms disease and is involved in discovering novel therapeutics for diabetic complications. In addition to his laboratory and biostatistics work, Dr. Dieter is the Chief Operating Officer at Macros Inc and is passionate about scientific outreach and educating the public through his role on Scientific Advisory Boards and regular writing on health, nutrition, and supplementation. In this conversation, Stuart and Brad discuss leadership, time management and the future of health and what trainers can do to positively influence this.      Timestamps: (2.53) Brad tells a story about how researching how to train his Dog has changed his perspective on leadership and working with people. (8.13) How Brad gets around the challenge of being too close to a problem to solve it. (9.49) How Brad ensures he's putting some of his time into the big problems and not just putting out fires. (11.07) How he thinks about giving his staff autonomy. (14.53) How he has approached improving his leadership skills. (15.33) Mistakes he's made since being in a leadership role. (19.03) Two big things he's learnt about leadership. (20.53) Book recommendations on leadership. (22.33) How he approaches giving back and ensuring he's giving his time to the right people. (30.18) Time management and putting his time into the right projects. (37.03) What can Personal Trainers do to create a healthier society? (42.53) What Brad would do if he was a 1:1 trainer and he wanted to help improve the future of health. (45.28) Where you can find or follow Brad's work.     Find Out More About Brad: Macro's Inc Website Science Driven Nutrition     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

In today's show, we have a special 200th episode involving all three of the main LTB staff team - Chris, Claire and Gregg. I chat to Chris about marketing, Claire about finances and business and Gregg about movement screens. You can check out the timestamps below in the show notes if one is particularly relevant or interesting to you. Here's to another 200 episodes!   Timestamps Chris Interview 2.35 - is marketing more important than training or nutrition knowledge as a PT? 8.55 - how to get more people talking about your service 14.25 - where Chris got his first few clients from 18.55 - does Chris think something trainers are lacking is a real love for being a PT? 24.35 - does Chris think he's got better at attracting the right kind of people for his businesses? Claire Interview 31.30 - Where to start when it comes to managing your finances 34.40 - How often should you track your income and expenses? 35.30 - Claire's system for managing finances 39.10 - Should you use an accountant? 41.50 - Where to get more information and what you can claim back as an expense? 47.30 - What can PT's be doing more of when it comes to business? Gregg Interview 53.10 - How does Gregg use a movement screen? 54.50 - Are movement screens important? 59.10 - What about using something like the FMS? 1.3.25 - Does Gregg send out any information prior to working with a client so he can create a better screen? 1.5.10 - How he would structure a screen with a new general population client if he was doing one tomorrow? 1.10.40 - How he frames what a movement screen is with a new client 1.12.25 - Why we should get away from the corrective exercise trap   1.13.50 - The importance of having an understanding of functional anatomy     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

In today's show, we have another episode of the very originally named "fitness industry conversations with Alex Pearson". I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and feel we hit on some topics that will help a lot of people out. Namely, we talked about why personal training needs a proper definition and how to avoid burnout.  If you're listening to this episode and you've got Instagram, tag us in your story showing that you're doing some professional development. We're @liftthebar!     Timestamps 1.25 - Why doors frustrate the hell out of Stuart 5.32 - Why going to a dinner party with new people is analogous to a new client coming to the gym for the first time 7.32 - Why having a lack of a definition of a personal trainer is an issue 14.17 - Alex's definition of a PT 22.52 - What this lack of definition means and how having one can help personal trainers enjoy their careers more 28.02 - Burnout within personal training and fatigue/ stress management 34.32 - Making a decision about jumping into facility ownership 36.22 - Should you open a personal training facility?     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

In today's episode, we welcome on Tara Arndt from the School of Email. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to watch Tara present at the Inland Empire Fitness Conference held in Spokane in Washington State on the topic of email marketing. As you may expect, our topic for this interview is on exactly that. We discuss how and why to use email marketing, how often to email, how to grow your list, what to do if you already have a list and much more.    Timestamps 0.50 - How Tara got started in email marketing. 4.25 - Companies that Tara thinks do marketing well. 6.50 - What she wishes more companies would do more and less of. 10.25 - How effective is email marketing in comparison to social media? 16.59 - Increasing open rates with emails 18.35 - How often should you email? 19.30 - How to use email for retention 21.35 - Where to begin if you wanted to gain new clients using email marketing? 26.15 - How to create a free download that can be used in exchange for an email address 28.40 - Some simple tips to grow your email list from your website 32.30 - What your autoresponder should contain 36.15 - When you should ask for the sale? 30.05 - Tips for staying consistent with sending emails 42.20 - Why putting something a PS in your emails is the most read part 45.50 - What you can do to grow your list if you already have one 48.50 - Book recommendations       Find Out More About Tara: Website Instagram Facebook     Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook