WHAT I WISH I KNEW EARLIER IN MY FITNESS CAREER.
- TIME MANAGEMENT
As a personal trainer, I am only paid for the hours I work. There are of course so many hours each of us can work in a day. I had to figure out how to better leverage my time mainly because I wanted to help more people and make more money. At the end of it all, we need balance in our lives; enough work, enough rest, enough alone time, enough family time, and of course enough exercise or playtime. Don’t just be busy but be productive and take some time off regularly.
2. BUSINESS AND MARKETING SKILLS ARE CRITICAL.
A) Build a brand and market yourself.
- Personal trainers presume that all they need to master is exercise programming.
- Learn to market your services around you, in your community.
- To attract clients you have to stand out of the crowd. The way you look, speak, and act is all part of your personal brand. What do you represent? We are role models, be a good one too.
B) Look at your work from a business angle.
Prior to working in fitness as a personal trainer and finally owning a studio. I tried my hand in other ventures. I sold clothes, ran a food kiosk and butchery within the busy Nairobi. Thanks to my mother for planting the entrepreneurial seed early in my life. Business acumen is not something many personal trainers enjoy or understand but it is important to have the skills.
3. INVESTING IN EDUCATION IS NECESSARY.
Evolve in your approach and invest in education. I am proud of the knowledge I gained in the pursuit of my 4 year Sports and Exercise Science degree. I also have an ACE certification but that doesn’t mean I am done studying. 
Learn to admit what you don’t know and you will be able to embrace the process of growth. Resistance to learning from others significantly hinders your growth as well. Conferences, workshops, mentors, books, and Google are great avenues to learn from in this era. Take advantage, adapt, and change. Success doesn’t come from staying the same.
4. YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE.
- Share and learn from others.
In any career, without the ability to reach out to others in a similar situation, it is hard to grow. Instead of hoarding my knowledge and experience, I decided to share it with others in my craft. Ultimately, together we have managed to create a network of professionals from across the country and formed the Fitness Professionals Association Of Kenya.
- Do you have mentors?
Surround yourself with mentors who have experience and knowledge you can benefit from. We all have a chance of helping our clients to become experts in their own progress towards healthier lifestyles and we need guidance. Even the worlds’ best athletes have coaches. They do.
5. HAVE A MISSION.
As fitness trainers, we ought to encourage the community to take responsibility for their health. Covid-19 has taught us that aside from exercise being a big boost to our immunity, it also lifts our moods, reduces stress, promotes daytime alertness, and enhances better sleep. I have always been inspired to help others to live happier, healthier, and active lives. I desire for healthy communities. Are you in for the money or impact?