Personal Fitness Professional Nov/Dec 2018

ANNUAL EDUCATION & EVENT PLANNER PAGE 24

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM

2019 TRENDS & PREDICTIONS ARE YOU SELLING PROGRAMS OR PACKAGES?

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS DAVID LYONS: STRONGER THAN THE BATTLE

LOOKING AHEAD:

2019

PFP ONLINE Visit

www.PersonalFitnessProfessional.com VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 5 PRESIDENT

FEATURES

chad griepentrog | chad.g@rbpub.com PUBLISHER

josh vogt | josh@rbpub.com AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

rachel spahr | rachel@rbpub.com NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR

josh vogt | josh@rbpub.com EDITOR

lindsay vastola | lindsay@rbpub.com MANAGING EDITOR

mike beacom | mike@rbpub.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

kelli cooke | kelli.c@rbpub.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

jill ruth rooks FEATURED COLUMNISTS

Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap

Business on a Budget

Land on both feet and set yourself up for success

By Andrew Simpson

Bootstrap your new business

By Detric Smith

OUR ONLINE COLUMNISTS

david crump, lisa druxman, shannon fable, rick howard, melissa knowles, greg vaughn

RB Publishing Inc. P.O. Box 259098 Madison WI 53725-9098 Tel: 608.241.8777 Email: rbpub@rbpub.com Print Subscription Information Subscriptions are free to qualified recipients: $36 per year to all others in the United States. Subscriptions rate for Canada or Mexico is $60 per year, and for elsewhere outside the United States is $80. Back-issue rate is $5.

Send subscriptions to: By mail: PFP, P.O. Box 259098 Madison WI 53725-9098

Career Builder

by Brandi Binkley

Entrepreneur

by Jim White

Social Media Strategy

by Scott Rawcliffe

INDUSTRY STATS Nearly one out of five Americans belong to at least one health club. - IHRSA That leaves plenty of opportunity to help the other four of five Americans!

VIDEO

by Joe Drake

SOCIAL MEDIA

Exercise of the Week Visit our website or YouTube channel to view weekly instructional videos from some of the most respected names in the fitness industry.

pfpmedia pfpmedia pfpmedia pfpmedia

EXTRA Editor’s Top 10 Hire without a resume

By Lindsay Vastola

4

Business Performance

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

Tel: 608.241.8777 E-mail: rbpub@rbpub.com Fax: 608.241.8666 Website: www.PersonalFitnessProfessional.com Digital Print Subscription Information Digital Subscriptions to PFP are free to qualified recipients and may be ordered at www.PersonalFitnessProfessional.com/subscribe.

Reprints For high-quality reprints, please contact us at 608.241.8777 All material in this magazine is copyrighted ©2018 by RB Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Any correspondence sent to PFP, RB Publishing Inc. or its staff becomes property of RB Publishing Inc. The articles in this magazine represent the views of the authors and not those of RB Publishing Inc. or PFP. RB Publishing Inc. and/or PFP expressly disclaim any liability for the products or services sold or otherwise endorsed by advertisers or authors included in this magazine.

PFP is published five times per year Winter (February), Spring (April), Summer (July), Fall (October) and Solutions Guide (November) PFP (ISSN 1523-780X) [Volume 20, Issue 5] Published by RB Publishing Inc. 2901 International Lane, Suite 100 Madison WI 53704-3128, Tel: 608.241.8777 Periodicals postage paid at Madison WI and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: PFP | P.O. Box 259098 | Madison WI 53725-9098.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Lindsay Vastola

lindsay@rbpub.com

Lack of awareness or conscientious avoidance?

T

his October, PFP hosted our first LIVE day-long workshop, Take the Leap: From Fitness Trainer to Business Owner. The agenda for the day was arranged in such a way that we layered the key components of a successful fitness business. I started the day talking about business model creation.

Melissa Knowles of GYMHQ discussed best practices including proper licensure and employment classification. Ryan Ketchum of Fitness Revolution shared the Triple A Marketing Method to attract ideal clients, and Mark Nutting, founder of Jiva Fitness, tied it together with effective sales strategies.

Regardless of the topic being presented, I made a few observations based on discussion and conversation — some positive, some concerning — that I believe are revealing of where we may see the industry go over the course of the next several years, particularly for independent fitness businesses:  A positive: There continues to be an avid optimism of those who want to start a business, particularly open a studio or facility.  A positive: Entrepreneurial-minded fitness professionals are valuing and investing in information, resources and strategies to help them be successful business owners.  A concern: A lack of awareness of the basic fundamentals of running a sound business, such as how imperative it is to have a plan and model for the business; understanding proper licensure and law-abiding practices; application of sound marketing and sales systems. While this lack of awareness is likely not deliberate, it likely happens because the primary motivation to open a business is a passion for training, not an equivalent passion for and understanding of business operation.  A concern: A conscientious avoidance of tasks and responsibilities of a business owner like avoidance of proper contractor/employee classification; vigilant tracking of critical financials; or not creating a sound business plan. This conscientious avoidance on the part of the business owner is likely due to a lack of interest, failure to prioritize correctly, or simply not having the knowledge or resources to execute.

As you read through this last issue of 2018, I encourage you to ask yourself two questions: Are you diversifying your learning to include both practical training education as well as career and business development? As important, are you addressing the critical responsibilities in your role that could make-or-break it for you amid a rapidly changing industry?

I am very optimistic about the potential and possibility offered us by this great industry. However, the reality is that we are at a tipping point, particularly for independent fitness businesses. As more fitness businesses and studios saturate the market, those who may have been able to survive on passion alone are unfortunately likely to be pushed out by influencers with solid business practices. This is exactly why PFP has been at this for 20 years now – we’re dedicated to helping you prosper and continue to pursue limitless possibilities even in the face of challenging times.

Cheers to closing-out a great year and entering an even greater one,

P.S. Hopefully you’re setting aside time before year-end to set your goals and also plan your continuing education for the year. Be sure to reference our annual continuing education and conference calendar to help you plan!

Thank you, Josh Bowen, 2018 PFP Trainer of the Year, for your knowledge, advice and leadership!

Read Josh’s columns on fitness entrepreneurship on our website.

ARE YOU RAISING THE BAR IN THE INDUSTRY?

Apply today for the 2020 PFP Trainer of the Year award!

www.PersonalFitnessProfessional.com

CONTENTS

Volume 20 | Issue 5

12

18

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

WHAT WILL BE SEEN IN 2019?

David Lyons Stronger than the battle: The unexpected crossroads of giving up or rising up Lindsay Vastola

Industry trends and predictions Lindsay Vastola

24

16

2019 EDUCATION & EVENT PLANNING CALENDAR

PROGRAMS OR PACKAGES? Which is better for your bottomline?

Jill Ruth Rooks

Lindsay Vastola

DEPARTMENTS

05

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Lack of awareness or conscientious avoidance?

Lindsay Vastola

07

PROFILE

Not another gym franchise

Fitness Together

08

LEADERSHIP

Rethink “What’s next”

Shannon Fable

10

BEST PRACTICES

Don’t ignore this critical employee form

Melissa Knowles

10

MINDSET & MOTIVATION

UP-LEVEL YOUR CAREER

David Crump

Greg Vaughn

Don’t forget about the wins

6

09

Tell better stories

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

20

5 REASONS YOU’RE NOT MEETING YOUR SALES GOALS Strategies to boost your sales performance

Michael Gelfgot

22

THE MESSAGE

Melody Schoenfeld

28

NEW ON THE MARKET

The latest trends in fitness equipment

29

EDUCATION TRENDS

The future direction of influencing the industry

Rick Howard

30

BE BETTER

Looking ahead to 2019

Lisa Druxman

PROFILE: FITNESS TOGETHER fitnesstogetherfranchise.com

303.663.0880

info@fitnesstogether.com

NOT ANOTHER GYM FRANCHISE

F

ounded in 1996, Fitness Together® was born out of a trainer’s need to take control of his future and fulfill his entrepreneurial desires. Since that time, Fitness Together® continues to inspire its owners and clients to propel their future and live their best lives.

Fitness Together® is the premier private-suite personal training studio offering clients a custom fitness and nutrition experience.

Unlike other fitness concepts, Fitness Together® targets a specific niche of upscale clientele with a strong need, not just a desire, for the service we provide. The simple model is backed by a franchise system with a 20+ year track record of marketing and operations support. There are tens of thousands of gyms and health clubs out there. This is not one of them. We are truly changing lives by helping people set and stick to their fitness and health goals.

THE MODEL  Fully-equipped private workout suites (3-room setup)  Small manageable footprint (1500-2000 sq. ft)  Simple build out & minimal equipment package  $147,000 - $192,400 total initial investment  No traveling to clients or hauling equipment  4-5 employees = scalable multi-unit concept This business was started to help owners and clientele succeed beyond their wildest dreams. Fitness Together® offers support with site selection, studio design, construction, training, marketing, and day-to-day operations. As an owner you get access to not only the support center’s experience and knowledge, but the entire franchise community. Now is the time to take control of your future and learn more about owning a personal training studio today.

MINDSET AND MOTIVATION David Crump

www.davecrump.com

Don’t forget about the wins

W

henever December rolls around, I can’t help but take a couple moments to reflect and tally my wins and losses for the year. The funny thing is that no matter how many wins I’ve racked up, I still seem to spend most of my time focusing on the losses or areas where I fell short. Maybe I’m just hyper-competitive or lack the ability to be satisfied, but I’m willing to bet that if you’re the type of professional reading this, then you can probably relate to this bittersweet feeling of fleeting accomplishment.

Being a coach is hard. We carry a ton of responsibility on our shoulders; client goals and expectations, career ambitions, and balancing a chaotic schedule while trying to maintain some semblance of a personal life. We rush through every year trying to reach each new checkpoint in a never-ending race with an invisible finish line that we have dubbed success. We get so focused on hitting these milestones that instead of stopping for a moment to have a small celebration, we continue on and build up fatigue from the journey. We promise ourselves that even though we’re tired, it will all be worth it when we reach the destination and can then rest as long as we want.

But what if that’s not true? What we believe success is today will likely change next week, next month, or even next year. That finish line is a moving target. It has to be, and we have to do our best to adjust our mindset to that reality. Much like we tell our clients to celebrate the small victories, we too must find comfort in even the humblest of our achievements. This is the only way we can find happiness in where we’re going and where we’ve been.

As we round out another year, take a moment and reflect, but rather than keeping score, pat yourself on the back for how far you’ve come and how many lives you changed. It’s ok to recap experiences that didn’t go your way but use them as guidance and approach the next year with optimism. No matter where you are, the best is still yet to come.

David Crump is an entrepreneur, fitness business consultant, and NSCA certified personal trainer. Since entering the fitness industry in 2006 he has climbed the ranks of corporate management, opened multiple fitness facilities, and helped hundreds of clients improve their lives. Additionally, he owns and operates Spark Fitness, a private training facility in Orlando, Florida, and works with trainers around the country to help them achieve their dream of opening their own gym.

8

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

LEADERSHIP Shannon Fable

www.shannonfable.com

Rethink “What’s next”

S

eems like no matter your stage of life, someone is always asking you, “What’s next?” This is often directed at personal trainers. The question, “What’s next?” begs you to consider your next steps. It’s often accompanied by conversations of growth, change, and opportunity – all good things. But, more often than not, “What’s next?” implies there is a next step beyond where the trainer is; that being a personal trainer at a club and servicing clients is merely a stepping stone versus a viable, long-term post.

We should always be striving to be better, but being a personal trainer is ripe with opportunity even if you never move into management, open a studio, or create a best-selling product. The world needs more personal trainers. Better personal trainers. Full-time personal trainers. Seasoned personal trainers.

We have a lot of people we need to get moving. For many, the traditional health club is their first step. Whether it’s a privately held club, a community rec center, the local YMCA, or a low-cost club, this is where many get started. It stands to reason that we need to increase the number of quality personal trainers in these areas.

Instead, we are often led to believe this is just where to get started, to cut our teeth, and to make mistakes. This leads to a revolving door in the very place where clients (and, more importantly, potential clients) need to see consistency.

We continue to learn about ways to increase income by moving on and venturing out on our own or moving into management for a better (or, at least steadier) income. While both of these career moves make sense for some, it should also make sense to stay in a more traditional personal trainer role. While there is a need for change from employers to increase earning potential, give access to benefits, offer better work conditions, we can (and should) change our internal rhetoric and explore ways to stay ‘in the trenches.’

“What’s next?” should lead you to look down the road at what makes the most sense. It might lead you to management, to venturing out on your own or creating products. But it may also stir conversation around how you can do more where you are. The next time you hear, “What’s next?” explore how you can move deeper into this profession to positively impact the most lives possible.

Shannon Fable, 2013 IDEA and 2006 ACE Instructor of the Year, is VP of Fitness Programming for the FIT4MOM® franchise. For more than two decades, she has consulted for impressive brands including Anytime Fitness, Schwinn, Power Systems, and BOSU®. An experienced educator, writer, and certified Book Yourself Solid® Business Coach, she helps fitness pros navigate the industry and make more money. She is Vice Chair of the ACE Board of Directors and owner of GroupEx PRO®, a cloud-based management tool.

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 9

BEST PRACTICES

CAREER ACCELERATOR

Melissa Knowles

Greg Vaughn

www.gymhq.club

Don’t ignore this critical employee form

I

10

www.redefiningfitness.libsyn.com

Tell better stories

T

mmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wants employers to understand that the agency will increase Form I-9 audits, conduct more worksite raids and promote involvement in the government's voluntary compliance program (E-verify).

Audits are expected to increase 4000%. It’s also important to note that civil penalties associated with violations have increased.

Current penalties are between $224 and $2,236 per violation (per employee). Now more than ever, it is vital that employers ensure that Form I-9s are being completed accurately and on time for each new employee.

First, ensure that any new employee hired has a proper I-9 completed.

Next, conduct an audit of what you have on file for current staff.

If you’re missing an I-9 for an employee, ask the employee to complete Section 1 of the I-9 immediately and present documentation as required in Section 2. The new form should be dated when completed, never backdated.

You should provide the employee with a copy of the I-9 and any accompanying paperwork. Then ask the employee to provide correct or updated documentation. In either case, if an employee cannot present proper documentation, you should terminate the employee immediately. If you don’t, you risk penalties for “knowingly” continuing to employ an unauthorized worker. Be sure to apply this strict termination policy consistently to avoid potential claims of discrimination.

You may not correct errors or omissions in Section 1 of the form.

If you discover a problem in Section 1, ask the employee to make the correction. Employers may only make changes in Section 2 or Section 3 of the I-9.

The time you take now to review your personnel files and ensure a solid process for reviewing the I-9 when onboarding new team members will more than pay off should you face an audit. The few minutes you spend reviewing the I-9 forms could potentially save you thousands of dollars in the future!

he secret to effective marketing is simply to tell better stories. Stories are an effective way to connect with your audience. Over time, stories will communicate the ins and outs of your brand.

A good story has five components: introduction, characters, setting, plot and conclusion.

Good stories suck you in with a good introduction. Work on finding out what catches your audience’s attention. Comedy, action, questions, or powerful images all can work great.

People like characters they can relate to. Share stories about yourself, your coaches, and especially your clients. Let your audience take a journey into your world to see if they could fit somewhere.

The gym is obviously an easy setting for us to share stories. However, the impact we have on clients outside of the facilities is truly why we do what we do. Carrying groceries or taking stairs with more ease, keeping up with kids and grandkids, finding the confidence to wear a bikini on the beach again… these are extremely powerful settings that relate back to the story of your brand.

The plot is the internal make-up of each story, and part of your ongoing story. Share both big and small stories. Be sure you convey why it is significant to that client.

A strong conclusion can keep the story of your brand ongoing. Let your audience know that this isn’t the end and be sure there is a lasting impression that leaves your audience wanting more. Wrap it up with a call to action or statement that lets them know what to expect next.

Tell a better story by taking your statements and facts and make them into intriguing stories. Instead of, “Check out Jen deadlifting over 200 pounds!” share her story of success: “When Jen walked in a year ago, she never thought she would be able to find strength, empowerment, and confidence from a workout program. Today, she came in and crushed a 200-pound deadlift, a new personal best! Leaving the gym with a huge smile, and an even higher confidence. If you see Jen out and about today, be sure to congratulate her on her success!”

Build a better business by telling better stories!

Melissa Knowles is Vice President of GYM HQ, providing corporate services including accounting, payroll, HR and customer service for the fitness industry. In more than 17 years of industry experience her expertise includes strategic operations, staff training, cost savings analysis, reporting development and implementation, fitness department overhaul, client retention systems and corporate management. mknowles@clubready.com

Greg Vaughn is the CEO of Premier Fitness and host of The Redefining Fitness Podcast. Greg started in the industry in 2009, and has grown multiple successful fitness businesses. He is an author, speaker and strength coach for the general public.

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

Journey to Success

By Lindsay Vastola

R E G N STHTARN TOHE BATTLE The un

g up or r in iv g f o s d a o r s s o r expected c

ising up

S N O Y L D I V DA

DAVID LYONS CURRENT ROLES:

Founder MS Fitness Challenge; Senior Fitness Director of MS Workouts; Vice President of Adaptive Sports UIBFF (United Intercontinental Bodybuilding Fitness Federation); Founding Partner of National Fitness Hall of Fame Institute

COMPANY: MS Fitness Challenge (the charity) and OptimalBody (my brand) FAVORITE EQUIPMENT: Keiser Functional Trainer

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me...�

2 Timothy 4:17

CONTACT INFO:

www.msfitnesschallenge.com Facebook: @msfitnesschallenge Twitter: @MSFitChallenge david@msfitnesschallenge.com

S

erving more than 35 successful years in the fitness industry is noteworthy on its own merit. Being among the first career personal trainers before most even knew they existed, and before access to any formalized education or certifications, also deserves credit. Making the successful shift from personal trainer to owner of eight gyms, easily justifies recognition. Receiving multiple internationally-recognized awards; appearing on local and national TV; authoring best-selling books; keynoting at several renowned con-

ferences; pioneering a specialty fitness certification and receiving unsolicited testimonials and endorsements from well-known celebrities and countless individuals; starting a global non-profit organization, without a doubt, is also remarkable.

But when someone fundamentally changes the trajectory of life for men and women facing the realities of living with an incurable, and debilitating disease like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), there is no award, no amount of global recognition and certainly no amount of business success that adequately recognizes the

immeasurable value of giving someone hope for a better life.

Meet David Lyons. The achievements and accolades listed above only give a glimpse into his life and experience, both professional and personal.

In 2006, at 47, David was diagnosed with MS. His diagnosis came with a picture of a grim future painted by doctors of rapid physical deterioration and daily life that would likely mean he would be bound to a wheelchair. David found himself at the crossroads of giving up to what is the reality for so many with the

disease or rising up and battling the disease for a more hopeful, healthy life.

For people like David, however, the question of whether to give up or rise up isn’t a question for long. The answer is obvious.

David was determined to battle the disease doing what he knows best: fitness and bodybuilding. Not only did he commit to battling the disease in the gym, but he challenged himself to compete – successfully – in an NPC bodybuilding competition.

David’s quest to conquer MS didn’t stop at trying to defy the odds for himself. He elevat-

ed his determination to serve a greater purpose. Alongside his wife, Kendra, a registered nurse, they founded the MS Fitness Challenge, a non-profit that provides those with MS – at no cost – access to a certified fitness professional for a 12-week program focused on training and educating them in the benefits of exercise and nutrition along with a free gym membership. The 12-Week MS Fitness Challenge has expanded its impact globally, offering MS patients the challenge in countries including the UK, Australia, Germany, Canada and South Africa.

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 13

Here is a more personal look into how David’s determination to be stronger than the battle paved the way for his ongoing journey to success.

How have your experiences in your early days in fitness impacted your career over the last 35-plus years?

DL: I originally entered into the fitness industry as an “instructor” at what was the largest gym chain in the ’70s to early ’80s, Jack LaLanne Health Spas. There were no certified trainers at that time in the industry. As I continued in the business, I earned a B.S. in nutrition while I achieved my black belt in Taekwondo. I then opened my first of 8 gyms in the mid-80s and expanded from trainer to trainer/gym owner.

The interpersonal skills I learned over the many years interacting with so many clients and gym members were, and to this day, priceless. Learning how to adapt fitness programs to give individual results gave me the ability to ensure that all clients I worked with reached the goals they set out to achieve. Continuing year after year to engage in as much education on the science and physiology of fitness and the trends of the industry were of utmost impor-

tance to my career. These skills, education and real-life experience have enabled me to grow as a fitness professional in all aspects of this industry.

Now, as a fitness/trainer educator, I know the value of education as well as life lessons that only 35-plus years in this industry can bring!

What are your proudest achievements to date?

DL: I have had many achievements in my years in the industry, but the most important ones began after my diagnosis with MS in 2006. That adversity laid the groundwork for the most important accomplishments I have had in fitness. I had to make a choice to give up or rise up and I chose to conquer this disease inside the gym and out. [My] achievements have been realized since that diagnosis. I have become a stronger fitness professional both as a trainer and an educator because I was placed in the public eye and I became even more accountable for my role as a positive example in the industry.

Publisher’s Note: The U.S. Postal Service requires the following statement be published for Personal Fitness Professional Periodicals Class mailings only. Personal Fitness Professional has had a Periodicals Class permit since January 2001.

U.S. Postal Service STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685 1.

2.

3.

4.

Publication Title .............................................................PFP Publication No. ..............................................................1523-780X Filing Date .....................................................................September 13, 2018 Issue Frequency...............................................................Winter (February), Spring (April), Summer (July), Fall (October), Solutions Guide (November) 5. No. of Issues Published Annually...................................5 6. Annual Subscription Price .............................................Free 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not Printer) RB Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 259098, Madison WI 53725-9098 Contact Person ...............................................................Rachel Chapman, (608) 241-8777 8. Complete Mailing Address of the Headquarters of General Business Offices of the Publisher (Not Printer) .....................RB Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 259098, Madison WI 53725-9098 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor Publisher ............................................. ...........................Josh Vogt, RB Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 259098, Madison WI 53725-9098 Editor .................................................. ...........................Lindsay Vastola, RB Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 259098, Madison WI 53725-9098 Managing Editor............................................................Mike Beacom, RB Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 259098, Madison WI 53725-9098 10. Owner (If the publication is owned by a corporation, give the name and address of

the corporation immediately followed by the names and addresses of all stockholders owning or holding one percent or more of the total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, give the names and addresses of the individual owners. If owned by a partnership or other unincorporated firm, give its name and address, as well as those of each individual owner. If the publication is published by a nonprofit organization, give its name and address.)

(Full Name) (Complete Mailing Address) Marll Thiede .......................................................... 2901 International Lane, Ste. 100, Madison WI 53704-3128 Gregory Rice .......................................................... Executive Management Inc. 2901 International Lane, Ste. 200, Madison WI 53704-3128 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and other Security Holders Owning or Holding one Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities.........None 12. Tax Status...............................................................The purpose, function and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has NOT changed

14

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

When you think about your journey as a fitness professional, what stands out most?

DL: Before my MS diagnosis I was a gym owner and trainer who worked with hundreds upon hundreds of personal training clients and thou-

during preceding 12 months.

13. Publication ......................................... Personal Fitness Professional - PFP 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data......................................Summer 2018 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation ..................................B2B - Controlled a. Total No. Copies (Net Press Run) .......................... 15,456 ........................ 14,459 b. Paid and/or Requested Distribution 1. Outside-County Mail Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541. .................. 12,777 ........................ 13,790 2. In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541. ........................0 ................................ 0 3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS.... 0 .................. 0 4. Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS ...............0 ................................ 0 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation [Sum of 15b (1, 2, 3, and 4)] .................................... 12,777 ........................ 13,790 d. Nonrequested Distribution (Samples, Complimentary and Other Free) 1. Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541 .............1217 ........................... 204 2. In-County as Stated on Form 3541 .........................0 ................................ 0 3. Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS ...............6 ................................ 6 4. Distributed Outside the Mail ..... . .........................1046 ............................ 60 e. Total Nonrequested Distribution .............................2269 ........................... 270 f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e)................. 15,046 ........................ 14,060 g. Copies Not Distributed ..............................................410 ............................ 399 h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) ..................................... 15,456 ........................ 14,459 i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c/fx100) ...............................................................84.9% ........................ 98.1% 16. Electronic Copy Circulation ..............................................................................Yes a. Requested and Paid Electronic Copies .................... 12,054 ........................ 18,600 b.Total Requested and paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a) .... .................... 24,831 ................................ 32,390 c.Total Requested Copy Distribution (Line 15f) + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a) ......................... 27,100 ................................ 32,660 d.Percent paid and/or Requested Circulation (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16b divided by 16c x 100) ..........................................91.6% ........................ 99.2% 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the November 2018 Solutions Guide issue of this publication.

18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner: Rachel Chapman, Audience Development Manager, / September 13, 2018 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

PS Form 3526-R, July 2014

not receive an email, message or call from someone who has been touched by what I am doing or by what I have achieved. The testimonials from some of my MS clients who have benefited from fitness through my charity are overwhelming. This is evidence that I and the trainers on our team, our Trainers with Heart®, are positively changing lives.

The accolades I have received may be under my name, but they reflect the amazing accomplishments anyone who puts their heart into this industry can strive for. I am living proof that the fitness industry is the most rewarding industry anyone can be part of. I am a walking testament that fitness can be used to be a tremendous example of positivity in the lives of those who chose this path.

sands of gym members for more than 20 years.

As a trainer with MS, I have helped thousands of people worldwide through their adversity of dealing with this incurable and often times crippling disease while still living and battling

my own MS every day of my life. And as a trainer educator, I have helped trainers worldwide experience the unequalled feeling of changing the lives of these MS clients.

There is not a day that goes by where I do

After a diagnosis, it is often said that one “battles” the disease. But not everyone goes into battle the same way. Some give up. Some rise up. David Lyons made the choice to rise up and be stronger than the battle. David’s story inspires because he didn’t rise up just for his own survival; he made the choice to be stronger than his battle in order to empower thousands of others to be stronger than their battle, too.

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 15

FEATURE ARTICLE Jill Ruth Rooks

www.energylabfitness.com

PROGRAMS OR PACKAGES? Which is better for your bottomline?

W

hen we sell a fitness training package, we have an instant revenue boost and our client receives access to specific services for whatever the length of that package includes. However, packages can limit the client experience as well as hinder opportunities to boost your bottomline. Given all the lifestyle components that align with fitness including mindset, nutrition, sleep, and stress-management, to name a few, we see the need to create more inclusive programs to answer greater problems our members are facing. Programs, versus standard packages, can add incredible value for both your clients and your business bottomline. Programs allow for adherence, they create an experience, and there is an opportunity for a continuous revenue stream.

If you aren’t already, seriously consider offering programs as a core of your business model and begin to let go of standard packages. A program is an experience whereas

16

packages can often feel transactional. Look at it in the context of a hot-tub moment versus a pivotal moment. Pivotal moments have an effect on you and stay with you long after the moment is over. They leave you thinking and provide space to create new action plans. A hot-tub moment feels good while it lasts, but when it is over, it is easily forgotten.

In a world where everything is delivered to us with the touch of a button, fitness professionals have an opportunity to keep things real for our members/clients. The experience is more than hitting a button. The experience involves asking the right questions to lead to bigger thinking and greater ideas. The experience delivers content to be chewed on by the participant and acted upon in a multitude of ways. The experience offers creation and expression of unique gifts and talents that would otherwise remain dormant. The experience is a program that you can offer to give relevance to your members/clients. It has equal intangibles to tangibles. It is the intangibles that will be

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

remembered and talked about and will keep the revenue stream constant. It is the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. It is the difference between a pivotal moment and a hot-tub moment.

Identify areas where you are particularly passionate. Create a program that offers both a solution for your clients while embodying something you enjoy. Chances are, your followers follow you because you are contagious in your passion.

FIRST STEPS TO CREATE AND OFFER PROGRAMS: 1. Listen to the problems your clients are facing.

2. Brainstorm solutions.

3. Turn the solutions into a program.

4. Identify realistic timeframes for the program to be offered.

5. In the beginning, middle and end of the program, lay the groundwork and offer additional content/practices/opportunities to keep the experience ongoing.

AS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPS SUCCESSFULLY, PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATE ITS SUCCESS WITH THE COMPANY’S OWNER AND ALMOST ALWAYS ATTRIBUTE IT BACK TO HIM OR HER.

6. Provide an opportunity for the experience to continue through additional coaching, online content, private groups, weekly, monthly, or quarterly meetings or check-ins.

THREE KEYS TO CREATE AND OFFER SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS: 1. KISS (Keep It Super Simple): When making changes, especially ones that give you room to evolve your business model, it does not need to be overly complicated. In fact, the simpler the program, the more likely it is that you will get buy-in from your current clients.

2. Ask questions and offer solutions: If you are constantly in-tune with the problems and frustrations your clients face, creating programs is actually quite simple. Create programs that offer solutions to these problems.

3. How you do anything is how you do everything: Give your complete attention to designing your program. Look at it from

all angles and anticipate every obstacle.

This way, when you launch your program, it will be fine-tuned, and you can have confidence that you are providing an exceptional and meaningful service.

PROGRAM CREATION CASE STUDY As a case study, I created a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) Bootcamp that started as a TRX tutorial. People were using their class packages to show up for TRX class once in a while, but never consistently in order to dive into TRX training and get better. Every time they attended class, for most participants, it was like the first time all over again. To solve this problem, I offered a six-week boot camp. To entice people to take advantage of the program, I added a nutrition piece and gifted a book that discussed PMA and the importance of getting your mind right.

At the end of each class, we shared nutrition tips, hacks, food samples and recipes, and concluded each session with a mini

meditation. When I saw how well received these extras were, and that people were not getting this in their lives, I let the program evolve into what we now call PMA Lab. It runs as a bootcamp series a couple times a year, with a subscription offer that includes meditations, exclusive emails and content, book suggestions and thoughts to ponder.

Your successful program is waiting for you.

It is most likely something you are already doing and are passionate about!

Jill Ruth Rooks, a New Jersey native and graduate of UCSB, is a life-long learner. She loves to create and turn her passions into action, especially where health is involved. Jill is the creator of The Energy Lab, a core fitness playground that she owns in Redlands, California with her husband. With over 18,000 hours of coaching clients to discover their best physical, mental, and heart-centered health, she is sought-after for speaking, teaching and coaching the “art of listening.”

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 17

WHAT WILL BE SEEN IN 2019?

Jonathan

Goodman

Industry trends and predictions

By Lindsay Vastola

We asked colleagues from all corners of the industry what trends they anticipate in 2019. From social media and technology to business management and self-development, it is obvious that there is no shortage of opportunities for fitness professionals to make significant leaps in their careers and businesses over the next year.

mas

Tho

K

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL BRANDING…

ON ONLINE VS. HANDS-ON EDUCATION…

The wall between business and personal is going to continue to come down, in both virtual and in-person coaching. Personal branding is far more effective in today’s world and given that people want to know what you’re about in order to spend money with you, coaches are going to have to find ways to connect on a more meaningful level with their clients and audience.

Kourtney Thomas, www.kourtneythomas.com

Online education is a convenient and efficient option to grow a personal trainer’s knowledge base however, hands-on training is still vital to the application of proper movement.

Robert Linkul, www.TrainingTheOlderAdult.com

ON CRITICAL SKILLS BEYOND FITNESS… Fitness marketing was too easy for too long. As social media gets increasingly busy and competition rampant, it will continue to get harder for fit pros to stand out. Those who recognize the need to build business skills in order to complement fitness and nutrition will stand out. Those who don’t will become disenfranchised, frustrated, and, unfortunately, perish.

Jonathan Goodman, www.onlinetrainer.com

ON THE LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITY… Personal trainers will recognize the aging demographic (baby boomer generation) is the largest demographic utilizing our services and will begin to educate themselves on how to train them safely and efficiently.

Robert Linkul, www.TrainingTheOlderAdult.com

18

ney ourt

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

ON COMPETITION FROM OUTSIDE INDUSTRIES… Fitness is seeing a significant amount of dollars being spent on fitness experiences (both by the consumers and major brands outside the industry). In today’s day and age, our research is proving that health is the new wealth and the experiences consumers receive are social currency. The proliferation of fitness studios can target a specific consumer and give them the best workout possible through high-touch, results-driven experiences. However, there is A LOT of new money coming into the industry from major brands, showcasing new tech such as AI, AR, VR and more, which means these tech companies, not fitness companies, are threatening to make personal trainers obsolete.

But while information is power, it’s only powerful if people are able to access, understand and apply it!

Josh Leve, www.afsfitness.com

Amand

a Vogel

ojas

io R

Serg

Ro

ber

tL

An

dre

ink

ul

Josh

aL

eo

na

rd

Leve

ON CLIENT LOYALTY AND CLASSPASS…

ON WOMEN LEADERSHIP IN FITNESS…

Classpass and other drop-in booking sites can be a good revenue generator if used the right way. However, so many studios are becoming reliant on it to drive revenue which is killing loyalty. When you look at “loyalty,” what have you done internally to provide your members or clients with the absolute best experience so they don’t want to leave?

People who have an emotional tie to a trainer, instructor or coach where they’ve seen results or where they feel welcomed by everyone.

Josh Leve, www.afsfitness.com

Women make up more than half of the frontline workforce in the fitness industry, with statistics showing that certified female instructors and trainers outnumber certified male instructors and trainers. Yet, women are much less represented as leading experts in personal training and in high-level executive positions. In the last few years, we’ve seen more education, support and opportunities for women to exert stronger leadership in the industry; this shift will gain even more traction in 2019 and beyond.

Amanda Vogel, www.fitnesstestdrive.com

ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION… Fitness has a huge diversity and inclusion problem, and we’re going to start to see industry leaders addressing it, not only in their businesses and education, but also in calling out and calling in other leaders. It’s not something we can afford to ignore any longer if we want to advance our industry and truly help our clients.

Kourtney Thomas, www.kourtneythomas.com

ON MINDFULNESS TRAINING AND NEW MESSAGING…

ON DISEASE-SPECIFIC TRAINING… With the growing number of Baby Boomers who are diagnosed with multiple diseases, the need for trainers to attain specific training for special populations in order to offer safe and effective programming is not only an opportunity but a responsibility. Consumers, particularly in this market, are more educated and will specifically seek-out more highly-qualified professionals to train them according to their specific needs.

Andrea Leonard, www.thecancerspecialist.com

I think the industry will see a stronger shift to a more holistic approach. I see studios offering napping and or meditation at the end of fitness classes; or things like yoga being added to HIIT studios. The conversation will move away from body-fat percentage and fat loss, to health and happiness.

Sergio Rojas, www.vitalitybysergio.com LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 19

FEATURE ARTICLE Michael Gelfgot

5

mike.gelfgot@icloud.com

REASONS YOU’RE NOT MEETING YOUR SALES GOALS

Strategies to boost your sales performance | Michael Gelfgot

S

eptember of 2005 is the month I will never forget. My business partners and I had opened two clubs and were working on our third. I was selling personal training in two clubs while managing a crew of six trainers. Working 12 hours a day, six days a week and most Sundays, all while preparing for a bodybuilding show. To say that I was overwhelmed would be an understatement and my performance showed it. I sold zero in personal training that month and learned the most valuable lessons that will help you with sales whether you are the primary salesperson in your business or if you have others selling for you.

If you believe your sales team isn’t performing to expectations, consider: 1. Are they motivated?

2. Are they skilled in the process of selling?

3. Are they seeing enough prospects to sell to?

4. Are they doing enough prospecting to get people in front of them?

5. Are they actually asking prospects to buy on a daily basis?

FACTOR #1: ARE THEY MOTIVATED? Does your staff actually want to be at work? How can you tell? The best way to determine whether or not any team member is or is not motivated is based on the language they use at work to describe their

20

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

day-to day-activities. In order to have motivated individuals, a great company culture is necessary, and that starts from the leadership.

FACTOR #2: ARE THEY SKILLED IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING? The reason why it’s called a sales process is because there are steps just like an assembly line. On an assembly line, everything is done in a specific order. When talking about sales skills, there is a process in which a salesperson can become skilled. It’s also important that you as a leader, provide resources as part of training. Here are helpful resources for training a great sales staff:  Selling Personal Training by Casey Conrad (for personal training staff)  Selling Fitness by Casey Conrad (for membership staff)  Creating Lasting Change by Tony Robbins  Mastering Influence by Tony Robbins FACTOR #3: ARE THEY SEEING ENOUGH PROSPECTS TO SELL TO? Plain and simple, how many prospects actually come in to see your trainers? What is your on-boarding percentage at point-of-sale of memberships? If you’re managing a small club or studio (4500-6000 square feet), here are some helpful goals for personal training sales:

 Set-up 15 non-client appointments per week to sell training to  90% on-boarding to personal training at point-of-sale of memberships It’s very obvious that if your trainers aren’t seeing people, no one will have an opportunity to buy personal training.

FACTOR #4: ARE THEY DOING ENOUGH PROSPECTING TO GET PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THEM? In his book, “Great by Choice,” Jim Collins talks about a SMaC (specific, methodical, and consistent) recipe. In times of distress, in times of turmoil, there needs to be a set of disciplines that salespeople follow to hit their goals on a monthly basis. The distress and the turmoil is the whirlwind of daily activities or competition, or in many cases, both. The most common excuse for lack of prospecting is that they are too busy, which really means they are not organized. Here is a sample daily SMaC recipe:  Set-up 3 appointments and confirm appointments for the day  20 minutes of sales training  Make 5 contacts from the following reports for your business:  Non-usage report for members  Members getting ready to expire in the next four months  New members that joined the club in the last four months  Make one (1) four-week follow-up contact (email, text, or call)  External marketing (there is a list of activities they could do)  Update whiteboard (this is a scoreboard that shows a quick glance of the progress toward monthly goals) With this process in place, it increases the likelihood that salespeople will hit their sales goals. While there are several strategies in generating appointments, the best strategy to generate leads is the one that actually gets executed.

FACTOR #5: ARE THEY ACTUALLY ASKING PROSPECTS TO BUY ON A DAILY BASIS? The most obvious of all factors likely is whether your sales staff is actually asking prospects to buy personal training. It’s so obvious and so basic and yet most managers/owners tend to overlook it.

If it wasn’t for my painful lesson in September of 2005, I too would have never thought that failing to ask for the sale would be the primary reason for my lack of performance that entire month. I would take prospects through workouts, put them on a solid plan, and schedule a time to see them again in four weeks. I simply wasn’t asking people to buy. I was tired.

I was averaging about $20,000 a month in personal training sales, but in the month of that September, I sold nothing. However, the wisdom gained and the ability to properly coach future sales people was invaluable.

“Occam’s razor” is the problem-solving principle that states that the simplest solution tends to be the right one. The primary reason most sales people don’t sell and therefore why most sales are lost is because salespeople simply aren’t asking prospects to buy either because they are afraid of rejection or they are losing their edge because they are overworked or unorganized. Identifying which of these may be impacting your sales and then properly training and building your culture will certainly lead to better outcomes for your staff, your clients, and your bottom line.

Michael Gelfgot’s drive to own a different kind of a health club started 16 years ago when he met his business partners, John Spence and Chris Slater. Together, they operated 21 Anytime Fitness® locations in the United States and were honored as the 2008 Club Operators of the Year. Michael is the recipient of the 2013 Success Story of the Year, 2015 Community Outreach Award and first Anytime Fitness Trainer of the Year in 2012.

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 21

THE MESSAGE: MELODY SCHOENFELD www.flawlessfitness.com

@flawlessfitnesspasadena

@5ftoffury

R

ecord-holding competitive powerlifter. Strongman athlete.

Ripper of phone books. Breaker of license plates and bender of steel. Highly-educated fitness professional of more than 20 years. Contributor to internationally-recognized health and fitness publications. Published author. Band member, singer and musician. Dancer. Massage therapist. Fitness studio owner.

Meet Melody Schoenfeld. There really isn’t anything she doesn’t do, and seemingly nothing that would keep this 5-foot tall strong woman from trying. She lives her belief that you can only get better if you train smart, train right, and have fun.

Here is how Melody is sharing her message…

My ideal client is anyone who wants to improve their health. Bonus if they want to get physically strong!

@5ftoffury1

My message is, “You can only get better.” I think it’s important in life to always try to improve yourself, whether it be physically, mentally, intellectually, or what have you. I love helping people discover strength they didn’t know they had.

If I had to pick only one way to share my message, I’d probably say social media, only because it’s the easiest way to reach a huge audience regardless of location. I actually have my message painted on the wall of my studio!

Successful messaging inspires people you didn’t know were listening.

People follow me most likely because I’m a very small, unassuming vegan woman who does feats of strength like tearing up phone books and license plates and bending steel. I like to think it’s because I’m hilarious. But it’s probably the phone books.

MELODY

SCHOENFELD 22

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

2019 EDUCATION & EVENT PLANNING CALENDAR

A snapshot of 2019 events, conferences and workshops

You realize how important continuing education is for personal and professional development, to keep up on relevant research and trends in the industry and to make valuable connections. Strategically planning how you invest your education dollars and time is important, so we’ve laid out some of the major upcoming events, workshops and conferences you’ll want to consider attending this year. This calendar certainly isn’t all-inclusive, but we hope it inspires you to set and plan your 2019 education goals.

24

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

Date

Event

Organization

Location

Cost

Website

$399

www.kipsonline.org/events

Discount Code

January 5

Essentials of Club Training Certification Workshop

10-12

Coaches Conference

12-13

Personal Trainer Workshop True Mace Training Certification Workshop

19

Kinesiology Long Beach, CA Institute for Performance Specialist (KIPS) NSCA Indianapolis, IN NFPT Kinesiology Institute for Performance Specialist (KIPS) Kinesiology Institute for Performance Specialist (KIPS) NFPT

$205-$510 www.nsca.com

San Antonio, TX Portland, OR Dallas, TX

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

$349

www.kipsonline.org/events

Miami, FL

$299

www.kipsonline.org/events

Kent, WA

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

19

Loaded Flow Training Specialist Workshop

19-20 25-27

Personal Trainer Workshop DC MANIA

SCW

Herndon, VA

$259

26-27

Certification Celebration

AAAI/ISMA

Lansdale, PA

$99-$170

26-27

Fitness Fest at TheFitExpo Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop

Fitness Fest

Los Angeles, CA

Varies

www.fitnessfest.org/losangeles

NFPT

Long Island, NY

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

NCSF

Irvine, CA Houston, TX Denver, CO

$549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

8-10

MedFit Tour

MedFit Network

9

Essentials of Club Training Certification Workshop

26-27 26-27

www.SCWfit.com/dc

PFP19 Save 10%

PFP19 Save 10% PFP - $199

www.aaai-ismafitness.com PFP2019 Save $25 PFP19 Save 10%

February

9-10

Kinesiology Institute for Performance Specialist (KIPS) Certification Celebration AAAI/ISMA

$100-$300 www.medicalfitnesstour.org/event/irvine

Irvine, CA Seattle, WA

$399

www.kipsonline.org/events

www.aaai-ismafitness.com

Lansdale, PA

$99-$170

Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop

NFPT

Minneapolis, MN

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

NCSF

$549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

10

True Mace Training Certification Workshop

$349

www.kipsonline.org/events

22-24

NY MANIA

Kinesiology Institute for Performance Specialist (KIPS) SCW

Dallas, TX City of Industry, CA New York, NY Seattle, WA

New York, NY

$259

www.SCWfit.com/ny

PFP - $199

23-24

Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop

NFPT

Buffalo, NY

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

PFP19 Save 10%

NCSF

$549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

Kettlebell Concepts Level 1 Workshop

Kettlebell Concepts

Chicago, IL Miami, FL San Diego, CA Sacramento, CA Miami, FL

$499

www.kettlebellconcepts.com/events

“One World” Conference Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop

AAAI/ISMA

Colorado Springs, CO Wheaton, MD, Los Angeles, CA Philadelphia, PA San Antonio, TX

$129-$219

9-10 9-10

23-24

23-24

PFP19 Save 10%

March 1-3 2-3 2-3

NFPT NCSF

www.aaai-ismafitness.com

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

$549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

PFP19 Save 10%

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 25

Date

Event

Organization

Location

Personal Trainer Institute South Personal Trainer Workshop

IDEA

Dallas, TX

NCSF

New York, NY Mountain View, CA San Diego, CA

Cost

Website

Discount Code

March 7-10 9-10 13-16 23-24 29-31 30-31

IHRSA 2019 Int’l Convention & Trade Show Personal Trainer Workshop California MANIA

IHRSA

Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Institute East Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop SUCCEED!

$199-$439 www.ideafit.com/ptrainersouth $549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

$750-$1150 www.ihrsa.org/convention $549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

SCW

New York, NY Boston, MA Burlingame, CA

$259

www.SCWfit.com/california

NCSF

Boca Raton, FL

$549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

IDEA

Alexandria, VA

NFPT

San Diego, CA

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

NCSF

Austin, TX

$549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

Association of Fitness Studios SCW

Irvine, CA Orlando, FL

$259

www.SCWfit.com/florida

NFPT

Orlando, FL

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

NCSF

San Francisco, CA Mesa, AZ

$549

www.ncsf.org/calendar

Varies

www.fitnessfest.org/arizona

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

NCSF

PFPSD – Save $100 or Free Trade Show

PFP - $199

April 4-7 6-7 6-7 12-14 12-14

Florida MANIA

13-14

Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop Fitness Fest Conference and Expo Personal Trainer Workshop

13-14 25-28 27-28

Fitness Fest NFPT

Philadelphia, PA Atlanta, GA

$199-$439 www.ideafit.com/ptrainer

$249-$499 www.succeedwithafs.com

PFP19 Save 10%

PFP50 Save $50 PFP - $199 PFP19 Save 10%

PFP2019 Save $25 PFP19 Save 10%

May 3-5 3-4 11-12 16-18 25-26 31-June 2

New York City, $300-$1245 www.merrithew.com/events NY Kansas City, MO www.thefitnesssummit.com

Mindful Movement Symposium The Fitness Summit

Merrithew

Personal Trainer Workshop MedFit Tour

NFPT

Hollywood, CA

MedFit Network

Fort Worth, TX

NFPT AAAI/ISMA

Ft. Lauderdale, FL Atlantic City, NJ

Fitness Fest

Anaheim, CA

Personal Trainer Workshop “One World” Conference

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

PFP19 Save 10%

$100-$300 www.medicalfitnesstour.org $329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

PFP19 Save 10%

$129-$219 www.aaai-ismafitness.com

June 1-2 13-15 15-16 22-23 26-30 26-30 28-29 29

26

Fitness Fest at TheFitExpo Functional Aging Summit Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop IDEA® World Convention & Expo Club & Studio Summit Nutrition & Behavior Change Summit MedFit Tour

Functional Aging Albuquerque, Institute NM NFPT Indianapolis, IN NFPT

Chicago, IL

IDEA

Anaheim, CA

Varies

www.fitnessfest.org/anaheim

$249-$399 www.FuncationalAgingSummit.com $329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

$219-$489 www.ideafit.com/world

IDEA

Anaheim, CA

$219-$489 www.ideafit.com/clubstudio

IDEA

Anaheim, CA

$219-$279 www.ideafit.com/nutritionsummit

MedFit Network

Anaheim, CA

$100-$300 www.medicalfitnesstour.org/event

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

PFP2019 Save $25 PFP100 – Save $100 PFP19 Save 10% PFP19 Save 10%

Date

Event

Organization

Location

Cost

NSCA National Conference Personal Trainer Workshop Atlanta MANIA

NSCA

Washington, DC

NFPT

Wheaton, MD

SCW

Fitness Fest at TheFitExpo

Fitness Fest

DCAC International Fitness Education Conference The IHRSA Institute

DCAC

Reston, VA

$99-$159

IHRSA

Chapel Hill, NC

NFPT

Houston, TX

$329

MINDBODY

Anaheim, CA

$499+

canfitpro

Toronto, Canada

Website

Discount Code

July 10-13 20-21 26-28 27-28

$225-$550 www.nsca.com $329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

Atlanta, GA

$259

www.SCWfit.com/atlanta

San Jose, CA

Varies

www.fitnessfest.org/sanjose

PFP19 Save 10% PFP - $199 PFP2019 Save $25

August 1-4

6-9 10-11 13-15 14-18

Personal Trainer Workshop BOLD Conference

16-18

Canfitpro World Fitness Expo “One World” Conference

AAAI/ISMA

Cape Cod, MA

20-23

TSAC Annual Training

NSCA

San Antonio, TX

www.dcacfitness.com

www.ihrsa.org/events/institute www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

PFP19 Save 10%

www.boldmindbodyconference.com www.worldfitnessexpo.com

$129-$219 www.aaai-ismafitness.com www.nsca.com

23-25

Dallas MANIA

SCW

Dallas, TX

$259

www.scwfit.com/mania

PFP - $199

24-25

Personal Trainer Workshop

NFPT

Dallas, TX

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

PFP19 Save 10%

September 6-8

Philadelphia MANIA

SCW

Philadelphia, PA

$259

www.SCWfit.com/philadelphia

PFP - $199

7-8

NFPT

Hollywood, CA

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

NFPT

Atlanta, GA

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

PFP19 Save 10% PFP19 Save 10%

26-29

Personal Trainer Workshop Personal Trainer Workshop NASM Optima

NASM

Phoenix, AZ

27-29

“One World” Conference

AAAI/ISMA

Baltimore, MD

23-24

www.nasmoptima.com $129-$219 www.aaai-ismafitness.com

October 4-6

Midwest MANIA

SCW

Rosemont, IL

9-11

Club Industry Show 2019

Club Industry

Chicago, IL

12-13

Personal Trainer Workshop

NFPT

Chicago, IL

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

8-10

RISE: Elevate Your World

Dallas, TX

$295

www.attendrise.com

9-10

Personal Trainer Workshop AB Show

Uprise Media Group NFPT

Cincinnati, OH

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

$259

www.SCWfit.com/midwest

PFP - $199

www.ClubIndustryShow.com PFP19 Save 10%

November

13-16 16-17 23-24

Personal Trainer Workshop Fitness Fest at TheFitExpo

Athletic Business

Orlando, FL

NFPT

Philadelphia, PA Orlando, FL San Diego, CA

Fitness Fest

PFP19 Save 10%

www.abshow.com $329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

Varies

www.fitnessfest.org/sandiego

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

$259

www.SCWfit.com/boston

$329

www.nfpt.com/certification/workshops

PFP19 Save 10% PFP2019 Save $25

December 7-8 13-15 14-15

Personal Trainer Workshop Boston MANIA

NFPT

Personal Trainer Workshop

NFPT

SCW

Atlanta, GA Scottsdale, AZ Boston, MA Ft. Lauderdale, FL

PFP19 Save 10% PFP - $199 PFP19 Save 10%

For information about how to include your event, conference or workshop for future event calendars, email josh@rbpub.com.

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 27

NEW ON THE MARKET The latest trends in fitness equipment

DECK

LINDSAY'S REVIEW: NT BANDS Nick Tumminello’s recently released NT Bands rival even the most versatile fitness tools. These deceptively simple fabric loops provide a full-body workout allowing for easy transitions between exercises.

One of my favorite uses is when coaching proper hip hinging and glute activation. The comfortable, non-slip fabric and two different resistance options completely changes the training experience, especially compared with the more traditional latex bands and loops. NT Bands are also a great addition to partner training and will be my travel-training non-negotiable! www.ntloop.com

ONYX SPX MAX REFORMER BUNDLE Merrithew’s all-black Onyx SPX Max Reformer is a sleek, stylish addition to any fitness space. With a vertical stand for space-saving storage and a highprecision gearbar, the Onyx is perfect for smaller facilities with multipurpose exercise rooms. The Bundle includes the vertical stand for storage, high-precision gearbar, reformer box with footstrap, padded platform extender, weighted bar and metal roll up pole. www.merrithew.com ®

28

Introducing the Power Systems Deck.

Enhance cardio workouts by incorporating step and bench-based movements up to 330 pounds. Transform the deck from an inclined or declined weight bench for strength training. Black and gray to blend-in perfectly with existing club and equipment décor, the Power Systems Deck adds more diversity in a sleek, mobile tool. The thoughtful design and stability carries through when transporting and storing the deck for group fitness classes or training on the go. www.powersystems.com

INFINITY TRAINER

TANK M4 ALL-SURFACE SLED

Perform Better’s Infinity Trainer is a versatile, portable, adjustable device for bodyweight exercises. Simply attach this to any pull-up bar, squat rack or beam and start training. These Infinity Trainers are great for pushups, dips, flies, rows, core work and more.

Their soft, rubber handles have builtin, reinforced foot cradles, allowing for quick and easy exercise variations.

Each strap has a built-in door anchor so they can be used anywhere. www.performbetter.com

The new TANK M4 All-Surface Sled uses a double braking system, so it does not require added weight, thereby making training more efficient. With mag-force resistance — the faster you push, the harder it gets, so users don’t plateau.

Included are ergonomic performance handles, a secondary horizontal grip for pulling movements, tow hooks for battle rope exercises and a built-in accessory tray for convenient storage.

The durable TANK M4 can be used on carpet, turf, rubber or outside. www.torquefitness.com

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

EDUCATION TRENDS Rick Howard

www.youthsportfitnesscoach.com

The future direction of influencing the industry

P

ersonal trainers need to be lifelong learners, i.e., once you have “completed” the requirements for your education and certification, you are not done learning. You need to keep current on important topics in personal training, which may include: certification, fitness trends, special populations, and becoming a personal training educator. To be a personal training educator, there are surprisingly few requirements. The requirements MAY include: a certain level of education and certification, experience with presenting to personal trainers, and/or being a popular social media personality. None of these “requirements” guarantees that the presenter can engage an audience, motivate and inspire them to greatness, and/or provide the most relevant, evidence-based, or practically significant information.

How do we know that personal trainers need more information on functional movement, special populations, or the business aspects of personal training?

Personal training professionals should consider giving back to the personal training community through articles, presentations and seminars that address what personal trainers need to know, not necessarily what the presenter feels comfortable with (best case scenario: they go handin-hand). Too often there is no established criteria for what the industry needs. How do we know that personal trainers need more information on functional movement, special populations, or the business aspects of personal training? We need to ask personal trainers, clients, and facility operators whether there are gaps in content knowledge, reliable expectations of personal training clients, or reasonable expectations of referring professionals, such as physicians, physical therapists, and even other personal trainers. This would give us a needs analysis of personal trainers, their clients, and those who refer to them, identifying the information that is needed to propel our industry to the highest level.

As an example of how a needs analysis can help, a survey of primary care doctors revealed that since most physicians do not receive adequate training in fitness and exercise in medical school, they are not comfortable sharing fitness-related information with their patients.

This is a huge opportunity to gain the trust of area physicians by shar-

ing a one-pager or infographic they can use to help patients better understand their fitness needs, and, of course, who is available to help get them started on that path.

Without completely understanding what is needed in our field, how do we know we are providing the necessary topics for personal trainers? This sample needs analysis can lead the discussion:  Gaps in knowledge that helps personal trainers train their clients safely and effectively:  Anatomy and physiology  Biomechanics  Nutrition and bioenergetics  Exercise technique  Obtaining and retaining clients:  Professionalism (continuing education, client support, appearance and attitude, etc.)  Goal setting, motivation, and cueing  Program design that addresses clients’ needs In a time when it seems that blogs, vlogs, webinars, and other technologically-driven means of continuing education are all the rage, nothing beats the interaction of a good, “boots on the ground” discussion of personal training. How can you personalize your delivery to maximally engage participants? Meeting personal trainers where they are in your delivery is akin to meeting your clients where they are in the gym. Those “raise your hand if you’ve ever____” questions in the beginning of presentations are purposeful—they help presenters gauge the audience to find out interests, experiences, and level of involvement in the topic. Pre-presentation surveys on the topic would be a personal touch. Focus groups to kick off the conversation are often used. In other words, engaging the audience in the presentation to learn how best to meet their needs is a great way to find out how to make today’s presentation valuable but it also gives you a tool to reach out to attendees for future topics or how to address ideas brought up during the presentation for a follow-up presentation. It all boils down to establishing positive personal relationships with other professionals, fitness center owners, and potential referral networks to gain an understanding of how you can best fill the knowledge gap.

Rick Howard, M.Ed., CSCS, *D is completing his doctorate in Health Promotion and Wellness at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He has been training athletes of all ages and abilities for more than 30 years. He currently is the Director of Fitness at the Wilmington (DE) Country Club and a college professor at West Chester (PA) University and Rowan (NJ) University.

LOOKING AHEAD 2019 | WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | 29

BE BETTER Lisa Druxman

www.fit4mom.com

Looking ahead to 2019

A

s we close 2018, we look ahead to the new year. You may be looking at places for improvement in business, health, relationships or simply self-development. Here are some strategies you can use to help create meaningful lasting goals.

YEAR IN REVIEW - Give yourself some space to look at the past year.

What were the wins? Misses? Did you make progress? Did you take on too much? My suggestion is not to do this exercise in your head but to put pen to paper. This process is even more meaningful when you can look at it and learn from it. You may see that you keep setting the same goals only to forget about them. You might realize that you have taken on too much or that you are so focused on business that you have neglected your relationships or your own health.

You might realize that you have taken on too much or that you are so focused on business that you have neglected your relationships or your own health.

WHEEL OF LIFE - Zig Ziglar came up with an activity called The Wheel of Life where you measure various areas of your life like work, health, fun, friends, environment, finance and relationships. You can come up with whatever categories are most important to you. On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate each of these areas? After you have scored them all, which areas do you most want to see improvement in the coming year? Remember, most of us take on too much. So truly hone-in on what will have the biggest ROE (Return on Energy) and what will make the biggest difference in your life?

90-DAY GOALS - Most people make a New Year’s goal. The problem is one year is simply too long of a time. We tend to procrastinate.

Life changes and gets us distracted from that goal. Instead, focus on one quarter at a time. Less is more. Choose goals that are important to you and that will propel you in the direction you want to go. 1) Write it down. 2) Make it specific. 3) Set a deadline. 4) Make them action-oriented. An example is, “I will complete a draft of my new book by X date.”

30

| WWW.PERSONALFITNESSPROFESSIONAL.COM | LOOKING AHEAD 2019

REVERSE ENGINEER YOUR GOALS - Setting the goal is the easy part. What is your plan to achieve the goal? You now have your end result: a specific goal with a deadline. Sit down and brainstorm.

What are all of the things that would need to happen to achieve this goal? In the example above, you would need to come up with an idea for your new book. You would need to come up with the chapters. You may need to do research. But what if you don’t know what steps you need to take to achieve your goal? Use Google; do some research; someone, somewhere can show you how. Find someone who has achieved your goal. See if they will help. Once you have your list, prioritize the order, create dates and put them on your calendar.

A hope for you in 2019 is that you take action. It’s not about being perfect, rather it’s about moving forward on the things that matter to you. It’s about making progress and being better than you were yesterday. Live as you inspire your clients to live: with purpose, in health and with joy.

Lisa Druxman is the founder of FIT4MOM and the author of the Empowered Mama. She has worked for over two decades in the fitness industry focusing on women’s wellness. She has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America and more. Lisa is a speaker, writer and thought leader with a passion for teaching entrepreneurship and self-care.

PFP'S PREFERRED PARTNER OFFERS