#10 Successful Personal Trainers Are Mentors

A mentor, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a trusted counselor, tutor, or coach.” I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I say that all successful Personal Trainers have had at least one mentor in their lives. I’ve had many. And I would not be the professional or the person that I am today had I not. (some are named in my earlier post Mentors BOGO: Be One, Get One) My mentors were and are people I trust, like and admire who have been open, honest and willing to share their expertise with me.

I would also like to believe that I have, in turn, been a mentor to others whenever I have been able. It is enormously fulfilling to help others reach their potential.

If it is as rewarding as I say, why don’t more people mentor others? Maybe they don’t think they have enough experience. I understand that, although I think everybody has something to share. I’ve also heard (and this is the one that floors me) Trainers say, “I’m not telling other Trainers how I do things because then they’ll be taking clients that I should be getting.” So, they’re not willing to mentor others for fear that there’s not enough business to go around and that somehow helping other Personal Trainers become better limits their own earning potential. That simply shows their insecurity and, frankly, ignorance.

If you truly believe you are a great Personal Trainer then you know you can get the clients and aren’t threatened by others. And to think there aren’t enough clients to go around is ridicoulous. How many people need post-rehab training, want to be in better condition for their sport, want to function better in their day to day activities, and of the nearly 70% of the population that’s overweight or obese, how many would like to lose weight?

Successful Personal Trainers are mentors because helping others succeed is a way of giving back and a way to share in the joy of others reaching their goals.

 “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Check out the full Successful Personal Trainers series.

Top 10 Traits of Successful Personal Trainers (Series)

Someone was talking about “paying it forward” this week and I started thinking about how much I enjoy mentoring others to become better, more successful Personal Trainers and/or business people.

A mentor, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a trusted counselor, tutor, or coach.” For me it means a sensei or teacher that seeks to share his/her wisdom, knowledge, and experience with someone eager to learn. 

My career has now spanned 30 years. I have had many mentors over the years from Dr. Joseph Pechinski, when I worked in the human performance center at the University of Maine, to Rich Brooks, Lynnelle Wilson, Carl Natale, and Mike Freeman(the gang at mainebusiness.com) who helped me to understand social media marketing for your business. Thank you all. You have enriched both my professional and my personal life.

As has been the case for most of my life, I try to pay forward the lessons/gifts that I have received. It is one of the most gratifying things I have done and will continue to do.

What about you? Are mentoring someone? Do you have a mentor?(you should. I’m looking to see who I can learn from next) I’ll be creating a structured mentorship program for Personal Trainers soon, but in the meantime, if I can be of any help to you, please ask. 

Best wishes all and do the mentor BOGO.