Jan. 12, 2010
The Growth of a Fitness Professional
It is amazing that today signifies an entire year of success. A year in which Farmington Valley Fitness Boot Camp and Tyler English Fitness have grown to become recognized across the country.
It was a cold morning on January 12th of 2009 that I officially began my new journey. A journey that started in a small Kempo and Aikido studio in Avon, CT and continued during the evening at a dance studio up the road in Canton.
Within three months I outgrew both these locations and opened my own no B.S. warehouse gym. It is here at Tyler English Fitness that over the next year Farmington Valley Fitness Boot Camp would continue to grow rapidly.
During this year long span I would compete in my first two World Natural Bodybuilding Federation Professional competitions, welcome my brother home from the United States Marines to share in my success, have a two page spread including a feature in Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Magazine and have Farmington Valley Fitness Boot Camp featured in a 2-part series on NBC Connecticut.
I have made more connections within the Fitness Industry over the past year then I ever thought possible. I have grown tremendously as a personal trainer, fitness professional, bodybuilder, entrepreneur and more importantly a business owner.
Since 2004 I had worked for two different big box gyms and eventually ending up at a health club that would become home for 4 years.
For most aspiring personal trainers starting out in the industry is made out to be easy. Gym and club owners lead you to believe that you will be living comfortably in no time. Now don’t get me wrong. Within 30 days of starting my job within the health club I had a full schedule. This wasn’t luck and was not a coincidence. It was due to my ability to go the extra mile!
I had to hustle. Extra hours, non-paying hours, working the floor, free sessions, late nights writing programs, trial and error, research, continuing education, in home personal training, early morning outdoor boot camps (5am), and all in an effort to make a living. But it wasn’t what I wanted.
Two years into my job I began to venture out of my comfort zone. I began to follow leaders like Alwyn Cosgrove, Pat Rigsby, Jim Labadie, Craig Ballantyne and Ryan Lee. Each of these industry leaders helped me realize I had so much more to accomplish.
What I was doing everyday was a J.O.B. and I was burnt out. I wanted more for myself.
As I grew as a personal trainer I began to evolve into a fitness professional. The knowledge I had compiled through my own personal research, trial and error, and body of work; made me want more. I always had a growing ability to “absorb” anything and everything I came in contact with. Whether it was the latest training technique, sales technique, or business strategy; I wanted to know it all.
My willingness to research, develop, design and implement programs with my clients helped set me apart from my coworkers. My ability to educate and motivate clientele truly allowed me to stick out from the rest. I was the trainer that people wanted to work with. Though setting myself apart from my coworkers only got me so far. I wanted to set myself apart from everyone in my area. I wanted to be the local fitness expert!
With all this in front of me I began to want more of my own personal success. I had peaked within my surroundings. I was beginning to burn out.
I wanted a better life. I wanted to choose who I worked with. I wanted to implement MY training philosophy. I wanted to show people there is a way to achieve lasting results minus having to join a health club or regular ole’ gym!
So I TOOK ACTION!
I was sick and tired of spinning my wheels and I finally did it!
I jumped!
With the help of leaders like Pat Rigsby, Jim Labadie, Nick Berry, and BJ Gaddour I was shown that it could be done!
So two days before Christmas I fired my boss.
I sit here today looking back at what I have accomplished but more importantly what I will accomplish in the years to come!
If I can give any fitness professional words of advice, I say the following:
- Take MASSIVE ACTION and FAIL FORWARD! Implement ideas and learn from past failures.
- Invest In Your Business and Yourself: This alone has helped me grow tremendously as a business owner!
- Seek Out Leaders in the Industry: I only named a few that have helped me but the list continues: Mike Boyle, Zach Even-Esh, Jason Ferruggia, Robert Dos Remedios, Holly Rigsby, Jimmy Smith, Mike Robertson, James Smith, Tom Venuto, Rachel Cosgrove, Brian Grasso, Dave Schmitz, Rocco Castellano, Dave Whitley and the list can go on and on as I know I am forgetting some!
- Join a Mastermind Group: I have been lucky enough to have been invited into an Elite Mastermind Group with Pat Rigsby, Jim Labadie and Nick Berry. This doesn’t need to be the case to start masterminding. Start a mastermind group with those contacts you have already made.
- Prepare to Work Long and Hard: My success certainly didn’t happen because I sat on my ass. I get things done and am willing to go above and beyond to make it happen.
- Success Will Not Happen Overnight: You are not going to wake up tomorrow with your own gym or have a boot camp of over 150 members. It takes HUSTLE!
- Go The Extra Mile: Without happy clients your business will not succeed!
- Deliver Results: I spend as much time researching the latest cutting edge training techniques as I do working on growing my business. You should do the same.
- Practice What You Preach: This goes without saying. You need to be a model for what your clients want to be like.
- Focus On 2 Things: Many times when starting your own business venture we can’t caught up on doing too many things at once. This rule alone has really helped me focus on spending more time and energy on getting things done.
I believe I am living proof that with the proper plan of action you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Now go out and make it happen!
You can and will,
Tyler English, NASM-PES, CPT
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