One year has passed since I became a Certified Personal Trainer and was hired to work for Fitness Formula Clubs as such.
Shortly after jumping feet first into my new career, I declared in a Facebook status that the grass was greener on the side of my new career. But soon after I began to question whether or not it was, in fact, greener, or if the grass was simply a different color.
Working as a personal trainer is so much more difficult that I ever imagined, but it is also more rewarding than I ever imagined. For instance, whereas I was accustomed to getting paid to blog all day long and take two-hour lunch breaks at a corporate job I never took seriously, I now work my butt off and get paid very little, if at all. Sometimes, though, those hours of providing complimentary workouts and consultations are worth their weight in gold. It is an incredible feeling to open one's eyes to something new and something that is going to benefit that person greatly. That part is rewarding, yes. The part about struggling to pay my bills and not being able to see my friends because I can't afford leisurely activities is a little more difficult for me.
I have so much fun at work, though, and never ever have I ever once had a case of the "Mondays." The environment is positive, I get to make my own schedule (although I tend to work the opposite hours of a standard 9 to 5 shift). But the non-traditional schedule and the breaks in the middle of the day allow me to work out when the gym is empty, which is a feeling akin to having an entire playground to yourself. I also have the freedom to leave and go work out with my own coach if I so choose. I don't have to sit behind a desk all day staring at boring ass spreadsheets, which is certainly a plus. I have the freedom to dictate how I go about my day because no one is micromanaging my every move. On the flip side, my schedule differs daily and can change any minute, so it's hard for me to nail down some structure, which is a hurdle I still haven't overcome in a year's time.
I also work in a proverbial fish bowl, where I can be seen and observed at all times, which is a little uncomfortable for this introvert. In fact, I'll see club members on the street or in a coffee shop who will strike up a conversation with me about my job or the gym, and many times I could swear I've never seen the person before in my life. I'm still not used to that and not I'm not sure I will ever be comfortable with it. Whereas I used to grumble about the fact that I never saw anyone outside of the 8 people in my office and only talked to 3 of them, I suddenly work in an environment where over a thousand people pass through each day. Having to be "on" all day long is incredibly exhausting. At the end of the day, the last thing I want is to hear my own voice or any sort of noise for that matter. But I have learned to deal with the exhaustion, and I maintain that my clients are worth me at my best. If I don't bring the energy then I fail them, and that's unacceptable to me.
Additionally, even though I thought I escaped the corporate world, my job and the company I work for is far more corporate than I ever predicted. We have monthly goals and weekly meetings, and I find myself checking my work email ALL THE TIME. Sometimes all that stuff makes me feel like a sellout, but most of the time I don't mind it. I deal with that stuff because my personal mission, which is most important and what I'm most disciplined about, is making sure that I'm there for my clients by doing whatever I need to do to go above and beyond to help them reach their goals.
In a year's time, I've also had time to discover and develop the type of trainer I am. I love training people (especially runners) with little to zero weight training experience. Starting from 0 and watching people become stronger and physically change before my eyes is such a cool feeling. Knowing that the way I communicate and give direction and push them is what is helping to change them is a huge payoff, and worth way more than any paycheck. I also know for a fact that training with my own trainer makes me a better trainer. Paying $300 to get certified in some bullsh!t fitness trend like TRX or kettle bells might make someone look credible, but I choose to remain true to what has worked for me, and it doesn't involve the flashy exercises that get attention from onlookers. Instead, I teach people the exercises that will get them results.
So, where exactly do I stand one year later? Well, I absolutely love my job and my clients. But I've learned that personal training is a career that is not comfortable and it never will be, and I'm still trying to get comfortable with that idea. There is always room to improve and work harder, which isn't a bad thing, but I also feel like I could do everything and everything still would not be good enough.
I often contemplate where I'll be one year from now. Still in Chicago? Working as a more successful and developed trainer? Taking my career as a fitness professional to a different or higher level? The future is uncertain, as it always is. Surprise is the beauty of life, and life surprises me constantly. I no longer fear the unknown. In fact, when I was stuck at my desk job, I literally felt stuck there. For so many years.
So, perhaps the biggest takeaway from making a total career overhaul one year ago is that I'm no longer as terrified of change as I once was. Yes, change is still scary to me, but I've learned that even though adapting is difficult, it is not impossible. I'm no longer afraid that making a change will not be a good decision, because having the courage to move forward and try something new will always be a good decision.
