This last week I started training my first client in person in the gym.  The first real client, not a buddy I was showing some stuff in the gym.  This personal trainer thing I want to do is now real.  Instead of just tossing some ideas on training to a buddy, I am now having to think about a whole new set of things.  Things like professionalism, long term client fitness programming, and being a good example.  Clients are now going to look at what I do in the gym and judge my behaviors.  I became a role model overnight I now need to practice what I preach, what does that even mean?

For me this means I need to sharpen up everything I am doing in the gym.  I have to have a fitness goal and plan for that goal.  I have to follow the plan even when I don’t want to.  I have to do the warm ups and cool downs right.  I should be doing these things, so I do them.  It is mostly about trying to have no loose ends, and not cut any corners.  I feel the responsibility as a leader to act this way.

This responsibility is something that is a part of my value system.  It has always been there in my mind and nudged me the right way with all sorts of things.  Being a “leader” I feel a nudge to do things in a way I wouldn’t feel if I was a “follower.”  I have in my mind what a leader should be, so by taking on that role I must become that thing.  This nudge has made me better at all sorts of things in my life.

I like this nudge.  This nudge is just another tool I can use.  It makes me want to take on even small leadership. If I take that on, I know the nudge will be there. 

These leadership opportunities are available in so many of the things we are already doing.  A big part of being a leader of a professional Meetup group for example is doing things like booking rooms, unlocking doors, cleaning up the trash, and greeting new attendees.  These are things most of us can do.  Once we are helping out with these kind of things it puts us into a leadership role.  When I helped organize a tech meetup I mostly did these kind of organizational tasks, but I felt this nudge as a leader to spend my own free time learning more technology.  In my mind a leader of a tech group should be on top of tech.  I find this to be a rather fun motivational hack.

So as I find myself transitioning into being a “professional fitness expert” I find the nudge again.  I am grateful for that nudge.  I know it will get me in better shape.  The last several weeks have reminded me how powerful a force this nudge can be.

I am thinking about other places I can get this nudge from.

If I am already participating in something, is there a way to position myself so that I feel this positive pressure? 

Being a good example, well that is going to make me better, I promise however this newsletter won’t turn into a shirtless selfie newsletter.

Every week I spend a lot of time reading and looking for new ways to get stronger, healthier and more awesome.  Here are some of the best things I have found this week.

Strength and Conditioning

A good run down on incline benching with the shoulder saver pad, and why you might want to use it instead of board pressing.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYlgOLtbIcE

A good run down on some science about stretching.  Takes a few minutes to get going, but this vid is full of good stuff.  https://charlieweingroff.com/2021/09/should-you-stretch-after-you-workout/

A good article on glute training frequency.  The thought processes shown here can be applied to any number of things, a great article for overall training knowledge.  https://bretcontreras.com/your-optimal-training-frequency-for-the-glutes-part-i-exercise-type/