Elite Trainer Academy

Trainers, this one is direct: stop changing up the plan so often. The number one thing your clients hired you for is the patience and conviction they cannot give themselves, and every time you swap exercises, macros, or programs at the first sign of discomfort, you are taking that away from them.In this episode you will learn exactly how long to sit with a plan before pulling a new lever, why the scale almost never moves the way theory says it should in the first two to three weeks of any diet phase, and what is actually happening in your client's body and habits during that settling-in window. Whether you are running a reverse diet, transitioning into a cut, or introducing a new training block, three to four weeks with good adherence is the minimum before you can honestly judge whether anything is working.Beyond the physiology, the episode digs into the real reason trainers change things up too fast: insecurity and the fear that a client will feel like they are not getting their money's worth. The fix is not a flashy new program. It is an intentional, well-prepared conversation that shifts your client's identity and keeps them locked into the process. That communication investment, even just ten extra minutes of focused thought before a check-in, pays bigger dividends than any new superset ever will.This is a short, tactical Elite Trainer Podcast episode built around one specific skill. The action item is simple: go through your client roster right now and ask yourself what the single most impactful thing you could do for each person is. The answer probably has nothing to do with changing their Bulgarian split squats from six reps to fifteen.0:02 The Core Problem: Switching Plans Too Early1:37 Giving the Plan Enough Time to Speak3:09 The 3 to 4 Week Rule for Any Phase3:27 The Reverse Diet Philosophy Explained4:27 Why the Scale Jumps on a Reverse Diet5:16 The 500-Calorie Deficit Reality Check8:31 Setting Realistic Long-Term Expectations9:23 Why Trainers Really Change Plans Too Fast12:44 Spend Time on Communication, Not New Programs15:11 Identity-Shifting Conversations Over Homework17:57 Elite Trainer Academy and Closing Action ItemElite Trainer Academy: Standard — https://www.skool.com/Check out our Skool Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow

Stuarts Websitehttps://coach.kodiakbarbell.com/bio?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAad-Gcr3N-m0LSTziH3UIdaodrRaT_csS3lLnrXa6D1gFMc3pCny61OyDaLAXg_aem_pjnB4KORNG830dFx9ZfPNQWhat does it actually take to build a coaching business where clients stick around for nine years, your roster is full, and your programming speaks for itself? In this episode of Elite Trainer Podcast, powerlifting coach and Pre-Script barbell course instructor Stuart Locke breaks down exactly how he got there, and what most trainers are doing wrong before they ever write a single program.Stuart walks through the real progression: starting at GoodLife Fitness, being handed hard cases no textbook prepared him for, rising into a regional continuing education role, and then being forced online by COVID in 2020. What started as necessity turned into a multi-coach business averaging 30 months of client retention, with every lead coming in organically from Instagram. He reveals the pricing conversation that changed everything, what his wife's initial paid consultation does for his close rate, and why charging more actually solves most of your client problems.On the programming side, Stuart cuts through the noise with a framework so simple it works for everyone from a 65-year-old general population client to an elite powerlifter. Do something heavy, something for reps, something fast, something aerobic. That is the whole skeleton. He also explains how working with one elite coach, Paul Oneid, for six and a half years became the foundation for his own programming philosophy, and why the secret is not finding the perfect system but making a decision and watching the client respond.If you are a trainer stuck on a treadmill of three-month client turnover, charging too little, feeling demoralized, or just unsure how to progress your programming philosophy, this episode of Elite Trainer Podcast is exactly where you need to start.1:15 Stuart Locke's Origin Story3:00 Early Lessons at GoodLife Fitness4:20 Rising Into Education and Pre-Script9:01 The COVID Pivot to Full-Time Online Coaching11:40 Pricing Philosophy and Charging Your Worth21:39 How to Build Programming Proficiency24:13 Programming Philosophy for Any Client27:12 The Four-Part Workout Skeleton Explained32:34 Handling Clients Who Won't Train Enough43:44 The Business Funnel and Paid Intake Structure49:45 Retention Drivers and Relationship-First Coaching52:41 Why Most Trainers Fail and How to Fix ItCheck out our Skool Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Stuart Locke : @stu_kodiakbarbellCole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow

If you want to build a thriving online coaching business, you have to sell. That's the uncomfortable truth most trainers avoid, and it's exactly why their businesses stall. In this episode of the Elite Trainer Podcast, you get a complete breakdown of the two foundational sales calls every personal trainer needs to master: the assessment call and the strategy call. Learn what each one is for, how to run it, and when to use each depending on where you are in your business.You'll walk away knowing how to structure a free or paid assessment that delivers real value AND naturally transitions into a coaching conversation, without ever feeling pushy or slimy. Then you'll get the full playbook for strategy calls, including the eight questions that get prospects to sell themselves on coaching before you ever pitch a price.Whether you are just starting out and grinding for your first 10 clients or trying to systematize a paid ad funnel around low-ticket consultations, this episode maps out exactly how both call types fit together into a business that can scale. Master these early, retain well, and you will reach the point where you can take your foot off the gas with a full book of 20 to 30 online clients.0:27 Episode Overview: The Two Call Types1:28 Assessment Calls Explained3:18 Real-World Assessment Example and Mindset4:34 How to Run an Assessment Call7:50 Scaling to Paid Consultations and Ad Funnels11:11 Discovery Section: The Three Core Questions13:06 The Subtle Transition Into Your Pitch19:57 Assessment Calls Recap and Transition to Strategy Calls20:10 Strategy Calls Defined22:11 Outbound vs. Inbound Strategy Call Sources22:56 The Eight Discovery Questions for Strategy Calls32:03 Community Resource and Closing ThoughtsCheck out our Skool Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f

The difference between a good trainer and a great one often comes down to a single skill that almost nobody talks about: the ability to have direct, impactful conversations with your clients. In this Elite Trainer Podcast episode, you will learn why the coaching world has drifted too far toward wishy washy, grace giving coaching and why that soft approach is actually doing your clients a disservice. The people who have made the biggest impact on YOUR life were not the ones who always let you off the hook. Your clients deserve the same honesty.If you want clients who are genuinely accountable, who trust you deeply, and who stick around long term, this is the episode for you. The art of direct coaching is one of those small, compounding skills that adds a real percentage point to your effectiveness every single time you use it.0:03 Why Direct Conversations Define Great Coaches0:49 How Coaching Culture Drifted Too Soft2:45 Debunking the Fear of Direct Conversations4:22 The Alex Hormozi Quote That Reframes Everything5:21 Two Situations That Demand a Direct Conversation5:39 Example 1: The Disengaged Online Client8:20 Example 2: The Client Who Won't Let Go of a Habit11:02 Using Direct Honesty as a Sales Advantage12:48 The Permission Framework: How to Deliver Direct Feedback14:55 Why Asking Permission Also Protects the Timing15:48 Step Two: Explain Your Intent Before You Say It19:54 Wrap Up and Elite Trainer Academy InvitationCheck out our Skool Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f

If your sales calls feel fragmented, awkward, or like you are just reading off a script, this episode is going to change how you run every single conversation going forward. The team at Mind Pump Fitness Coaching has built a roster of 30 coaches, most at full capacity, and every single one of those calls runs from the same core framework: eight questions. Master these and you handle 95% of the sales process without needing fancy objection scripts or high-pressure tactics.You will hear exactly what each question pulls out of a prospect, why the order matters, and how to go deep enough that by the time you pitch, the person has essentially already sold themselves. From uncovering real emotional drivers behind a fitness goal, to pre-handling the spouse objection before it ever derails your close, these questions build momentum from the very first exchange all the way to commitment.Whether you are brand new to personal training sales or you have done hundreds of calls and still feel like something is off, this episode gives you the specific language, the follow-up mechanics, and the trial close techniques that turn a conversation into a client. These questions are pulled directly from the Elite Trainer Academy course, and this episode is your first look at why they work so well in the real world.0:04 Introduction: The 8-Question Framework1:16 Question 1: Health and Fitness Goals2:52 Going Deep: The Follow-Up Technique3:48 Question 2: Seriousness on a Scale of 1 to 106:53 Question 3: Have You Ever Worked with a Trainer8:59 Question 4: Chronic Pain and Aches12:56 Trial Closes Explained13:37 Question 5: Biggest Barrier to Reaching the Goal17:14 Question 6: Support System and the Spouse Objection20:19 Question 7: Time Frame to Achieve the Goal23:56 Question 8: Days Per Week Commitment27:51 Elite Trainer Academy Course PlugCheck out our School Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f

The healthcare system is not coming to save your clients. Doctors average seven minutes per patient visit, and the entire model is built around symptom management, not root cause solutions. That means YOU, as a personal trainer, are the real front line of health. In this episode of Elite Trainer Podcast, the conversation gets raw and honest about the enormous responsibility sitting on your shoulders and why that responsibility is actually your greatest opportunity.From the fitness industry's decades of corrupt, low-ticket gimmicks that left people more confused than ever, to the unrealistic "work four hours a day and make 10k a month" messaging that is driving an 80 to 90 percent annual trainer turnover rate, this episode exposes the gap between what personal training is sold as and what it actually demands. You will hear exactly why the market is not oversaturated, why your clients need you more than they need another prescription, and what it genuinely takes to build a career that makes a lasting impact.If you are an aspiring trainer just getting started, a seasoned coach questioning your purpose, or someone already crushing it who wants that fire stoked even hotter, this episode is for you. No fluff, no complex tactics, just a clear-eyed look at the weight of what you are doing and why it matters more than most people realize.0:03 The Real Stakes of Being a Personal Trainer1:11 Personal Trainers as the Healthcare Front Line2:34 The Seven-Minute Doctor Visit Problem3:48 How the Fitness Industry Lost Its Way5:19 Low-Ticket Gimmicks and the Quick-Fix Trap6:56 Trainers as Educators with a Duty to the Public7:34 The Modern Trainer's Knowledge Base10:38 The "Four Hours a Day" Myth Exposed11:22 Building Yourself and Your Business as Assets12:47 The Shocking Turnover Rate in Personal Training15:59 The Market Is Not Oversaturated18:03 The Call to Rise to the TopCheck out our School Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f

Most trainers pick exercises because they look cool, because they make clients sweat, or because they simply don't know any better. In this solo episode of the Elite Trainer Podcast, Cole walks you all the way back to session one and shows you exactly how to build a programming framework that actually gets results, no exercise physiology degree required.0:02 Why Most Trainers Pick the Wrong Exercises0:46 Starting From Session One1:20 Why You Should Not Write a Program in Month One2:15 The Four Movement Category Framework3:16 The Mobility Warm-Up Sequence5:14 Squat, Hinge, Push, Pull: Building the Session7:08 Targeting the Right Effort Level14:22 Programming Past Month One16:29 Choosing Your Heavy Anchor Lifts20:21 Using Center of Mass to Choose Exercises24:59 When and How to Rotate Exercises28:18 Join the Elite Trainer School CommunityCheck out our School Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f

If you want community, weekly education calls, and a group of trainers at every stage of this journey to share ideas with, the show's Skool group is open and waiting for you in the description below.Check out our School Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comWhat if you could skip the guesswork and follow a step-by-step career map built from nearly $750,000 in personal training sales and leading a team of 30 coaches? In this Elite Trainer Podcast episode, Cole the fitness manager for Mind Pump Media breaks down exactly what he would do if he had to start from zero, no clients, no job, just a fresh certification and a goal to build something real.0:03 Episode Hook and Host Credibility1:05 Step 1: Land a Big Box Gym Job4:15 Become the Mayor of the Gym6:23 Train People for Free to Build Proof9:04 Turn Testimonials Into Facebook Content11:25 Reinvest Income Into Meta Ads12:01 How to Build a Local Video Ad15:56 Fill Your Book and Sit There17:57 Choosing Your Career Path at Full Capacity18:52 Coaching Specialization vs. Management Leadership22:55 When and How to Add Online Coaching25:45 Join the Skool CommunityNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f

What does it actually take to close that much coaching in a single month?In this episode of the Elite Trainer Academy Podcast brought to you by Mind Pump, we break down the six biggest lessons learned from selling 11.7000 dollars in personal training in one month.From why you should never coach on a sales call to why clients buy on emotion not logic, how to carry momentum through the pitch, and why asking why is the most powerful question you can ask.We also cover why people who pay a little are willing to pay a lot more and why sales is ultimately a transfer of energy.If you got value from this episode make sure to follow or subscribe to the Elite Trainer Academy Podcast so you never miss an episode. Share it with a fellow trainer who needs to hear this.Thanks for listening. We are just getting started.00:00 How I Sold 117K in One Month06:45 Stop Coaching on Sales Calls12:30 Clients Buy on Emotion Not Logic18:00 Keep the Momentum Through the Pitch22:58 The Power of Asking Why29:15 Small Buyers Become Big Buyers35:30 Sales Is a Transfer of EnergyCheck out our School Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f

Are you still running your coaching business on Google Sheets and Venmo?In this episode of the Elite Trainer Academy Podcast brought to you by Mind Pump, we break down the five softwares every online coach needs to run a professional and organized business.From coaching apps and CRMs to call recording, Loom check-ins, and a weekly client checklist, we cover exactly what we use here at Mind Pump Fitness Coaching after scaling from one to thirty coaches.If you want to try our CRM go to EliteTrainerCRM.com/trial and the link will be in the description below.If you got value from this episode make sure to follow or subscribe to the Elite Trainer Academy Podcast so you never miss an episode. Share it with a fellow trainer who needs to hear this.Thanks for listening. We are just getting started.00:00 Why You Need the Right Software03:30 Coaching Software07:00 CRM for Leads and Contacts11:30 Call Recording Software15:00 Loom for Client Check-ins18:00 Weekly Client ChecklistCheck out our School Community with a 7-day FREE trial: https://Elitetrainergroup.comGet 1.9 CEU's with our Course ! https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.comNeed a Personal Trainer ?https://mindpumppersonaltraining.comInstagram:Cole Steininger - @mindpumpcoleKyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyleCorinne Schmiedhauser - @mindpumpcorinneMarcelo Villacis - @mindpumpmarceloMind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy YouTube:Mind Pump Show - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f