LTB Podcast

Are you tired of hearing the same old fitness advice like, "Protein is essential for muscle growth," or "Eat veggies at every meal to shed pounds"? So are we. And more importantly, so is your audience. The fitness landscape has evolved, and it's crucial to stand out in this content-saturated world.

In this Lift the Bar Podcast episode, Stuart dives deep with Josh Taylor, a funny, engaging, science-based Online Personal Trainer who creates excellent video content. Don't just take our word for it – check out Josh's IG page if you want a chuckle.

Join us as Josh unveils his step-by-step process for crafting irresistibly entertaining videos that will leave your audience craving more. Learn the art of scripting, recording, and editing content that educates and captivates, eliminating the need to hard-sell your coaching services. Josh also shares his secret for generating compelling topics, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and the age-old question: do gingers really have souls?

Tune in now and elevate your fitness content game.

Timestamps:

01:47-Has Josh always been comfortable being funny on video?

05:23-How to create a video "style"

08:17-Has Josh's content affected the number of coaching enquiries?

12:23-Quality vs Quantity of content.

18:45-Video planning

24:56-Creating content ideas

27:11-Writing content scripts

29:30-Setting up camera shots

33:02-Video Editing

34:09-The importance of quality audio

36:25-Making video thumbnails

38:10-Writing video captions

Find Out More About Josh:

• Website: https://www.joshtaylorpt.com/optin1584199229844
• Ig: https://www.instagram.com/joshtaylorcoaching/

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

"Earn seven figures! Pay off your mortgage! Run your business from Dubai and live like royalty. Everyone in my mentorship did it! Who wants in?!" Advice for online coaches often sounds like this, which, to be frank, is pretty damn shady. Thankfully, on this episode of the LTB podcast, we have Dan and Mike from Biceps and Banter to expose the frauds and give us the low down on what PT's should do if they want to be successful online.

In this episode, you'll learn about the following:

1. Building effective systems for delivering top-notch coaching

1. The critical differences between one-to-one and group coaching in the online space

1. Why niching down involves more than just targeting a specific sex or age.

Tune in and elevate your online coaching game with real-world advice from industry experts, only on the Lift The Bar podcast.

Timestamps:

02:06- Deciding whether being an online PT is right for you

11:25- What was it like being a PT who started their career online?

15:30- What are the advantages of being an online PT?

20:05- Online coaching foundations

31:20- Creating a niche

43:42- Should a new online trainer do one to one or group coaching?

50:11- Shady online PT mentorships

Find Out More About Mike & Dan:

• Website: https://bicepsandbanter.co.uk/
• Mike Ig: https://www.instagram.com/mikebicepsbanter/
• Dan Ig: https://www.instagram.com/danbicepsbanter/

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

Hey, you've got a gap between your clients, right?

Come hang out with Stuart and muse about being a PT.

Timestamps

0:56- An underrated investment worth making

4:00- Do you need a part-time job?

5:50- Do PT's need abs?

11:38- Is your content actually any good?

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial
• Newsletter: https://ptroadmap.beehiiv.com/subscribe

In the world of fitness, few have delved as deeply into the realms of business, personal growth, and education as our distinguished guest today. We're excited to welcome back Mark Fisher, the inspirational founder of Mark Fisher Fitness, to the Lift the Bar Podcast as he discusses his new book, The Book of Fitness Business Secrets. Join us and uncover some of the key secrets behind Mark's success.

Explore Mark's essential pillars of marketing and learn how they have contributed to the meteoric rise of Mark Fisher Fitness. Uncover practical tips for managing distractions. Even the ones that come from inside your own head! Mark also shares his invaluable approach for gathering meaningful feedback from clients and even talks about when he chooses to disregard feedback.

This episode is a treasure trove of valuable insights for personal trainers, gym owners, and fitness enthusiasts looking to up their game in the competitive fitness industry. You don't want to miss this opportunity to learn from Mark Fisher's wealth of wisdom and experience as he shares his journey with the Lift The Bar Podcast. So, sit back, listen, and learn – and be sure to have a pen ready for this one!

Timestamps

2:05- Why publish a book?

4:14- Can it be easier to publish a book than we think?

7:02- Marks hardest career moments

12:50- The pillars of marketing

17:10- Referral Campaigns.

22:41- Managing Distractions

26:33- Maximising continuing professional development.

31:20- Getting feedback from clients

35:40- The importance of time away from business.

Find Out More About Mark:

• Website: https://www.businessforunicorns.com/team/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkFisherHumanBeing

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

Is it that time of the month? The point where you're scrambling around for fresh ideas for your semi-private group workouts? The same old goblet squats just aren't cutting it anymore, and both you and your clients crave something more engaging.

Well, never fear! You're not alone! We've been in that "staring blankly at Excel" situation ourselves, and we're here to help! Get ready to revamp your approach to small-group programme design with this week's LTB podcast.

We're diving into the archives to bring you an insightful conversation with Stuart Macdonald, who's no stranger to the challenges of keeping workouts fresh, engaging, and effective.

Bid farewell to the mundane and embrace exciting programs your clients will love. Listen in as Stuart shares how he's revolutionised his training methods by organising client sessions into long-term dynamic blocks, complete with seamless transitions. Plus, discover how our Programme Design Mentorship transformed Stuart's approach to workout planning, banishing those program design headaches for good.

Timestamps

1:20- Stuart's first experiences with programme design

8:31- What does Stuart's small-group programme look like now: The Importance of Blocks

11:13- How does Stuart design individual sessions within a block

14:35- The value of naming weeks and blocks

17:30- Why semi-private still isn't the norm

19:15- What does a session involve actually involve: Part 1

21:10- The value of cluster sets and time blocks

26:30- Adapting semiprivate for individual clients.

29:10- How Stuart encourages client to coach either other

30:48- What does a session involve actually involve: Part 2

33:01- Finishers and Challenges

34:16- The difference between Session A, B, C

35:25- How does a session progress between months?

Find Out More About Stuart:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truefitnessstudiosolihull
• Website: https://truefitnessstudio.com

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

In the last episode of the Lift The Bar podcast, we explored Harriet's journey as she transitioned careers to become a personal trainer. Today's episode features a guest at the other end of the spectrum.

Dean Somerset boasts 20 years of experience as a personal trainer. He is a world-renowned course instructor and speaker. Curious about how he achieved such success? This episode delves into his humble beginnings at a commercial gym, his strategies to build an initial client base, and his insights on making career decisions. We also discuss the ever-present debate: which is more important, lifestyle or money?

Timestamps

01:26- Imposter Syndrome

06:34- Why did Dean stay in a commercial gym for so long?

10:12- How important is it for new trainers to look for the right gym?

11:52- Did Dean ever consider being an employed trainer?

14:14- What would Dean change about his early career?

16:48- How to develop people skills.

21:42- Dean's advice for a struggling PT

24:06- Focusing on lead generation inside vs outside of a gym.

27:10- What else should trainers do early in their career?

29:29- Why Dean didn't open a facility?

33:47- What is the best piece of advice Dean's ever been given?

33:57- What would Dean change about the fitness industry?

34:42- What would a national campaign for personal training look like?

35:28 Advice for a PT who has fallen out of love with coaching.

Find Out More About Dean:

• Website: https://deansomerset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsomerset1/?hl=en

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

Are you ready to break free from your 9-to-5 job and turn your passion for fitness into a career as a personal trainer? Making the transition can be a daunting journey, but fear not! You're not alone. Many have successfully completed the switch before you, and you can too.

In this inspiring episode, Stuart sits down with Harriet Olliffe, who shares her journey from teaching classes in a local town hall to owning a gym. Together, they explore the challenges of building a career in fitness, including navigating the ups and downs, the importance of hard work, and the value of being risk averse.

Through their discussion, you'll gain valuable insights into what it takes to succeed in the industry and why the effort is ultimately worth it. So tune in now to learn from Harriet's experiences and discover how to pursue a fulfilling career doing what you love as a personal trainer.

Timestamps

01:46- Harriet's career before personal training

05:35-Running classes at the local town hall.

10:39- What would Harriet change about her start in fitness?

12:38- Starting mobile PT while working full time.

17:11- Work-life balance while growing a PT business.

19:38- Starting at a boutique gym.

21:47- The importance of being risk adverse.

24:45- Working part-time on gym reception.

26:07- Could Harriet have managed to be successful without working so much?

28:50- The advantages of being an employed PT

31:15- Opportunity to shadow at Harriet's facility.

34:26- Different routes to becoming a PT.

37:08- Opening a facility

Find Out More About Harriet:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harriet.olliffe

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

The guys from Lift the Bar are back in full force for another Q&A. Join Stuart, Gregg, and Alex for this week's episode of the LTB podcast as they dive into a variety of topics that will make your life as a personal trainer much easier.

You can expect to learn whether you need to periodise programmes for the general population, how to determine which experts to trust, and how you can organise your time better. Spoiler Alert: Maybe you need a social media blocker! Also, on this week's episode, Gregg condemns himself to a life without sleep, Alex considers buying a Nokia 3310 and Stuart learns a new word.

Timestamps

02:28- Time Management: How to be more efficient and organised.

06:22- Should everyone "time block"?

08:40- Problems with Task Switching and social media.

09:59- Using website blockers to your advantage.

19:58- How can we know which experts to trust?

28:11- Can you trust an expert to recommend you another?!

32:32- Should PT's periodise programs for the general population?

36:07- Periodisation for new clients.

38:35- Should the transitions between training blocks be "harsh" or "smooth"?

41:10- Should you get feedback from a client before you write their next training block?

43:01- Does periodisation really boil down to organisation and what if your client wants more variety?

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

Effective communication is vital for personal trainers, so we've invited returning guest Cathy MacDonald from The Art of Communication to join Stuart on today's episode. Together, they explore scenarios PTs encounter in the gym and share tangible actions to make your communication more effective. You'll discover how to discuss money without feeling awkward, steer people away from dangerous activities without making them defensive, and why you shouldn't give Stuart an axe. Tune in to sharpen your communication skills and become a more effective personal trainer.

Timestamps

01:28 How to communicate with new gym members.

07:37 The Importance of learning about people

09:23 Core Emotional Concerns

13:49 How to communicate with a gym member who is at risk of injury.

21:06 The value of compliments

24:46 How to offer your services without being salesy

31:35 How to talk about your prices

33:57 How to respond if someone asks for a discount

38:57 How to communicate a price increase to your clients

Find Out More About Cathy:

• Website: https://www.artofcommunication.co.uk/about-aoc

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial

Are you struggling to differentiate yourself from other personal trainers on social media? With so many others offering similar services, it can be challenging to stand out and attract potential clients. After all, why would they pick your "121 sessions, personalised plans and monthly reviews" over anyone else's?!

But don't worry, we've got you covered.

In this episode, Stuart is joined by Jonathan Goodman, a renowned business coach with over 15 years of experience in the personal training industry. As the founder of many successful ventures such as the Personal Trainer Development Centre, QuickCoach, Online Trainer Mentorship and author of 11 books, Jonathan shares his expertise on all things business. Expect to learn about the impact of discounts on your business, how to craft a compelling brand message that resonates with your audience, and why getting more followers is probably a waste of time.

Timestamps:

04:44- Post 1: Will discounts ruin your business?

07:48- The best and worst way to do free PT trials.

12:03- Post 1: Market what a person will become.

19:07- What about if you don't sell client transformations?

22:17- How to set yourself apart from other businesses.

28:06- Post 2: Why getting more followers is a waste of time if you want more clients.

31:18 - Marketing offline in your local community

42:12 - Human Optimised Coaching Sales for PT's

Find Out More About Jon:

• Ig: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/?hl=en
• The PTDC: https://www.theptdc.com/

Find Out More About LTB:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar/
• Website: https://liftthebar.com/
• Free Trial: https://liftthebar.com/free-trial