It can feel very romantic when we start out as Fit Pros. I mean, how can you not get a little teary-eyed at the idea of changing someone’s life? We know how fitness has played a huge part in our own life and we know how powerful it can be in other’s lives. It’s why we do what we do.
The unfortunate truth is that as you start developing into the type of Fit Pro you want to be, you begin to understand that not every client is created equal. There will be certain clients who are a dream to work with, and there will be certain clients who make you rethink that $50k loan you got for college and the thousands of dollars you spent on certifications.
After clocking tens of thousands of sessions and working with thousands of clients, I’ve narrowed this list down to 5 nightmare clients. These are the clients you’ll want to run away from as fast as you can. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
These are the 5 types of clients Fit Pros dread:
- The Askhole. This is the client who will ask you hundreds of questions and take zero action on anything you say. It’s as if they enjoy the idea of knowing what to do without taking action. This client will be hard to spot at first, but there’s a reason you shouldn’t judge people on their words, but on their actions instead. If you have a client who would rather waste time asking for information instead of taking action – you need to drop them. Clients who don’t take action, don’t get results. And clients who don’t get results don’t help you generate more clients.
- The “I want it now client”. We live in a world where we have instant access to just about anything. Unfortunately, that means some clients think that is how everything works – including getting in shape. Years of bad habits can’t be turned around overnight, but there are some clients who refuse to face the reality of their situation. If your client balks at the idea of getting to their goal within a matter of 6 months, and it took them 10 years to get to where they currently are, you may need to drop them as well. If a client can’t face where they are and what true transformation will involve, who do you think they will blame when they come up short?
- The “I don’t do this client”. These clients are one of those most frustrating types of clients. You know the client who makes demands on what they are willing, or not willing to do, to get the result they want you to deliver? It’s like going for an oil change and telling the mechanic you want them to use water instead of oil. If they aren’t bought into your process, then good luck getting them results. My suggestion is to run for the hills if your client, or potential client, starts making big demands of how things are going to work.
- The “know it all” client. Have you ever met someone who always acts like they have all the answers, even if you know they are way out of their depth? These people may make for an interesting conversation, but they will not make a good client. If your client already thinks they know all the answers, then why would they take any guidance from you? If they aren’t willing to listen, then they won’t take action on your advice. If they don’t take action your advice, they won’t get results. Save yourself the time and headache of trying to convince these types of people of your expertise. If they already know it all then they should be able to get the results for themselves.
- The haggling client. Fitness is one of those businesses where the value of what you do is in the eye of the beholder. It’s not one of those jobs where everyone makes X amount of money. Some trainers get paid more and some get paid less. It’s all based on the value you have for yourself and the value your client sees. Having clients who are constantly looking for a “deal” is like going to Starbucks and telling the barista you’re only willing to pay 2 dollars for a 5 dollar cup of coffee. It just doesn’t work that way, so why should it work that way in fitness? The answer is that it shouldn’t — and you should avoid clients who haggle all the time. You deserve to get paid what you’re worth and that standard starts with you.
Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the game for a while, you’re bound to run into a few nightmare clients along the way. But if you’d like to skip the nightmare clients and go straight for the dream clients, I want to invite to go through our 4-step training.
If you’re an online or aspiring online Fit Pro, learn how to add at least 5-10 new clients every month without guesswork or wasting time.
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