Im thinking about job satisfaction but a huge pay drop

Im thinking about making a move into personal training. Im a male, 29yrs old and currently train a few colleagues and friends a few times a week (no charge) and they (and I) love it. Ive always been into bodybuilding and fitness and am very serious about improving myself and love helping others become stronger and healthier.

The problem is moving into this industry fulltime would entail a massive paydrop, I earn over 350k a year in my current job but work 12-13hr days, 5 days a week, only 2.5weeks vacation per year, hate the office environment, has a genuis of a boss who is constantly grinding me down, would much rather live free in a gym.

Another option is to stick it out a few more years, save more money to the point where im comfortable doing whatever I want or I have enough savings to make a bigger mark in the fitness industry like opening an gym.

I guess in the bigger picture, my own needs might seem completely petty to those who have fitness as a fulltime dedicated career but think the paydrop/lifestyle change makes it alot more of a tougher decision.

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ownership is best
by: Anonymous

save up for the gym ownership after you find time to get certified

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Dang
by: Barnaby

Dude - if I made 350k a year, I'd take any amount of crap and be happy. Currently I make 40l a year dealing with the same BS. Not to discourage you, just blown away. I too am looking to make that move to Personal Training, instead of rotting away at a job I hate. Rock on man!

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Quitter
by: Melisa

Get the book Quitter by Jon Acuff. It talks about how to keep your job while preparing for your dream job.

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Job = Peace of mind
by: Anonymous

Hi, I don't know how long ago you wrote this article. My advice is to keep the job you hate. In the meantime cut your expenses. If you have home pay it off first with the job you have. In the meantime acquire more knowledge and get a presence on the internet. Find ways to market what you have now on the internet. Get pictures of before and after of your friends and post it. Also, find a way to create revenue by owning your Personal Trainer Studio. How you are going to implement a business plan and market studies. Find out who you are going to train. Think higher end. What about the people you work with? I am sure many of them have the same frustrations and are more likely neglecting their health. You only have one life. A great book is Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Good luck!

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Over 350k a year?!?!?
by: Anonymous

You have a 1000$ a day job and your only 29? I find that incredibly hard to believe. If that's true you make more in a month than most people make all year, why in the world would you quit doing that? You should just stuff money away every year for 10 years and retire to a life of personal training.

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It's not just about health it's about wellness too
by: Jo

I read your comment, and I"m sure we all wish we could make that sort of money, but I would question your wellness. There are many dimensions of health, but there are always many dimensions of wellness. Sure you may be healthy (low HR, low BP, Good HDL, Low LDL, no signs of heart disease or cancer, you work out with weights, and you train your cardiovascular system), however wellness is more mental and more spiritual.

How is your stress level with your job, do you constantly have a flood of adrenaline, are your cortisol levels high - this can all cause cancer and heart disease in your future. Does work come home with you? Does is cause a strain in your relationships? Are you consuming way too much and contributing to a reduction in earths natural resources because you have a high paying job? Are you able to find time to do things you love to do? Does your position and company have morals, or deep down inside do you feel like you are doing something wrong? Do you have time for exercise? You see, all of these questions can be answered to help you understand how your level of wellness is doing. if your wellness is doing poorly, then maybe it is time for a career change. No amount of money is worth not having optimum levels of health and wellness.

My suggestion is to take it slow. Get certified (and get a good certification like ACSM which is the best but hardest to get), get your personal trainers insurance, get a very good waiver together, and then just start training a few people (other than your friends) on the side during the weekends, see how that goes, and begin to slowly expand while you cut back at work.

ALSO, being to down size. If you are going to make less money, start buying less expensive items. Do you honestly NEED a big house and expensive car with high insurance? I mean, wouldn't you rather be doing what you love, making less money, than having a high paying job just to be able to afford luxury items? That's not life man. Start preparing by cutting back on what's not needed.

You can turn out to be a great trainer and change peoples lives, just as you changed yours.

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Create a portfolio
by: Anonymous

Create a before and after booklet of your pro-bono clients and use that to start attracting more clients. Use your current clients to spread the word for you
Jason
http://www.just4ubootcamp.com/

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Transitioning To Persoanal Trainer
by: Steve Epperson

What if I told you it's possible to make $350,000 as a personal trainer?

Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful post. I think the challenge for you is going from being an employee to being self employed. It's an age-old dilemma. Your boss is a jerk, but you're making a very good living. You want to get out of the rat race but you feel you can't afford to. Am I getting close?

I too have been in that position. 14 years ago, I could have started a good career with the government. But instead, I chose to be a self-employed fitness trainer. I have a studio, but it doesn't quite make the "six-figure" income everyone so desires. I will tell you that I am happy. Sometimes that may not be enough,though.

If you want to make $350,000 per year as a trainer you are going to have to do a few things:

1. Keep your job for a while, just until you learn how to be a good trainer. Train on weekends.

2. In this time,learn how to market.

3. When you are ready, build a business model that includes 3-4 studios you can franchise quickly to other trainers.

You get to keep working in your own studio while selling the rights to other trainers to work in your turn-key studios.

If you doubt it can be done, just look at the Curves franchise. It's a brilliant biz model (I just wish they would be a little more supportive of their franchisees). You can also look to the Fitness Together franchise. They survived the economic downturn through strategic placement. Egoscue clinics are another good example of leveraging other practitioners.

As in any business, if you want to make the big bucks, you'll have to go from being self-employed to being a real business owner. I think you can do it. Best of luck!

Im thinking about job satisfaction but a huge pay drop

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