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Above, a pic of the parking lot during the first few weeks of The Underground Strength Gym (warehouse gym) after moving out of my 2 car garage into a 1600 sq ft warehouse in Edison, NJ.
I've made many mistakes as my time as a Strength Coach. Today, with 2 gyms and consulting for other strength coaches I see a common theme amongst mistakes that can screw up your chances of success BIG time.
I've made these mistakes myself when I get caught up and listen to people who are NOT in the same situation I'm in. These mistakes teach me powerful lessons and if you are a Strength Coach or Warehouse Gym owner, you'll wanna pay very close attention to this Video.
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3pzyaLmHZ0[/youtube]
The next mistake I want to share with you has resonated with me since I began running The Underground Strength Coach Certification.
It is critical yet so many Strength Coaches don't get just how powerful this is.
It is a BIG part of Living The Code and Living what you teach.
I explain in part 2 of the video series Here:
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aas4wF1FIdY[/youtube]
There have been many times when Coaches had attended The USC Cert and were out of shape, unable to perform the warm up or would show up and immediately tell me about an injury and asking if they can just watch and learn.
At first I was caught off guard as to how and why so many Strength Coaches were not doing the very thing they were trying to teach, share and inspire others to do. This was happening on a regular basis and being the passionate person I am, I was getting fed up and fired up.
I didn't believe in Coaches or anyone for that matter trying to sneak by without doing the work. I thought about WHO would I want my Coach to be or the Coach of my kids? It HAD to be someone who walked the talk.
I finally put an end to this and put a note on the Underground Strength Coach Certification web site stating that you must be healthy and able to participate fully in the cert to complete and earn your Underground Strength Coach Cert.
Of course, the online Underground Strength Cert is different. You WILL be learning by watching videos through the 4 weeks and then taking a multiple choice test within 90 days of your purchase of the course.
I will also be doing a webinar and live QnA during the 4th week to answer your questions in training or any other Strength Coach questions you have.
After the Cert you also get:
$297 Value - 1 year membership to The Underground Strength Inner Circle, where I've been adding content since 2005.
$5,000 Value - Lifetime access to The Underground Strength Coach Mastermind area. You'll be able to discuss business, training and life with certified coaches from all around the world as well as myself, I check in every day. This is priceless.
After the Cert is completed on your end is when you MUST represent your training and live the code. You need to be honest with yourself and do the work necessary to succeed. You must look the part of what you do or no one will buy into your message. As the late Ultimate Warrior said, "Be a Leader for the Leaders!"
If you have more questions on the topic of Strength Coach Biz / Training / Running a Warehouse Gym, drop your comments below!
The USC Cert Online!
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds5A2tUgbkg[/youtube]
5 Responses
Zach you hit this nail perfectly on the head again. I’ve witnessed many other trainers and coaches trying to push their trainees through what seemed to be a hopeless cirque du soleil act.
Primitive movement patterns start with basic mastery. I always tell people that no baby ever comes out of the womb sprinting. Everyone starts with a crawl, then a walk, and then a run! Once again great reminder to other professionals in the field.
This is definitely a message that should resonate with trainers out there in the world that can be honest with themselves. Great share bro!
I remember when I first began training athletes…. I was using the basics, but with various training tools: barbells, kettlebells, sandbags, stones.
Still squatting, rowing, lunging, clean and press, etc.
The BIG names were on stability balls, functional cable machines, wobble boards, etc.
It was tough sticking to my guns when big names were doing circus tricks…
BUT, our athletes were kicking ass, that is what always reminded of what REALLY counts.
I couldn’t agree more with Travis!
The Underground Strength Coach Certification was the best thing I could have done for my own training, and for the people who I train. While I have gained much from CrossFit ovet the , past ten years, Zach has helped me distinguish my gym, the Cave, from the 10,000 other CrossFit gyms out there.
Great points Zach. Love it. Reminds me of a pivotal point in my time as a coach. I’ll never forget this talk I had one day with my boss at one of the gyms where I used to work. We had a large group of members, mostly untrained in the past. My partner and I had everyone on a basic lifting progression and those that couldn’t worked through the regressions. Our owner told me one day that a few people didn’t like lifting so much(once a week per lift) and that our program was going to change. The key in that conversation was when he told me we weren’t there to make people stronger, but to give them fitness. I immediately knew I was in the wrong place.
Amen –
I’m not a coach. I’m in the gym 4 days a week at 5 am only cuz they’ve got a squat rack and bench press and I want to be safe and sometimes I need a spot on the bench. I’m 62 years old and I’ve been doing this for 40 years. Bench. Overhead Press. Squat. Deadlift. Kettle Bells – swings, snatches, getups. Sand bag – twisting lunges & squats every way they can be done. I look forward to your e-mail each day to see what’s up. You’re a good man! You’ll keep doing it because you love it. What struck me the other day was “the secret.” My motto has always been “The Secret is…There is no Secret.” You’re the real deal! Thanks!