As we finish up the second week into 2019, I’m really beginning to feel like an analog man living in a digital world. I’m finding it difficult to keep up with a cyber world that is constantly evolving. As a business owner, I understand the importance of having a presence on social media. However as individual who grew up using the phone to talk rather then text, and didn’t even own his first computer until the age of 23, I have little to no interest in this fake and somewhat narcissistic world of “likes” hashtags and shameless selfies.
I don’t find myself craving for the approval from others on how I look, dress and live my life, to feed my ego and give me a sense of self validation. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy using apps such as Instagram and Facebook to help generate new leads for our business and give potential and new clients an idea as to what our company is all about. I just don’t understand as to why certain people feel that it’s necessary to share photos of themselves that are inappropriate (such as bathroom butt selfies), or misleading (such as filtered everything!) and/or post content that is cruel and hateful (such as shaming or ridiculing others who may not share the same beliefs as they do).
Perhaps this is something that I have become more sensitive to, due to the fact that I work in an industry that puts a great deal of emphasis on looks and beauty rather then health and wellbeing. The majority of people in my online world share common interests with me such as exercising and working out. However some (not all) of these people seem to prefer the attention that they get from all this exercising and working out, then they do from actually just working out!
AND IT”S DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!!
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Ask the majority of my clients and I’m sure they will tell you that I’m a nice guy…….OUTSIDE OF THE GYM. Ask them that very same question for when I’m inside the gym training them, and they’ll tell you that I’m a straight up Asshole. I don’t take offence to how my clients view me as a trainer and coach. If anything, I’m happy that they might hate me a bit during their workouts. That just means I’m doing my job. I’m not in the gym to be their friend. I’m not in the gym to be their therapist. And I’m not in the gym to play nice and bake cookies! I’m in the gym to help my clients get results! Plain and Simple!
With that said, when the session starts, then it really starts! Regardless if I’m teaching a class, partner session, or a private session, I ensure that every single person I work with gives each and every workout they do with me, 110%. I don’t believe in cookie cutter training programs and spa-type workouts. I believe in good old fashion hard work and a balls to wall, leave nothing on the table mentality, each and every time I set foot in the gym. And I expect my clients to have that same mentality as well. After all, why bother doing anything, if you’re not willing to do it with your utmost focus, effort and intensity.
Unfortunately, apart from the people of whom we work with, most people that I see in gyms these days, don’t share that same mentality and it shows in both their health, quality of physique and overall results.
Training With Technology
For the record, I’m not against using technology. I’m just against using technology in the gym. Visit any commercial gym and look around at the people “training” around you. I use the word training loosely because the majority of the people who are in the gyms these days are more focused on their phones rather then their workouts. When it comes to training, a phone is simply just a distraction. Unless you are using your phone purely as a device to play and listen to music from when you’re training, there is rarely if ever a reason for a cellphone to make an appearance during a REAL workout.
Enough With the Damn Photo Shoots!
I absolutely hate being filmed and recorded while performing my own workouts in the gym. However as a fitness professional, I understand that these videos and photos of me training, do provide me with a sense of credibility and show that I at least have a basic understanding as to what I’m doing in the gym. This can ofcourse help new clients who might not know me (but decide to google me first) gain more confidence knowing that they are working with someone who does in fact practice what he preaches on daily basis.
As for filming and taking photos of our own clients during their sessions with us? I am 100% against this! For starters, if I feel that uncomfortable in front of a camera while exercising, how do you think someone else who might not be as experienced with the exercise that he or she is performing or is a bit self conscious about their body will feel? Even if the person that I’m working with has been training with me for 10 years and is incredibly fit and in excellent shape, if I’m busy filming them, then how the hell can I be focused on correcting their form and posture while performing an exercise? I also feel that it’s disrespectful and not in good taste to use people who are already PAYING for your service, to help market this very same service to potential and new clients through filming their PAID sessions with you.
The Take Home Message
Look, I’m the last person to offer advice, especially when it’s unsolicited advice. My blogs are just meant to be blogs. This is a place where I feel that I can vent my frustration with the fitness industry, debunk some Bro Science myths and cross examine the latest fad diets and generic exercise dribble that emits into my news-feeds on a regular basis. I will always offer up my thoughts and opinions on a subject and don’t expect everyone to always agree with me on the topics at hand.
So when it comes to my thoughts and opinions on the topic as to why not enough people are getting the results they want with their health and their physiques in the gym, it comes down to this –
THEY”RE NOT TRAINING HARD ENOUGH!
THEY”RE NOT DIETING HARD ENOUGH!
And THEY”RE NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH!
There, I’ve think I’ve said enough…….
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance