Welcome to the Elite Trainer Academy podcast, brought to you by Mind Pump, where we discuss essential strategies for personal trainers aiming to grow their business. Host Sal Di Stefano covers the critical skill of fostering behavioral change in clients. Key points include the importance of building trust, avoiding overcommitment, and the pitfalls of aiming for temporary versus permanent change. The conversation also covers practical tips for achieving small wins, fostering honesty, and utilizing storytelling to connect with clients. Trainers are encouraged to balance their coaching intensity, forecast challenges, and demonstrate empathy, emphasizing the goal of lasting client relationships and sustainable fitness habits.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Elite Trainer Academy

00:46 Common Mistakes Trainers Make

02:21 Building Trust with Clients

12:15 The Importance of Forecasting

15:55 Balancing Client Expectations

22:58 Building Trust with Clients

24:56 Navigating Online Coaching Challenges

26:20 Empathy in Fitness Coaching

28:19 Long-Term Client Relationships

29:55 Trainer Business Stability

40:10 Setting Standards for Trainers

Instagram:

Kyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyle

Sal Di Stefano - @mindpumpsal

Mind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy

In this episode of Elite Trainer Academy, Adam Schafer covers the steps required to build a successful online business as a personal trainer or fitness coach. Adam discusses the importance of setting clear business goals, understanding metrics like client success rates and revenue, and recognizing the value of working within big box gyms before going solo. He emphasizes the need to learn about digital marketing, social media, email marketing, and organic lead generation. The conversation also explores the challenges of balancing training clients and business development, and the long-term benefits of building a brand through consistent, valuable content over quick revenue schemes. This episode is packed with actionable insights for any trainer looking to scale their business sustainably.

00:00 Intro to Building a Successful Online Fitness Business

01:00 Defining Success as a Personal Trainer

01:24 The Reality of Client Success Rates

01:42 Revenue Metrics for Personal Trainers

03:08 The Value of Big Box Gyms

06:51 The Importance of Business Skills

08:50 Balancing Training and Business Development

09:43 The Grind of a Successful Trainer

10:19 The Role of Passion and Hustle

12:50 Interviewing and Hiring the Right Trainers

14:38 The Impact of the Podcast on Trainer Recruitment

15:36 The Journey of a Top Trainer

18:26 Learning Sales as a Trainer

21:35 The Importance of E-commerce and Social Media Skills

25:40 Ranking Marketing Strategies for Trainers

26:16 The Importance of Organic Traffic

29:39 Building a Brand vs. Building a Business

31:53 The Pitfalls of Quick Money Schemes

34:09 Creating Value and Engaging Your Audience

40:48 The Long-Term Strategy for Success

Instagram:

Kyle Pullin - @mindpumpkyle

Adam Schafer - @mindpumpadam

Mind Pump Fitness Coaching - @elitetraineracademy

In this episode of The Elite Trainer Podcast, Kyle and Justin dive deep into the art of effective programming—breaking down the key differences between training for aesthetics vs performance, and how to tailor each approach to the client in front of you. They discusses the emotional rollercoaster clients face when their identity is tied to appearance, the importance of direct, honest conversations, and why false promises do more harm than good. You'll learn how to set clients up for long-term success, the power of allowing them to fail and return, and how to lead them into full submission to the process—especially when external life stressors start creeping in.If you got value from this episode, make sure to follow or subscribe to The Elite Trainer Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you know a friend, client, or fellow trainer who could benefit, share it with them — it’s the best way to support the show and help more coaches level up.Thanks for listening — we’re just getting started.Follow Kyle Pullin - @MindpumpKyle on InstagramFollow Sal Distefano - @MindpumpDistefano on InstagramFollow Justin Andrews - @MindpumpJustin on InstagramFollow Adam Schafer - @MindpumpAdam on InstagramFollow Doug Egge- @MindpumpDoug on InstagramFollow Mind Pump Fitness Coaching - @EliteTrainerAcademy Follow Mind Pump Media Podcast on Youtube - @MindPumpShow Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6i2iSdbEu9PFJ62bYvrj58?si=f66779f77fc7488f