Burnout is becoming a major concern for personal trainers, and new data suggests it may also be affecting how much they earn.

According to the NASM State of Personal Training Report, 27% of personal trainers say burnout is capping their income potential. The report also found that burnout appears to be more pronounced among higher earners, with 35% reporting it as an issue compared with 18% at the other end of the income spectrum.

In this episode of Smittyville, Fitness World CEO Chris Smith and fitness business journalist Krissy Vann unpack those findings and debate what burnout actually means for a personal trainer building a long-term career.

Is burnout simply the result of working too much, or can it be a symptom of deeper problems around time management, prioritization, boundaries and self-discipline? Chris argues that many of the factors that lead someone toward burnout can be identified and addressed before they become overwhelming, including learning when to say no, managing time more deliberately and following through on personal priorities outside of work.

The conversation also examines why higher-earning personal trainers may be especially vulnerable. Trainers earning more than $100,000 may be servicing more clients, training at higher frequency and intensity, and carrying the pressure required to maintain that level of income. That creates a bigger question for anyone trying to grow in the fitness industry: how much work does success actually require, and how do you know when hard work has crossed into something unsustainable?

Chris also challenges the broader conversation around work ethic, asking whether attitudes toward hard work have changed across generations and whether there is sometimes a gap between wanting a particular career outcome and being willing to do the work required to achieve it. He reflects on his own experience working six days a week and 12-hour days for more than two decades, while also arguing that recovery, vacations and making time for the things that make life enjoyable have to be deliberately prioritized.

In this episode:

• What the NASM State of Personal Training Report says about trainer burnout
• Why 27% of personal trainers say burnout is limiting their income
• Why burnout appears more common among higher-earning trainers
• The relationship between workload, client volume and income
• Whether burnout is the problem or a symptom of something deeper
• Time management, prioritization and learning when to say no
• Why vacations and life outside of work matter
• The difference between wanting success and being willing to work for it
• Hard work, hustle and changing generational expectations
• How trainers can build a career that is both successful and sustainable

Smittyville is a podcast for personal trainers about business, leadership, money, career development and the things nobody teaches you on the gym floor. Hosted by Fitness World CEO Chris Smith and fitness business journalist Krissy Vann.

On this episode of Smittyville, Fitness World CEO Chris Smith pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to become a CEO — and what the job looks like once you get there.

Chris shares the unconventional path that took him from personal training and gym operations into executive leadership, including the intense boardroom “final exam” that resulted in him being named CEO. He breaks down some of the biggest leadership lessons he learned along the way: taking responsibility when things go wrong, doing the job you want before you have the title, learning to listen instead of always jumping in with the answer, and staying close to the people actually doing the work.

Chris and Krissy also get into the realities of running and rapidly growing a fitness business, from leases, financing and expansion to people management, hundreds of emails a day and the importance of knowing your numbers.

Plus, Chris explains how he protects his emotional energy as a leader, why he expects problems without allowing them to derail him, and the mindset behind his latest Smithism: you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.

If you're a personal trainer, fitness professional, gym manager or aspiring fitness business leader wondering how to advance your career, become a better leader or eventually move into executive leadership, this episode offers a practical look at the skills, habits and mindset required to keep growing.

Smittyville is the podcast for personal trainers hosted by Chris Smith, CEO of Fitness World, and fitness business journalist Krissy Vann, covering personal training, fitness careers, leadership, business, money and the lessons nobody teaches you on the gym floor.

NASM surveyed 1,133 certified personal trainers to understand where the profession is heading, how trainers are earning, and what separates the industry’s highest performers from everyone else.

In this episode, Chris Smith breaks down the findings through an operator’s lens. The conversation covers trainer optimism, income growth, specialization, GLP-1s, burnout, the limits of one-on-one training, and why six-figure trainers are relying less on social media and more on referrals, local search, hybrid coaching and stronger business systems.

Chris also challenges parts of the report, including whether burnout is really the problem trainers think it is, and shares what he believes fitness professionals should focus on if they want to build a sustainable career rather than simply fill more hours on the gym floor.

This is a practical look at what the numbers reveal, where Chris disagrees, and what the future of personal training may actually demand.

Millions of women are entering perimenopause looking for answers, and many are turning to their personal trainer for guidance.

In this episode of Smittyville, Chris Smith explores the important role fitness professionals can play in supporting women through one of the biggest physiological transitions of their lives.

Rather than trying to become medical experts, Chris discusses why great coaches understand the value of empathy, education, and collaboration. From strength training and lifestyle habits to knowing when it's time to refer a client to a physician, this conversation focuses on how trainers can build trust while staying firmly within their scope of practice.

The discussion also explores why perimenopause represents one of the biggest opportunities for personal trainers to better serve an often-overlooked population through thoughtful coaching, ongoing education, and stronger relationships with healthcare professionals.
Whether you're a new trainer or an experienced coach, this episode offers practical guidance on navigating these conversations with confidence while putting your clients' long-term health first.
In this episode:

Why more women are seeking support during perimenopause
The role of strength training, sleep, nutrition, and movement
Why there's no one-size-fits-all approach
Staying within your scope of practice as a trainer
Building referral relationships with doctors and healthcare providers
How continuing education can help trainers better serve female clients
Why empathy may be your greatest coaching tool

Personal training has never been just about exercise.

Every day, coaches help people navigate stress, heartbreak, self doubt, major life changes, and the emotions that inevitably show up outside the gym.

In this episode of Smittyville, Chris Smith and Krissy Vann explore the human side of coaching. From crying at work and leading with empathy to navigating relationships and becoming a better communicator, this conversation is about the skills that separate good coaches from great ones.

Because the best coaches don't just change lives.

The work changes them, too.

In this episode:
• Is it okay to cry at work?
• How leaders should respond when emotions show up
• Why communication is one of a coach's greatest strengths
• Helping clients through difficult life events
• The connection between personal growth and professional success
• Why becoming a better human makes you a better coach

Welcome to Smittyville.

Building better coaches.
Building better careers.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are changing the fitness industry, but what does that mean for personal trainers?

In this episode of Smittyville, CEO of Fitness World Chris Smith breaks down one of the most talked-about topics in health and wellness today. They discuss where GLP-1s came from, why they've become so popular, the risks of muscle loss, and why strength training, nutrition, and coaching are more important than ever.

Most importantly, they explore why this isn't a threat to personal trainers. It may be one of the biggest opportunities the profession has seen in years.
If you're a trainer, coach, or fitness professional trying to understand how GLP-1s are impacting your clients and your business, this episode is for you.

Topics include:

• Ozempic, Wegovy and GLP-1 medications
• Muscle loss and strength training
• Protein and nutrition considerations
• The role of personal trainers
• The future of fitness and wellness
• Opportunities for coaches in the GLP-1 era

#personaltrainers #personaltraining #fitnesscareers #gymlife

What does it take to build a career that lasts in the fitness industry?
In the first-ever guest episode of Smittyville, Chris Smith sits down with longtime trainer and Gummy Gainz co-founder Ben Poss.

After more than two decades in the fitness industry, Ben still trains several of the same clients he started with over 20 years ago. In this conversation, he shares lessons on building relationships, creating opportunities, developing a strong work ethic, and why some trainers create lasting careers while others leave the industry.

Ben also shares how a simple conversation with a client led to the creation of Gummy Gainz and the entrepreneurial journey that followed.
Whether you're a new trainer, an experienced coach, or looking to grow your own business, this episode is packed with practical lessons from someone who has done it for more than two decades.

#personaltrainer #personaltraining #fitnesscareers

Most trainers think onboarding starts after the client signs up. CEO of Fitness World Chris Smith says it starts the second someone walks through the door.

Welcome back to Smittyville, the smartest small town in fitness.

In this episode, Chris and Krissy break down the infamous Pink Sheet process used at Fitness World and the psychology behind better personal training consultations. From handshakes and first impressions to active listening, rapport building, asking better questions, and creating professional recommendations, this episode covers the systems that help trainers move beyond "selling" and actually understand people.

Topics include:

• How to build trust in the first meeting
• Why people decide if they like you in seconds
• The Pink Sheet onboarding process
• Active listening and consultative sales
• Asking follow up questions that uncover goals and motivation
• Why permission to present matters
• How trainers can create stronger client buy in

If you're a personal trainer who wants better consultations, stronger retention, and more confidence onboarding new clients, this one is for you.

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