The PT Roadmap

A weekly newsletter for personal trainers to guide you to become a better coach and build a better business.

Hey!

Thanks for opening up today's newsletter. I appreciate you being here.

I usually send the PTR on a Friday, but I’ve wanted to test a different day to see how it impacts open rates, so today is as good a time as any to try.

I’ll still send Fridays, so consider today an extra issue!

In today’s issue:

✅ One business tip

✅ One coaching cue

✅ One exercise recommendation

✅ One social post worth your time

Let's get into it!

Better Business

The Story of Why I Decided to Leave Lift the Bar

I thought it would be interesting to do a section on my recent decision to leave LTB.

I’m now two months out, so I can better reflect on it.

I hope it inspires some of you to leap.

A lot of you are in positions similar to what I was in.

Good pay.

Secure job.

Positive impact.

Or maybe you’re in a gym you don’t love and thinking about heading out alone.

I hope my story pushes you to jump.

Or at least take some steps towards jumping.

Because sometimes, we need to let go to move forward.

I honestly did have the most amazing time being part of LTB: the people, the company values, and the work I was involved in.

I launched a podcast that ran for 7 years and was downloaded 700,000 times. This alone impacted me and my life in ways I can’t put into words.

I mentored amazing trainers who had their coaching & programming nailed but needed help with the business side: more clients, better schedules, new service launches, improved onboarding and client journeys.

I created short, actionable courses on starting as a PT, self-determination theory, time management and sales.

I was involved in a team of people genuinely invested in helping personal trainers have more enjoyable careers.

It is a part of my career I will look back on fondly.

But I now want to design a better career for myself.

One that pays me well and gives me complete control over what I do, when I do it and what my future holds.

I’m 32. I’ve got a 3-year-old son, and I’m married.

Now is the right time because I need and want a new challenge to create the kind of future I envision.

It first appeared as an idea after a few glasses of wine with my wife six months ago.

Most evenings, we sit in our garage on two reclining chairs, discussing our lives.

Initially, she told me my idea was rubbish. I needed the (harsh but fair) feedback, as it wasn’t built on anything solid.

So, I spent the next few months writing things down, thinking, and running my plans past my wife.

Eventually, I convinced her it made sense.

I did the maths, got a loan from my parents and made plans to start building up my own business.

I needed that time to refine it, run the numbers and show how it’d make it work. This phase was tough, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t spend much of it doubting whether it was worth it.

After all, my job with Lift the Bar was stable and enjoyable.

But it wasn’t enough… and that feeling didn’t shift. It only got stronger.

If you're similar, know it’s possible and worth it to jump. Just make sure you run the numbers, make a plan and discuss it with your people.

So, here we are!

What’s Next?

As I mentioned in a recent newsletter, I’ve started back up in-person PT. 

I’m passionate about in-person work. It’s the form of personal training I love the most.

Online is great.

But being face-to-face with a client or group of clients will always beat it for me.

So, I’ve rebuilt a PT business to a point I’m happy with.

I’ve also been quietly working on creating a business coaching service for in-person PTs I’m now ready to offer.

When I first started as a member of Lift the Bar in 2014, I gained the most from my once-a-month calls with Chris Burgess. I’d show up overwhelmed with too many ideas, and he’d slow me down and help me figure out what priority one was.

It was incredibly helpful to have a mentor who had done what I was trying to do (build a profitable PT business filled with clients I loved training) and learned the lessons before me.

Business not quite where you want it?

This is the part where I pitch my coaching service to you…

This will be one of the only times I do this in the newsletter. I’m doing it here because I know some of you reading will benefit greatly from it.

Business coaching is the missing piece for some of you, so I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention it.

But after today, you won’t see another in-newsletter pitch like this.

At least not for a while, anyway.

So…

If you continually doubt which direction to take next to move forward.

Or you’re confused about how to grow your client base and income level.

Or you’re wondering whether you should launch X or Y service to earn more money.

I’d love to see if I can help.

We’ll do three things:

1. Have a free 30-45 minute conversation about your business, its problems and where you’d like it to go. 

2. I’ll propose a plan to help you get it where you want it.

3. If my proposed plan sounds good, we’ll work closely together to fulfil that plan. We’ll talk weekly on the phone and set clear actions, discuss challenges and keep you accountable. And we’ll chat most days over WhatsApp.

Reply to this email to set up your free call if interested 👍

I’ve got three spaces left on my introductory price.

Once these spots are gone, my rate will be going up.

So, this is as cheap as my coaching will ever be.

If you’re looking to grow and improve your business and feel like accountability and direction from someone who has been where you are is what you’re missing, ping me a reply, and we’ll set up a friendly chat.

One Coaching Cue

What's it for?

I’ve used this comparison of the Simpsons drinking bird whom Homer substitutes for himself at the powerplant for years.

Then Karl Eagelman at Whiteboard Daily took it up a notch and produced this image.

I now have this saved in an easy-to-access folder on my phone and use it whenever I remember & it makes sense.

For the right client, it works wonders for hinge technique.

One Exercise

Recommended Exercise: Tricep Ring Pushdowns

I picked this one up from my good friend Gregg Slater at 55X Project

It's not one I’d ever played around with before, but it’s an excellent bodyweight addition to your arm training toolbox.

I don’t own a cable stack and have no desire to get one (too expensive and heavy to lug around for when I finally convince my wife to move back to Scotland), so anytime I find ways to train arms without dumbbells or bands, I’m happy.

One Social Media Post

I’ve written before about how much I enjoy seeing PT’s personalities come out in their marketing.

This post from Rachel Henley is a great example.

She could’ve just ‘announced’ this programme.

But instead, she’s thrown in her personality and posted about it in a novel and attention-grabbing way.

I’m never going to write about taking my or anyone else’s nipples to a cheese grater, as it’s just not me lol

But I can take the principle Rachel has shown here (inserting some humour and personality into her content) and use it as inspiration for the next time I launch or announce something.

Thanks so much for reading.

Until Friday, Stuart.

Here is how I help in-person PTs like you build businesses they love:

Monthly Social Media Templates

Get sent five done-for-you social media templates each month. These are tried and tested templates, allowing you to post better content consistently.

You’ll build stronger relationships, showcase your expertise better and get more people enquiring about your services.

Try a month for £12

1-1 Mentoring

I work closely with in-person PTs to help them fix & grow their business so it’s profitable and on a schedule they don’t hate.

This is 1-1 mentoring where I work with you just like you do your 1-1 clients.

I’ll get to know you and your business before I offer any advice, and we’ll work together to make a plan that gets your business looking and feeling how you want it.

Then, we’ll talk on the phone every single week. And I’ll support you on WhatsApp, so you’ve got a place to ask questions and receive feedback.

Many PTs need someone to listen to their problems and goals, help them make sense of where they want to go, tell them what to do, and help them stay accountable.

This is why it’s 1-1 and not group coaching.

Talking 1-1 is essential to staying accountable and receiving individual advice.

Plus, I love 1-1 coaching.

If you’re interested in chatting about how mentoring could help you bring in more clients, increase your income and get your business running how you want it, hit reply, and we’ll set up a free 30-minute consultation.