Interview with Celebrity Trainer Joe Dowdell

 

 

Check it out and leave some comments below.  What other questions might you have for Joe?  If we get a bunch of comments, maybe he will agree to another interview!

1)       When working with your personal training clients, how can you tell if a client is really ready to change their behavior and life for good?

• Well fortunately, I’m at a point in my career where I’m very blunt (but nice) in the initial client interview process.


• Basically, I tell them that if they want to work with me I have certain parameters that they need to follow.


• First, they need to go see Dr. Brooke Kalanick in order to get their current nutrition program evaluated and altered if necessary. In addition, Dr. Brooke will assess whether or not they have any specific hormonal issues that need to be addressed.


• Second, they must be willing to commit to the program, if not then I’ll recommend another trainer.


• Third, they must be willing to give me a 100% during their sessions and keep to a regular schedule.


• Finally, I let them know about my cancellation policy.

2)       You are a tremendous success, probably in the top .01% of personal trainers worldwide.  Is there a big secret to your success?  Something you do differently?

• I never lose focus. My drive to succeed is endless. I was fortunate enough to be raised by parents that instilled a tremendous work ethic in me.


• My Dad was a successful entrepreneur and I got to see firsthand what it took on a daily basis to be successful.


• I got to see the sacrifices that are sometimes necessary to make in order to be successful.


• I also learned how important it is to surround myself with a great team of people. I can’t do everything and I can’t be everywhere at once so I need to be able to trust my staff and know that we all have the same desire to make Peak the best place to train.

3)       What are the top 1 or 2 things that trainers are NOT doing which they should be; things which will help them get better results with their clients?

• First of all, many trainers don’t place a high enough value on continuing education. They get caught up in the cost of a seminar or a mentorship and lose sight that knowledge is power. The more knowledgeable you acquire, the more information you have at your disposal, which will allow you to design more effective training programs, which will ultimately give your clients the results that they desire.  When your clients continue to get results, the demand for your services will rise and so will your fees.


• Secondly, I also think it’s important that a trainer look like a trainer. Trainers should be fit. They don’t have to be walking around at 6% body fat, but they should definitely look like they train. It’s important to know your clientele. If clients are coming to you because you are supposed to be a fat loss expert, well than look the part. I don’t care how smart you are, if you are calling yourself a fat loss expert and you are walking around at 15-20% body fat as guy or 20-24% body fat as a woman, you should probably start applying some of your knowledge on yourself.

4)       Your commitment to continuing education is very impressive.  What is your personal philosophy when it comes to trying new certifications or evaluating potential educational opportunities?

• In the beginning, I tried to find out who the industry leaders were and then I made it a point to go spend time with each of them.


• I would also ask them for 2 or 3 names of other individuals that they would highly recommend that I learn from.


• I’m a big believer in attending 3-5 day internship/mentorship programs as opposed to weekend conferences with 30 different presenters. In the early stages of one’s training career, those weekend conferences are really great because they can give you an opportunity to see which presenters you’d like to go and spend more time learning from.

5)       So many trainers are too quick to try and write a book, e-book, or create an info product online.  How do you know the time is right?  You have had the expertise to write a book for years now, were you waiting for a reason and what should trainers know about the publishing industry?

• Wow, that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. With growth of the internet, anyone and their mother can be an internet expert. There’s no regulation or accountability with those products as there is no standard that the creator needs to be held accountable to.


• Often times with these products, you’ll also see the same few names endorsing the product as the next greatest discovery in the world of training. How can the next greatest program or concept come out every single week or month?


• Don’t get me wrong, there are some excellent e-books and DVD’s out there, but you really need to do your research as to who is putting these products out.
  
  
  
  • What’s their background?
  
  
  • Who have they trained?
  
  
  • What’s their reputation for producing results with their clients or athletes?
  
  
  • What reputable, major fitness publications are seeking them out for training information?
  
  
  • How do other industry leaders view them?
  
  
  
  


• Finally, the biggest difference when you publish a book through a major publisher is that you are held accountable by the publisher, your editor, the fact checkers, the research checkers, etc. as they are constantly scrutinizing your material.


• As for why I waited so long to write my first book, I wanted to make sure that my book would truly have something to offer both the general fitness population as well as the fitness professional.

If you want to learn more about Joe, you can follow him on twitter, or you can pick his EXCELLENT new book "Ultimate You", by clicking on the image below. (I already bought my copy!)

Follow Joe on twitter: http://twitter.com/joedowdellnyc

Pick up your copy of “Ultimate You” here: “Ultimate You: A 4-Phase Total Body Makeover for Women Who Want Maximum Results

Show us you are alive!  Please leave some comments below with other questions for Joe.  What are your most pressing questions?  Who are your mentors and why?

Until next time, this is Johnny Fitness reminding you to keep your business fit!