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May 2008
Dear Darren,
This letter is in response to your request for feedback with respect to the weight-training program you have developed for me.
First, let me give you some of my background. I think that knowledge will place my comments in a more meaningful context. I have been around gyms, health clubs and workout venues for some 35 years. During that time I have always had a trainer or workout buddy who has coached me in my various programs. In addition, I have completed a formal course in weight training at Carleton University in Ottawa.
My experience has convinced me that a Fitness Trainer is part teacher, part motivational guru and part sales person. The teaching aspect is perhaps the most straightforward of the three. The teaching aspect requires the Fitness Trainer to possess the requisite knowledge and to be able to communicate it to the client. There is no question in my mind that you possess the knowledge required to be a successful Fitness Trainer. Whether you have acquired that knowledge by self-discovery or through formalized training is irrelevant. The fact remains you have acquired it. My conversations and interaction with you also indicate that you possess not only the basic knowledge of Fitness Training but have a significant reservoir of knowledge from which you can draw to meet the diverse fitness challenges of your clients. This gives you much professional credibility with your clients.
You have excellent interpersonal communication skills. This talent allows you to successfully communicate your ideas and concepts with ease, both in a group setting and a "one on one" basis. This was particularly evident in the introductory classes where the expectations and knowlege level of those present was particularly diverse. You handled the challenges we threw at you admirably and were a credit to Nubody's. You exhibited a very professional demeanor and, quite frankly, it was your handling of those classes that motivated me to pursue a membership with the club.
Notwithstanding the above comments, I feel that your strength is your ability to motivate you clients. You very successfully identify the client's needs and develop a program suitable to those specific needs. You then exhitibit the requisite empathy when the client gives you the "bs" as to why they are insconsistent in executing the program you developed. But you are persistent and that is your strength - you follow-up with the client. Using a combination of tact, diplomacy and patience, you make the client feel guilty that they are not at the club. The client ends up executing the program not because of the commitment to themselves but because not to do it would disappoint Darren - and it works! If it had not been for your follow-up, I probably would have let my membership at Nubody's lapse and moved on to other less important priorities. Because of your interest, I am still here and enjoying it.
Health clubs by their very nature are laid back environments. My experience tells me that this laid back attitude is often adopted by their respective staff. This can and often does lead to haphazard programs. One thing that has impressed me since the very first time I met you is your professional demeanor. I congratulate you on that aspect of your career and I am sure it will contribute to your inevitable success.
I hope these comments are of some help. I want to to say I continue to look forward to working with you and that my inconsistencies in training will not disappoint you.
Yours very truly,
Reginald W. Hunt
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