For CF gym owners, what were your "fitness" credentials?

Michael Tong · 03-05-2007, 08:45 PM

Just out of curiosity, what were your "fitness" credentials prior to opening your CrossFit gym? I ask because I SO want to open a CF gym but I continue to second-guess myself, thinking I don't have the credibility.

For what it's worth, my "credentials" (more like sports and fitness participation) are:
- basketball and baseball in high school
- crew team in college
- a bunch or intramurals in college
- meat-head iron pumping for 10 years off and on after college
- corporate softball and volleyball leagues

Non-fitness credentials that may be relevant:
- MBA from top 20 school
- former corporate-ladder-climber (managing departments up to 80 people) turned entrepreneur

I am confident in my business acumen (sorry, I REALLY don't mean to sound like I am tooting my own horn) but am unsure if I will have obstacles over-coming fitness credentials. Obviously, CF certification would be credibility by itself, but that is a given for every CF affiliate.

The CF gym continues to intrigue me becase I will be continually living in the fitness life-style while feeding my entrepreneuerial ambitions.

Perhaps at minimum, I could just do a NICE garage gym, hold small group trainings, personal training sessions, and maybe help the other local CF gym which is opening in a few months.

Jason McCain · 03-05-2007, 10:08 PM

Honestly, I have never had anyone ask me about my credentials...at least not to this point. I worried about the same thing at first.

Carrie Klumpar · 03-06-2007, 12:02 AM

I think it's not the business/management stuff that you need to worry about. Nor is it being able to "prove" your qualifications to others based on certifications. What you need to do is learn as much as you can about real fitness and CF and become a really really good trainer. Do CF certifications, up to level 3, plus O-lift cert. Learn how to teach the basics of Olympic lifitng and gymanstics. Train people--inidividuals and small groups--as much as you can. Get a CF trainer to work with you if at all possible. Watch good CF trainers work with others and really study what they do and why. Take advantage of the CF Journal, the videos, and all the other resources on the CF site.

If you are good and confident in your ability, and really care about people and fitness and aren't in it primarily for financial gain, that's what matters to clients (at least to the ones you want), not the letters after your name.

IMNSHO.

Douglas Chapman · 03-06-2007, 03:38 AM

I had a paper route once.

Joe Celso · 03-06-2007, 05:49 AM

Michael- I had (sometimes still have) the same unsuredness about my "qualifications". I really don't like getting that question because I can't say "I have this and that - here's my papers" and I worry that's what sells people... and to a point I think it's true. Thus far (started in Dec) it hasn't been an issue. I REALLY like training people and my clients can tell ...and they are kicking ••• telling their friends.

Going to my level 2 CF cert REALLY helped affirm that I knew what I was doing. Since then, the trickiest part has been determining the capacities of others. I've learned (still learning) very quickly though.

Frank DiMeo · 03-06-2007, 06:27 AM

Michael, if you are sub-contracting to someone else, they might require some certification.
However, if you run your own gym, and know what you are doing, your dedication is your "certification".

William Henniger · 03-06-2007, 10:35 AM

Michael,

Just sent you a PM, glad to see there is more interest in Columbus.

Bill
http://www.roguefitness.com

Skip Chase · 03-06-2007, 01:10 PM

#1 credential-a passion for fitness
#2 credential-a passion to help others become fit and healthy.

www.mtbakercrossfit.blogspot.com

Roger Harrell · 03-06-2007, 05:06 PM

If you can effectively train your clients and can get a few to start, their testimonials will be all the credentials you need. Experience, the certs, etc just make you better, but it all comes down to how effective are you. Big box need all the papers so they can include it in their marketing fluff. Small box just needs results.

Randy Tarasevich · 09-28-2007, 06:53 AM

1. Desire to train myself
2. Desire to train others
3. ACSM-CPT
4. B.S. - Business Administration (Small Bus. Management concentration)
5. M.A. - Teaching (Secondary-Business Ed.)

09-28-2007, 06:53 AM	#10
Randy Tarasevich Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Norwich CT Posts: 1,632	Re: For CF gym owners, what were your "fitness" credentials? 1. Desire to train myself 2. Desire to train others 3. ACSM-CPT 4. B.S. - Business Administration (Small Bus. Management concentration) 5. M.A. - Teaching (Secondary-Business Ed.)
	__________________ www.sectcrossfit.com

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03-05-2007, 08:45 PM	#1
Michael Tong Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 161	Just out of curiosity, what were your "fitness" credentials prior to opening your CrossFit gym? I ask because I SO want to open a CF gym but I continue to second-guess myself, thinking I don't have the credibility. For what it's worth, my "credentials" (more like sports and fitness participation) are: - basketball and baseball in high school - crew team in college - a bunch or intramurals in college - meat-head iron pumping for 10 years off and on after college - corporate softball and volleyball leagues Non-fitness credentials that may be relevant: - MBA from top 20 school - former corporate-ladder-climber (managing departments up to 80 people) turned entrepreneur I am confident in my business acumen (sorry, I REALLY don't mean to sound like I am tooting my own horn) but am unsure if I will have obstacles over-coming fitness credentials. Obviously, CF certification would be credibility by itself, but that is a given for every CF affiliate. The CF gym continues to intrigue me becase I will be continually living in the fitness life-style while feeding my entrepreneuerial ambitions. Perhaps at minimum, I could just do a NICE garage gym, hold small group trainings, personal training sessions, and maybe help the other local CF gym which is opening in a few months.

03-05-2007, 10:08 PM	#2
Jason McCain Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Springs Colorado Posts: 90	Honestly, I have never had anyone ask me about my credentials...at least not to this point. I worried about the same thing at first.

03-06-2007, 12:02 AM	#3
Carrie Klumpar Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle/Redmond WA Posts: 461	I think it's not the business/management stuff that you need to worry about. Nor is it being able to "prove" your qualifications to others based on certifications. What you need to do is learn as much as you can about real fitness and CF and become a really really good trainer. Do CF certifications, up to level 3, plus O-lift cert. Learn how to teach the basics of Olympic lifitng and gymanstics. Train people--inidividuals and small groups--as much as you can. Get a CF trainer to work with you if at all possible. Watch good CF trainers work with others and really study what they do and why. Take advantage of the CF Journal, the videos, and all the other resources on the CF site. If you are good and confident in your ability, and really care about people and fitness and aren't in it primarily for financial gain, that's what matters to clients (at least to the ones you want), not the letters after your name. IMNSHO.

03-06-2007, 03:38 AM	#4
Douglas Chapman Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Belleville MI Posts: 504	I had a paper route once.

03-06-2007, 05:49 AM	#5
Joe Celso Affiliate Profile: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Walworth NY Posts: 135	Michael- I had (sometimes still have) the same unsuredness about my "qualifications". I really don't like getting that question because I can't say "I have this and that - here's my papers" and I worry that's what sells people... and to a point I think it's true. Thus far (started in Dec) it hasn't been an issue. I REALLY like training people and my clients can tell ...and they are kicking ••• telling their friends. Going to my level 2 CF cert REALLY helped affirm that I knew what I was doing. Since then, the trickiest part has been determining the capacities of others. I've learned (still learning) very quickly though.

03-06-2007, 06:27 AM	#6
Frank DiMeo Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sarasota FL Posts: 1,919	Michael, if you are sub-contracting to someone else, they might require some certification. However, if you run your own gym, and know what you are doing, your dedication is your "certification".

03-06-2007, 10:35 AM	#7
William Henniger Affiliate Profile: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 1,059	Michael, Just sent you a PM, glad to see there is more interest in Columbus. Bill http://www.roguefitness.com

03-06-2007, 01:10 PM	#8
Skip Chase Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mount Vernon WA Posts: 1,324	#1 credential-a passion for fitness #2 credential-a passion to help others become fit and healthy. www.mtbakercrossfit.blogspot.com

03-06-2007, 05:06 PM	#9
Roger Harrell Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Rafael CA Posts: 2,318	If you can effectively train your clients and can get a few to start, their testimonials will be all the credentials you need. Experience, the certs, etc just make you better, but it all comes down to how effective are you. Big box need all the papers so they can include it in their marketing fluff. Small box just needs results.