Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

Episode 3 PART TRAINER SERIES BONUS EP - Episode 1: Successful Trainer Mindset

Release Date: May 20, 2025
Hosts: Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews
Producer: Doug Egge

Introduction to the Trainer Series

In this inaugural episode of the Mind Pump trainers and coaches series, host Sal Di Stefano welcomes listeners to a three-part exploration aimed at empowering fitness professionals. The series is designed to delve into the essential aspects that contribute to success in the training industry, starting with the Successful Trainer Mindset.

Defining a Successful Trainer

Sal initiates the discussion by establishing what constitutes a successful trainer. According to him, a successful trainer or coach is someone who:

• Builds a Sustainable Career: They have a consistent and stable business model that supports them financially and emotionally.
• Loves What They Do: Passion for the profession fuels their daily actions and interactions.
• Transforms Lives: Their work positively impacts clients, leading to significant health and fitness improvements.
• Maintains Personal Well-being: Trainers prioritize their own health, serving as role models for their clients.

Sal emphasizes, “A successful trainer is a trainer or a coach or health practitioner who has built a career, they can support themselves, they do well, they love what they do, they change lives.” ([03:02]).

Embracing the Right Mindset

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the mindset required to excel as a trainer. Sal and Adam discuss how mindset is pivotal, noting that even with impressive resumes, a lack of the right mindset leads to failure.

Sal Di Stefano: “The people who had the right mindset, the success rate was through the roof. The right resume, wrong mindset, fail every single time.” ([05:27]).

This sentiment underscores the primacy of personal attributes over formal qualifications in ensuring long-term success.

Loving People and Cultivating Curiosity

Adam Schafer and Sal highlight the importance of loving people and possessing a genuine curiosity about them. Adam states:

“You have to have this appreciation for that or curiosity.” ([07:08]).

Sal expands on this by explaining that trainers encounter a myriad of personalities and situations. A trainer's ability to remain curious and interested in clients, regardless of personal differences, is crucial for maintaining effective and lasting client relationships.

Sal Di Stefano: “If you're curious and interested in people, this is a great job because you're going to meet so many different people.” ([08:05]).

Adopting a Growth Mindset

The conversation transitions to the necessity of a growth mindset. Both hosts agree that continuous learning and adaptability are non-negotiable traits for successful trainers.

Sal Di Stefano: “You have to be growth minded and you have to be willing and enjoy the process of learning.” ([10:01]).

Adam shares his personal experience with imposter syndrome, emphasizing that embracing a growth mindset allows trainers to acknowledge gaps in their knowledge and seek solutions proactively.

Adam Schafer: “Be honest about where you're at and what you know because... I have to say, I don't know.” ([12:29]).

The Essential Role of Sales Skills

A noteworthy segment is dedicated to the importance of sales skills for trainers. Sal argues that being comfortable with selling is not just beneficial but essential.

Sal Di Stefano: “Sales skills are extremely valuable for a coach and trainer and you need to be open and growth minded to that as well.” ([15:30]).

Adam humorously relates sales skills to personal relationships, illustrating that effective communication and persuasion are integral both professionally and personally.

Adam Schafer: “You have to convince them to eat a certain way, you have to convince them to exercise a certain time.” ([16:36]).

Purpose-Driven Over Money-Driven

The hosts delve into the motivation behind becoming a trainer, emphasizing that being purpose-driven is more sustainable than being solely motivated by money.

Sal Di Stefano: “If you're just money driven, there's other careers that are going to be better for you.” ([18:23]).

Adam shares his journey from being money-driven to finding fulfillment through purpose, illustrating that aligning passion with profession leads to greater success and financial rewards.

Adam Schafer: “When I let go of the money thing, went back for purpose, then comes the most money I've ever had in my life.” ([19:34]).

Prioritizing Health Over Aesthetics

Sal emphasizes that true trainers prioritize client health over mere aesthetic goals. This approach ensures that clients achieve long-term wellness rather than short-lived physical changes.

Sal Di Stefano: “You prioritize their health because you know if their health improves, so will their aesthetics.” ([23:25]).

Meeting Clients Where They Are

An effective trainer must meet clients at their current fitness and health level, setting realistic and achievable goals tailored to each individual's starting point.

Sal Di Stefano: “Look at where they're at and you start there.” ([32:40]).

Adam reinforces this by linking curiosity to understanding each client's unique behaviors and patterns, enabling personalized and effective coaching strategies.

Adam Schafer: “We have to find a better way to go about it. Maybe instead of challenging yourself to do all these crazy things, we commit to one thing that we know you can do that you like doing that you can be consistent with.” ([33:33]).

Sustainability Over Speed in Client Progress

Finally, the discussion centers on the importance of ensuring that client progress is sustainable rather than focusing on rapid but fleeting results. Sal asserts:

Sal Di Stefano: “Your success with your clients is defined by their ability to maintain their results. It is not defined by how fast you got them results.” ([33:33]).

The Trainer Oath: Taking Responsibility

One of the standout moments is the introduction of a Trainer Oath, a commitment akin to the Hippocratic Oath in medicine. The oath underscores the trainer's responsibility for their clients' successes and failures, promoting accountability and continual improvement.

Sal Di Stefano: “You are responsible for all your clients' successes and failures.” ([28:00]).

Adam echoes this by highlighting the importance of internal accountability over blaming clients for setbacks.

Adam Schafer: “Everything is my fault. So no matter what, do not defer blame to your client.” ([30:21]).

Conclusion and Next Steps

The episode concludes with Sal teasing part two of the series, which will cover effective diet and exercise strategies that clients love. Additionally, he promotes an upcoming webinar for trainers and coaches focused on closing deals and selling personal training effectively.

Notable Quotes

• Sal Di Stefano: “If you don't have the right mindset, you're not going to be very successful.” ([04:40]).
• Adam Schafer: “If you're just money driven, there's other careers that are going to be better for you.” ([19:34]).
• Sal Di Stefano: “The most important word that I heard is curiosity.” ([08:05]).

Final Thoughts

This episode of Mind Pump serves as a foundational guide for trainers and coaches, emphasizing that success in the fitness industry is deeply rooted in the right mindset, continuous personal growth, and a genuine passion for helping others. By fostering these attributes, trainers can build sustainable and impactful careers, ultimately transforming the lives of their clients.