STATEMENTS LIKE THIS...
“I’ve trained thousands of clients”
“Over the past several years working with thousands of athletes...”
“If it wasn’t for the thousands of athletes I’ve trained...”
“I’ve been blessed to have trained thousands of clients...”
DRIVE ME INSANE
Let’s break this down. The strength coach at the college level, with no assistants and responsible for all sports, might have 450 athletes (give or take). Each year maybe 100 new athletes come in and 100 go out.
5 years they would have coached 950 athletes
10 years 1,350 athletes
15 years 1,850 athletes
20 years 2,350 athletes
At around 17 years (if they stay at that same level, alone) they can say they have coached or trained “thousands”. They would also be around 40 years old at the time.
The number I see tossed out the most is “3,000” – it’s kind of like the “3 spots left thing”.
This would make them around 46–47 years old as a strength coach!
As a personal trainer! How many do you know who are training 450 clients a year with a 75% retention rate? First off, it can’t be done. Well... unless they really sucked and trained 1–2 per day who quit after one session, and did this for 26 years.
Do I even need to break this down to online trainers?
They are not training people, they are not coaching people. At best, they sold a couple thousand programs – this is a far cry from training someone. Now, if this is to be the value of credibility, shouldn’t we look at sales of books that have programs. Can Wendler say he’s trained millions of people? What about basic training articles with programs? Elitefts has a ton on the site and have had millions of visitors for close to 20 years.
Where is the BS line drawn?
I suppose if they say they’ve trained 1,000, walk away.
If they say they’ve trained thousands, and only have 3 spots left, RUN!
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