Fitness, Business, Fitness Business, & Achieving Life Goals

I’ve been listening to (audio book) Start with Why by Simon Sinek and wanted to write a post about how it applies when hiring employees and then realized that it also applies to those interviewing for a position. So, I’ll include both of those here.

What does it mean to start with why? According to Sinek, starting with why means that we ignore what it is we actually do and first establish what our motivation is for doing it. He goes on to say that if it’s to make money or become powerful it’s the wrong reason. That comes as a result of having the right “why”.

I LOVE Personal Training and coaching! I LOVE being able to help people change their lives for the better. I get really excited when talking about the progress that clients make. It’s the coolest thing in the world. Thankfully, I do get paid for it. It helps with the bills.

So, from an employer’s perspective, who are the people that are going to be able to acquire, motivate, and keep clients best? Who is more likely to be a team player and someone that will go the extra mile? The person with the right why. Now think about how you may have been interviewing. Typically asking about the resume, experience, the ability to write a program, how many clients they’ve had in the past… all of the “what’s”. What if we asked more questions about what excites them, what motivates them? If they were financially independent, what would they do? The “what’s” can be taught, the “why’s” are inherent.

On the other side, as someone looking for a position in a company, make sure the company has the right “why” or you’ll never be happy there. If a club’s reason for having Personal Training is to increase their bottom line, you might have pressure put on you to hard sell or to sell additional products, etc. Again, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to increase the bottom line, but is that their “why”. I’d rather have a company say the want to change the health/fitness level of the community. Oh, they’ll still make money, but now I can really feel good about working for a company with this kind of mission.

I know I’ll be changing my hiring focus. How about you?

BTW, I’d love to hear what your “why” is?

FYI: You can catch some of Simon Sinek on YouTube.