The Power of Visualization. What it Means For You and Your Business

To understand what visualization is in this scenario, we must first define it. According to merriam-webster.com, visualization is:

1. formation of mental visual images
2. the act or process of interpreting in visual terms or of putting into visible form 

What does this mean for professionals working in the fitness industry? In short, it’s a way to project a positive outlook in a situation, and picture yourself being empowered by a challenge versus struggling to overcome. If you are struggling to lose weight packed on from covid, regain mobility and strength from an injury, or even grow a business in 2021 and beyond -- you have to envision yourself as successful and take the proper steps to get there.

According to Dr. Tara Swart, For visualization to be effective, you need to be specific (and selective) with the images that you focus on.
 

The Critical Importance of Visualization

 As a fitness professional, a simplistic starting point would be that as you are signing-up a new client, you ask them about their goals and aspirations? Better yet, what’s the path they are envisioning to get there? Are there any obstacles or things in the road which would prevent them from achieving these goals (injury, job, kids)?

This is a valuable learning experience in the sense that you can learn about what they want to change and where they see themselves a month, year, or even decade from now and what things could get in the way, and you can help create workouts, diet plans, around those weaknesses.

For example, you might ask them to envision a point in the future when they look in the mirror and love what they see. Thanks to your guidance, they create a picture in their mind, commit to bringing it to life, and start moving forward one step at a time. When asking themselves, “Why am I doing all of this?” or “who am I doing this for?” Kids and family can be a huge motivator that really propels people forward on some of their darkest days.  i
 
Without a strong why, training can be dull and uninspiring to some. But with a strong why, even the most draining of workouts can feel more motivating as there’s a deeper purpose behind each and every rep. Each is a step in an epic journey to a destination. Setbacks are temporary because they know how far they’ve come, what their destination is, and how they can get there. More importantly, your personal training clients are  confident because they’ve had some success, which has shown them they are capable of overcoming adversity. 
 
But have you done this for yourself lately - defined your compelling vision of your future? Not necessarily in fitness, but with a laser focus on what you want to achieve as a personal trainer in the long run?
 

What is Your Vision as a Personal Trainer? 

Just as your clients need a clear image of their achievements, so do you. If you don’t cultivate one, it gets easily overlooked. .  Examples of goals can be:

❏    I will have 20 clients by X date and time
❏    I will achieve a certain number on my key lifts
❏    I will be awake and in the gym by 7 am at least 3 days a week
❏    I will seek out and volunteer at places and help causes which are important to me 
 
Maybe you’re not sure where you want to go. Or perhaps you’re more sure of what you don’t want in your future - this can be highly motivating, too. In any case, asking yourself the right questions can help you get your priorities straight and devise a plan for achieving them.
 
Some common personal training visualization questions: 
•    Why did you get into this business in the first place? What did you hope and aspire to back then?
•    Where do you see yourself in five years?
•    Who is your ideal client?
•    How many clients do you want to have in total?
•    How to attract more of your ideal clients?
•    What can you do to keep your clients engaged?
 
When you get clear on the objectives you want to achieve, you begin to line up the different actions that will bring dreams to reality - just as your clients and their visions of fitness.  
 
Visualizing your success is essential and it works. Once you gain clarity of what you want, you open the doors to make it happen - and this can happen at the subconscious level. 

For example, you might want to have fewer clients because an extensive roster makes it challenging to find free time. In that case, you’ll find ways to serve fewer people better, attract high-quality clients and get more revenue from each person. You’ll start noticing opportunities where none existed before because you now have clarity and awareness.
 
This is how you reignite your passion, kickstart your career, and reap the benefits of being a person who helps others elevate their lives. Get clear today, realize your dreams tomorrow.