Asking questions is exhausting. (Therefore...)
Asking better questions can be even more exhausting.
On multiple levels in my life, I've been challenged over the last few years with the idea that asking better questions will sharpen me as a leader and listener, will improve my communication as a husband and father, and will ultimately deepen my relationships. Questions require thought. When they invoke a response, that requires attention. Questions change things!
In my next few posts I'm going to address some very specific areas where you can greatly benefit from asking better questions. I would also like to start a conversation over some of the specific questions that can possibly change the landscape of our decision making and the criteria we use to get ourselves there.
To begin, let's talk about everyone's favorite subject: FITNESS.
To be more specific, how do you go about finding the best person to help you get in shape? How do you find a TRAINER?
As I've spent the second half of my life going to the gym, and the last 5 years in particular finding a newfound love for the weight room and all that it has to offer, I've been around a lot of "trainers". I've come to realize that it doesn't take a whole lot for a person to get "certified" to be referred to as a "trainer". Sort of like how any random dude can go online and get "certified" as an ordained minister so that he can perform his buddy's wedding ceremony on the beach. It doesn't take much. The year that I spent working out at Planet Fitness (which is another post for another day), I had to stay away from the trainers. I couldn't handle for another minute listening to some of the horrible coaching/advice they would give to people. It wasn't just wrong; it was detrimental to the person's health. There's more bad information and incompetent coaching out there than you would ever imagine. So...what can you do about it?
Ask better questions.
Before you sign up for that new gym or pay for that new trainer, here are some key questions you should ask. Let me preface by saying that this is by no means an exhaustive list. There are without a doubt other questions you could add. But this is a great starting point. I would also point out that great questions almost always build a bridge to go further than the single question can go on it's own. Great questions build bridges, answer bigger questions, open doors, and knock down walls. So, with that said, here are some questions that will help you in your quest for fitness. "Hey trainer, I was wondering...."
What certification do you have?
There's an 85% chance you won't know who or what they are referring to with their answer, but how they answer this question will be telling. And you're smart enough to know that if the answer happens to be "The Arizona Correctional Institute of Physical Fitness" or "Trainers-R-Us", you should probably walk away. Look for confidence and explanation in a trainer's education. Look up the school, course, and/or credentials they give you. Do 5 minutes of research. And follow that question up with this next one:
What do you do for continuing education?
The trainers at BCI (where I workout 2-3 days a week) are always reading. Always learning. Always furthering their knowledge of what they're teaching and leading us to do. How to workout. What to eat. How to rest and recover. Basically anyone that you pay to assist you in any way - your doctor, barber, dentist, yard man, insurance agent, and yes...a trainer - should be continually growing in the knowledge of their field. If a "trainer" has to think about their answer on this one, just walk away.
In what areas can you help me achieve optimal health and wellness?
I'm not sure I can even begin to list all the reasons to ask this specific question. One would be that just the nature of the verbage of this question will let the "trainer" know that you aren't just there to lose 5 pounds, but that you are interested in your HEALTH. Moreover, if you're going to pay someone (probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $40-$60 an hour on the low side) to "train" you, you need to know ahead of time that anyone can direct you around a fitness room. I can help anyone work up a sweat in 5-10 minutes. If you walk around the fitness center at the YMCA, every machine in the place - weight, cardio, or otherwise - has the instructions plastered on it. You can look up 100 different YouTube videos to show you how to lift weights, use an Arc Trainer, or do burpees. Here's the issue: there are one million "trainers" and 2 million videos out there showing people how to do those things INCORRECTLY. And people are getting injured, doing damage to their spine and shoulder joints, wearing out their knees, and continuing to poison their own guts because 1) most of us don't know any better & 2) because we all want a quick fix. There is no quick fix. Not for optimal health and wellness. It's a long road that begins with you deciding you are sick and tired of being sick and tired. So if you're there, don't compromise by paying someone who spent 6 months getting certified online to give you bad advice. Call me. I'll be glad to charge you less for bad advice.
The last question is one that we should probably ask of a lot more people in a lot more situations. Unapologetically ask the "trainer":
Do you have any references?
The 22-year old that trains me (and the group I workout with) every Wednesday & Friday at 6:00 AM - he has references. There are a substantive number of people that he could point you to who would verify that he not only knows what he's talking about, and that he practices what he preaches, but that he is also constantly furthering his understanding and sharpening his approach to coaching people. If you're paying someone good money and entrusting your fitness and health to them, they most certainly should be able to point you to someone who would willingly corroborate and validate their credentials. And you shouldn't have to feel bad or apologize for asking. In fact, they should probably offer that information up before you ever even ask for it. If they've helped someone else achieve what you're wanting to achieve, then they should be able to show you.
This is your health. This is your time and money. This is your life.
Don't waste any of them!
Ask better questions.
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