As my fitness business has evolved to now owning multiple personal training studios, one of
my most important roles is recruiting and hiring the best talent.
I know that in order for the business to succeed we must have great people.
Part of my learning process in hiring great people has been learning to conduct better
interviews and ask better questions.
The very first question I ask on a phone interview when screening candidates, is the same
question you should be asking yourself if you want to succeed in achieving and maintaining
your health and fitness goals.
The question— what is your why?
When asking potential employees this question, I am looking for people who respond with
some variation of “helping people”.
And typically those that I have hired that have done really well and have been great long term
employees have a big why around helping people—
For example, one employee who has been with me for three years now had said that his dad,
who was his hero, died at a young age from an unhealthy lifestyle and that motivated him to
not only get his own health and fitness in check, but to dedicate his life to helping others do
the same.
On the client side, it is no different.
The clients who have had the greatest success and longevity typically have a really big why—
.. to be able to take care of her aging parents.
.. to lose 50 pounds and prevent another heart attack to be able to walk his daughter down the
aisle when she gets married.
.. to be a role model for her children of what a healthy lifestyle is after her parents were
wheelchair bound at an early age due to obesity, diabetes, falls, and an unhealthy lifestyle.
The list goes on and on.
But at the end of the day, exercising and eating healthy on a regular basis is a challenge for
everyone.
There is a reason everyone is not walking around with a 6-pack and a perfect physique.
This is hard.
There will be days that you don’t want to workout.
There will be days that you want to eat a bunch of crap.There will be weeks, months even, where you have been super diligent— eating well, strength
training 3 days/week every week, and you feel like you are not making any progress.
There will be frustration.
You will see other people putting in half the effort you have, and getting better results.
You will feel like you want to quit.
And many times the difference between those that quit and those that keep going, lies in the
answer to the question— what is your why?
If your why is big enough, you won’t stop.
So, when making your goals this year, first spend some time exploring your why.
Ask yourself second, third, and fourth level questions to get deeper into uncovering the true
why and true motivation for your goals.
Then write it down somewhere you will see it everyday— next to your bed, make it your phone
or computer background, whatever you need to do to make sure it stays top of mind.
Then when you start your journey and you are start having doubts on continuing, look at your
why, and then keep going!
Dr. John Dougherty is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in
Orthopedics, personal trainer, and the owner and founder of Conquer Fitness. Conquer Fitness
is the highest and most rated personal training gym in DFW, now with 4 locations in Frisco,
Trophy Club, Las Colinas, and Prosper. They specialize in helping people over 40 lose weight,
get stronger, and have more energy while keeping them injury free!