The Solo Trainer

Helping personal trainers go from gym employee to independent business owner. Mom, former manager for 40+ trainers, and successful business owner.

I'm sharing with you everything you need to start, grow, and manage your own thriving business.

03/10/2026

Military spouse. Fitness classes on base. Then the YMCA spotted her talent and it all took off.

Carol built her career by following opportunities, getting certified, and teaching seven classes a week. That’s the real kickoff story most trainers can relate to.

Want the full episode? It’s live on The Solo Trainer Podcast.

Free Guidebook + Checklist in bio.

.s.boruch

03/05/2026

"We have to stay ahead of the AI... that's how we stay relevant." 🗣️

In 2003, a trainer just had to know more than the average person. In 2015, we had to know more than YouTube. In 2026, we have to know more than Artificial Intelligence.

If your programming is basic, a client can get it for free from an app. Jeff Melis breaks down exactly why maintaining the "Knowledge Gap" is the only way to survive in this new era of fitness.

If you aren't offering something an algorithm can't, you are becoming obsolete. 📉

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Solo Trainer to learn how to widen the gap and secure your career.

03/03/2026

The math doesn’t lie. 🧮

In this clip, Jeff Melis from Exercise Therapy Association drops a stat every trainer needs to hear:

📉 Trainers who don't invest in education avg: $40k - $60k/year. 📈 Trainers who DO invest in education avg: $80k+/year.

If you are feeling stuck in your business, the answer isn't always "more marketing." Sometimes, it’s simply becoming better at what you do.

Jeff and I talk about why you need to treat education like a non-negotiable line item in your business budget—whether you’re in year 1 or year 20. 🎓

🎧 Listen to the full episode on The Solo Trainer Podcast to hear how to level up your skills and your bank account.

03/02/2026

You do not need flashy marketing to build a thriving personal training business.

In today’s episode, Jen talks with Carol Boruch, an independent trainer in Wisconsin who started teaching group fitness on military bases, grew at the YMCA, formed her LLC in 2016, and built a private home studio during COVID. Her clients drove 20 miles to keep training with her. That is loyalty.

This episode is all about what creates long-term success:

Relationship building and real listening
Pivoting when clients face life changes and health challenges
Referrals that keep your business full
Boundaries that protect your energy
Pricing confidence and raising rates the right way
s.boruch

👉 Watch on YouTube: https://buff.ly/TFcOKJX

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcast: https://buff.ly/3lzWXu6

🎙️ Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/s8KBCnx

👉 Free Solo Trainer Guide & Checklist - https://buff.ly/wCcDujp
📘 Free Resources - https://buff.ly/plEZWNO
🤝 Business Coaching - https://buff.ly/XXx6utD
👉 Main Website - https://buff.ly/kln6zfD

02/26/2026

Trying to pick a niche as a personal trainer? Start with these 3 questions.

Who have you already helped successfully? Think long term clients, real results, referrals.

Who do you actually enjoy helping? The clients that energize you, not drain you.

What problem are you known for solving? Not general fitness. A real, specific problem.

Answer these and your niche gets a lot clearer.

👉 Free Solo Trainer Guide & Checklist - https://buff.ly/x7gASWB
📘 Free Resources - https://buff.ly/5sPjICV
🤝 Business Coaching - https://buff.ly/RpG7ZRf
👉 Main Website - https://buff.ly/xAbvkXo

02/22/2026

"You get paid in proportion to the difficulty of the problems you solve."

If your problem-solving stops at "eat less, move more," your bank account will reflect that. 🤷‍♀️

In this episode with Jeff Melis, we talk about moving away from the crowded "weight loss" market and stepping into the high-value world of Exercise Therapy.

Are you solving $20 problems or $150 problems? 👇

Reserve your spot for the DMV Workshop on Feb 26th: https://buff.ly/6XHVkUN
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcast: https://buff.ly/KrLbmim
🎙️ Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/Kmibuu6
👉 Watch on YouTube: https://buff.ly/xV3C53i

02/20/2026

"What do I do that makes me stand out?"

It’s the question every trainer asks. The answer isn't a flashier business card or a better sales pitch.
It’s Assessments.

As I mentioned in the podcast, when you can identify a stranger's shoulder or back issue in under 5 minutes on the gym floor, you don't need to "sell" them. The value is obvious.

Stop chasing clients. Start identifying problems, and the lead list fills itself. 📈

🎧 New Episode Alert: We’re talking Longevity, Assessments, and the Future of Training with Jeff Melis. Streaming now on all platforms!

Reserve your spot for the DMV Workshop on Feb 26th: https://buff.ly/6XHVkUN

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcast: https://buff.ly/KrLbmim
🎙️ Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/Kmibuu6
👉 Watch on YouTube: https://buff.ly/xV3C53i

02/19/2026

When you specialize, you stop getting compared to every trainer in the room.

Competition fades because you’re not “a trainer” anymore. You’re the expert for a specific problem. And here’s the best part. People are looking for experts. They’ll pay more and even travel for the right fit.

Worried a niche will shrink your business? It usually does the opposite.

👉 Free Solo Trainer Guide & Checklist - https://buff.ly/x7gASWB
📘 Free Resources - https://buff.ly/5sPjICV
🤝 Business Coaching - https://buff.ly/RpG7ZRf
👉 Main Website - https://buff.ly/xAbvkXo

02/17/2026

Specialization is not just a label. It’s a responsibility.

If you call yourself the go to trainer for a specific population, you owe it to your clients to stay educated, stay current, and know the nuance. That’s how you train with confidence and real care.

👉 Free Solo Trainer Guide & Checklist - https://buff.ly/x7gASWB
📘 Free Resources - https://buff.ly/5sPjICV
🤝 Business Coaching - https://buff.ly/RpG7ZRf
👉 Main Website - https://buff.ly/xAbvkXo

02/16/2026

If a client can get a workout program from AI for $0 or fix their weight with a prescription, why do they need us?

This is the question every Independent Personal Trainer needs to answer in 2026.

I just released a new episode of The Solo Trainer with Jeff Melis, co-founder of the Exercise Therapy Association, and it is a MUST-LISTEN for anyone who wants longevity in this career.

Jeff and I discussed how the industry has shifted from aesthetics to healthspan and pain-free living.

We dig into:

✅ The "Gap": How to take clients from "medically cleared" to "fully functional" (this is where the real money is).

✅ Assessment Mastery: Simple tools to identify root causes of pain so you can get clients' results in their very first session.

✅ Retention: Why being a problem solver leads to clients who stay for 10+ years.

If you are tired of chasing leads and want to build a business based on expertise and referrals, this episode is for you.

Reserve your spot for the DMV Workshop on Feb 26th: https://buff.ly/6XHVkUN

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcast: https://buff.ly/KrLbmim
🎙️ Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/Kmibuu6
👉 Watch on YouTube: https://buff.ly/xV3C53i

👉 Free Solo Trainer Guide & Checklist - https://buff.ly/Zp7hZy4
📘 Free Resources - https://buff.ly/rmj7bQp
🤝 Business Coaching - https://buff.ly/ldQSCr0
👉 Main Website - https://buff.ly/5Z4Sfmt

Let me know in the comments—have you noticed your clients asking more about longevity and pain relief lately?

02/12/2026

Some trainers stay booked year after year.

It’s not because their workouts are harder — it’s because their clients feel seen, guided, and supported.

When people trust your process, price matters less… and loyalty goes way up.

👉 Free Solo Trainer Guide & Checklist - https://buff.ly/x7gASWB
📘 Free Resources - https://buff.ly/5sPjICV
🤝 Business Coaching - https://buff.ly/RpG7ZRf
👉 Main Website - https://buff.ly/xAbvkXo

02/10/2026

High demand trainers don’t start with exercises.

They start with the person.

They listen to what clients say — and what they don’t say — so training actually fits real goals, fears, and life outside the gym.

That’s how trust (and long-term clients) are built.

👉 Free Solo Trainer Guide & Checklist - https://buff.ly/x7gASWB
📘 Free Resources - https://buff.ly/5sPjICV
🤝 Business Coaching - https://buff.ly/RpG7ZRf
👉 Main Website - https://buff.ly/xAbvkXo

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