A Quick Thursday Promise to You
Written on June 11, 2009 at 11:30 am, by Eric Cressey
If you asked my fiancee (or anyone who knows me well, for that matter), she would tell you that I work all the time. If I’m not training athletes, I’m training myself, reading research, or writing programs or articles about training. My life pretty much revolves around it – and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it is challenging to get to everything.
To be very honest with you, I’d probably make more money if I just stayed home and wrote articles and books all day. It’s a direction quite a few folks in this industry have taken, in fact. You’d be surprised at how many well-known internet personalities in the exercise world don’t see athletes anymore; they just stay home and write about what life would be like if they actually did train people. Or, they talk about what they used to do when they worked with folks, or what they’ve seen in the research of late.
Now, I’m all for research. And, given my articles, books, and DVDs, I’m all for sharing knowledge that I’ve gained. However, I’m a huge believer that you can’t add to the body of knowledge unless you are out in the trenches working with people. You’d be surprised at how many researchers and writers could never get results in the real world. Why? Because people – attitudes, emotions, individual differences, etc. – get in the way.
This is why I have so much respect for those who are “in the trenches” and derive a significant portion of their income from in-person training. I enjoy articles, blogs, seminars, and products from guys like Alwyn Cosgrove, Mike Boyle, Mike Robertson, Bill Hartman, Mike Reinold, Jim Smith, Brijesh Patel, Nick Tumminello, and dozens others because these are all guys who are in the real world working to help people. Unlike those who just write, they are constantly getting feedback from clients/athletes on what works and what doesn’t; theories don’t go untested. If I was a consumer, I’d actually go out of my way to make sure the person writing a book or article was actually seeing clients/athletes before purchasing it.
A few years ago, I never would have even thought to make this promise, but the internet certainly changes things. And, that’s why I’m promising today that I’ll be training athletes for a long time, and the day I stop training athletes is the day that I stop writing and speaking about training, too.
Category Blog | Tags: Alwyn Cosgrove, Bill Hartman, Brijesh Patel, Building The Efficient Athlete, Jim Smith, Magnificent Mobility, Mike Boyle, Mike Reinold, Mike Robertson, Nick Tumminello, Rotator Cuff Exercises, Rotator Cuff Rehab, Shoulder Exercises, Shoulder Health, Shoulder Impingement, Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Rehab, Unstable Surface Training
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June 11th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
and this is why you are such a benefit to the training community
June 11th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Awesome post Eric! The same thing can be said about those who are experts on nutrition… some people just write about it, but can’t do a darn thing in the real world. One should look for someone that actually makes change happen.
June 11th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
As always you keep it real…nice!
June 11th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
This is the exact reason why I read your articles & purchase your educational products.
You practice what youu preach.
A great role model.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Good post. Alwyn Cosgrove said something recently that I thought was brilliant. “I don’t want to hear from the guy who says ‘Been there, done that.’ I want to hear from the guy who has Been there, done that and is still doin’ it.”
June 12th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Brilliant post, EC. I know a few of the guys you are talking about in the post, that just “talk” about training clients and what they “used to do” when they trained clients. How they have such a big cult-like following online is beyond me. Keep up the great work, your posts are a must-read for me every time. Saw the 21 chin ups you banged out on TG’s blog, well done.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:27 am
You are awesome! And I saying that after cursing you this morning during the interval session you wrote for me! 🙂
June 12th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
As always, your integrity is showing through. With an attitude like this, you will constantly be sought out and will continue to enjoy success! Thanks for all your help – book, blogs and individual attention!
June 12th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
be careful about making grave promises on an inernet blog. that’s besides the ponit though. love the sentiment in the post.
June 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Ah, the trenches, great artice! I am on yr. 22 in career and still train 60-70 people aweek.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:29 am
EC,
Great post. I’m a guy who’s been training clients full time, in person, for over 8 years now and operate my own facility. I completely agree with what you’ve written here. When I read some of the stuff people write on the popular sites, it is clear to me they’ve never applied this stuff in the real world with real people. Keep up the great work.
PJ Striet