Brandon Smith: Make it Happen-The Professional Transitions Series S13E5

<p><span style="font-weight: 300;">In the last installment of the Professional Transition Series, Brandon Smith joins CJ to discuss his path to coaching.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 300;">He began lifting because he grew interested in cheerleading in college. When college & cheerleading ending, so did lifting for awhile. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 300;">He worked in hospitality services and restaurants, and though he enjoyed it he thought about continuing down this path into his 60s and ultimately knew he needed to make a change. He began to lift & coach.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 300;">Brandon found that his hospitality experience and his ability to quickly connect to people made a huge impact on his coaching ability. This is something that has popped up again and again in the series, is that you bring the tools you have from your career and life experience. You have skills that can help you be a better coach: don’t be afraid to use them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 300;">For those who have trouble striking up conversation, Brandon recommends talking about the things you’re passionate about. If you’re not passionate about discussing training and lifting, you might need to think twice about whether you want to be a coach. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 300;">Another thing Brandon recommends is being honest. If you don’t feel like an expert, just be honest. Say that you think you can help improve their deadlift or squat and have some humility and underpromise and overdeliver. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 300;">It really takes a relatively low level of proficiency to be able to help most clients. Don’t suck, and you can help. Use the teaching scripts, improve your eye, understand some basics and you can help someone quite a bit.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 300;">When Brandon started coaching people, he programmed lots of bosu ball and other stuff, and began to see a pattern of clients not improving much beyond 6 months. He searche