We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cory Becker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cory, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
When I started Beckers Endurance & Athletic Training, also referred to as BEAT, I had been working out for about six or so years on my own. I started my fitness journey then because I joined the Air Force in a physical career path so I knew I needed to be more fit to excel. I played sports my whole life including three year varsity letter in soccer but that was mainly because of determination and skill not physical ability. Not having much guidance I learned a lot on my own and within six months I was reading articles on how to get better sleep to recover better, nutrition, supplements and all the types of training including some you have probably never heard of. Four years into my military career I went on my first deployment and there I hit some personal bests but I also helped about six other friends also progress in the gym for their own goals. When I got back I was a Unit Fitness Training Manager and took care of PT tests and also helped others and over the years I had 2-3 people tell me I should get certified. Finally came along two people that helped drive me to actually get certified, my now fiance and another friend who recently started a small photography business. Once I got certified they both helped me by letting me write them programs and use them for fitness apps I wanted to use, created my logo and helped me set up a website using pictures she took of the three of us in the gym. I launched my business right before I went on my second deployment so I had a few online clients but no online presence through the time which gave me a delayed start. I was able to get my website right and figure out other small things on that side which took time but set me up well for when I got home. When I started I knew a decent amount about fitness but nothing about design or business and it has taken me about 15 months of the two and a half years I have in business to actually get decent about my website, socials, sales and marketing. You definitely need to be patient when starting but having support team or friends that can help you out with these elements or teach you is crucial if you want to be able to make a side business strong without having two full time jobs. Now I have a scaling business I can control the amount of hours I want to work while still in the Air Force until I either go all in on the business or I have my retirement job secured.
Cory, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Cory Becker, I am 27 years old and have lived in Columbus OH, the majority of my life. I became big into fitness because I had to be for my career in the military and what I have wanted to accomplish and now I have my own personal training and nutrition business and some apparel as well. I have a few in person clients I see once a week and then us a fitness app to train them the rest of the week as well as some only online clients. I am a full certified nutrition coach through NASM and in summer of 2023 will graduate Purdue Online Global with a BS in Nutrition, which many personal trainers are not certified in nutrition coaching let alone have a degree in nutrition. I also have NASM certified personal trainer (CPT) and performance enhancement specialist (PES) certifications and WestSide Barbell Rule of Three certification. All my certifications are to help individuals become healthier and perform better as a whole not just become stronger or look better. I work with many clients trying to change their work outs and eating habits to their current life situation and work on healthy habits that keep them injury free, mentally stronger and physically capable for everything they need to be and more. Most sports including bodybuilding focus on certain muscles or movements and I try to build overall bullet proof individuals in all aspects unless they are preparing for a competition. I am proud of my work with some high school athletes trying to prepare them for D1 sports by giving them proper strength and conditioning I did not have. Also being in a military field that is demanding in 2022 I partnered with the charity organization Pets for Vets and was able to make consistent donations through out the year to help pair fostered animals with disabled veterans to help save and improve both of their quality of life. I look to continue helping more youth athletes in person locally, veterans through charity events in the future and most importantly change more lives through fully personal training and nutrition programs.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Being personal in the training and nutrition not only in the sense that I don’t copy and paste workouts for all my clients but the packaging and delivery as well. Learning how to motivate that person and deliver the workouts in a way that help them make progress to hit the results they want. Many new trainers or uncertified individuals on social media post their own workouts but the individual you are training has different current abilities, weaknesses and goals. Outside of the training on the consults, sales calls and talking to them during their rests the more personal it is and common grounds you can find with hem the more they trust you and then the better results both of you achieve.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
While in business I do not technically manage anyone I have managed and mentored a lot in the Air Force both at home and during deployments. I have also promoted young so for those that know I was an E-5 at 21 and E-6 at 23 which is very rare and that caused me to become a good leader quick because I felt the need to be on par with the 35 year old E-6’s I knew. Being honest and transparent both when giving and receiving news about anything has been my number one priority and I do not set double standards. Knowing time and place to be relaxed with those that you work with is also important. However being transparent is my biggest advice because people can smell bullshit eventually so give it straight and you will see it resonates better. Like for exercises we have to change our normal work routines and the shifts get more difficult and if you just get real and let them know to do what they need to for the exercise to make it go smooth and we can be through it and make it up on the back end then you will see better adherence than just giving it black and white or lying about how it will go. This also goes with the double standard and I would not ask my people to do their work to the top level if I am not doing my work on par with them. Holding each other accountable, staying in communication about work and personal life and demonstrating to them what needs done are the three main points I drive in with those I manage and teach to become managers or sergeants like me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beat614.com
- Instagram: beat_614
- Facebook: beat614
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/BEAT614
- Yelp: Becker’s Endurance & Athletic Training