Everywhere you turn, people are looking for ways to show that their ideas are new and exciting, and that the only way to get the “real deal” is to go through them. We all do this, to a certain extent, as we naturally seek ways to show our worth to our friends, family, co-workers, training partners, etc. Individuality is a great thing, and when you possess gifts, knowledge, and experience that allows you to be an expert, there’s nothing wrong with showcasing that (if anything, keeping it to yourself is a disservice to your gifts). Too often, however, we can find ourselves focusing on the idea of creating something original, without even remembering why the idea is needed in the first place. I’ve always been a big fan of C.S. Lewis, and he had a great quote regarding originality in literature:
“..No man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.” –C.S. Lewis
When I’m writing articles for elitefts, it can be really easy for me to slip into the mindset of choosing topics based on whether they’re controversial, will make me seem intelligent, or “prove” something. There may not be anything wrong with topics that fulfill some of those things, but the real question I should be asking myself is “what is going to be most helpful to others?” The same goes for any coach or trainer who has a passion for educating others.
We are fortunate (most of the time) to have access to large media platforms in the fitness industry. While this is an excellent opportunity for coaches, lifters, and authors to share great information, it can quickly become an arms race of who is the “hottest” expert at any given time. The focus can shift from what will help others the most, to what will make me look the best.
To be perfectly honest, there is a balance involved with this. If you never market yourself or work to make your content appealing, you won’t have anyone looking at your information anyways (kind of defeats the purpose). The core of everything we do as coaches, authors, and trainers, however, should be to help those to the best of our abilities. If you do it in a way that is genuine, and utilize the right resources and style, you’ll have the opportunity to reach more people than you would’ve ever imagined.
This is as much a reminder to me, as it is an encouragement to all of the young coaches and lifters who may be reading this article and looking for ways to build their own brand in the fitness industry. When it can be tempting to force originality, or do things just to get people talking about you, remember that at the end of the day people will remember you for how you were able to help them. Speak the truth, utilize your gifts, and when opportunities arise, take them to their full potential.
