We were lucky to catch up with JP Purkey recently and have shared our conversation below.
JP, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
Well, first and foremost, I started my own business, haha. Working for myself has been the most rewarding and hardest thing I’ve done. I love making my own schedule, working with people I want to work with, and know I don’t have to keep up with some corporate BS.
The biggest thing for me when I feel like I’m reaching my limit is just checking my perspective. For example, I may have 12 sessions in one day with a 30 minute break for lunch, but I also know I am taking Thursday to Sunday off and still hitting my weekly goals. Knowing that I can work at my maximum for a few days to then play just as hard as I work is a great motivator.
From a day to day perspective, I do things that keep me grounded. I meditate daily, try and play with our dogs Mya and Kali as much as I can, and make sure my partner, Patrick, and I are on the same page. Working, for me, is a means to the life I want. Which is just to be able to travel and see the world, go to concerts, and be with the people I love. So reminding myself of that day in and day out, performing my grounding strategies I mentioned, keeps the burnout at bay.
And when days are tough, I take time for myself. If need be, I will cancel a session and be completely honest with my clients. Gone are the days you are shamed for being down or struggling. So if I’m at a point where I just can’t do it, I cancel. Then take that time to focus on myself and just decompress.
Taking care of me is my first priority. If you can’t show up for yourself, how can you be there for others?
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Perpetual Movement Fitness was created with the thought that movement is endless, always changing, and so are people. The goal with any client is to help them move well and keep them moving. As a personal trainer, I believe the basics are the basics for a reason. I’m not a trainer for someone who wants a six-pack or to compete in a physique competition. I use my education and clinical skills from athletic training to get people out of pain, increase their range of motion, and prevent future injuries. Once a client feels better and gains more confidence with their own movement, then the fun begins.
In all honesty, the biggest thing I want people to know about me and Perpetual Movement Fitness is that I don’t expect you to train 6 days a week for an hour or two at a time. When you get a personal trainer, it’s a partnership. It’s my job to help navigate and find what is going to work for YOU. I’m not here to bark orders or break you down. I just want you to feel better and walk with confidence.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
That’s a tough one. I think everyone is different and to tell someone what they should focus on is kind of a disservice. I think we are supposed to struggle and succeed for a reason. And through that, you find out who you are and what skills you have. But for me personally I think the top three qualities or skills that were most beneficial for me are my athletic training background, my stubbornness, and my ability to make things simple.
I went to school for athletic training and sports medicine. So my background is more clinical than most personal trainers. I have a great foundation of the body mechanics, injury and rehabilitation, and regressing/progressing exercises. My mentor, Wendy Poppy, had a HUGE impact on my clinical skills and knowledge. She pushed me into the so called pool and said, “you better swim!” She was honestly a major contributor to the development of my critical thinking skills.
Now, I’d like to think I can go with the flow, however, I know myself and realize I’m pretty headstrong. So giving up just wasn’t on my radar. I’d be broke and buying a Subway $5 footlong for dinner and lunch and never did I think I should go get another job. I was and am determined to make PMF as big as possible. Today, I have an appreciation for my stubbornness.
This may be one of the biggest things that helped me, but I just simplified everything. Client relationships, pricing, business tracking, marketing, and my mission statement. All of it was broken down to the lowest denominator. I don’t consider myself the smartest business man, but I know how to make things work for me.
That may not have been the answer you were looking for, but again, I really don’t know what other people should focus on. That’s something they really need to determine on their own. I promise, it’s so much sweeter when you figure things out for yourself.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
That’s a great question. I think everyone in the personal training profession should strive to be well-rounded. Why wouldn’t you want to learn? But you should also market your strengths. There’s a balance. Don’t lie and say you can do one thing just to close a deal, because now you look bad. Honesty is highly valued. For example, I have zero hesitance to refer to someone if I can’t do something. Why would I waste their time, take their money, and then fail? I also never just answer a question to answer a question. If you ask my clients they’ll tell you I’ve answered questions with, “Honestly I have no idea” or “Here is my best guess and I’ll look it up later and get back to you”.
With situations like that, I will go home and read or call colleagues to get their opinion. Nutrition is not my favorite topic. So when it gets to a point that is beyond my comfort, I will refer them to Lauren, a nutritionist and future dietician. I think there is room for everyone. Instead of being the person who can “do it all”, I prefer to be honest and then do some research.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.perpetualmovementfitness.com
- Instagram: @perpetualmovementfit
Image Credits
Kevin Shih
