Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr Phil Nicolaou.
Hi dr phil, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been in the fitness industry since 1999 .Having worked at several health clubs at the time including Ballys Total Fitness, LA Fitness and Cardio Kinetics for a number of years as I went to college for my initial B.S. in Information Technology. Fitness for me was a side job, never meant to be a full time business. My initiation into the fitness field was by a trainer I had hired for myself. He taught me a lot and suggested I go into personal training. I had hired him because I previously received a bad medical report from my primary care physician. At that time, I didn’t take this suggestion seriously as I knew nothing about fitness. I was a help desk analyst at the time. It wasn’t until IT positions kept falling through and I had experienced the benefits of physical activity in my own journey that I was inspired to make a career change. My initial career choice was not working out at the time. Many IT contract positions would last 3 or 6 months then I would be looking for work again. Too many gaps in unemployment for someone to make a living. Income needs to be consistent. The IT Feld, was not for me.
After working in the fitness field for a few years, walking the gym floor trying to build my book of clients, I had notice that certain gyms didn’t operate in a manner that seemed fair. It wasn’t illegal, just seemed unethical. It was then in 2008 that I decided to branch off and offer my own personal training to private clients.
I’m proud of my academic accomplishments, earning the highest education possible in the fitness industry with 4 Master Trainer Certifications, with a Doctoral Degree from the Fitness Institute of Technology. I’m also proud of my extensive certification education having obtained over 100 certifications in the field covering stress management, sleep coaching, holistic health coaching, Integrative health coaching (which is about GUTT health), Brain health and others.
I am more proud of the fact that my personality is that I persevered and struggled for a long time to stand on my own two feet. I certainly had nay sayers but I managed to rise above the ashes. My sister calls me the Phoenix.
Many business owners fail, especially in this field. It is often due to lack of perseverance, and clarity! I’m proud that my personality is likeable, relatable and people can relate to me and find me very friendly! If people like you as a person, guiding them to a healthy lifestyle is a much easier task!
Today, I focus on senior fitness with a speciality in stroke , special needs & post rehab training. It is open to anyone but marketing efforts are mostly toward those demographics
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being self employed can be a challenge. It like any other business certainly has its up and downs. For me, mostly up. Anyone can get certified to do this. However the exams are not easy. However this is the very step. Next , after passing a rigorous exam the marketing is what usually makes or breaks someone. You have to identify your market segment and market to them. That takes time. The other component is clients who quiet. This happens. They pay their fees for ex amount of sessions and some fall off, some disappear but most do not. When dealing with public you have to be prepared for anything,.
As you know, we’re big fans of Philadelphia Personal Trainers. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I offer 3 type of personal training services. In home, which is the majority of what I do. I also offer remote coaching and in addition I offer gym coaching. My focus is mostly on seniors and their longevity. I also specialize in stroke, Parkinson’s MS and sports medicine patients who need continued coaching after their physical therapy ends. I networked with Jefferson Health and Moss Rehab here in Philadelphia to offer these extensions of service. The vast majority of trainers in the field focus on weight loss. Or traditional gym training. I wanted to seperate myself. My interests are also in sports medicine. So that is also why I connected with Jefferson sports medicine.
My education for the most part is so extensive it seems fake. It is not. It is a passion and I continuously learn. I also have to get more continuing education credits hence the extensive list of education.
Most proud of the fact that as difficult as it is to be self employed and most don’t succeed in this specific field, I did and i’m grateful. I had my own failures.
Its a great pleasure helping people!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Knowing that I helping people live healthier lives through proven science in exercise, dietary changes and lifestyle changes. When a client give me a sincere review it makes my day!
When you can make a respectable living helping people improve their lives , little can make a fitness professional happier!
Spending time with my wife Melissa and our little mini golden google Mia.
Going to heavy metal concerts and hockey games. I also enjoy travel.
Pricing:
- 80 hr
- 70 45min
- 45 30 min
Contact Info:
- Website: philadelphiapersonaltrainers.,com
