Remember, according to Brian Tracy: "One hour per day of study will put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years you’ll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the best people in the world at what you do."

This category is extremely broad.  The single most valuable free resource you have is your network of friends, colleagues, training partners, and fellow coaches.  You simply need to interact with as many people as humanly possible; everyone has something to teach.  This may come in the form of conferences or just calling or emailing someone to shoot the breeze.  Remember, the end-goal should always be to incorporate bits and pieces from a variety of different coaches and schools of thought in creating your own unique philosophy – one that is constantly changing as you encounter new things.

Second, there are a myriad of free resources available on the internet to help you build your knowledge base.  Some great ones include:

www.T-Nation.com

www.EliteFTS.com

www.MensFitness.com

www.EricCressey.com (click HERE for articles)

www.RobertsonTrainingSystems.com (Mike Robertson)

www.AlwynCosgrove.com

www.higher-faster-sports.com (Kelly Baggett)

www.sbcoachescollege.com (Brijesh Patel, Shawn Windle, and Robb Rogers)

www.JohnBerardi.com
FREE Precision Nutrition 8-day Course from John Berardi

www.Westside-Barbell.com

www.JPFitness.com

www.MichaelBoyle.biz

www.DieselCrew.com

www.IYCA.org (International Youth Conditioning Association)

www.DevelopingAthletics.com (Brian Grasso) 

www.SuperHumanRadio.com

www.theFitCastInsiders.com

www.WannaBeBig.com

www.PubMed.com (links to abstracts from loads of journals)

Third, if you're interested in a career in this "biz," remember that internships don’t cost a penny.  You might need to start small at a local gym, and eventually progress to helping out with a high school, collegiate, or professional team.  In your internships, remember the professionalism and demeanor traits from above, and keep the following phrase in your mind all the time:

“I have two eyes, two ears, two legs, and one mouth; I should use them in that order.”

This adage has served me well over the past six years.

Fourth, for these same individuals, get your name out there locally, regionally, and nationally; all will facilitate your success. Easier said than done, right?  Well, you're going to have to write free articles, chat with parents and coaches, and just walk the walk.  If you work hard, it comes easier than you might think.  The internet has made marketing free, and conversations don’t cost a penny; time will be your only expense in trying to get exposure. 

Fifth, regardless of who you are, find a mentor – someone who is where you want to be – and hope that they’re willing to look out for you.  I’ve been fortunate to have several people in the industry give me great advice over the years, and I make a point of reciprocating to as many up-and-comers as I possibly can (assuming, again, that they’re professional with a good demeanor…funny how that keeps coming up, huh?).  Down the road, when a young coach or trainer looks to you for advice, remember that there were others that took you under their wing when you were in the same position; it’s your responsibility to give something back.

Trial-and-Error

As Sir Francis Bacon once wrote, "By far the best proof is experience."  Your best resource will be elbow grease, hard work, and the way that you interpret the results you see.  I've experimented with new things in my training and nutrition with some things that have yielded tremendous results.  Conversely, I've done things that proved to be absolutely worthless.  The thing that they share in common is that they both made me a better lifter and coach in the long-run.

Additionally, if you’re going to be working with anyone – whether it’s a 90 year-old woman or a professional athlete – you need to practice what you preach.  I don’t care if you’re a marathoner, powerlifter, or world champion arm-wrestler; it’s imperative that you model a healthy lifestyle.  And, whenever possible, try to do so with a competitive mindset – even if you’re just competing against yourself.  Walking the walk and being successful in your own goals will automatically give you instant credibility in your clients and athletes’ eyes.  And, just as importantly, you’ll learn a ton about yourself and how your clients will respond to different training protocols; you are your own best guinea pig.  Now lace up your sneakers and do something!

Seminars

My experience is that the cost of attending a seminar pays for itself ten-fold in the long-run, as you're not only picking up new information, but also interacting with old friends and meeting new people to expand your network.  I'm actually at the point where I'll attend seminars just to interact with other coaches who are in attendance; anything I learn from the presenters is pure bonus!

I attend at least 7-8 conferences per year – usually more.  Regardless of your experience or financial situation, I would work to set aside the cash to attend at least two – and make one of them Ryan Lee’s Bootcamp, as the three-day event gives you training, nutrition, business (very important, as you’ll find out later), and plenty of opportunities to network.

For a list of good seminars to attend, check out my frequently updated Schedule.

Resources: Books, Manuals, CDs, DVDs, etc.

Okay, now to the meat and potatoes – what people seem to inquire about the most.

Another quick note: to paraphrase Brian Tracy once again, the average American spends 500-1000 hours in the car each year; listening to audio tapes for this amount of time would equate to being enrolled in college full-time!  With that said, if I’m aware that something is available in this format, I’ll be sure to let you know.  I listen to a good 3-4 books each month during my commutes.

I’m going to subdivide these as much as possible and give you a brief rationale for my inclusion of each.  I’m placing an asterisk next to those who are best suited to the general fitness population (not coaches or trainers); coaches and trainers should try to get their hands on everything!

Everything begins with a fundamental knowledge of anatomy; you need to have it down cold.  Start with a basic anatomy and physiology text (I like Marieb's) and complement it with the following (in this order; it’s a progression):

*Manual of Structural Kinesiology – A good entry level text

*Basic Biomechanics: 5^th Ed. – You need to understand biomechanics to be a good coach, so this is a definite must.  I’ve seen a few different editions of Susan Hall’s classic, and they’ve all been quite good.

Low Back Disorders – More clinical in nature than Dr. McGill’s newer book, but still valuable.

Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain, 5^th Ed. - a true classic that everyone needs to own.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes - quite possibly the most comprehensive resource available for spotting musculoskeletal dysfunction – an incredible resource.

Anatomy Trains – If you understand the muscles and nervous system, you need to start looking into the myofascial system.

Physical Therapy of the Shoulder - This is a VERY advanced book, but it provides a tremendous of valuable background information that will justify some of the recommendations that you'll find below.  Donatelli is pure genius.

Bulletproof Knees - This guide from Mike Robertson is an excellent manual for the layman who is interested in keeping his knees health - or getting them there in the first place.  Very comprehensive and well written.

Now, let’s look to the performance and program design end of the spectrum:

*Under the Bar – This book isn’t as much about training as it is about the training lifestyle and how you should carry yourself as a lifter, coach, and training partner if you want to be successful.  I think it should be required reading for all up-and-coming lifters; I can’t “over-applaud” the sections on “giving back” to the lifting community and the importance of training partners/environment.  Dave Tate did an awesome job with this book.

Essentials of Strength and Conditioning - This is a solid overall resource that is complemented nicely by reading more from the “in the trenches” literary community.  It is more research-backed than anecdotally supported – but you still need to read it.

Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance: 6^th Ed. – The updated version of the classic from McArdle, Katch, and Katch; you need to read it if you want to be a successful coach.

*Professional Fitness Coach Program Design Bible – This manual is a solid introduction from Alwyn Cosgrove, one of the best in the business.  It is well-worth the price if you’re looking to start off on the right foot – or unlearn some bad habits – when it comes to program design.

Science and Practice of Strength Training: 2^nd Ed. – the updated version from Dr. Vladimir Zatsiorsky, now with contributions from Dr. William Kraemer.

Supertraining – A true classic from the late Dr. Mel Siff.

Science of Sports Training – Some outdated information, but still a fantastic read.

*The Ultimate Off-Season Training Manual - I wrote this manual because I saw a pressing need for DIRECTION in athletes who knew they were ready for specialization, but didn't understand how to do it correctly.  When I was finished, I realized that I had actually created a resource that benefits all athletes and weekend warriors alike, regardless of whether you're competitive or not.

*Magnificent Mobility DVD – Another shameless plug, huh?  You’ve got to address mobility and activation needs, and Mike and I feel that our product does this better than any other on the market.

*Inside-Out DVD/Manual - I've become known as a "shoulder guy" in light of a lot of my articles on the topic, so it says a lot when I say that Mike Robertson and Bill Hartman have created a fantastic best upper body prehab and warm-up DVD and manual.  You'll not only pick up a bunch of great exercises; you'll also learn how to effectively structure a warm-up AND understand why you need to incorporate various movements.

*Functional Strength Coach DVD Set – As I mentioned earlier, Mike Boyle has forgotten more than the rest of us will ever know; this is an excellent resource that’ll really make you think.

*Functional Strength Coach DVD Set: Volume 2 - It's just as good as the first!

*Advanced Program Design DVD Set: This 4-DVD set by Mike Boyle is a fantastic overview of how to program for both athletes and ordinary personal training clients.  As an added bonus, it includes a cameo from some guy named "Cressey."

*Designing Strength Training Programs and Facilities – More Mike Boyle – just as good, as it really brings a lot of things to light that you normally wouldn't consider in writing programs and designing facilities (e-book format).

*Vertical Jump Development Bible - Kelly Baggett is a brilliant guy, and this goes into more detail than the title implies; you’ll learn a lot about a lot of stuff.

*The Ultimate No-Bull Speed Development Manual - Another great resource from Kelly.

*Starting Strength – a solid teaching resource for several compound lifts

Sports Mechanics for Coaches – A good resource to get you to start thinking about the right stuff.

High-Low Sequences of Programming and Organizing of Training – More advanced, but a great read nonetheless.

Modern Trends in Strength Training – Several good loading parameters for intermediate to advanced lifters.

*Facts and Fallacies – More great stuff from Dr. Siff, but this one is a little more reader-friendly.

*The Westside Seminar DVDs – A crash-course in a highly effective powerlifting method that has implications for athletes and weekend warriors alike.

*Theory and Applications of Modern Strength and Power Methods - A very thorough e-book from Christian Thibaudeau.

*Speed Trap - You won't find a better speed coach than Charlie Francis.

*Training for Speed - More speed training, just a bit different.

The SpeedExperts.com Collection – 17 coaches, 17 perspectives on how to get fast…great stuff!

*Speed and Agility Revolution – This book surprised me; there’s some excellent material in it.

The No-Bull Muscle Building Plan - Different from Kelly Baggett's traditional athletic focus, this offers a highly effective approach to building muscle without gaining appreciable body fat.

The Stress of Life - Hans Selye’s original classic; if you don’t understand stress, you’ll never understand adaptation.

Strength and Power in Sport (Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine) – An incredibly thorough textbook with some excellent contributors.

*The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook – Some cool stuff on the power of self-healing with soft tissue work.

*Bodyweight Training DVD – Cosgrove provides some good information for "take-it-anywhere" training. 

If someone had asked me to make nutrition resource recommendations last year, I’d probably have listed a dozen or more resources.  However, John Berardi came out with Precision Nutrition and literally changed the entire nutrition world with the most comprehensive set of resources for which one could ever hope.

*Precision Nutrition – DVDs, books, tech support, and a whole lot more!

The Naked Nutrition Guide - Mike Roussell went to great lengths to make this an extremely comprehensive manual that is easily understood and applied.

The Metabolism Advantage - More great stuff from John Berardi.

*Real-World Fat Loss Handbook - This is a tremendously valuable and comprehensive resource from Alwyn Cosgrove; it offers some excellent training insights to go along with the diet information as you look to lean out; Alwyn has received some great feedback on this manual.

*Turbulence Training - The success of this e-book speaks for itself; Craig Ballantyne has sold a lot of copies not only because he's a really bright buy, but because the programs in this e-book deliver fantastic results - and people can't wait to tell their friends about those results. 

Business

Not many people know that I spent two years at a strictly business college before I realized that my passion was in Exercise Science.  As I entered the fitness industry, it was my hope that I would be able to apply a lot of the principles I learned in those two years at business school to my new career.  I couldn’t have been more wrong; almost NONE of it had any carryover.

There is absolutely no substitute for experience in this realm; however, the next best thing is to learn from those who have been successful at what you’re doing.  That way, you can at least learn from their mistakes – even if you’re still going to have to learn from your own.  So, in that sense, I would strongly encourage you to find a few business mentors who have been where you want to be.  In fact, some of the products below were highly recommended to me by these mentors, so a lot of this is really "hand-me-down" information.

You can help the process along tremendously by finding “virtual mentors;” books, DVDs, and CDs are all extremely helpful if you look to the right sources.  As my career has progressed, I’ve read a TON more business books, and they’ve taught me to work smarter instead of just longer; my overall productivity has really gone through the roof thanks to some of the following products:

Ryan Lee

Yes, Ryan deserves a section of his own, as he is absolutely revolutionizing the business aspect of the fitness industry.  I can say without hesitation that his products have saved me thousands of dollars and countless hours of frustration.  The most profitable trainers aren’t necessarily the ones who know the most; they’re the ones who understand marketing the best.  If you’re serious about being successful, you need to check this stuff out; they’ll pay themselves off ten-fold (at least) in the long-run.

Six Figure Trainer – A great “get your feet wet” product (DVD) that’ll give you a good first taste of what Ryan has to offer.

Ryan Lee Bootcamp: An annual event that you NEED to attend if you’re serious about improving as a coach and a businessman or woman in the fitness industry.  I’ll be there taking notes and peppering Ryan with questions all weekend.

Sports Training Profits – A valuable tool for anyone who is looking to improve the efficiency of their systems – especially if working with young athletes.  This product also addresses website design and the production of fitness information products; it’s very comprehensive.  And, given that it’s all audio (with handouts), it’s a great one to put in the CD player when you’re driving.

Sports Training Facility – A great resource for those looking to make a living training athletes; you’ll learn to avoid a lot of the common pitfalls people in this situation make.  This product includes a 115-page manual and six audio CDs; pretty sweet deal for $197 – especially when you consider all the bonuses he throws in.

Fitness Info Products – This is the product that really got me hooked on Ryan’s stuff.  I listened to all seven of these CDs in a single-day; there was a ridiculous amount of high-quality, readily applicable information.  I can’t even begin to quantify how much time and money this package saved me; I wish I had known about it before Mike and I made our first DVD.  If you’re making DVDs, e-books, manuals, books, or any other products, you need this resource.  Don’t even think twice; just buy it.

Jim Labadie

Like Ryan, Jim is at the head of the business realm.  If you work in this industry, you absolutely HAVE to pick up some of Jim's stuff.  It's not common in this world that you can buy something that you KNOW will pay itself off and then some; Jim and Ryan's products always do that.  Here are my three favorite products from Jim:

The Ultimate Sales Kit for Fitness Professionals - This nine-CD set is as comprehensive as they come; Jim discusses selling, advertising, publicity, and operational systems within the business.  If you're a fitness professional who wants to learn to work smarter instead of longer, this needs to be in your library.

The Ultimate Publicity Kit for Fitness Professionals - Here's a resource I definitely could have used a few years ago; it would have made my ascent through the ranks a LOT easier.  Jim outlines ways to market yourself as a trainer, consultant, and writer; if you want to position yourself in an expert in this field and you've done a ton of leg work to actually become an expert already, this product will help you make others realize how good you are.

The Ultimate Referral Kit for Fitness Professionals - A solid referral system is a key factor in the success of any training business, yet very few trainers have a good system set in stone.  Jim takes the guesswork out of the process. 

A few other outstanding business books that come to mind:

The E-Myth Revisited – Michael Gerber might have the most important book anyone beginning a small business could ever read here.  It’s also available as an Unabridged CD Collection.

The Business of Fitness: Understanding the Financial Side of Owning a Fitness Business - Thomas Plummer is one of the most respected names in the business aspect of this industry; definitely check this book out.

  
Never Eat Alone - The title is deceiving; this isn't a touchy-feely relationship book; it's an outstanding resource that teaches you how to build strong networks in the business world.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die - Chip and Dan Heath have an awesome read here; it really breaks down successful writing, marketing, and speaking so that anyone can get better at what they do - regardless of industry.

Overachievement: The New Model for Exceptional Performance - Dr. John Eliot debunks several of the most common myths of high performance - and provides an awesome resource for those who would rather be exceptional than just good.

Hug Your Customers - One that a lot of people recommended to me, and with good reason; Jack Mitchell really "gets it."
 

Every time I read a Brian Tracy book or article, I think to myself "I should have thought of that already!"  Here are a few good ones:

Time Power

Focal Point

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie – A classic from one of the best businessmen of all time.  This is also available as an Audio CD.

Raving Fans, by Ken Blanchard – This is a solid look at customer service that Dave Tate actually recommended to me; it’s also available as an Audio CD.