#181 - A Complete Guide to Building a Personal Training Business - Dan Stephenson

Dan is a strength coach, educator, and owner of Ideal Strength LLC, a coaching-focused training business based in the Seattle area. With over 20 years in the fitness industry, Dan specializes in helping coaches sharpen their eye for movement, simplify program design, and apply training principles with real-world context—not just textbook theory.
Through 1:1 coaching, small-group training, and professional education, Dan works with both everyday clients and fitness professionals—many from high-performing, high-stress careers—to build resilient, adaptable strength. His approach emphasizes clarity, intent, and long-term development over complexity for complexity’s sake.
Dan is passionate about mentoring coaches, creating practical educational resources, and bridging the gap between “knowing the science” and coaching effectively on the floor.

We discuss:
01:04 - Dan's 20-Year Coaching Journey
05:29 - Continuous Education and Learning
12:05 - In-Person vs Online Coaching
19:25 - Cueing Strategies and Learning Styles
24:17 - How Long to Coach In-Person First
30:47 - The Hybrid Coaching Model
34:06 - Competition Makes Better Coaches
38:26 - Managing Client Stress and Recovery
50:39 - Building Your Book of Business
52:58 - Listening vs Responding

Find Dan:
Instagram: @idealstrength 
Website: www.idealstrength.com
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Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. 

If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. 

If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com 

Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance
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-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:
www.coachescorneru.com
💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:
www. masterathletic.com

Who am I and why should you listen to me?
Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.

RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!