‘Lifting weights and strength training is not for me. I tried this place and did not like it.’
-unnamed client 

Two coaches might say and implement the exact same thing in two different ways. The way one says/implements it resonates and feels like a personal call to action. The way the other says/implements it does not move you enough to get the job done and sustain the effort. Neither coach is wrong. Neither is anything wrong with you. 

It is heartening that a marketplace of coaches exists for eager, receptive clients looking to change their habits. And I get to compete in this marketplace. 

If you like the voice, working style, ideas and results of a coach, hire them and hang on to them. They can do the following things for you: 

* Be a mentor, guide and/or friend in the messy world of exercise, training and navigating through a gym. 
* Without judgement or bias, size up your goals and tell you how realistic they are. If required help you reframe them for sustainability and individual context. 
* Be pragmatic and not be rooted to tools or protocols at the cost of doing the right thing for you. 
* Not impose on you what has worked for them . 
* Not impose their goals or priorities on you. 
* Have sound logic, reason and evidence for making the choices they make. 
* Be willing to spend time and energy to get the details right. 
* Much like a good parent, foster a degree of independence and judgment in you.