Pekker_head

Have you had anyone attend a seminar or become a SS Coach that was sponsored by a public safety agency? e.g Police, Fire, EMS, so on. With the idea they would instruct their agency on how to perform the movements?

I am tempted to get my feet wet with the administration and see if they would pay for me to attend. We don’t have anyone who is qualified to teach barbell movements. We have 2 gyms but they will buy more “cardio” equipment as the whole mindset is we just “need to run.” The department has paid for stranger things in the past so me pitching the idea isn’t crazy.

I am seeing if you have any suggestions or ideas on this idea. Or if you had anyone in the past mention anything to you.

Mark Rippetoe

We have had several agencies send people to the seminar over the years. Before they ask, there is no discount.

miketayman

My question for Mark is: if he was starting over today (meaning just starting out in strength training) where would he begin, would he still do the same things, and where does he see the greatest opportunities for the future?

I'm asking because I'm looking to change careers. Im almost 50 yrs old and I was thinking about getting into strength training and conditioning. I've worked in psychology for 10+ yrs and then switched over to investments and trading for another 10 yrs. However, what I’ve learned in business or at least in our financial system is that it’s all BS and fraud. One big ponzi scheme, as I feel all of our systems are now. It was probably always this way but now the powers that be just don't seem to care anymore about hiding that fact (probably b/c we as a country are bankrupt-financially, morally, ethically, and spiritually). That being said I've always admired you for your bluntness and honesty about things as well as your lifting methods. I've lifted for years and I must tell you as I've told many others before that your method works. Bar none and that's why I use it. There's a lot of garbage out there. Back in the earlier days I find This was not the case with strength training. There was a lot less information but what information was available seemed to work. Anyways, I was just wondering what you would do in my shoes or what advice or direction you could point me in? Thank you again for your time and advice. I really appreciate it.

Mark Rippetoe

Tell us about your training history.

Railbob1776

I can relate to the OP, 45yo here (turn 46 this summer), and I'm burnt out on my current professional career plus the office I work in is all about the covid drama (I'll never forget seeing my boss wearing a face shield, mask, and gloves when "he" made a rare venture into the office where I was maskless and fine) and they recently announced that they've hired a diversity consultant. Yay! I just don't fit in there anymore. I'm also the only person who kept coming to the office to work throughout the entire covid drama and I've never been tested or jabbed despite all of the propaganda thrown my way through work emails (free personal day for anyone who shows HR proof of vaccination!!!!). How insulting that my concerns over the shot are so trivial that they would be swept aside at the thought of a day off of work. Unbelievable. It's like I've been living in a twilight zone episode since late March 2020.

Anyway, I fantasize about ditching the cubicle for the coaching life but the nearest SS gym is too far for me to drive to and from during the week. Honestly, after a full day of work I'm done mentally. It drains me. Are "weekends only" apprenticeships a thing? Am I too old for this shit? I don't want to enter an industry that will just cast me aside in 5 years either. As for training history, other than the obligatory bodybuilder type of training we've all done, I've trained seriously for strength since 2013 starting with Wendler's 5/3/1 of course. Through the years I've paid for coaching from RTS and others and I attended a SS seminar in 2017. Currently I get personalized programming from Andy Baker.

Mark Rippetoe

The reason I asked about training history – Mike hasn't responded, so we know his situation – is that you cannot coach what you haven't done yourself. We currently have no weekend-only apprenticeships, but you don't have to intern at a SS Gym to obtain the certification. You do, however, have to be actively coaching the method. When you accumulate the experience, sit for the exam and then think about your options.

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