Episode 494: Adam Schafer: The Shocking Stat That Explains Why Most Trainers Stay Broke

Habits and Hustle

Jen Cohen

Education, Health & Fitness, Business, Self-improvement, Entrepreneurship

4.4 • 800 Ratings

🗓️ 17 October 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Listen to the full episode: https://youtu.be/NrHBimydPBU?si=mI2cLamva379hWMy Why do 70% of personal trainers sleep with their clients, and how does this statistic explain why most fitness professionals never build real wealth? In this Fitness Friday episode on the Habits and Hustle podcast, Adam Schafer from Mind Pump drops truth bombs about what separates successful trainers from those who plateau at $40K a year. We unpack the psychology of professional boundaries, why "motivation is bullshit but self-belief is everything," and how the same insecurities that lead to sleeping with clients also trap people in toxic relationship patterns. Adam Schafer is the business strategist behind Mind Pump Media, a fitness podcast generating over $10 million annually. With eight national certifications, a pro-card in bodybuilding, and experience managing some of the largest fitness clubs in the Bay Area, his greatest achievement remains creating a media empire that disrupted the entire fitness industry. What we discuss: Why trainers sleeping with clients is second only to hospitals for workplace affairs How breaking professional boundaries costs you the highest-paying, long-term clients Why your peers lose respect and won't work for someone who crosses these lines "Motivation is bullshit, self-belief is everything" - the mindset shift that creates success Breaking addiction to "broken people" - how ego-feeding relationships mirror bad business choices The confidence factor: Why self-belief matters more than looks, talent, or connections Why successful people keep dating the wrong people despite self-awareness Thank you to our sponsor: Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off Manna Vitality: Visit mannavitality.com and use code JENNIFER20 for 20% off your order Prolon: Get 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift. Find more from Adam: Instagram: @mindpumpadam Podcast: https://mindpumppodcast.com/ Find more from Jen: Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/ Instagram: @therealjencohen Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hi, guys. It's Tony Robbins. You're listening to Habits and Hustle. Crush it.
0:06.7	Hey, friends, you're listening to Fitness Friday on the Habits and Hustle podcast, where myself and my friends share quick and very actionable advice for you becoming your healthiest self. So stay tuned and let me know how you leveled up.
0:28.2	Before we dive into today's episode, I first want to thank our sponsor, Therasage.
0:33.3	Their trite panel has become my favorite biohacking thing for healing my body.
0:39.6	It's a portable red light panel that I simply cannot live without.
0:43.7	I literally bring it with me everywhere I go.
0:46.4	And I personally use their red light therapy to help reduce inflammations and places in my body where, honestly, I have pain.
0:56.1	You can use it on a sore back,
1:03.3	stomach cramps, shoulder, ankle. Red light therapy is my go-to. Plus, it also has amazing anti-aging benefits, including reducing signs of fine lines and wrinkles on your face, which I also use
1:09.8	it for. I personally use Therisage trilight
1:13.8	everywhere at all the time. It's small, it's affordable, it's portable, and it's really
1:20.2	effective. Head over to Therisage.com right now and use code be bold for 15% off.
1:29.7	This code will work sitewide.
1:32.4	Again, head over to Therisage, T-H-E-R-A-S-A-G-E dot com and use code B-Bold for 15% off any of their products.
1:50.2	That is really tough.
1:51.8	Really tough to date a male trainer.
1:54.1	I mean, any sex.
1:54.9	If you have a husband, then you're a girl and you're a trainer.
1:57.0	Like, that's tough for the opposite to say.
1:58.5	You've got to have a very confident partner that is okay with that. I don't know people know the stats on this, but like 70-something percent of trainers sleep with their clients. So it's a very like, that's 70 percent? You know, it's the only thing that's higher in infidelity is hospitals. So doctors and nurses sleep together more than trainers and clients do. That's one and number, that's number one and number two. So it's a really like, it's one. 70% on both sides, men with girl trainers and their clients? Yes. And men. Yes. Who does it more? Men. Yeah, men with women. Yeah, men trainers with. I bet you men and their older clients. Totally. Like that for sure happens all the time.
2:35.3	All the time happens.
2:36.3	And it happened a lot in my space.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jen Cohen, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jen Cohen and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.