The only thing I can add and it’s not much is that a young man I am training, about the 4th person I have individually coached in 50 years and all were contest winners (except him) local / regional level
he is easily the most genetically gifted of all the others put together.
When he misses a day (rare except now since he was just diagnosed with cancer
) when I am in the gym without him. I can’t begin to tell you how many people come up to me and ask me to train them. I am not a personal trainer at this gym, would not even consider myself one . . . probably hold the world record for mistakes made in and out of the gym and zero money is exchanged between us.
I have said no to all of them, tell them the first they do have the genetic potential as him, would not be willing to train as hard as him, and would not do exactly as told if there life depended on it. Further, they were not born him or lived his life.
All the personal trainers I have have known I would not let them fix my wheelbarrow, yes, they are that bad. They even come up to me and ask me how I am able get the results I am getting with him, watch the both of us like hungry hawk.
I guess the bottom line, long story longer is that you yourself look good (I used to, not so bad now) and have a proven track record; photos, living or dead
or an actual client you can show them.
Understand there needs and wants and genetics and your expectations and ability to for them to obtain there goals.
I will not comment one the certification business as I have zero experience in that part of the business and it is a business.
Could go on and on but don’t want to bore you except to have a real passion for helping people that way it won’t be ‘work’.
PS. Guess I added more than ‘not much’.