In this episode of SMTF Coaches Corner, Sean and Jarvis speak directly to first-time competitors, the athletes standing at the starting line of their very first contest prep.

We dive into one of the most important decisions you’ll make before ever stepping on stage: choosing the right coach. From understanding coaching styles and communication, to setting clear expectations on both sides, we explain what coaches and competitors must do to create a smooth, productive, and sustainable prep.

We also talk openly about the financial reality of contest prep—what most people underestimate, what costs add up quickly, and how to prepare mentally and financially before committing to a show.

Throughout the episode, we share the lessons we wish we knew before starting our own competitive journeys: mistakes, surprises, and realities that can make or break a first prep, or any prep, if you’re not prepared.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series designed to give first-time competitors a real-world roadmap, not hype, not sugar-coating, just honest guidance to help you enter prep informed, prepared, and confident.

In this episode, we’re back with Christina to dive into a core belief that defines everything we do at Self Made: personal training is personal first.

We break down the meaning of the words personal training, because the person always comes before the program. Before the sets, reps, macros, or scale weight. When you truly take care of people, the training always falls into place.

Too often, hiring a trainer is framed as a short-term fix: lose 10-20 pounds, look better, move on. But real coaching goes far deeper than aesthetics. This conversation explores how working with a trainer should be a complete lifestyle shift, one that helps individuals grow holistically, not just physically.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the person matters more than the protocol

• Coaching the human behind the habits, stress, and schedule

• How trust and connection create long-term results

• The role of fitness in mental health and emotional resilience

• Why great trainers influence confidence, discipline, and decision-making

• How physical training spills into business, relationships, and family life

• Building humans first, bodies second

Christina shares her perspective as both a coach and a mother, highlighting how true transformation happens when trainers lead with empathy, awareness, and care, not just workouts.

This episode is for trainers who want to coach with purpose, and for clients who are ready for more than a number on the scale.

At Self Made, we don’t just build physiques.

We build people.

In this episode, Chandler sits down to share the chapter most people don’t talk about: the slow loss of passion for something you once loved.

Chasing financial stability, Chandler stepped into a new career as a traveling construction project manager. On the surface, it checked all the boxes: structure, income, security. But behind the scenes, the constant travel disrupted his routine, distanced him from the gym, and slowly pulled him away from the thing that once gave him purpose: helping people through fitness.

As the days stacked up, Chandler realized something was missing. The fulfillment wasn’t there. The spark was fading. And no amount of “doing the responsible thing” could replace the feeling of changing lives inside the gym.

This episode dives into:

• How losing structure leads to losing identity

• Why routine matters more than motivation

• The cost of chasing security at the expense of purpose

• Recognizing when you’re drifting instead of progressing

• The mental switch required to stop playing small

• Getting out of your own way and committing fully

• Why returning to Self Made meant choosing growth over comfort

Chandler opens up about the mindset shift it took to come back all-in, no backup plans, no half-measures, and what it truly means to flourish once you stop fighting who you’re meant to be.

This episode is for anyone who’s felt stuck, disconnected, or torn between “what makes sense” and “what feels right.”

At Self Made, we believe the comeback starts the moment you choose alignment over fear.