One Coach to Rule Them All
Hey everyone, welcome back! I hope you enjoyed my first post, where I introduced why I’m doing this. I really struggled with how to follow up because when you're you know really trying to to show people the way so to speak my mind goes a million different places so I think I'm going to stop start again at places that mean a lot to me and really shape how I do things it's not necessarily about memorization it's about implementing the art of the science if that makes sense so , Now, let’s dive into something that shapes my entire philosophy as a coach: the difference between transactional and transformational coaching. And because I’m sticking with the nerd theme, let’s frame this through a Tolkien lens—think of transactional coaching as Saruman’s approach, and transformational coaching as Gandalf’s.
Transactional vs. Transformational Coaching
First, let’s look at the textbook definitions:
Transactional Coaching – A method where the coach provides guidance, programs, or support in exchange for payment, with minimal long-term engagement or personalization.
Transformational Coaching – A coaching style focused on long-term personal growth, development, and behavioral change, emphasizing education, empowerment, and self-sufficiency.
What Does This Really Mean?
We live in a world driven by transactions—everything from paying for coffee with your phone to Venmo-ing friends, buying crypto, or investing in stocks. Transactions are constant and often impersonal. But when it comes to health and fitness, I believe we need more than transactions—we need transformation.
Yes, some people just want a workout plan or diet program; they pay, they get their product, and they move on. There’s nothing wrong with that. But I think this approach has become too dominant. Coaching isn’t just about handing over a plan and collecting money; it’s about helping people truly change their lives. And the way I bridge the gap between the two? Education.
And look I'm not talking about educating people verbatim from the book I'm not talking about sending them references I'm talking about being able to digest it yourself and make it understandable for everyone because not everyone has the same mind not everyone thinks the same way sees the same things reads the same things they all perceive it differently so it is I look at it as our job to take the gift we have which is the knowledge of the human body and Physiology and nutrition and all this and make it consumable in a way to help people I just am not of the mind that a barrier to health and longevity should be money
Instead of just handing a program to an athlete, I try to make sure they understand the why behind it. It’s the difference between just doing a movement and knowing how that movement fits into their greater athletic development. Let’s look at how our Tolkien comparison plays out:
Saruman’s Method: “Follow my orders, no need for explanations.”
Gandalf’s Method: “A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he explains things precisely when he means to.”
Saruman’s Method: “Eat exactly this and don’t ask questions.”
Gandalf’s Method: “A meal should sustain your journey, not just fill your belly. Here’s how to fuel for longevity.”
Saruman’s Method: “Just lift heavier and get stronger, that’s all that matters.”
Gandalf’s Method: “Strength is not simply power, it is endurance, control, and resilience. Let me teach you how to build it properly.”
Saruman’s Method: “Take the shortcut to results.”
Gandalf’s Method: “Shortcuts make long delays. Mastery is in the process, not the destination.”
Oh boy, that was fun! I love trying to come up with Gandalf’s take on things. But for those of you who aren’t Tolkien nerds, here’s what all that really means:
A coach who just gives you a plan without explanation or long-term engagement is like Saruman; focused on quick, often superficial results.
A transformational coach, like Gandalf, doesn’t just give you a plan. He teaches you why it works, how to adjust it over time, and how to use it to become self-sufficient in your own training.
Saruman is about immediate control, getting followers to do exactly what he says. Gandalf, on the other hand, empowers his people, trusts them to grow, and teaches them to find their own path.
Following orders blindly might work for a short time, but true mastery comes from understanding the process and embracing the journey.
The Road Goes Ever On
Just like Bilbo’s journey didn’t end when he left the Shire, real transformation isn’t a quick fix, it’s a lifelong adventure. There’s no single shortcut to Mordor; you have to take the long road, step by step, and build resilience along the way.
So ask yourself: do you want to be Saruman, taking the easy way only to watch everything crumble? Or do you want to be Gandalf, guiding steady progress that withstands the test of time?
Because, in the end, even the smallest adjustments can change the course of your entire journey.
