Most of the folks who read this blog regularly are seriously committed to their fitness. Many do workouts that would kill a lot of people. If you are a real workout ninja, you probably don’t think much about how people who may be just starting out react to you when they see you in the gym.

To your friends and workout partners, you are just “you”. To someone who has not spent much time in a gym, you could be seen as very intimidating if not outright scary.

To your friends and family, you are probably dedicated, friendly and warm. The people that know you think you are nice. Being big and strong is just part of the person they know.

After the first of each year, every gym in the country gets a bunch of new members. Many have not worked out in a long time. Some have never worked out. To you the gym is a second home. To the newbies, the gym is a strange, and perhaps intimidating place to be.

As the new members struggle trying to complete their workout, they see people like you who, in their eyes, have incredible physical prowess. This can be very discouraging for someone starting out.

But, these new trainees really want to succeed. But, according to industry statistics, 90% of the people that join a gym in January will have quit by Groundhog Day (Feb 2). They wanted to succeed, but for whatever reason, could not keep coming to work out.

Here is where you might give these newcomers a real gift. You can help them, and it won’t cost you anything.

This is a really simple act, but I have seen it work many times. You simply go over to them and say something like “welcome to the gym. I’m (your name). If there is anything I can do to help you just ask.”

In their eyes this is “Wow!” One of the biggest strongest guys I have ever seen just welcomed me to the gym, and offered to help me.” They feel welcome instead of intimidated. Instead of being just a big tough guy, you are a “real person” who may be big, but is friendly, not menacing. In one conversation you will go from being a threat to being an inspiration.

The chances are that they won’t ask you for advice. But, they will feel like you care enough about them to come over and welcome them to an otherwise impersonal place. They will quickly have a lot of respect for you.

Your being friendly and supportive can have a huge impact on whether these new trainees keep working or quit. If your being friendly keeps them coming back, you have given them a real gift. They will get to realize their own potential, and not have to make excuses to themselves that the “gym was full of really unfriendly people”.

So…your gift to them is supporting them and inspiring them to keep training. One day they may be in a position to do this for someone else.