Fitness Busy-ness or Fitness Business? Which One Do YOU Have?

As you guys know, I get a lot of posts here on the community and even more in my inbox asking me how I get so much done in a week toward my business.

I've always just taken the 'these are my targets. let me go get 'em' approach to most of what I do and so, I guess, it's juts a matter of getting stuff done.

Easier said than done.

Especially if you're in the habit of being busy versus be effective.

There's a HUGE difference between the two y'know.

Busy is easy to do.

It looks something like this:

Wake up early, eat a rushed breakfast, turn on computer, check your inbox for any 'important' emails, realise it's getting late and rush off to first client, finish client (or two) then get back online and start ploughing through the latest emails you got from the various marketing and PT lists you are on, click on a few links, read a bunch of blog posts and watch a video for 10 minutes that says exactly the same as the one that the guy yesterday sent you, go back to your email just in case an important email came through whilst you were reading the blog, it did (another newsletter), read it, realise your next client will be here in 5 minutes so switch off computer, complete another PT sessions then get back online to check out your favourite communities and blogs, leave a few posts and get ideas for posts that YOU could write, don't write them, instead read another post, another email, watch another video, write a client program, train another client, check your mail again, think about writing something for your blog, don't write it, head home, read a marketing book, don't use any of the new techniques you've learned because you're 'not ready' yet, go online, check email again, check out interesting community posts then collapse into a semi satisfied heap that you've had a busy day and earned a good night's sleep.

Phew!

Does that sound like your day? Or something like it?

It's easy to get to that stage when you fill your day with busy-ness rather than business. The two are not the same in any way, shape or form.

Busy-ness has very little business building or money making activity within it. Although you're on the go all day, hardly anything actually gets done and, as you already know from previous posts here, you only get paid for done, right?

I recently looked at one of my average days to see how I used it and i think you might find it interest, both for the similarities and the differences.

==> Trained 5 clients
==> Wrote 3 blog posts
==> Wrote 3 new email messages to my lists to drive them to blogs
==> Wrote a detailed website brief for my new site and sent to elance
==> Watched a 30 minute video from a program I paid for (Meaning I WANTED the advice)
==> Used what I learned to create my March Madness promotion at my studio
==> Wrote March Madness promotion brief and and briefed my staff verbally
==> Conducted a 2 hour team meeting where I laid out marketing strategy AND delivered a lecture on lifecoaching and goal setting
==> Spent 1 hour in my various communities answering reader questions or responding to interesting blog posts.
==> Spent 15 minutes skim reading all the emails from the lists I'm subscribed to. Deleted unnecessary mails, saved interesting ones only if I intend to do something with what I learned. If not, in the bin.
==> Wrote an elance brief for 20 hours of transcription. Hired my elancer within first 30 minutes, sent the escrow amount and the audio files within 1 hour.
==> Wrote 6 page worksheet for my mentoring call.

Now, let me be honest, I still had some downtime (I went to see Marley and Me with my wife and youngest son), I still stopped for lunch and had about 30 minutes goofing off with my staff and yes, I still worked when I got home in the evening.

But that's the operative word; I WORKED. I didn't sit on the internet until 9.30pm and get nothing done.

As you can see, that's a pretty full day, right? There's a LOT of productive stuff going on in that day and yes, it truly is an average day for me... and I still feel like I don't get enough done!

Yet, it's about 10 times as much as the average personal trainer or fitness professional.

The thing is, if I can do this so can you.

Just like you, I only get 24 hours a day to do my work. I don't get given extra hours because I've already written an ebook, already have a six figure income or already have my own personal training studios. I get exactly the same.

So does Bill Gates.

So does Warren Buffet.

So does Steve Jobs.

Yet look at what 24 hours in THEIR days can generate!

Success isn't about filling the day with being busy guys. It's about focusing on what's important to your business and your life goals and then getting them done!

Make a commitment this week to working on getting stuff done rather than just being busy and I guarantee you'll see results that you don't normally see in a year.

Get to it.

Get it done!

Dax Moy
Fitness Marketing Made Simple

P.S - Write a list right now of all the REALLY important stuff you could be doing today and all the stuff you've been putting off then, well, just do it. Make a commitment to getting this stuff done ASAP.

Breaking Down The Barriers To Fitness Business Success

Here's another of your questions answered.

This time from Jude... Thanks Jude! : )


"How would you address the situation if it was someone very close to you that was constantly presenting barriers to your success??

What do you do when you have a client that is doing phenominally well but can't appreciate the small things they achieve... glass always half empty kinda person...but always hard working."

Jude

Here's my answer...

Hi Jude

In the case of someone close to you presenting barriers to your success, I think that there are several powerful things you can do to either bring them onside or get past the barrier altogether.

First, I think it’s worth asking them what they are afraid of.

In truth, when a person you are close to tries to block you it’s usually because they have fear of some kind over where your success might take you.

Ask them.

Ask them what the fear is and understand that they probably won’t call it ‘fear’. They’ll likely say that they are concerned or worried. Same difference. It’s fear.

Let them have their say.

Let them go through their fears then repeat them back to them.

For example “So, you’re worried that if I make this project successful that we’ll have less time to spend together than we do right now? Ok, then what do you suggest is the best way to bring this to life AND not have our relationship affected? How would YOU deal with this?”

Often, hearing the fear from someone else’s lips is enough to make it appear as it is. Small, unfounded and… ridiculous (in most cases).

Further, having THEM create the solution takes the negative wind out of their sails and puts them into a positive mindset, one where they’re being asked to create a solution rather than focus on the problem. It’s very difficult to remain negative whilst being creative.

Finally, if the above fails and they are still actively engaged in sabotaging you, you need to ask if they are the right ‘fit’ for you. A difficult question to ask but one which MUST be asked if either of you are to be happy.

You see, I don’t believe that a successful relationship (of any kind) can come from a mindset of toleration. Of ‘putting up with’ each other. Of compromising.

Compromise as a concept is overrated. It means that both partners have lost something as opposed to both of them gaining what they really wanted. It’s lose-lose NOT win-win.

The key to success comes from being in the driving seat of your own life whilst not taking away from those around you. Giving up the keys to others serves no-one and ultimately creates only unhappiness for all concerned.

Now, your second question…

This too is a pretty simple one.

Prove it to them.

PROVE how well they are doing with weekly measurements, weekly photo’s, weekly ‘this is how far you have already come and this is how far we’ve left to go’.

Talk to them constantly about the ‘big picture’.

Keep the goal uppermost in their mind at all times by proactively creating conversations that talk only about the goals and what is left to be done. This is all vital.

But more vital still is digging down to that very core with the most important question of all.

‘WHY?”

The real power in goal achievement and motivation/inspiration is the clarity of knowing why the goal is important, what they are doing it for. Lose sight of the why and the goal degenerates into nothing more than a chore. Something to be gotten ‘out of the way’ rather than pursued and enjoyed.

Like the old saying goes ‘If you have a big enough ‘Why’ you can endure almost any ‘How’.
WHY is the real fuel of success and motivation.

Hope this helps!

Dax Moy

Fitness Marketing Tips For Personal Trainers

How To Avoid Burnout In Your Fitness Business

Here's another question!


"Hi Dax,



With all that you do, how do you avoid burnout? 



Amanda"

Hey Amanda

I avoid burnout in numerous ways actually, but first and foremost among them is that I mostly work in areas that I’m very passionate about. More than passionate, in fact, but purposeful.

I’m very fortunate that most of my goals are exciting to me (initially at least) but that ultimately, they fall in line with my passions and my ultimate ‘big picture’ purpose which is…

‘To have a lasting positive impact on the lives of every person who I come into contact with, whether in person or by other means’

With such a purpose I genuinely go through my day every day asking ‘am I achieving my purpose?’ and I can answer it easily.
That’s not to say I always achieve it. I don’t.

I get upset, angry, impatient, frustrated the same as everyone else, however, I’m aware that those feelings are taking me off of my purpose and so I’m able to correct course pretty quickly and get back on target.

This, I believe, is a huge part of avoiding burnout. Knowing what you’re here for and spending most of your time working toward that end.

On a more pragmatic level, I ensure that my year is divided into phases.

I don’t believe that we can run full tilt all the time without burning out, no matter how passionate we are or how inspired our purpose. Sometimes you just need to charge your batteries.

So, instead of letting the batteries run out and being forced to rest and recharge them, I and my family have adopted what we call ‘the 12 week rule’.

This means simply this; we will NEVER go longer than 12 weeks without taking a family trip or adventure somewhere. Normally for 2-4 weeks though sometimes longer and often a little shorter.

The beauty of this approach is that we all know IN ADVANCE how long the next ‘race’ is to be run. We know that I may be working flat out for several weeks, that I may be traveling or working on time consuming project, but they also know for certain that it will end and that we’ll be going somewhere great at the end of it to spend time together.

Oftentimes we’ll not even wait for 12 weeks and go somewhere much sooner, but it’ll never go beyond that.

Want to avoid burnout?

Simply draw out your finish line IN ADVANCE and ‘run’ as hard and fast as you can with your goals safe in the knowledge that your chance to recover and get your breath back is never that far away.

Hope this helps

Dax Moy
www.personaltrainersuccessacademy.com
The Home of fitness marketing and personal training Success

P.S - Here's my 'anti-burnout' trip that I took this weekend. Along way to go for a couple of days but really recharged my batteries : )

Fitness Marketing: Guarantees and Getting Known Locally

Yesterday's affiliate marketing question seems to have stirred up a few people. I got some great email feedback but realise that I forgot something VERY important.

About commissions.

Traditional wisdom says to pay as much as you possibly can afford. as affiliates are pretty greedy and will be more inclined to work on your behalf if they get paid more.

Makes sense I guess, but personally I prefer to take this approach.

If the affiliate sale is about SALES then I normally pay about 50%, sometimes more. Given that my products are not cheap, this, I believe, is a decent commission rate and fair to both.

However, if I'm about listbuilding so that I can remarket later, then I'll give away as much as possible.

So it depends on the goal.

But I see no reason why you should have your affiliates making more money than you from your efforts. Maybe I'm wrong, but hey, that's my belief about this.

Anyway...

Today's qustion is from Andy Sloane.



"Hey Dax, Good shout on this post, as a relative novice it'll be great help.

1. What's the best way to attract clients from my local area so that they sign up with me?

2. Do you think that my offering guaranteed fat loss results is the way forward? I've had great results with all fat loss clients thus, far, the latest girl lost 9cm off the waist after 6 weeks, so I'm pretty confident in my methods, but think perhaps I've still not had enough to want to guarantee results?!)

Thanks bro

PS- bought your cookbook yesterday, big fan of the lemon dill chicken ;-)
Andy"


My answer...

Hey Andy,

There are lots of ways to get 'slightly famous' in your local area but here are the most effective.

1. Write... a lot! - The truth is, no matter how good you are at your job, if you don't exist in Google then it's like you don't exist. Even if I read a flyer or ad from that grabs my attention, I'm still going to check you out in Google to see what you're about.

If there are only 5 entries for your name then I'll probably skip your services. If there are 15,000 then you stand a good chance I'll call.

So write articles, put up regular blog posts, submit youtube videos, make comments on other people's forums or communities... but get known!

2. Don't advertise... educate! - Most people are sick of being advertsised and sold to but they're happy enough to have someone educate and teach them something they want to know.

So teach!

Instead of putting together flyers for your business saying 'Hire Me', put together colour handouts with sample workouts, fatloss or nutrition tips. More work, for sure, but more effective too!

3. Talk! - The only way we truly know if a person knows their stuff or not is to hear them say it. When they talk, we ascertain their level of expertise right away. We know if they are the real deal... or not.

So talk!

Hire a hall or other venue and invite people to hear you talk on a subject that you're already comfortable with. You'll wow them and they'll want to work with you.

So simple!

Of course, there's a lot more but that's a start : )

Now, as to guaranteed fatloss, the answer is a resounding 'yes'!

Yes, you should offer a guarantee. Not just on fatloss but for all your services.

It will elevate you and your business massively in the eyes of your prospects and make you the obvious (and only) choice for training.

My company offers a double your money back guarantee if we can't help you lose a clothing size in 21 days.

I personally offer a 10 x money back guarantee for the same.

Does it work?

Well, I'm the highest paid personal trainer in the UK so it's certainly not hurting, right?

Offer the guarantee.

Watch your business change...

...overnight!

Hope this helps : )

Dax Moy
For more Personal Trainer Marketing Tips
Visit www.personaltrainersuccessacademy.com


Got more questions?

Post 'em!

Your Questions Answered: How To Attract Affiliates To Your Product Launches

Well, I asked for questions about how I could help you with your fitness business and I certainly got them... HUNDREDS of them!

Yes, I got a few here on the blog but my Personal Trainer Success Community PM inbox and my private email box got a ton too.

So it looks like you'll be getting a good few blog posts from me for a while as I answer them all : )

Now, my first question has been asked by about 20 people so far so I'll start with this...


"Hey Dax

I need to know how to get good affiliates on board to help sell my Go Sleeveless program.

I've become all to aware that you can have the best product in the world, and even a decent sized list, but if no affiliates are interested, nothing happens.

I am assuming most of the steady flow of traffic and daily sales on most fitness pro's sites are driven by affiliate sales, so that's why I ask.

Maybe I am wrong on this? Maybe we need to drive our own traffic?

Dunno, I'm confused.

Love to hear your input mate!"

Rylan Duggan

My Answer...


Hey Rylan (and everyone else with an affiliate question).

Whilst I'm not the leading expert on affiliate marketing, I've had a fair bit of success at being an affiliate myself and recruiting others to my own products so I'm confident that what I'm about to share with you will work well.

First, the key to affiliate marketing is to be prepared.

By this, I mean having your product 100% finished, your website up, your copy written, your affiliate provider (clickbank for instance) prepared, your download pages ready, your auto responders set up and, to all intents and purpose, a fully functioning product that I could buy right now if I wanted to.

Nothing kills possible affiliate deals faster than having to wait for things to 'get ready'. Affiliates, the good ones anyway, are business people and they want ready-made.

Second, have all the traffic generation materials prepared .

This means keyword rich articles (in abundance), youtube videos (again, keyword rich), blogposts etc that your affiliates can point their lists to during the course of the promotion you'll be running.

Failing to provide this material pretty much kills any affiliate promotion dead.

Third, test small.

Start with a 'soft launch' to your own lists and gather data on click through rates, conversions etc before you approach the big boys. I know this is different to most of the launches you've seen but understand, these are to bigger lists with networks of other trainers supporting them.

As a first timer or newbie you need to think differently.

Gather your data and THEN approach the bigger affiliates and tell them how well you convert... and they'll love you for it.

As they say 'time spent in reconnaissence is never wasted'.

Fourth, use a 'reason why' approach to your launch

People will act if you give them a reason to. 'Because I'm Launching' is rarely one that engenders action. Sometimes it does but not often. Tie it into something. A national day, a movie release, your birthday. It doesn't matter, but give your release a reason why.

Fifth, don't just 'go for the goodies'

Most launches look like this;

Friday you announce a three day sale starting monday.

Monday you launch with an email telling people to visit your site and buy your product.

Tuesday is the same.

Wednesday you tell 'em to hurry as the sale is ending.

Game over.

That's it.

Sure, there's a bit more... but not much!

Instead, play the long game.

Think of a launch as a 28 day conversation.

This reduces the 'stress' to sell.

Have a conversation about fat loss, ask what the main problems your readers (or your affiliates readers face), answer their problems, give them articles related to your product, send them to videos that reinforce your message and, of course, funnel them through an opt in page.

DON'T squeeze them for the sale.

Just talk.

As you move toward the last week, put them on standby for the main event.

If you do this right, you won't need to sell, they'll want to buy. Big difference!

In short, make your launch an 'event' NOT a sale.

People don't like to be sold, but they'll line up around the block for an event, right?

And so will affiliates who, when they see how your launch is lined up, will smell easy money and jump at the chance to work with you.

There you go! : )

Dax Moy
www.personaltrainersuccess.ning.com
The Web's Largest FREE Online
Community For Fitness Professionals

Go on then... gimme more questions : )