[Jean-Paul]

I think that the long letter format is supposed to work on the emotions by telling the story from "someone who was once right where you are" before they used xyz product and became rich and famous overnight. People who are struggling are easy prey. They see someone claiming they just bought a BMW with cash with one week's revenue and they get dollar signs in their eyes.

I have no doubt that some of the big names that have used this method are successful, but I can tell you that this industry is full of people who inflate their financial success. If you do ever get to hear the "real" story on some of the trainers out there you find out that they either have a secondary source of income, have one really generous client/benefactor, or just flat out lie about what kind of hell they are really in.

When personally asked, I make sure that people understand that the only reason I consider myself successful is because I have survived. It is not an easy industry to make a living.

People see my glitzy gym and nice house and think that I am just floating around on the cloud of the American dream every day, using wads of $20's as firewood. I have had a really good year this year, but it is a constant struggle. One thing that gives me an advantage over others in this industry is that I am willing to live well within my means.

The glitz can be real deceiving. The public doesn't see how hard I have to work to scrap together enough to pay my rent, pay my insurance, pay my employees, pay for equipment, pay for repairs, pay all my taxes.... It's not sexy! It's a lot more sexy to picture a guy who floats in to work for about 2-3 hours a day, makes sure that things are going well and then goes out to play golf or spend money.