J.P. and I were just on the phone discussing the possibility of adding a category to the forum about the 'business of fitness.' I've taken the liberty of creating a poll about what might be covered and what sub-forum topics might be popular among you. I'd appreciate any feedback that you might offer so we can put something together that will be helpful and something you'd want to be a part of.
Thanks for your help!
Happy Holidays,
Pat Rigsby
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Pat Rigsby is the author of the "Fitness Riches Journal", a free newsletter that shows personal trainers, health club owners, and other fitness professionals how to successfully grow their business and their income. For more information about building a highly profitable fitness business visit his website at http://www.FitnessConsultingGroup.com.
I think about everything "business of fitness" was covered in the thread. However, if this would be a dedicated place where non-contributors (and even contributors) could whore their crap, then I'm all for it. It would make this forum 10x better.
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Quoth David Banner: "Like a pimp"
It's not a beer belly. It's a gas tank for a sex machine.
"Whore their crap?" I think you may misunderstand the purpose of the new category that we're talking about, Nick. We are talking about a free place where trainers can learn how to be more successful. We may suggest a product here or there, but ultimately people could have real access to successful fitness pros.
I am planning on creating it in a whole seperate category, so if you are not interested in it (which is apparent), you can simply "collapse" that category and not have to see what is posted in there at all.
For the numerous trainers in here though, we can all put our heads together and talk business. It does help keep the training forum more focused. Bill Hartman and Alwyn Cosgrove both speak highly of Pat, who has one of the best blogs in the industry, so getting someone like him to create content and start discussions is a real honor. Jim Labadie has also mentioned that he would participate in a subforum like that. He was probably my favorite presentation of all at the Ryan Lee Bootcamp. I enjoyed all of them, but his kicked me in the tail the most, and what I learned from him I was able to immediately convert into financial returns that helped me turn things around very quickly after a very dry painful summer.
There are more trainers in here than you may realize. Certainly more than 1%. Besides, that is the reason we're creating this poll. We want to know if there is enough interest to warrant a seperate forum category.
Fitness pros, sound off. The polls will have a significant impact on my decision to create this category.
JP, what do you mean about collapsing a topic? That doesn't really help? Even when collapsed, those topics still pop-up when you click "new posts." Anyway to make that stop? I love the "new posts" feature, but there are some categories that I'd prefer not to see at all.
There are more trainers in here than you may realize. Certainly more than 1%. Besides, that is the reason we're creating this poll. We want to know if there is enough interest to warrant a seperate forum category.
Fitness pros, sound off. The polls will have a significant impact on my decision to create this category.
Do you really think that "experts" are more than 1% of the site's registered users?
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Quoth David Banner: "Like a pimp"
It's not a beer belly. It's a gas tank for a sex machine.
Probally be a good idea for 'pros' to talk about ideas for making more money and such.
But i think that that forum would not get to much traffic by most of the people on here? I mean it could be worth a try, i would read alot of it im sure but not post to much.
Who said it has to be just experts? People look into getting into the business could see it as a beneficial resource, a dedicated place to ask questions. I know there are a lot of people looking to become trainers and strength coaches, so it could be a good thing to have.
__________________ If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown
I think about everything "business of fitness" was covered in the thread. However, if this would be a dedicated place where non-contributors (and even contributors) could whore their crap, then I'm all for it. It would make this forum 10x better.
I agree. Make a topic area for this. Over the last little while, that is all this place has become. That way if they have stuff to give away **** then you can go there to get it.
I don't know if Pat is still on line, but I can answer this one.
Speaking from experience, I have really had to learn the hard way how to work smarter, not harder. I don't know too many people willing to work as hard as I do, but I see a lot of people doing much better financially because they aren't bogged down with busy work. If you set up systems it is easier to delegate to employees, and your business operates much smoother.
For example, I don't do any of my member billing. I used to, and it took FOREVER, and I made many errors, not billing some customers at all, or not removing customers who expired. It took me a long time, and then I created more work for myself by having to correct mistakes, and I never had time for collections if someone defaulted. It cost me way too many hours, and I still hemmoraged money.
I hired a company called ABC Financial to draft my customers, handle collections/cancellations, and they even had a front desk/automatic check in/turnstyle program. I can pull check in reports or keep track of employee hours/commissions. It was a really good all-in-one system and I would highly recommend it to any gym owner. I have no financial interest in this company... Just like this training forum, I just want to help others in this industry, so if I can help someone from having to go through some of the hell I've had to go through, I am all too happy to share whatever I know.
There are many layers of management systems that can be applied in this industry. It would even help me with other holes in my existing system. I don't have employee manuals for example. If you go to McDonald's anywhere in the world, you get the same product because they have systemized every last detail from the architecture of their stores down to the amount of ketchup you put on a burger. You can't grow a business (or sell it) if you don't have a way to replicate yourself. As a good (now deceased) friend of mine once said, even if you plan to stay in your business until you retire, you should build it as if you plan to sell it.
For me, less time bogged down in minutia is more time to play with my kids. They are the age that I would like to start coaching teams of sports that they want to participate in, but as busy as my schedule is, I couldn't even conceive of that right now. I will learn as much from this new category as I will teach. Again, just like this training forum. I can't tell you how much I have learned from everyone in here (even the non-pros) in the last few years since launching this forum.
Do you really think that "experts" are more than 1% of the site's registered users?
Not necessarily experts. Many aspiring trainers or club owners though.
It may be interesting to those who are thinking about a career in fitness. May scare most of them off when they see how much suffering is involved with owning a business.
"Whore their crap?" I think you may misunderstand the purpose of the new category that we're talking about, Nick. We are talking about a free place where trainers can learn how to be more successful. We may suggest a product here or there, but ultimately people could have real access to successful fitness pros.
I am planning on creating it in a whole seperate category, so if you are not interested in it (which is apparent), you can simply "collapse" that category and not have to see what is posted in there at all.
For the numerous trainers in here though, we can all put our heads together and talk business. It does help keep the training forum more focused. Bill Hartman and Alwyn Cosgrove both speak highly of Pat, who has one of the best blogs in the industry, so getting someone like him to create content and start discussions is a real honor. Jim Labadie has also mentioned that he would participate in a subforum like that. He was probably my favorite presentation of all at the Ryan Lee Bootcamp. I enjoyed all of them, but his kicked me in the tail the most, and what I learned from him I was able to immediately convert into financial returns that helped me turn things around very quickly after a very dry painful summer.
I'm not doubting the credentials of Pat at all. It's just that unless someone has read all four of his previous posts until the one he just posted before this here, none of us know who the heck he is! The post counts do help us tell a lot about a member, and if it's that low, and it's a name that 95% of the JPFitness population isn't going to recognize, then a little introduction will be needed. There are more people here than the experts, and some of us need a little introduction to these so called "big names." I wouldn't expect you all to know who Dave Blaney and Scott Wimmer were right off of the bat.
I was going to say shit, but I backed off. Why? Because at my count this afternoon, five of the 33 posts on the front page of the training forum were what I term "legal spam." If you read all of what I said on the business thread, you know how I feel about advertising and everything, but how is that contributing to making this forum better?
Sure, the level of experts here has raised the discussion, but at the same time, five of those threads on that top page could be more useful to your main clientele. I came here originally for the training forum, and didn't realize there was an OT for a couple of weeks. Now? I'm only here for the OT, and the dilution of the topics in the training forum has led me to find any useful information as gravy. Sure, that has a lot to do with my increased knowledge, but at the same time, there's a lot more useless threads. (again, there are more than one factor that contributes to this.)
I have other feelings about this issue, but I'm going to go ahead and keep them private for now.
__________________
Quoth David Banner: "Like a pimp"
It's not a beer belly. It's a gas tank for a sex machine.
I think that this forum is a great idea. Napoleon Hill describes the "Mastermind Power Principle" as one of the most important unifying qualities of successful people. I think that adding a "Business of Fitness" subforum would be a great way to create an online Mastermind group for trainers looking to further improve their businesses. It would be a great niche that could attract people here.
__________________ Mike Roussell
Nutrition Doctoral Student
Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Max-Out Radio featuring Zach Even-Esh.
JP, what do you mean about collapsing a topic? That doesn't really help? Even when collapsed, those topics still pop-up when you click "new posts." Anyway to make that stop? I love the "new posts" feature, but there are some categories that I'd prefer not to see at all.
Heh... I've never used the "new posts" feature so I didn't think of that. I just scan all the forums, and click on one if it looks like there have been new posts in it. So I guess the collapse category feature wouldn't help you. Sorry.
I am interested in such a forum. Obviously, this is the sort of thing I do so that likely comes as no surprise.
I also use the new posts function. One of the most valuable forum features next to "search."
It seems I need to increase my post count or something. After being here since 2002ish (I know it says 2004 but I used a random name before one of the switch-overs) I ought to have more than 50 or so posts... My hallucination is that there are many users who read this forum often but never post and have for years.... NEED MORE POSTS... MUST VISIT CE FORUM.....
I think it 's a cool idea. Even if it is fitnes industry specific, it's great to read business discussions because it's applicable across all fields. It's a mindset of success that has to be cultivated
PS there's a natural progression from training discussion to OT on this board. You come looking for fitness advice and then find a comfy living room. When you've read the same question over and over again, OT is more interesting. When it's the first time you 've seen all that stuff, it's very enlightening. I also think that's why the training logs took off the way they did......
I love it when pros discuss training.. but when they are discussing business in the "Training Discussion" 's forum, it takes time to jump over the posts that have nothing to do with training. There are more and more of them, and I think it's a good thing, but it would be nice if they had a forum just for that.
Maybe an expanded topic could be ethics in promotions. I can't ignore that some people are frustrated. They may not have the full context, but that doesn't illegitimize their concerns. We could examine that fine line between producing a fine product and promoting it on other sites. How to promote in a soft sell way that doesn't make you feel like like you've been "worked".
We may even establish some standards for this forum, but start a promotion philosophy that starts and industry wide trend.
There is nothing wrong with being skeptical. If one follows the proper channels though in introducing a product, then he brings it in with the real possibility that it may be criticized by someone in here, or it may be a wild success. No matter what though, all products posted in here should probably be screened by me or an established, trusted panel of experts, and permission to post about must first be obtained, or it will be considered SPAM.
So fitness business ethics.... Some of us can get real esoteric with that!.
Man, I'll consider this new subforum my Christmas gift. My immediate interest is "becoming a skilled fitness professional" and all that entails but am interested in all of the other topics as well. In particular developing niches/promotion/marketing.
Then maybe someday I can be like JP but with more time
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
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