Pat Rigsby On Fitness Business Advice
I just spent the weekend at Ryan Lee’s Continuity Summit. He put on a great event and delivered a lot of good content.
Unfortunately, my biggest pet peeve also reared its head too.
We went through a ‘speed networking’ session that Ryan put together where you meet with a bunch of people in a hurry and each person shares their elevator pitch.
Well, about 5 out of the first 6 people that I met said stuff like ‘I’m a list building expert and I help people build huge lists.’
So naturally I said: ‘So how big is your list?’
‘Well…ummmm…I’m just getting started.’
Ugggghhhh.
I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time swallowing the whole ‘expert’ thing with Fitness Business Owners who don’t actually practice much of what they preach.
You see it online a lot. People that sell money making products and programs that supposedly teach you how to build a fitness business online who have never built a business doing anything but promising the get rich quick dream to naïve people.
But it’s not exclusive to the money making market.
Have you seen all the people online that have a magic program promising to help everyone and anyone lose weight or build muscle – and the supposed ‘expert author’ has never trained anyone except themselves or their mom?
It’s amazing.
I guess that in my ‘perfect world’ if you tout yourself as an expert in anything you should have some significant practical experience.
Trainers that don’t take care of themselves probably shouldn’t coach others. I’m not saying that they need to be cover model fit – but 75 pounds overweight is not acceptable.
List building ‘experts’ should have built their own list.
Money making ‘experts’ should be making money – not just selling money making info.
In fact, if the stuff they taught worked so well, why wouldn’t they be practicing what they preach?
Nick and I still own a health club in large part to the fact that we buy in to that philosophy.
Practice what you preach.
In fact, our entire business model for our Athletic Revolution franchise is based on only making money if our franchisees make money.
We’re paid on a percentage.
If what we teach doesn’t work – we’re not profitable.
So do me a favor – before you package the world’s best list building system – build your own list.
Before you become a business expert – run a successful fitness business like the one you claim to be the ‘guru’ for.
Before you launch the latest, greatest fat loss system – help hundreds or thousands of people lose fat in person.
I hate to rain on people’s parade because I love catchy marketing as much as the next person, but the truth is – if it sounds too good to be true it is.
The 4 Hour Workweek is a lie – because NO ONE successful works four hours a week.
So commit to doing the work – but doing it smart and efficiently so you reach your goals as quickly as possible – and do a great job.
Then market what you do.
Sell the sizzle then actually deliver the steak.
If you think I’m totally wrong about the get rich quick stuff and my opinions about all this – or have your own thoughts – share below.
Dedicated to your fitness business success,
Pat Rigsby
Pat Rigsby is a Co-Owner of the International Youth Conditioning Association & the youth fitness franchise Athletic Revolution as well as a fitness industry consultant serving thousands of personal trainers and fitness entrepreneurs. Sign up for his fitness business free newsletter to discover proven marketing, sales and business strategies, along with blog updates, news, and more! While you’re at it, follow him on Twitter.
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“if it doesn’t feel like work, it’s not going to work!”
Dead on the money with this post, as usual, Mr. Rigsby.
One of my favorite quotes is by Vince Lombardi we have it printed on our tee shirts “The only place success comes before work, is in the dictionary”
Simple and profound, I like you Pat breezed through college without much effort, and found that I was looking for more. The more was the will to work hard… Feels good to put a long day in and lay in bed going over your day and chalking it up to being a win…
Great reminder that this is so much more then a 9 to 5. This is a lifestyle and it requires pure dedication. Great blog!
Nice one Pat, I can totally relate we own our personal training studio and we see everyday how our business management software Volo helps us and all our trainers manage our schedules, billing and customer service in real time. If it isn’t working we know about it right away from our trainers! To be able to use the things that you sell yourself is amazing put yourself in the mind of your client and make sure to take notes!
It is a good practice for all of us!
I couldn’t agree more with you when you say “Practice what you preach!” I cannot believe how many Trainers I meet that look like they could use the help of a trainer themselves. If you’re going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk!
Hilarious. In a sad kinda way… Great post.
Yeah man, too true. I met all kinds of people like that there. Can’t stand people that want to get paid for talking out of their ass.
To add to that. It was very interesting meeting some of the “fitness professionals” this weekend. The majority of the big hitters making $ online were obviously out of shape, fat, and had no idea how to workout properly. That was a hard pill to swallow. Kind of a sad deal.
Great post as usual. I agree 100%.