Message from the Founder....

This August, Training Revolutions 3 was released. TR3 is a FREE online magazine that is offered quarterly to standAPART members and showcases articles from colleagues and fitness experts that I respect and I feel have something valuable to share. The magazine was first develped by Rick Karboviak in 2006, and on this third issue Rick had requested to take the back seat. I contacted as many fitness professionals that I could find. Overwhelmingly, 22 authors were contacted and 17 contributed. That's not bad. TR3 is the biggest issue to date and I have material for the fourth installment later this year. The objective of TR3 is to provide members of the internet community an outlet or portal for many fitness professionals that are "in the trenches" working and lack the marketing prowess of popular fitness gurus that sit back on their empires and scratch eachother's back (more to come on that). TR3 is competitively, one of the best online resources for original articles and cutting-edge fitness infomation. And I'm not just saying that because I am the editor. I am saying that because every author took the time to write an original piece in exchange for nothing, other than notoriety and a wish that you will click on their link and learn more about them. My expectation would be that you will do that.

To download the latest issue of Training Revolutions, click here.

(Now if you want to read alittle rant about coat-tail riders, see below)

Freeloaders, Supplicants, & Moochers...oh my!

In the fitness industry, its common for others to sell you the "idea" of achieving success by making hard work seem easy...short in duration...and pain-free. Physiologically, our bodies choose the path of least resistance to complete a task, and in the realm of reaching success, that fact applies to the mind also. Over the last year, there has been numerous 'fitness experts' explode onto the fitness scene. That's fine...but I do question the integrity of their hardwork and question their passion for this field.

Is it driven by helping others or making a name or making a buck?

I love these guys that mooch onto a big name professional and get featured on popular websites like T-Nation or others, and have really done nothing more than just become "friends" with a more notable author. These guys are the "click of the highschool class"...the ones that cannot make it on their own so they drop "big names"--preach "in the trenches" talk-- and reveal they spend hundreds of dollars on seminars for continuing education. Ahh..the ammo they need to make up for their hidden shortcomings. They don't realize how transparent they are...

Ever see a shark on a PBS documentary? Ever see the little fish that swim real close with the shark in the ocean deep? Those little guys are scavengers that will take the scraps from the big guy when he is done feasting himself. Those little guys get noticed around the ocean because they swim with the big guy. Those little guys are perceived as 'somebody'...not because their work has given them accessibility to notoriety, but because the big fish have opened the door for them. No effort needed on their part. No hardwork needed....just a friend in the right place.

"We run with the big boyz."

Why do people in this industry want a free ride when the basis of success in the industry and the moral lesson is "hardwork = success"? A colleague that I respect alot wrote a piece for his newsletter that hopefully opened alot of eyes. The piece is in regards to internet marketers that have "infected" fitness professionals with their temptations of quick money, market trickery, and long, long sales pages that look all too similar. Coach Jamie Hale posted the following: 

"In the last few months I have been in contact with numerous people that want to help in promoting my new book- Knowledge and Nonsense: the science of nutrition and exercise. The more people I speak with the more I realize how ridiculous this industry had become. Most of these people have the same ideas for advertising which includes ad copies 20 pages long, 500 dollars worth of free gifts with purchase, promises of magic formula, limited time offers that really never end, comic book appearance, 90-100 dollar book price and so on. Some of these could be good ideas if used appropriately. When you say limited time offer it should really be a limited time offer. Offering a free product or bonus with purchase not a bad idea but when you give readers the impression they will receive 500 dollars worth of free gifts for purchasing a 50 dollar product, come on!"

It is refreshing to see Coach Hale's post become prominent as many more professionals are looking to create their own path to greatness without riding the coat-tails of friends, roommates, or marketers. Unfortunately, on the internet forums where this post was first discovered, no one replied to it. It's as if the sheep want to believe the lies...

"I know you know me...you know my boy that's for sure."

I don't know about you, but I like to think like a carpenter or autobody shop repair man--someone who works his tail off and at the end of the day, admires his work...his completed task. Unlike some others that latch onto big names, and automatically become valid in the arena of internet consumerism. My only hope that someday they will understand that hardwork begets self-worth, self efficacy, and self-admiration. It is what I was taught...and it is what I continue to teach to my family, clients, and myself. 


 

In all my years in the business, I have always loved the comment from prospective clients, "I don't squat because of my knees".  Well, my reaction has always been and still is..."it IS because of your knees that you squat". I never understood that while people 'clam-up' at the idea of squatting, they don't realize that they perform this action everyday to relieve themselves of yesterday's food consumption. Yes, I am talking about sitting (or squatting) on the toilet and "pushing". Gross, I know.

However, the fear of sheering forces and knees going beyond the toes have frozen us in fear of squatting. I mean come on...how many people have been taught how to squat incorrectly or add too much weight? How many boyfriends try to teach their girlfriends, and they get it all wrong only to massacre their knees, hips, and low back? How many weekend warriors who learn how to squat from the biggest guy at the Y, and instead perform good-mornings with 225 strapped on their back? The squat movement is unequivocally one of the most beneficial exercises for the body because the act of triple extension (ankle, knees, hips) is a 'constant rehearsal' of sorts for the body to help in athletics and daily function.

http://www.eyeofthetrainer.com

(It's not just a nice cover...there is some nice content in there)

The lesson here? If you are a personal trainer or coach and you train others then you need to listen up. You need to learn how to rid people of negative perceptions and fear in order for them to truly absorb the instruction and knowledge you share with them. Your client or your athletes will not believe you simply because you tell them "the squat rules--do it!" You must find ways to reach people and tap into their trust, attention, and intuition so that fear and perceived consequence do not interfere with goals.

Till next time! - John