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celebrity image in the fitness industry |
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Want to develop a celebrity
image in the fitness industry? Two skills you must
have:
I’m not usually this blunt. But when it comes
to writing columns and doling out advice I am. If
you can’t speak in public and if you can’t
write well, then it’s going to be very difficult
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become a BIG name in the fitness industry, or any other
for that matter.
The purpose of owning a business is to work on your
business, not in it. That’s a whole other discussion.
The reason I bring it up is because I’m a huge
fan of delegating any work that would keep me from growing
my business. While I do have interests outside my company,
I don’t learn one single skill that I don’t
have to. I will not waste my time learning something
of a professional nature that doesn’t help me
grow my business. Don’t have the time.
While I recommend you adopt the same stance, I highly
recommend that you do whatever it takes to improve your
speaking and writing skills. Those are critical to developing
a celebrity image in the fitness industry. You must
be able to get up in front of large groups of people
and express with confidence, enthusiasm and passion,
your message. You must be able to sit down at your computer
and type a column, letter to the editor of a publication,
or an article at any given time. The bigger your name
gets the more these two things will be demanded of you.
If you need help with public speaking I completely
understand. Some people are terrified of it. That’s
nothing to be embarrassed about. However, if you want
to take the next step you’re going to have to
get out of your comfort zone and start to get up in
front of groups and speak. It’s as simple as that.
There’s no other way.
A great place to start is Toastmasters.org. It’s
a national organization with chapters all over the country.
They’re extremely supportive and it’s actually
where I started my speaking career. Be sure to check
it out.
However, be sure to leave the comfortable surroundings
of Toastmasters as soon as possible. I know too many
people who never muster up the courage to leave and
actually get up in front of audiences and speak “live
without a net.” And don’t listen to those
people who tell you your presentation has to be perfect
either. Those are usually the same people who never
accomplish anything. They’re so busy “getting
ready to get ready” they never go out and jump
in the fire. Believe me, I know plenty of super successful
people who have “bombed” their first time
out. One of them now earns $5000 per keynote speech
and the other earns $10,000!
As for writing, well, practice makes perfect here too.
So start to write. It can be anything. Write about fitness.
Write about the topics you know and like best. Let friends
and family read them and give constructive criticism.
And if necessary, hire a writing coach. You ask people
to pay you money to help them achieve their goals, right?
If you need help then seek it from a professional. The
investment will turn out to be invaluable to you.
I can tell you this, if you don’t have these
two skills in your trainer’s toolbox, well, you
better get used to what your business is like now, because
chances are yours isn’t going anywhere.
Jim Labadie is a fitness entrepreneur, publicity
expert and speaker. To sign up for his FREE
mini-course on publicity for fitness professionals please
visit www.howtogetmorepublicity.com
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