Thursday, June 04, 2009

What We Do Is Patriotic!

I spent the last two days in Washington, DC speaking with Congressmen, lobbyists, and the President's Personnel Office (PPO) about Team Beachbody, and the importance of promoting a balanced approach to health and fitness.

I urged everyone I met to use us as a resource and sounding board, thinking beyond the highly publicized insurance aspect of the health care crisis to how we get people HEALTHY.

Beachbody and its coaches do it everyday, with intense focus on how to make health and fitness exciting, convenient, and affordable. And we have invested millions in connecting people to a new site of peer support that will be the epicenter of it's own revolution after it launches June 10th.

I asked the PPO, which is steering the formation of the President's Council on Fitness and Health on behalf of President Obama, to consider alternatives to the traditional appointments and instead look for ways to empower individuals to take accountability for their health and fitness.

As important as scientific advice is to helping make sure people are doing the right thing to get healthy results, and as inspiring as speeches by fitness celebrities can be to attract attention to the concept, what we need is a grassroots movement where millions of people take accountability for themselves and their health - the way so many Beachbody coaches and customers are doing every day.

Normally faced with blank stares and responses like "what's an infomercial guy going to tell me about getting people healthy?", I was incredibly encouraged by the attitude and enthusiasm for what we are doing.

Between meetings I managed to get in my own run around the Capital. I stopped at the Lincoln Memorial and took a moment to read the Gettysburg Address inscribed on the wall. It's truly one of the greatest speeches in American History, and will inspire anyone to fight for the preservation - and underlying health - of this country and its constitutional freedoms. I felt a sense of patriotic duty to continue investing in our momentum and celebrating the people who are helping us succeed.

From time to time I will return to DC to create new relationships and expand awareness of Beachbody's mission to help people achieve their goals and lead healthy fulfilling lives. And I will always be proud of the connection our company and our coaches have to reversing the health crisis. We are the change. I believe that. We are helping restore the health and prosperity of this country by inviting our friends and neighbors to get active and paying them for helping others get healthy and fit.

I am so proud of what we do and the enthusiasm with which we do it. Thank you for being a part of building this, as we only just begun on our quest for one million coaches and 100 million customers!

9 comments:

CT Olson said...

Carl this is right on the money with what I've been thinking about Beachbody. Beachbody is changing America for the better - for better wellness and backing it up by leading by our examples. This could not only save millions or billions in healthcare costs it would make us a happier, smarter, more productive society. So great that you "get it" to this degree and are interacting on those levels, let's hope it leads to more opportunity for the company and a healthier happier world!

Anne Dovel said...

One person at a time..we are making a difference!
Thanks for leading us in this fight to help more and more people realize that they too can be healthy and fit!

Anne

Fitzgerald Fitness said...

WAY TO GO Carl! The country needs the message you delivered to The Hill. Awesome job! I am excited and chomping at the bit to see where Beachbody will be in the next 5 years as we hit the trail hard sharing our message and lives with those around us. Thanks!!!

Judi Finneran said...

Proud to be a part of the TEAM!!!

Judi Finneran

Unknown said...

That is so completely awesome Carl! LOVE that you are taking the importance of health and fitness straight to the Capitol, that is what is awesome about this organization. We never stay stagnant, we always are looking for the step above. Which is clearly where you are taking us. I am SO on for the ride!! :)

JudyZavislak said...

That's very inspiring Carl! I'm behind you all the way! Today is my 45th birthday, and instead of being a woman who hides her age and is ashamed of it, I'm proud of it because I'm in better shape now than when I was 20! :-) I spent this evening leading a Beachbody webinar with my good friend and fellow coach Bill Cowan, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday...spreading the message of health and wellness through products that work and a company and community that encourages and inspires!

Thank you for all you do! I hate to think where I would be without Beachbody! :-)

Judy

Lori Jantzi said...

Fantabulous, Carl! I love reading posts like this! So encouraging to read. I'm continuing to lead people to Beachbody up here in Canada and am still hopeful that as the Beachbody Revolution increases in the U.S., Our Canadian government will stand up and take notice and want the same. Sure, I currently don't get paid for helping others, but that's not why I do it. I just love helping people attain a better quality of life...the only way I know how....the Beachbody way! Yesterday, my husband came home from work and told me one of the guys he works with just started P90X on Monday and was feeling quite sore. ;) So I sent a couple of packs of P90X Recovery Drink and my business card along with my husband today to give to him. This morning I received a call from this co-worker who thanked me and asked a ton of questions about P90X. Fun stuff!

Thanks Carl, for all you do! Looking forward to the new and improved website next week!

Mike Bent said...

Hey Carl! You rock!

It is so important for us to get the support of the government and organizations like the American Diabetes Association to accomplish your goals (turning the tide of obesity, 100 million customers and 1 million coaches).

Most people do not realize that obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are the greatest epidemics in the history of the US. Our company is right on track to not only turn this trend around, but to save the US billions, if not trillions, in future health care costs. Thus, you, your staff and all of our coaches are truly involved in a patriotic activity that is improving the lives of millions of people!

I am proud to be a part of the Beachbody Revolution!

May God continue to bless you, your family and all of those who are involved with this effort!

Mike Bent

DaveWard said...

That's great Carl. It really shows your commitment to bringing about positive change in thie Country. That attitude flows from the top and is something we preach very heavily in our training. There is a great opportunity to make money with Beachbody, but there is an even greater opportunity to help people and reverse the trends in our society.

If we can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to call on us.

Dave and Monica.