Wake Up Call On Cell Phones

Thanks to my wife, I have stopped holding the cell phone to my head. Apparently, she knew what she was talking about, as more an more news is inching toward the headlines about a link between cell phone usage and brain tumors. (Note: It's tough for the news media to report this stuff in thier headlines, since cell phones spend billions in advertising)

Are Cell Phones Riskier Than Smoking?
AOL -- Posted: 2008-03-31 12:11:26

(March 31) -- Cell phones could kill more people than smoking or asbestos exposure, according to an award-winning Australian cancer expert who was trained at the Mayo Clinic in the United States.The Independent, a British newspaper, reported that the doctor, Vini Khurana, based his findings on more than 100 studies on the effects of cell phone use."There is a significant and increasing body of evidence for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumours," he said in The Independent. Evidence shows that using cell phones for 10 years or more can double a person's risk of brain cancer, the newspaper reported.

The article in the Independent has a great quote at the end from the Mobile Operators Association (MOA), which predictably dismisses the study. As far as I know, it might perfectly fine. But having had very close friends deal with brain tumors, and watch as they realized that, in many cases you just can't operate on these things, well, I don't want to wait ten years to find out the MOA was actually wrong.

I generally don't point people to purchase stuff from this site -- but this is a big deal. For the record, I don't think that androidian blue ear bud is better... I use this:

RF3 Headset

Oh yeah... The Warm-Up

I tend to leave the fitness tips to the trainers, but today I had an experience that might benefit you, especially if you are doing P90X.

The Value of The Warm-Up... Today I did a full fifteen minutes of warm-up before I started my resistance routine. As a non-lover of fitness, I tend to want to "get right to it", but I think that attitude has hastened a couple of injuries.

When it came time to start lifting, I was much stronger than I expected - especially when it came to pull-ups. And my elbow and shoulder issues didn't bother me at all!

The warm up was intense enough that by the end of it, I felt like I was working hard. And by the time I started working out, I got to full intensity much faster.

So if you're like me, you might reconsider. Make sure you are warmed-up well before you "bring it" and not only will your workout be stronger, but you'll avoid injury.

To The Coaches Who Are GOING FOR IT

It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

~Theodore Roosevelt~

Here's to all you coaches who know; what matters is your fitness, and encouraging those who just need the smallest of support of one person to get started... Let's make some progress this weekend.

I hope to see you in the WOWY Super Gym at 10AM PT/1PM ET Saturday morning!

Quotes From The Kids

I keep reading and hearing how much of an impact Beachbody and its Coaches are having on people's lives, and recently I've been getting even more news that it's already filtering down to the kids ever since I got that email from Jonathan, our general counsel.

I got this the other day from Anne Dovel:

My older boys, 14 and 10, say they want to be Beachbody Coaches when they grow
up. My brutally honest 7 year old said.."would I have to exercise every day?"

(Brutally honest note from Carl to 7 year old: You only need to exercise on the days you want to get stronger or be healthy. The days you want to get weaker or let your body deteriorate, you don't.)

And I got this from one of Virginia's Pioneers*, whose 13 year old daughter, Lori combines her love of writing poetry with her recent motivation to stay healthy:

"Healthy Living" by Lori

DAY 1

Just started the healthy stuff
My body yearns for junk
But if I stay in my situation
I’ll get an even bigger trunk

Been used to my lifestyle
In workouts Tony kicks my butt
But I’ll learn to do what he does
My old life’s book I will shut

Got to eat better
To get my dreamed of bod
Cuz when I look in the mirror
I want to yell WHAT HAPPENED And OH MY GOD!

No matter how hard it is
I will pass with a golden star
And get my self together
Power 90 is gonna take me far

I’d love to just sit around
And just lose weight like that
But I know if I do
I’ll get as fat as my cat

*Virginia's Pioneers is a group we started a few years ago after customer Stand out Virginia was inspiring so many people who wanted to lose 100 pounds or more. The Pioneers could be considered one of the five or so examples that led us to launch the coaching concept in the first place, as we realized that to expand the concept of support, we need to bring in more people like Virginia to help keep people motivated and on track, and we would need to fairly compensate them for helping us.

ALERT **Great Promo**

When I come across an ingenious Team Beachbody concept to promote fitness, I gotta show it off!

I went into MySpace tonight and saw two people had posted bulletins that were promoting what the prize is today in the WOWY Super Gym.

Here's what Sher said:

Get޲޲ tha޲޲t wor޲޲ko޲u޲t޲ log޲޲ge޲d޲ in tod޲޲ay޲!޲ It als޲޲o hap޲޲pe޲n޲s޲ to be HAW޲޲AI޲I޲ FIT޲޲ CLU޲޲B wor޲޲ko޲u޲t޲ day޲޲ too޲޲! Nic޲޲e bon޲޲us޲!޲ See޲޲ you޲޲ all޲޲ in WOW޲޲Y!޲!޲!޲ :-D޲޲ Sher aka haolegirl

And Doris said:

It'޲޲s a $1,޲޲00޲0޲ day޲޲ in WOW޲޲Y tod޲޲ay޲.޲.޲. so get޲޲ in the޲޲re޲ and޲޲ pus޲޲h pla޲޲y ; ') If you don޲'t kno޲w wha޲t WOW޲Y is..޲. ask޲ and޲ I'l޲l tel޲l you޲ how޲ you޲ can޲ win $1,޲000 for get޲tin޲g in sha޲pe and working out޲.޲ Doris ;)

I love this because THAT'S THE POINT OF THE DAILY PRIZE: To help motivate people to push play!

So if you're a coach or just a person trying to get people you know to get active -- go ahead, promote the prize of the day (it's posted right inside the WOWY Super Gym when you log in). If people don't know what it's about, tell them to ask you! We want more people involved - use what works!

The Aftermath

I am getting deluged with comments and notes form people who came to the Summit. WOW! I wanted to share some of the comments, because no one would believe it if I just talked about it (note who is going to get to work out with the lead singer from Chicago!)

=========================================

Hey Carl. I wanted to say a huge thank you for putting together the fantastic 2 day coaching summit in Anaheim. In case you're wondering, it's Brit Boy, the strange speaking English dude who sounds a little like Danny Teeson, but not as funny ;)

To get to chat with such inspirational people such as Mark Briggs, The French's, Traci Morrow, and Perry Tinsley about this wonderful community makes me feel extremely fortunate to have found BB. What a club! What a 2 days in Anaheim!!

Jason Scheff is coming to Vegas, where I live, in 3 weeks and suggested me and him work out at the MGM! Can you believe that?? The lead singer of Chicago wants a work out buddy??? Holy cow!

I signed up finally as a coach after Anaheim, not because the potential financial rewards sounded so appealing but for the desire to help others better themselves. That is reward enough but if you want to pay us also then who am I to complain! ;)

The event at The Grove was mind blowing and I wouldn't like to be in your shoes when next years bill comes around!!!

Cheers Carl.
Mike (Brit Boy)
=================================================
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the amazing work that Beachbody is doing and for the excellent things that are coming up for all of us. It is a true blessing to be a part of a company that really cares about people and wants to see people transform their lives both physically and financially. This is SO much bigger than any one person - it's all about being a walking billboard for health and wellness, and bringing others along for the journey. Your "BIG WHY" has fueled ALL of us who came to Anaheim this weekend, and for that, we send SO MUCH LOVE AND BLESSINGS to you and your family. (Proverbs 11:24-25)

Personally, this meeting set me on FIRE, and I am ready to take Birmingham, Alabama by STORM!! Be on the lookout.... ;)


Thanks again, and we love you all so much!! Send love to all of the staff, too (they were so great)!!!

Clarissa (misscmac)
=============================================
Hey Carl - it's Mason B. GREAT EVENT bro! Nice work. I'm glad I was there to get a better idea of what it's all about. Here's something from my thread I thought you'd enjoy:


What truly motivated about the summit was not the speeches, not the workouts, it was the people. From the Beach Body staff who opened doors for us, to the faces like Carl, Jon, Tony, Mason, Jason & others, and also our team members like Mark, Traci & Jay who shared their success stories to the whole group you all were and are truly inspirational and transforming. Together we all can start a worldwide revolution as Carl shared with us, and that revolution begins with us.We are the X+X Fanatics - BRING IT!


TroyD
======================================================
Carl,

I know that you've gotten a lot of emails regarding the coach's summit, but I didn't want that to prevent me from telling you my thoughts. There are too many times that people complain about things, and not enough times when they pass on praise. Well, relax...I'm passing on the praise this time!;-) That Summit was TOP NOTCH!!! I left for California still a bit skeptical about coaching. I wanted it to be a good opportunity, and I thought it was a good opportunity. I came home absolutely convinced that it's not just a good opportunity, but THE opportunity of my lifetime. I think that only some people get the chance to be in on something huge from the very beginning. Those moments only come around once or twice...if that... in a lifetime. I've heard people describe this like being in on Starbucks before they became big, and now I know what that means. I feel it deep down in my soul that this is going to take off, and I'm SO grateful that I'm along for the ride! Now, when I approach my family, I'm going to tell them that I'm doing this with or without them, and I don't want them to come back to me in a year and say "Why didn't you tell me about this a year ago?" :D

My reasons?

1) To wake up every day excited to be doing something that I absolutely LOVE to do.
2) To be able to plan a vacation or make some other type of big purchase without thinking "Can I afford that"?
3) To be able to build a new house if we decide to do that or to remodel this one to be our dream house.
4) To bless my family, friends, and future friends with a healthy and financially free lifestyle.
5) To be able to give more away to charity. I'd love to be able to donate enough to drill a water well in Africa and travel there to watch them start it up!
6) To get to hang out with more people like those I met last weekend. I have NEVER been around a group of people who are happier, more interesting, and full of life!!!

So basically, this about tapping into this opportunity to bless my life so much that it overflows and blesses everyone around me! Thank you SO MUCH for allowing us all to be a part of this. It was something that you said in your blog in December 2006 that got me into this. I was looking for a way to stay committed to my own fitness program, and you said "I didn't get into shape and stay there until I owned a fitness company. This is an opportunity for our customers to have the same opportunity."

I got into this as a way to stay committed to my own fitness (which has worked beautifully by the way... I've maintained my college weight of 120 even through the holidays), but it has grown to be so much more over this past year. Milan said to me right in the beginning that this was more about the person we are becoming. Well, I really like the me that I've become in this past year, and I have a feeling I'm going to REALLY like the me next year that will be headed off to the top coach celebration with you! ;-)

Judy Zavislak
Proud Independent Team Beachbody Coach

Whale of a Good Time

We went on a sunset cruise for the final dinner before the Top Coach celebration concludes. As they say in Hollywood, it was "the golden hour" with the sun in just the right spot for some good photos, and a ton of whale sightings.

I think everyone has had a pretty good time. We have gotten some amazing interviews, and I can see how the promotion of being a coach can be a holistic experience that helps people get into shape, helps the people around them get into shape, and helps anyone who participates take control of their financial future.

With the recent trend of obesity news and economic news, that's a pretty cool proposition. And it's a lot of fun to be achieving this with such a great group of people.

Two Timers

Many of the Top Coaches are working out with Tony Horton TWICE a day -- once with the general workout in the morning, and then they're bringing it hard in the gym in the afternoon.

It's pretty impressive to see these folks, who all could be kicking back and simply enjoying the sun and sand, actually taking advantage of their time with "The Bringinator."

What I am Learning In Hawaii

First off -- I cannot believe how many humpback whales are swimming by this Maui hotel. I saw ten of them lazily swim by this morning in about fifteen minutes. Amazing.

As I interview coach after coach for the upcoming promotion of the Beachbody Coaches Network, I am learning a lot about what this opportunity really means to people.

Seen here for his turn to get interviewed is Blake Warrington, one of the top coaches from 2007. The earnings these coaches have achieved in less than a year of activity is amazing. And while these are the top performers of the young coach network, so of course their six figure results are top of the range at this point, Blake echoed the answer every coach gave when asked "How do you achieve that kind of financial success as a coach?"... The answer "Just help people."

That's the kind of answer that, if it were any other company or any other promotion, I would have rolled my eyes. "Right buddy... help people. Gotcha." But when every person stands there and tells you that they are not a "salesman", and they are not a fitness professional, but that their business turned around when they just started to care about helping people and not about selling anything, well, you start to believe it.

What is so gratifying is, THAT WAS THE PLAN. We knew that, as effective as the Beachbody approach to fitness and weight loss has proven to be over the last ten years, we know that so many of the people that buy the products from TV could still use some personalized support to realize their goals. And now the coaches are providing just that -- personalized one on one support. And as more people succeed and get healthy, the people around them always ask "how did you do it?", and that's when another customer realizes that if they want to pay it forward, they need to become a coach too.

It is so gratifying to hear this business model is growing exactly how we wanted it to. It's not the "get rich quick on the next miracle juice with a weird name" pitch of network marketing these days. It's people who are using the motivation to change their health to help others, and that circle of support turns into opportunity. Jayson Floyd said "If i see a great movie, the first thing I want to do is tell someone about it. Why wouldn't I want to do that with the products that helped me lose 40 pounds? And why wouldn't I love to get paid for doing that?"

As Robert Hudgens said, it takes two things to succeed: "It can't be about the money first. First, you need to use the Beachbody programs so you get results, and second you need to help others succeed. If you do those two things, in that order, you can't help but make the money. But it needs to be in that order."

As I read the headlines today I am further amazed: "Hold On To Your House, The Recession Is Here," and "Costs of Obesity Epidemic Higher Than Reported"... yet I am sitting here, listening to Charline Bucher and Monica Ward talk about their personal fitness and health success, and how Diane Sautman's lifestyle has been transformed by combining her desire to lose weight with her desire to add an additional income to her household. I know there are hundreds (or maybe thousands) of doubters out there, who think Beachbody went in a crazy wrong direction when, instead of selling our products in stores, we put the task of expanding our reach into the hands of our customers. While we have a long way to go to realize our goals of connecting everyone who wants support with a great coach, I know for sure, this is the healthiest way to grow the business I could have ever imagined.

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

We've made it to Maui, Hawaii with the Top Beachbody Coaches from 2007. The hotel is incredible and the people we're getting to know are even better.

I caught Jon Congdon working out this morning -- I don't think we would have a business if everyone had this view as they broke their daily sweat.

Last night at the welcome dinner we kept hearing stories of coaches signing people up to be coaches in the airport, in the plane, at the hotel. The buzz from the Summit is creating a very cool ripple effect. (It doesn't hurt to be standing next to Tony Horton when passers by recognize the best selling trainer on TV of this year!) So we created a little unofficial competition: The Big Kahuna Award"... Whichever of the Top Coaches signs the most people between Friday night and Tuesday when we board the boat for the whale watching cruise will be awarded a Tiki statue (I sort of stole it from the hotel dining room... I suppose it will appear on my room bill) and that coach will be named the "Big Kahuna" until the next trip.

I think it's going to be a fun time. We start shooting interviews for the infomercial this morning after the group breakfast at the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a restaurant. I'm not kidding. That's the name of the restaurant (and the state fish). I'm going to call directory assistance later to see how hard it is to get the operator to look up the number.

It's "Gettin Brung" In Anaheim!

Right now there are three rooms at the Double Tree Hotel in Anaheim jammed with Beachbody Coaches as they workout with their favorite trainers to ear blistering music. It's absolute pandemonium!

Chalene is blowing me away. She's been shooting new extreme workouts all week, with another week of shooting to go (at least). She's was supposed to take it easy tonight. But when I shot this photo with my camera-phone, I happened to catch her the one time she stopped to mark some new moves. Otherwise, it was "blursville" she's was going so nuts. She's a real spark plug - and that room was truly Turbo Jammin!

Tony's room is packed -- standing room only (who would sit anyway?) I walked in when he had Mason B up on stage doing "Mason Twists" from P90X. Tony was flanked by Beachbody banners and was truly pushing the room to the limit between jokes. Great stuff!

Shaun T was working his room like is was a dance-off. It was so great to see Rockin Body brought to life with a room full of coaches familiar with his moves. He hardly spent a moment on stage as he worked through row after row of coaches to get their knees higher and mirror their moves. I think more than a few people were star struck with the hottest new trainer of 2007!

Hotel employees are having a hard time concentrating with all the excitement here. They're like "Who's that?" "Can we watch"? Room service is no doubt running extra slow tonight.

And it's one hour to the "Diamond Dinner" where the trainers and I get to mingle with our Diamond level coaches. I'll be wallpaper, as the real stars are our heavyweight coaches, and the TV-star trainers. It's ok - gives me more time to munch on cocktail weenies.

Tomorrow I'll try to find some time to update the blog again with more photos. I really wish you were here. It's more exciting than I anticipated, and such a pleasure to meet these people face to face. This is what it's all about! And don't forget -- Friday night I get the pleasure of handing out $800,000 during the grand finale of the Million Dollar Body Game!

How to Solve Childhood Obesity... A Story

I just got this email from Jonathan Gelfand, general counsel at Beachbody. I think it's an important lesson for anyone who wonders how we got into the crisis of childhood obesity, and how we can solve it:

Carl,

Something you said a few months back really resonated for me the other day.

My daughter Sophie came upstairs Saturday while I was working out to Power 90 and asked what I was doing. From reading I have done, I know we are at the parenting stage where we "model behavior" for her and I remember you saying that our parents taught us to do our homework and brush our teeth but probably never made fitness a required part of your everyday life. So, I explained to her what Daddy was doing and why and that was that. The next day I went upstairs to do my workout again and with about 20 minutes left, Sophie came upstairs and started following along (jumping jacks and the hopping side to side which was the perfect time). When I asked her why she was working out with me, she said because it was important. Eureka!

(Now if I can only find a way to replicate that with 'not dating' until she is 22.)

Jonathan

The point here goes beyond solving childhood obesity. This is an example of how, despite how it feels, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. How you behave can have a positive impact on everyone around you. It's one of the key functions of being a coach -- LIVING the healthy active lifestyle, not just representing it.

That's not only how childhood obesity gets solved, but the healthcare problem in general. We are not alone. Your behavior matters. My behavior matters. The healthier one lives, the healthier we all will live.

Summer's 90 Days Out... Any ideas?

March + April + May = The Last Three Months To Summer!

Here's your motivation check list:
1. Look great in a bathing suit
2. Enter to win the Million Dollar Body Game
3. Create a Before/After that will kick your Coach business into high gear
4. Inspire your friends and family to get healthy
5. Have the strength, energy, and confidence to have the best summer EVER!

Here's your "Things To Do" between now and March 1:
1. Order the program you're going to follow for 90 days 2. Set your first month's workout schedule up in WOWY
3. Join the "Beach or Bust 2008" WOWY group, and invite four people who seem to workout at the same time as you to get on the band wagon
4. Throw away the food in your kitchen which will undermine your success
5. Take your measurements
6. Take a new photo - this time in THE BATHING SUIT you intend to wear this summer.
(Note, it should be tight if you're not at your goal weight)
7. Pick the exact day that you intend to take that bathing suit to the beach, and KNOW that you will hit that beach with total confidence!
8. Talk to five people who you think you'll likely see on that beach or the pool, and tell them what you are doing. If you're a coach, invite them to get involved. If you're not a coach, this is the perfect time to get started.

Whether it's Turbo Jam, P90X, Power 90, Hip Hop Abs, or your own make shift program, you've got 90 days to kick it into "transformation gear" so you feel great all summer long. I'll see you in WOWY!

Connect Your Desires To Action

Whether it's making more money, transoforming your body, or helping the people around you get healthy, I wrote about the motivational benefits of "layering your desires" a couple weeks ago.

I've given that a lot of thought - like constantly - since that post. What I now call "Motivation Multipliers" is the power you get when faced with a choice;


"Do I eat the entire bowl of ice cream, or don't I?"

You want the gratification of that bowl of ice cream, no doubt. So how do you resist?

You multiply the motivation of your desires, and connect that motivation to ACTION.

For me, here's how it would go.

Reasons to eat the ice cream
1. I want to enjoy something sweet. I deserve it.

Reasons NOT to eat the ice cream
1. I want my jeans to fit better.
2. I want to have good energy, and a sugar spike always shuts me down
3. I want to build this business - and gorging on ice cream does not support the idea of walking the talk
4. I want to stay off the cholesterol drugs (I have high cholesterol) to preserve my kidneys and liver, so I don't need the combo of sugars and cream
5. I don't want to teach my daughter the habit of using ice cream as a reward/escape.
6. I want to feel confident and lean this summer on the beach

1 reason to eat it. 6 reasons not to.

Now it's worth it to find an alternative which won't run counter to my six reasons but which actual support them. A piece of fruit, a healthy shake, or simply reassessing my desire to eat something sweet are all ACTIONS that support my DESIRES.

If you ever saw that movie "The Secret", I really think that's what the point was. The more you focus on your desires, and link your actions to those desires, the more probable it is you will get what you want.

I read a great line in a Richard Bach book once: "Everything is exactly as it is for a reason. The crumb on your table is not some mystical reminder of this morning's cookie. It is there because you have chosen not to remove it. No exceptions"

For my purposes in the Beachbody world I would restate it like this: "Your body is exactly as it is for a reason. The additional inches around your waistline is not some curse or result of a genetic defect. They are there because you have made choices which kept it there. No exceptions"

Same goes for your financial condition, the trend of obesity, the state of our healthcare, etc. We are not the victims of our situation. We created the situation. We are also free to be more conscious of our multiple DESIRES to change these conditions, and to take action that supports our new desires.

Being aware of your desires when it comes time to make a choice, I mean REALLY aware of them, is how you can more easily take action that best serves your desires.

In the instance of the ice cream, I am serving my highest desires by finding an alternative choice. It's not evil or bad to have the ice cream. It's just not serving what I desire. I am not going to attack and judge myself for having ice cream. But I also have no right to complain about how long it is taking me to achieve my desires.

Escaping through sensual gratification is the hardest thing to give up. But if you are actively conscious of more of your desires than your desire to escape or "get a fix", you will have a better chance of achieving your goals -- in fact I know you'll have a better chance of surpassing your wildest goals, and enjoying the the process.

Connect your Desires to your Actions, and you will get the body, the health, and the lifestyle you want.

That's the point of coaching at Beachbody: You multiply your motivation by being aware of how they connect, and you put yourself in a position to take action on all that motivation where every action can serve your mutiple desires. That's efficiency, and the path to success!

The Real Winners

The list of finalists for the Million Dollar Body Game is now posted inside the club for members to vote. (If you vote, choose wisely, because once you voted, you voted.)

Each of the four men and women on this page have already won $50,000 for being the top overall selection in their category. That's pretty exciting! And one man and one woman will take away $250,000 on March 7th. That's crazy!

The selection process was fascinating. We learned so much about the value of the coach/customer relationship. We learned that so many people have to overcome so much to get healthy. Even with all the tools at our fingertips, it is not easy. But in every case, the rewards are a revelation.

The judges kept the promise to celebrate not just the best "after" photo in choosing these finalists, but to pay attention to the entire journey. The quality of photos, the visibility of the transformation, the quality and content of video, the healthy nature of the transformation, and the essays were all considered as the judges selected the finalists over a grueling week of review.

The most difficult thing for all the judges was knowing that, while every person was an inspiration for achieving great health, not EVERYONE could win the money.

This is where coaches are so important. We can't let the contest be anything more than a fun aspect of the overall experience of Team Beachbody. We can't let the competition pollute the spirit of teamwork, support, and positive benefits of staying active and getting good nutrition. That's the message of everything we do -- whether you won $300 for working out in WOWY, $1,000 or $10,000 as a transformation contest winner, or today $50,000 as a finalist, the REAL prize is the quality of life we are all achieving by supporting each other to stay true to this healthy lifestyle. THAT'S the real grand prize!

Congratulations to the finalists. And to everyone who stays consistently active and focused on eating well, thank you for inspiring all of us to succeed -- YOU are the real winners!

We Are All "Beachbody" Again!

The video below explains it... but in case you want to save five minutes, we're relegating the Million Dollar Body brand to the game, and bringing the club and community in to the core brand; Team Beachbody. This means that our coaches represent the product, and the company represents the coaches.

All for one, and one for all! Let's build this thing Team Beachbody!

The Power Of Your Desire

> You might DESIRE to lose weight, but so far that desire alone has not led you to your goal.

> You might DESIRE to have financial freedom, but so far that desire alone has not led you to your goal.

> You might DESIRE to help others around you improve their health and lifestyle, but so far that desire alone has not led you to your goal.

Welcome to the power of the Beachbody/Million Dollar Body coach opportunity, where the power of your desires are compounded. It has been my personal experience that this synergistic power of multiple desires is how, for once, you REALLY can achieve your most ambitious goals!

You can get ripped. You can get rich. You can help thousands of people!

When you are a coach, you can still struggle to get in shape. Every day there are factors that can impede your motivation. But if you take a moment and give thought to your personal DESIRE to (1) be fit and healthy, (2) to earn more money, and (3) to inspire others, you'll see how meaningful your decision to stick to your goals can be.

If you're like me, at the very moment you could have let yourself down, considering your higher DESIRES will translate into the choice of eating right, pushing play, and taking your supplements.

Every time you overcome the inner voice to quit, and you direct your multiple sources of DESIRE toward your success, you will stoke the furnace of your own power... That doesn't just help you today. DESIRE of this kind is like a muscle - and the more you work it, the stronger it gets! I see it each month in the Million Dollar Body Game, that it's possible for anyone to achieve their highest DESIRE, and for those that succeed the rewards are significant.

If you or someone you know has struggled with their motivation or consistency, tell them to link another DESIRE to the equation, and they'll be pleasantly surprised at how much easier and faster it is to accomplish each goal!

So from now on, pay attention to your desire -- It really may be your heart's way of directing you toward your highest potential!

It is precisely because our present life is so inseparably
linked with desire that we must make use of desire’s tremendous energy
if we wish to transform our life into something transcendental.
-- Lama Thubten Yeshe

A Business Plan For Trainers

I just got off a radio interview with one of our newest coaches, Neil Anderson, a trainer and radio host of The Health and Fitness Zone in Salt Lake City. During the conversation, we came up with the concept of how trainers can actually expand their business and better serve their clients by becoming MDB coaches.

First the premise: I think personal trainers deliver a valuable service helping people learn about fitness and learn good form. But I think part of their job is to get people on a personal program that they can execute on their own, without the trainer's help counting reps.

And for anyone who is a trainer, you know how fixed the income potential is - you're locked into the hours you work. Let's say you can effectively serve 5 clients a day, 6 days a week. That's a total of 30 client hours a week, and you ONLY get paid if there is no cancellation. Here's the problem -- the only way to expand is either work longer hours, or increase your rate.

Instead, trainers should do is (1) work toward signing up ten new clients a month to train, to be members in the Million Dollar Body Club, and Coaches so their sessions with you can eventually pay for themselves.

(2) You will put them on a 90 day program like Power 90, Turbo Jam, P90X, or Slim in 6, depending on their preferences, but you only train them for the first few weeks of it to make sure their form is accurate and they stay consistent.

(3) You take their before photos and measurements, and get them to set-up their online profile in the club.

(4) You make sure they log every workout, so you can check up on their progress, and they are eligible to win the daily WOWY prize up to $1,000.

(5) You make sure they use the diet tool to track their food.

(6) In exchange for your helping them become independently healthy, part of that client's job is to refer you two more people (some will, some won't. Some will refer a ton of people - when they get results and brag about how they did it on their own, with YOUR help!)

(7) You set the appointment for you to get together to take their 30 day progress photos and measurements. That locks them into accountability.

(8) You make sure they enter their results in t the Million Dollar Body Game - since they could win $1,000 to $10,000 bucks every month if they make progress - and you as a coach will get rewarded too!

(9) You sign-up their referrals (either under them as a coach, or under you if they're not a coach) and do the same thing with these referrals. The tree grows!

Here's how the math works (without getting into the income of it, which would be substantial):

Instead of serving ten to fifteen clients in all the time you have, your new goal is to sign up ten new people a month, with the help of client referrals. You're still always training ten or so people a month, but once they have learned the program with your help, they are on your maintenance program (including supplements if you feel it appropriate) and your earnings from your clients becomes passive, rather than direct trainer-earnings.

So at the end of the year, you have at least 120 clients, calling you from time to time for refreshers and to take progress photos/measurements. After two years you have over 240 clients, plus all the coaches your clients have now signed up on their own. THAT'S A BUSINESS! You've created your own network of peer support; People who are thanking YOU for getting them started on the right path, and for helping them achieve it under their own power for the long term.

You make more money. They are rewarded for getting healthy and referring people into the program. And EVERYONE is a more independent healthy human being. if I were a trainer, that's the way I would approach it. And if I were a coach, I would call every trainer in the phone book and pitch this concept. people don't need help counting reps, they need to be empowered to succeed on their own once they know what they're doing!

By the way, this same formula works for doctors who see patients that need help losing weight, gyms, chiropractors, and nutritionists. The point here is to empower people to be independently healthy, and you reap the rewards in every way!

Thanks to Neil for helping inspire this concept!

A Little Motivation, Perhaps?

I love when the production team gives me a peek at stuff they're working on.

The finale of the 2007 Million Dollar Body Game is going to be a big staged event, with Danny Teeson, our trainers, professional dancers, video clips, and of course, two $250,000 winners. If you want to share the excitement, below is the teaser video which will be re-edited to open the awards event on two big screens in the theater:

If you are not a 2007 qualifier and are looking for a little motivation to get your entry into the 2008 contest, the first day of each month is the deadline for that month! Use this video to push yourself to get in great shape all year long (or maybe it's time to become a coach and join us at the big event in Anaheim to see who's life changes the moment the $250,000 winners are announced!)

No matter what, this kind of video makes it fun to get in shape and know that you can qualify for these prizes just like every other club member! These are the same people who heard about these programs, made the commitment just like you, and submitted their stories to the contest. Now there's some motivation to KEEP PUSHING PLAY!

UPDATE: We've created a new WOWY Group: "On The Road to the 3/7 Coach Summit" -- Join it, and Bring it!

Make February Count!

Ok coaches, it's time to put it into high gear! February coming, and it's "go time". Time to take it up a notch. Time to eat clean, to make sure you're consistent with your supplement regimen, to share the solution of pushing play, eating right, and supporting eachother with people who want to feel better about themselves by summer.

This is the month. if you're going to coach, it's time to coach!

Set your goals. Talk to YOUR Coach. And go for it...

For me, February goes like this:

> 20 Workouts in 30 Days

> Make sure I eat right to build my metabolism

> Feb 4th -- Photo and measurements

> Coach at least 3 new people how to get results with the Beachbody system: In short, that system is (1) Push play at least 20 times in 30 days (2) Eat right - for many that's as simple as replacing one meal a day with a shake (3) be accountable by taking your measurements every 30 days, sharing this system, and helping keep other motivated... It's a daily routine... I call it "Play, shake and share"

For you, that should also mean submitting your story to the Million Dollar Body Game on both February 1st and March 1st... You never know!

The Coach Summit and finale of the 2007 Million Dollar Body Game is a month away, and Tony, Chalene, and Shaun T will be pushing the coaches who attend in a couple intense group workouts. It's going to be fun, and I want everyone to be there and ready to bring it with intensity!

Set your goals now. Make a plan of how you can "Play, Shake and Share" every day until the Summit. And make February count!