Just got finished speaking at the Tuesday briefing here at HQ and am always so pumped up.
Every person in that packed room tonight has the potential to achieve their goals. There is not one person there who by the very decision they will make tonight, and the commitment to plug into the system we've created, can't succeed at a level that will give them everything they always wanted.
It's not about years of study or hours of contemplation - but a flash of a moment where they decide to turn things around, physically and financially.
Better health. Freedom from debt. For real -- not just some radio ad. When you combine the passionate desire society has to lose weight and get fit with an opportunity to earn income with products that are world famous, you have life-changing opportunity. That's what being a coach means.
Just like we created fitness and weight loss programs that walk you through a success system that are guaranteed to get you results, so will the Team Beachbody Network. Work it, and it works.
The world changes when YOU are in control of your circumstances. But nobody GIVES you control. You have to step up, and earn control. You have to step up and be in control. And stay after it, every day. That's how you succeed on your terms!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Everybody, Pay It Forward
Tony and Beachbody are showing gratitude for the patience, loyalty and trend-ending heroics of our customers and coaches by making an offer in July that will pay off for everyone involved:
To celebrate the launch of "Volume 2" of Tony's One-On-One series, and celebrate Tony's birthday on July 2nd, new subscribers pay just $.01 for their first month (plus $1,000 s&h... kidding! $2.95 s&h) for an amazing Cardio Intervals routine.
Plus both new and current subscribers get the new "Volume 2" DVD wallet that holds the next year's worth of fabulous Hortonosity.
And to share in all this kindness; the July One-on-One DVD ships with a FREE workout called “Pay It Forward”. The Pay It Forward DVD is a first for Beachbody, where we asked a 400lb person to go through a routine with Tony. he did, and he loved it!
Your job -- give that DVD away to someone who thinks that fitness (and Tony Horton) is not accessible to them. This is a great starter program. Again, your job - give it to someone and let them see how good they can feel after just 20 mins!
It's a special launch of year two of One-on-One. Tony (and I) are exceptionally grateful to the people who made it through year one and are ready for more!
To celebrate the launch of "Volume 2" of Tony's One-On-One series, and celebrate Tony's birthday on July 2nd, new subscribers pay just $.01 for their first month (plus $1,000 s&h... kidding! $2.95 s&h) for an amazing Cardio Intervals routine.
Plus both new and current subscribers get the new "Volume 2" DVD wallet that holds the next year's worth of fabulous Hortonosity.
And to share in all this kindness; the July One-on-One DVD ships with a FREE workout called “Pay It Forward”. The Pay It Forward DVD is a first for Beachbody, where we asked a 400lb person to go through a routine with Tony. he did, and he loved it!
Your job -- give that DVD away to someone who thinks that fitness (and Tony Horton) is not accessible to them. This is a great starter program. Again, your job - give it to someone and let them see how good they can feel after just 20 mins!
It's a special launch of year two of One-on-One. Tony (and I) are exceptionally grateful to the people who made it through year one and are ready for more!
Friday, June 26, 2009
It's Time To Lead
While some accept the status quo, for others the status quo begs a leader to make things better.
The mark of a leader is someone who is willing to take risks, to step out of the safety zone of accepting the status quo. Leaders are change agents, and they make things happen that can move things in a big way. (That doesn't mean they're right, it just means they are the ones who make things happen. And they're usually the ones that make the money.)
Leadership is rare, and when it is directed toward something that truly benefits society at large, they are valuable. Leaders are the ones who hear people saying "that's not how it's done," and they forge ahead anyway. They try something, hear friends, family (and even customers) say "That's just stupid", they learn, and they continue to work through the criticism.
But the more bold the leader is, the more people there are who will say that leader is wrong. If you are leading, there will always someone who thinks you are wrong. Do it anyway.
Not everyone has what it takes to be a leader. I am a big fan of helping people see their potential to step into a leadership role, but I have been guilty of thinking everyone has what it takes to handle the criticism and also self-start. But over the years I have learned that leaders who are ready will step into the role when given the opportunity. I see it everyday on the TeamBeachbody Message Boards, Facebook and Twitter as coaches step up and help people get results and build a business out of helping people. There are great leaders out there, and great leaders emerging.
I had a conversation today with 5 star diamond Charline Bucher, a founding coach and a true Team Beachbody leader. We were talking about how we're seeing people succeed in this business who are consistent with achieving base hits vs. swinging for home runs. Day by day, sale by sale, coach by coach, leaders in network marketing make small progress and encourage other leaders in their organizations to do the same. That's the activity that works.
The people who achieve exponential growth in this business are the ones who are always looking for leaders in their organization, and focusing their efforts on building momentum with them rather than trying to pull everyone along. If you focus on the people who can help us get to one million coaches and 100 million customers, your business will grow. If you focus on trying to get everyone to join the business, you won't have time to work with the true leaders, and the business will languish and always require you to baby sit.
Attracting leaders creates a foundation on which the network will flourish. Strength in leadership equals a strong network that will help millions of people.
That's the point of the Leadership event that Michael Neimand, Larry Zimberg, Denise Needham, the rest of our network team and I are staging this October 17th and 18th. It's not for everyone. You have to qualify and want to break out of the pack to be a real leader in building this business. If you want to go big with this opportunity, you need to get to this event.
The following criteria needs to be achieved by August 30, 2009. Either...
A. Achieve the Paid Rank of Diamond Coach or higher and have sponsored a Paid Rank Diamond Coach who is active as of August 30th.
- or -
B. Achieve a Paid Rank of Diamond Coach or higher, and recruit at least two new active Coaches this June, July, and August (for a minimum of six new active Coaches with at least two in each month), all of whom are active and in good standing as of August 30th.
The mark of a leader is someone who is willing to take risks, to step out of the safety zone of accepting the status quo. Leaders are change agents, and they make things happen that can move things in a big way. (That doesn't mean they're right, it just means they are the ones who make things happen. And they're usually the ones that make the money.)
Leadership is rare, and when it is directed toward something that truly benefits society at large, they are valuable. Leaders are the ones who hear people saying "that's not how it's done," and they forge ahead anyway. They try something, hear friends, family (and even customers) say "That's just stupid", they learn, and they continue to work through the criticism.
But the more bold the leader is, the more people there are who will say that leader is wrong. If you are leading, there will always someone who thinks you are wrong. Do it anyway.
Not everyone has what it takes to be a leader. I am a big fan of helping people see their potential to step into a leadership role, but I have been guilty of thinking everyone has what it takes to handle the criticism and also self-start. But over the years I have learned that leaders who are ready will step into the role when given the opportunity. I see it everyday on the TeamBeachbody Message Boards, Facebook and Twitter as coaches step up and help people get results and build a business out of helping people. There are great leaders out there, and great leaders emerging.
I had a conversation today with 5 star diamond Charline Bucher, a founding coach and a true Team Beachbody leader. We were talking about how we're seeing people succeed in this business who are consistent with achieving base hits vs. swinging for home runs. Day by day, sale by sale, coach by coach, leaders in network marketing make small progress and encourage other leaders in their organizations to do the same. That's the activity that works.
The people who achieve exponential growth in this business are the ones who are always looking for leaders in their organization, and focusing their efforts on building momentum with them rather than trying to pull everyone along. If you focus on the people who can help us get to one million coaches and 100 million customers, your business will grow. If you focus on trying to get everyone to join the business, you won't have time to work with the true leaders, and the business will languish and always require you to baby sit.
Attracting leaders creates a foundation on which the network will flourish. Strength in leadership equals a strong network that will help millions of people.
That's the point of the Leadership event that Michael Neimand, Larry Zimberg, Denise Needham, the rest of our network team and I are staging this October 17th and 18th. It's not for everyone. You have to qualify and want to break out of the pack to be a real leader in building this business. If you want to go big with this opportunity, you need to get to this event.
The following criteria needs to be achieved by August 30, 2009. Either...
A. Achieve the Paid Rank of Diamond Coach or higher and have sponsored a Paid Rank Diamond Coach who is active as of August 30th.
- or -
B. Achieve a Paid Rank of Diamond Coach or higher, and recruit at least two new active Coaches this June, July, and August (for a minimum of six new active Coaches with at least two in each month), all of whom are active and in good standing as of August 30th.
With only 4 days left to meet the June requirement, it’s decision time. Will you be one of our select group of Coaches who join me to lead the way forward? What do you want your life to look like a year from now? Every journey starts with a single step and your first step is to get to this exclusive leadership event. June qualifications are almost up so get focused, have intent, recruit your two new active Coaches for June!
Then we'll be training you and this elite group of leaders on the new "Game Plan", and as a leader, we'll give you a complimentary two night stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California. (Get a good look at the pool now, because we won't be spending time there during the event. This is like training camp!) We want to initiate a huge push, a game-changing initiative which will signal the explosive growth in this network we have all been planning.
Then we'll be training you and this elite group of leaders on the new "Game Plan", and as a leader, we'll give you a complimentary two night stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California. (Get a good look at the pool now, because we won't be spending time there during the event. This is like training camp!) We want to initiate a huge push, a game-changing initiative which will signal the explosive growth in this network we have all been planning. If you're a leader and want to build a business that pays you dividends every year, and you want to be a force of positive change in the health of the world, it is time.
I look forward to seeing you at the Leadership event in Dana Point! But you need to step up now!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A Little Help From My Friends
I spent the week on Twitter and Facebook learning from my "friends" how we can use these social networks to promote health and build the Beachbody coach business. Though I see what all the buzz is about, I definitely see the pitfalls.
These sites are like a party. The last thing you want to do is walk into a party and yell “I am here to sell you products!” That type of behavior isn’t accepted at a party, and I doubt it’s any different online.
In the pursuit of expanding our coach network, prospecting makes sense to me. But I don't think “broadcasting” sales messages via the social networks of friends is the best approach.
We established the Beachbody Network so when you get healthy results you could profit when someone notices and asks “Wow, what are you doing?” That’s how you turn your hard work and behavior change into revenue. You become the proof that it works!
That model translates well to social media like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, where friends connect, share updates, and care about each other. What the health crisis in our country needs is people helping people. So the best action to leverage social media is to share what you are doing to inspire others, to celebrate the success of your team, and to pay attention to what people are saying.
When you have results to report or a photo to post during your transformation, NOTHING will get people’s attention faster than saying "Check out my 90 days photos -- Unbelievable!"And that facilitates a two-way conversation. Social media and networking is about starting a conversation. It’s a dialogue. It’s the first time in the history of marketing where businesses big or small must get back to the basics of listening. Listening is what separates the good friends from the not so good. As I read in Stephen Baker's recent article in Business Week, the value of information within these social media networks has dropped to zero. What is valuable, is attention; getting it and giving it.
That's how network marketing beats mass marketing every time; People get to know each other, and help each other achieve their goals.That makes you a good friend, not the Internet’s version of a door-to-door salesman. When a friend of yours gets results they’ll want to share it with their immediate sphere of influence. And your business continues to grow because you added value to the equation. You didn't take - you gave a service.
And that friend to friend service is the point of this whole thing. People have proposed to me that they could explode our business by getting actor Ashton Kutcher to become a coach and leverage his visibility talking about P90X on Twitter. As exciting as it is when celebs buy our products and talk about them, we aren’t looking to simply make more sales through their endorsement. We want this movement toward a healthy lifestyle to transcend a cult of personality, so it gets woven into the very fabric of our culture again.It's not about Ashton. It's not about me. It's not about Tony, Chalene, Debbie or Shaun T. It's about you. It's about your friends. I want YOU to be the star of this success story. We want you to help people you are the closest to. We want it to be on a personal, human level.
It’s not about spamming. It’s about sharing, listening, acknowledging and helping.
I believe that approach will make you a valuable friend in the web 2.0 world, and that’s the kind of service to others that will build your personal network in a meaningful way. I'll see you on Twitter and Facebook, and let's keep this party growing!
These sites are like a party. The last thing you want to do is walk into a party and yell “I am here to sell you products!” That type of behavior isn’t accepted at a party, and I doubt it’s any different online.
In the pursuit of expanding our coach network, prospecting makes sense to me. But I don't think “broadcasting” sales messages via the social networks of friends is the best approach.
We established the Beachbody Network so when you get healthy results you could profit when someone notices and asks “Wow, what are you doing?” That’s how you turn your hard work and behavior change into revenue. You become the proof that it works!
That model translates well to social media like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, where friends connect, share updates, and care about each other. What the health crisis in our country needs is people helping people. So the best action to leverage social media is to share what you are doing to inspire others, to celebrate the success of your team, and to pay attention to what people are saying.
When you have results to report or a photo to post during your transformation, NOTHING will get people’s attention faster than saying "Check out my 90 days photos -- Unbelievable!"And that facilitates a two-way conversation. Social media and networking is about starting a conversation. It’s a dialogue. It’s the first time in the history of marketing where businesses big or small must get back to the basics of listening. Listening is what separates the good friends from the not so good. As I read in Stephen Baker's recent article in Business Week, the value of information within these social media networks has dropped to zero. What is valuable, is attention; getting it and giving it.
That's how network marketing beats mass marketing every time; People get to know each other, and help each other achieve their goals.That makes you a good friend, not the Internet’s version of a door-to-door salesman. When a friend of yours gets results they’ll want to share it with their immediate sphere of influence. And your business continues to grow because you added value to the equation. You didn't take - you gave a service.
And that friend to friend service is the point of this whole thing. People have proposed to me that they could explode our business by getting actor Ashton Kutcher to become a coach and leverage his visibility talking about P90X on Twitter. As exciting as it is when celebs buy our products and talk about them, we aren’t looking to simply make more sales through their endorsement. We want this movement toward a healthy lifestyle to transcend a cult of personality, so it gets woven into the very fabric of our culture again.It's not about Ashton. It's not about me. It's not about Tony, Chalene, Debbie or Shaun T. It's about you. It's about your friends. I want YOU to be the star of this success story. We want you to help people you are the closest to. We want it to be on a personal, human level.
It’s not about spamming. It’s about sharing, listening, acknowledging and helping.
I believe that approach will make you a valuable friend in the web 2.0 world, and that’s the kind of service to others that will build your personal network in a meaningful way. I'll see you on Twitter and Facebook, and let's keep this party growing!
Monday, June 08, 2009
The Half-Price Life Saver
Last week we dropped the price of Kathy Smith's Project YOU for Type 2, a resource created in conjunction with the American Diabetes Association, in an aggressive push to help people avoid diabetes or manage the disease.
Looks like people are getting on board in a big way! Online sales jump up ten times over the sales for the prior week. That's big.
Looks like people are getting on board in a big way! Online sales jump up ten times over the sales for the prior week. That's big.
This is the first-ever comprehensive approach to eating right and exercise for both pre-diabetics and people with diabetes. It is a 12-week approach to losing weight and turning things around, but the results can be life-long.
For anyone who faces that dreadful moment in a doctor's office when he says "you are pre-diabetic and need to make some changes" or worse, "you have diabetes," there becomes this vacuum of resources that are reliable and comprehensive.
Support groups abound, but a system that walks a person step-by-step through the lifestyle changes they could follow to make an enormous difference just never existed in one convenient place, until fitness icon Kathy Smith and former president of the ADA Dr. Francine Kaufman team up with the ADA to create this program. Beachbody wanted to support their vision aggressively, and the best way to do that was to make it more affordable with a 30 day money back guarantee. Now people can try it and see what needs to be done, and make the decision for themselves, "Am I worth it?"
And guess what: YOU ARE WORTH IT! And successful results are easier to achieve than you thought, when you have a system that works. "Project: YOU!" is the system. Now is the time.
Thanks to everyone for helping us get the word out about this special promotion, planned to stay valid through the end of July. If you know someone who's life is affected by diabetes, this is the time to take advantage of a great half price offer, and a great product that is literally saving lives!
For anyone who faces that dreadful moment in a doctor's office when he says "you are pre-diabetic and need to make some changes" or worse, "you have diabetes," there becomes this vacuum of resources that are reliable and comprehensive.
Support groups abound, but a system that walks a person step-by-step through the lifestyle changes they could follow to make an enormous difference just never existed in one convenient place, until fitness icon Kathy Smith and former president of the ADA Dr. Francine Kaufman team up with the ADA to create this program. Beachbody wanted to support their vision aggressively, and the best way to do that was to make it more affordable with a 30 day money back guarantee. Now people can try it and see what needs to be done, and make the decision for themselves, "Am I worth it?"
And guess what: YOU ARE WORTH IT! And successful results are easier to achieve than you thought, when you have a system that works. "Project: YOU!" is the system. Now is the time.
Thanks to everyone for helping us get the word out about this special promotion, planned to stay valid through the end of July. If you know someone who's life is affected by diabetes, this is the time to take advantage of a great half price offer, and a great product that is literally saving lives!
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!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Hip Hop Abs at work in Shinjuku
Shaun T is in Japan working with the distributor who is launching Hip Hop Abs into Japan for us this week. It's a media blitz that would have made the Beatles jealous.
Jumbotrons, outdoor stage shows, variety TV appearances, and of course, photo ops. And you have to check this video out. It features Hiromi Go (below), a Japanese pop star who loves the program.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
People Who Inspire Me
We read about the extraordinary results people get with our programs all the time. Team Beachbody members can vote now on the latest batch of Beachbody success stories. You choose who gets the $10,000 this quarter in the newly formatted Million Dollar Body Game. (Voting ends Sunday!)
Aside from the contest, when it comes to extraordinary results, the testimonials I gravitate toward are the ones of triumph that exceed even my own expectations.
Coach Anne Dovel sent me another great one this week, which she got from Camille Lusk. Camille is “wheeliechick”, a new coach and the kind of inspiration that makes me want to ask everyone to ramp-up the decibel level and work harder to get the word out about what we are doing. EVERY DAY, EVERY CONVERSATION COUNTS!
Here's what Camille emailed to Anne:
"Hi Anne!
I have MS and am in a wheelchair. Due to numerous meds throughout the years my body stopped being hungry. At one point the doctors ran tests and found that my body digested about 3x's slower than a normal person would. That wasn't too alarming at the time but as the years wore on I found that I was probably only eating 600 calories a day at the most. My husband started doing P90x and we began looking at what I needed for calorie intake and I was floored! I began modifying moves for me and began feeling the results of my exercise but my appetite was still sluggish. I then found Shakeology! I love this stuff! We initially bought it to ensure I would at least get some nutrients in my body but after the first week I noticed my body was hungry! I now find that I need to eat 3 meals AND snacks to make it through the day. I have energy again, I think clearer after drinking it, and my mood is so much better. I am so thankful for Shakeology, I feel like I have found my youth again. Beachbody is truly in the business of changing people's lives and I'm thrilled that my family and I are along for the ride!"
I get to read this type of report every week. Each is a personal testament to healthy choices.
What's most important is that Camille would have never found this solution if not for a coach who introduced their family to Beachbody. And she would have never discovered what was possible for her if SHE hadn't investigated it further, and taken that leap of faith! So many people are convinced they have tried everything, and they have resolved themselves to their status quo. But we know better! We know that daily activity, good nutrition, and peer support can turn things around for someone who wants to lose a little weight, or even someone who is wheelchair bound looking for alternatives!
Shakeology was created to transcend hype, and to actually deliver the exceptional nutrition our bodies crave. And combined with our exercise programs, the healthy results are shocking. But it's so rare, and so hard to believe something really can deliver on what it promises, that it requires the passion of the Beachbody Network to share it.
Thank you Anne. Thank you Camille. And thank you Beachbody Network for not letting even a holiday weekend interrupt your important work of introducing people to a system of health and fitness that truly works.
Make this weekend worth "Memorializing" by stepping out of your comfort zone and getting the word out for an hour or two. This is the kind of weekend that separates the achievers from the coasters. Remind people they really can get healthy and help them understand they too can earn the wealth when the world catches on!
Aside from the contest, when it comes to extraordinary results, the testimonials I gravitate toward are the ones of triumph that exceed even my own expectations.
Coach Anne Dovel sent me another great one this week, which she got from Camille Lusk. Camille is “wheeliechick”, a new coach and the kind of inspiration that makes me want to ask everyone to ramp-up the decibel level and work harder to get the word out about what we are doing. EVERY DAY, EVERY CONVERSATION COUNTS!Here's what Camille emailed to Anne:
"Hi Anne!
I have MS and am in a wheelchair. Due to numerous meds throughout the years my body stopped being hungry. At one point the doctors ran tests and found that my body digested about 3x's slower than a normal person would. That wasn't too alarming at the time but as the years wore on I found that I was probably only eating 600 calories a day at the most. My husband started doing P90x and we began looking at what I needed for calorie intake and I was floored! I began modifying moves for me and began feeling the results of my exercise but my appetite was still sluggish. I then found Shakeology! I love this stuff! We initially bought it to ensure I would at least get some nutrients in my body but after the first week I noticed my body was hungry! I now find that I need to eat 3 meals AND snacks to make it through the day. I have energy again, I think clearer after drinking it, and my mood is so much better. I am so thankful for Shakeology, I feel like I have found my youth again. Beachbody is truly in the business of changing people's lives and I'm thrilled that my family and I are along for the ride!"
I get to read this type of report every week. Each is a personal testament to healthy choices.
What's most important is that Camille would have never found this solution if not for a coach who introduced their family to Beachbody. And she would have never discovered what was possible for her if SHE hadn't investigated it further, and taken that leap of faith! So many people are convinced they have tried everything, and they have resolved themselves to their status quo. But we know better! We know that daily activity, good nutrition, and peer support can turn things around for someone who wants to lose a little weight, or even someone who is wheelchair bound looking for alternatives!
Shakeology was created to transcend hype, and to actually deliver the exceptional nutrition our bodies crave. And combined with our exercise programs, the healthy results are shocking. But it's so rare, and so hard to believe something really can deliver on what it promises, that it requires the passion of the Beachbody Network to share it.
Thank you Anne. Thank you Camille. And thank you Beachbody Network for not letting even a holiday weekend interrupt your important work of introducing people to a system of health and fitness that truly works.
Make this weekend worth "Memorializing" by stepping out of your comfort zone and getting the word out for an hour or two. This is the kind of weekend that separates the achievers from the coasters. Remind people they really can get healthy and help them understand they too can earn the wealth when the world catches on!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Brett Favre Tweets P90X
While the world wonders
whether future Hall of Famer Brett Favre will really retire or not, he certainly is not keeping quiet about the fitness regimen he's using to stay in shape... P90X.
His "Tweet" was spotted yesterday, as was the following recommendation from Ashton Kutcher to one of his 1.8 million followers.
Maybe there really is something to this P90X thing.
whether future Hall of Famer Brett Favre will really retire or not, he certainly is not keeping quiet about the fitness regimen he's using to stay in shape... P90X.His "Tweet" was spotted yesterday, as was the following recommendation from Ashton Kutcher to one of his 1.8 million followers.
Maybe there really is something to this P90X thing.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Happy Ten Year Anniversary Beachbody!
Ten years ago today, our very first customer, Hope Putnam, ordered Great Abs Guaranteed to launch what has now become the $400+MM a year leader in finding an end to the trend of obesity.
To celebrate the ten year milestone, we sent this crystal trophy to the employees, investors, friends, and parents who helped us get things off the ground, and got the entire company together to make the occasion with an official announcement this morning.
To add to the excitement, in this week's IMS report, the company which tracks the most aired infomercials of the week, Beachbody had three shows of the top five - a first in our history!
Yet it feels like we're just getting started. We've really just found our momentum, with the Beachbody network redefining healthy peer support, P90X redefining fitness, and Shakeology redefining nutrition.
The last ten years have been exceptionally exciting. But we have a lot of work to do to achieve our potential... Our best is still ahead of us!
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Go Shakeology, Go!
Time to brag a little: Shakeology, a product that so many people said would cost too much, would taste "too green", and would not appeal to our fast-food-drive-thru culture, has absolutely taken off.
We've already sold almost 10,000 units since the summit. That's over a million dollar's worth - without TV advertising. And despite a money back guarantee, less than 1% of the people who buy the product return it. Less than 1%! Better still, the retention of the home direct program is the best in the company's ten year history: 72% of the people who sign up, have stayed in the home direct program.
I have been in the direct marketing business for 23 years. And I have NEVER seen numbers like that. This is an unequivocal home run.
UPDATE 5/7: I was speaking with Seth Tuckerman, our COO who used to be a big shot at Nestle. He said when they launched a new product and achieved a 60% reorder rate, they knew they had a homerun. At 72% reorder, I think we're looking at a grand slam!
People are blogging about it - not just coaches - but customers. THAT'S how excited people are about how they feel. My own cousin sent me an email proclaiming that he lost eight pounds already thanks to Shakeology - that stubborn eight pounds that have been nagging him for years.
But to our shock, most people are looking beyond the weight loss benefits at the health benefits. In fact, I continue to read post after post of people who are fed up with fads, and this time they are putting their money where their health is.
Do you know how big this is going to be? BIG. And thanks for making it happen coaches! Thanks to you, a real nutrition breakthrough has transcended the anti-oxidant-fruit-juice-in-a-wine-bottle craze of the last five years, and the real deal is on the scene. Shakeology is here to stay, and you can only get it through the Beachbody Network at TeamBeachbody.com.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
The Insanity of Cinco de Mayo
One on One subscribers have a present on the way; When your subscription is set to ship this month, it will be shrink-wrapped with a free workout from the Insanity program -- the first sneak peek of this unreal series due this summer.
And it's the perfect month too, because the One on One is a recovery workout that Tony put into his rotation after a particularly intense day of training. He needed to recover, and Steve Edwards had been asking us to develop a recovery routine with the right kind of exercise to help the body, rather than just... stop.
So enjoy the Insanity workout (you are the first!) and take advantage of Tony's perfect recovery routine!
THIS MONTH'S ONE on ONE:
And it's the perfect month too, because the One on One is a recovery workout that Tony put into his rotation after a particularly intense day of training. He needed to recover, and Steve Edwards had been asking us to develop a recovery routine with the right kind of exercise to help the body, rather than just... stop.
So enjoy the Insanity workout (you are the first!) and take advantage of Tony's perfect recovery routine!
THIS MONTH'S ONE on ONE:
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Struggle Story
Almost 6,000 people logged their workouts in the WOWY Super Gym yesterday. And I am impressed by every single person who manages to keep it up.
I say that because, despite my position as CEO of Beachbody, my focus on making a business out of ending the trend of obesity, and being married to one of the most disciplined and certified health and fitness experts in the world, I still struggle to "keep pushing play" as consistently as I expect of myself.
Yesterday I was in a meeting with Whitney Provost the editorial director of Team Beachbody, and as we were reviewing the calendar and general direction of celebrating success stories in our online videos and newsletters, an idea surfaced: "Let's start to investigate the other side of the success story. Let's look at real 'struggle stories' within our community. Let's show people that EVERYBODY struggles with consistency from time to time - even me!"
One such struggle story we've all read about is not a person actually, but a concept; "Corporate Wellness".
Despite the health crisis in the US, even a company called Beachbody can't require people to live a healthy lifestyle (Otherwise, for months out of the year I'd be on probation!)
When Jon Congdon got back from the Top Coach trip in Mexico having launched a 90 day challenge with a bunch of the coaches on the trip, his enthusiasm spilled over into our People Department, which in turn launched a company-wide 90 Day challenge.
So for the last few days we've had a dunk tank in the parking lot, measuring body fat percentages for anyone who wanted to know where they stood. The emphasis of this challenge is on health and fitness, not on a "Biggest Loser" type competition or weight loss alone. And over half the company is already participating, with more joining each day. That includes me.
My WOWY calendar for the last few months is below. I finally look like I will put together a week of some consistency after wavering between "weekend warrior" and "walk the baby" since the fall.
It's time to get consistent. Summer is approaching. My personal goal is to be fit and ready to plow into 60 days of Insanity when it launches.
But the point of my blog post is this; If you or someone you know is a "Struggle Story" like me, know that nobody is immune. That's why it's so hard to stay healthy and fit. Life today has not been designed to make a healthy lifestyle the norm. And I can complain along with all Beachbody customers about how difficult it is to stay consistent. But complaining never got anyone back into their favorite jeans.
While I have been lucky enough to have the tasty Shakeology to keep me healthy even though my fitness got inconsistent, if I want to keep up with my kids, I have to keep the body tuned. That's a choice.
I invite you to get on board, and get everyone you know on board. It's often hard. But it's important - especially if you are a coach, or the CEO of a health and fitness company.
I read a great quote from Jim Rohn today: "We must all suffer from one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces, while regret weighs tons." (I would argue that some discipline weighs pounds, not ounces... but I get his point.)
So while the last few month's I have been a "struggle story", my "success story" starts again today. Decide. Commit. Succeed.
I say that because, despite my position as CEO of Beachbody, my focus on making a business out of ending the trend of obesity, and being married to one of the most disciplined and certified health and fitness experts in the world, I still struggle to "keep pushing play" as consistently as I expect of myself.
Yesterday I was in a meeting with Whitney Provost the editorial director of Team Beachbody, and as we were reviewing the calendar and general direction of celebrating success stories in our online videos and newsletters, an idea surfaced: "Let's start to investigate the other side of the success story. Let's look at real 'struggle stories' within our community. Let's show people that EVERYBODY struggles with consistency from time to time - even me!"
One such struggle story we've all read about is not a person actually, but a concept; "Corporate Wellness".
Despite the health crisis in the US, even a company called Beachbody can't require people to live a healthy lifestyle (Otherwise, for months out of the year I'd be on probation!)
When Jon Congdon got back from the Top Coach trip in Mexico having launched a 90 day challenge with a bunch of the coaches on the trip, his enthusiasm spilled over into our People Department, which in turn launched a company-wide 90 Day challenge.
So for the last few days we've had a dunk tank in the parking lot, measuring body fat percentages for anyone who wanted to know where they stood. The emphasis of this challenge is on health and fitness, not on a "Biggest Loser" type competition or weight loss alone. And over half the company is already participating, with more joining each day. That includes me.My WOWY calendar for the last few months is below. I finally look like I will put together a week of some consistency after wavering between "weekend warrior" and "walk the baby" since the fall.
It's time to get consistent. Summer is approaching. My personal goal is to be fit and ready to plow into 60 days of Insanity when it launches.
But the point of my blog post is this; If you or someone you know is a "Struggle Story" like me, know that nobody is immune. That's why it's so hard to stay healthy and fit. Life today has not been designed to make a healthy lifestyle the norm. And I can complain along with all Beachbody customers about how difficult it is to stay consistent. But complaining never got anyone back into their favorite jeans.
While I have been lucky enough to have the tasty Shakeology to keep me healthy even though my fitness got inconsistent, if I want to keep up with my kids, I have to keep the body tuned. That's a choice.
I invite you to get on board, and get everyone you know on board. It's often hard. But it's important - especially if you are a coach, or the CEO of a health and fitness company.
I read a great quote from Jim Rohn today: "We must all suffer from one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces, while regret weighs tons." (I would argue that some discipline weighs pounds, not ounces... but I get his point.)
So while the last few month's I have been a "struggle story", my "success story" starts again today. Decide. Commit. Succeed.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Ashton Update
I have no confirmation that Ashton Kutcher is still using P90X. But some have commented to me that it looks like something is working on the set of Five Killers in France!
As seen on Zimbio.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Pure and Simple
If the prospect of 60 days of Insanity has you feeling some anxiety as we look ahead to the summer, we found a way to keep any Beachbody customer complaints to a quiet, peaceful hush with the ultimate zen antidote... We've just released two new specialty titles under the YBB brand: Yoga Booty Ballet "Pure & Simple Yoga" (with Gillian) and Yoga Booty Ballet "Baby On the Way" (with Teigh).
They are available at TeamBeachbody.com through your Beachbody Coach, or Beachbody.com.
Gillian takes you through an exhilarating routine with classic yoga without any difficult choreography in "Pure and SImple Yoga".
Teigh shares her pregnancy workout for expectant mothers to get you or that mom-to-be on your gift list ready for the special delivery with "Baby on the Way".
So log into WOWY, put your hands together, close your eyes, and BRING IT!
They are available at TeamBeachbody.com through your Beachbody Coach, or Beachbody.com.
Gillian takes you through an exhilarating routine with classic yoga without any difficult choreography in "Pure and SImple Yoga".
Teigh shares her pregnancy workout for expectant mothers to get you or that mom-to-be on your gift list ready for the special delivery with "Baby on the Way".
So log into WOWY, put your hands together, close your eyes, and BRING IT!
Thursday, April 09, 2009
An Insane One on One
Time to subscribe to Tony's One-On-One!
Along with Tony's real-life workout series, where you get to follow along with the man as he trains in his personal gym, last fall we released a sneak peek at ChaLEAN Extreme to people who were subscribed. Then at holiday time, we shipped a bonus DVD with Tony and his helpers. But if you're a subscriber this May, not only will you get Tony's personal "Recovery 4 Results" routine, but the best bonus ever is about to show up in the mail.
We are releasing the entire Plyometric Cardio Circuit (42 minutes) from the Shaun T's new Insanity series along with the May issue of One on One!
Not a sneak peak... an entire workout. But if you're wondering what kind of workout would be called "Insanity", here is a sneak peek of this program that will light up the fitness world in 2009:
Insanity is the most intense and thorough cardio-intensive program ever set to DVD. We expect it to launch in summer 2009 with a base Configuration of 10 workouts, including:
1. Dig Deeper/Fit Test
2. Plyometric Cardio Circuit
3. Cardio Power & Resistance
4. Cardio Recovery/Max Recovery
5. Pure Cardio/Cardio Abs
6. Cardio Abs
7. Core Cardio & Balance
8. Max Interval Circuit
9. Max Interval Plyo
10. Max Cardio Conditioning/Cardio Abs
Plus it will include the Insanity Fitness guide (which will be brief... we want you moving, not reading!), the Elite Nutrition guide and Wall calendar.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
I Thought I'd Never See This
My sister Robin is in town with her family for spring break, and her 10 year old son Josef is notorious for picky eating, to the extreme. I'm talking about living on Lucky Charms, white bread, juice, pasta with tomato sauce (as long as there are no lumps), and sometimes a piece of cheese. I can't blame him, because I was the same way.
Today I went to the Shakeology website for some Greenberry recipe ideas to see if we could get him to consume something healthy, and decided to go with the "Sunrise". (I also added a raw egg and banana in there. I'm like the Iron Chef of shakes)
It was like one of those "Hey Mikey, he likes it" moments. Instead of looking at the green drink and saying "no way", Josef took a sip, smiled with what teeth he has, and kept sucking on that straw. My sister was almost teary to see him get real nutrition for a change. My daughter Ava saw his reaction and had to have her own. Feeding the kids a good lunch was NEVER this easy!
Shakeology continues to amaze me. The health benefits, the success stories, and the sheer enthusiasm people have for something that delivers all this nutrition in a package that tastes this good seems to have struck a chord. Even Chalene Johnson went off on the product in her blog the other day. Even vegetarian Tony Horton, who has professed a devotion to the health-junky's Kombucha (I can't even get this stuff up to my lips) wouldn't let the production team leave the house the other day unless they left behind the two bags of Shakeology they brought with them during a recent One-On-One shoot.
The revolution continues to gain momentum, fueled by the healthiest meal of the day!
Today I went to the Shakeology website for some Greenberry recipe ideas to see if we could get him to consume something healthy, and decided to go with the "Sunrise". (I also added a raw egg and banana in there. I'm like the Iron Chef of shakes)
It was like one of those "Hey Mikey, he likes it" moments. Instead of looking at the green drink and saying "no way", Josef took a sip, smiled with what teeth he has, and kept sucking on that straw. My sister was almost teary to see him get real nutrition for a change. My daughter Ava saw his reaction and had to have her own. Feeding the kids a good lunch was NEVER this easy!Shakeology continues to amaze me. The health benefits, the success stories, and the sheer enthusiasm people have for something that delivers all this nutrition in a package that tastes this good seems to have struck a chord. Even Chalene Johnson went off on the product in her blog the other day. Even vegetarian Tony Horton, who has professed a devotion to the health-junky's Kombucha (I can't even get this stuff up to my lips) wouldn't let the production team leave the house the other day unless they left behind the two bags of Shakeology they brought with them during a recent One-On-One shoot.
The revolution continues to gain momentum, fueled by the healthiest meal of the day!
Friday, April 03, 2009
Heads Up In Atlanta!
In Sunday night's baseball season opener I am going to be torn between two teams: My hometown Phillies and the Atlanta Braves.
On one hand I'll be cheering the World Champs on to another great season, but on the other hand, I will want to see Atlanta's Matt Diaz light the place up because now he and I have something in common.
Here's what I read in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today about Atlanta's fielder Matt Diaz who lost 30 pounds in the off season... Guess how:
On one hand I'll be cheering the World Champs on to another great season, but on the other hand, I will want to see Atlanta's Matt Diaz light the place up because now he and I have something in common.
Here's what I read in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today about Atlanta's fielder Matt Diaz who lost 30 pounds in the off season... Guess how:
Braves Q&A with Matt Diaz
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Do you want to know what Brave fell for an infomercial? Read on about Matt Diaz...
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Do you want to know what Brave fell for an infomercial? Read on about Matt Diaz...
Q. How did you lose 30 pounds this offseason?
A. I hate to admit it, but I did an infomercial. … My wife ordered P90X. I saw her doing her leg workout, and it was similar to stuff I did in rehab. I thought that’d be a good way to ease my way back into weightlifting. After a week you realize there’s no easing into that workout.
Q. You watch videos as you work out?
A. They send you 12 videos with 12 different workouts and a diet plan. If you want it, it gives you recipes for every meal, six meals a day …. We moved our kids upstairs out of the nursery and changed the nursery into a P90X room. We got a pull-up bar and dumbbells. … I’d do a P90X workout with my wife in the morning, a baseball workout in the afternoon and go jogging with my wife in the evening while dinner was crock-potting.
Beachbody Coaches should love it when people say "I hate to admit it" about doing our videos. That just shows you how timely the decision is to become a distributor of our programs. Most people are still programmed to think that schlepping to the gym or paying a personal trainer is the only "respectable" way to get in shape.
But as we add success story after success story and star upon star to our customer list, the tipping point is approaching, and the $18 Billion gym business will shift as 200 million overweight Americans realize they can get fast results right at home with the support of a community that is focused on people helping people get real results!
Thanks for being a part of the solution! Let's end the trend now Atlanta!
Q. You watch videos as you work out?
A. They send you 12 videos with 12 different workouts and a diet plan. If you want it, it gives you recipes for every meal, six meals a day …. We moved our kids upstairs out of the nursery and changed the nursery into a P90X room. We got a pull-up bar and dumbbells. … I’d do a P90X workout with my wife in the morning, a baseball workout in the afternoon and go jogging with my wife in the evening while dinner was crock-potting.
Beachbody Coaches should love it when people say "I hate to admit it" about doing our videos. That just shows you how timely the decision is to become a distributor of our programs. Most people are still programmed to think that schlepping to the gym or paying a personal trainer is the only "respectable" way to get in shape.
But as we add success story after success story and star upon star to our customer list, the tipping point is approaching, and the $18 Billion gym business will shift as 200 million overweight Americans realize they can get fast results right at home with the support of a community that is focused on people helping people get real results!
Thanks for being a part of the solution! Let's end the trend now Atlanta!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Shakeology and the "Powerful Rejuvenator"
If you've ever wandered the aisles of a vitamin store, you've probably been as perplexed as I have been about just how many of these little bottles am I supposed to use each day to have energy, great health, etc. etc?
That's what's great about Shakeology... A whole lot of those supplements exist in their high quality, whole food form, in a high-protein chocolate or berry shake.
We talk a lot about how Shakeology gives you energy, but it's not caffeine and sugar energy like Red-Bull type energy drinks. I think one of the Shakeology ingredients which is responsible for that quality energy is Ashwagandha, also known as Rasayana which means "Powerful Rejuvenator" in Ayurvedic. According to some reading I've done, it has been used for thousands of years to treat inflammation, fevers, and to protect against infection and illness in India and Africa.
When it comes to energy, the adrenal gland can make or break you. Supporting the adrenals is important especially when you are active. On a site called Tattva's, which sells this herb in an isolated capsule, here's what they say about this interesting Shakeology ingredient, and how it can improve the performance of the adrenals especially in support of your exercise routine:
It has rejuvenative properties that produce energy, which in turn helps the body to calm down and sleep. Thus it helps the body address a stress-related condition rather than masking it with sedatives. Recent research points out that Ashwagandha may be the best herb to take to maintain normal adrenal levels. Caffeine, nicotine, processed foods and processed sugar all take their toll on the adrenal glands and leave the victim fatigued, depressed and often bewildered as to what to do with themselves. One of the special properties of Ashwagandha is that it will enhance Ojas. In Sanskrit, Ojas literally means "vigor" and according to Ayurvedic theory, is the most subtle, refined level of the physical body and, in fact, is its essential energy. Ojas is the sap of one's life energy and is the end result of healthy food which is properly digested. It is responsible for a healthy immune system, reproductive processes, physical strength, lustrous complexion, clarity of mind and sense of well-being. It allows consciousness to flow within the body. With decreased ojas, we are less in touch with ourselves and more prone to weakness, fatigue and to experiencing a sense of disharmony. Ojas depletion can be caused by stress. Ashwagandha is known to relieve the body from these stress-related weaknesses by specializing in the building of ojas and rejuvenating the body, thus maintaining a healthy balance of physical energies. Ashwagandha can also be a natural training aid and its use is becoming popular in sports and athletics. When you train hard, you walk a very fine line between overtraining and training just enough. Even in perfect circumstances, training by itself is a stress on the body. To get the maximum performance from your muscles, you require just the right amount of training coupled with appropriate rest and recovery periods. Overtraining means too much cortisol which leads to the consumption of muscle protein by the body and thus performance suffers. Endurance athletes who train heavily, such as long-distance runners and cyclists, are very prone to infections, as excess cortisol produced in response to the heavy training load suppresses the immune system. It can also lead to muscle and tendon tears because the muscles are weakened due to protein loss under the influence of cortisol.
That's what I love about this shake! Shakeology gives me the confidence of knowing I am getting the best of the best, in one fantastic shake each day, but instead of opening up 70 bottles of pills and powders to get these ingredients, I open up one cool looking bag. Is it lunch time yet?
It has rejuvenative properties that produce energy, which in turn helps the body to calm down and sleep. Thus it helps the body address a stress-related condition rather than masking it with sedatives. Recent research points out that Ashwagandha may be the best herb to take to maintain normal adrenal levels. Caffeine, nicotine, processed foods and processed sugar all take their toll on the adrenal glands and leave the victim fatigued, depressed and often bewildered as to what to do with themselves. One of the special properties of Ashwagandha is that it will enhance Ojas. In Sanskrit, Ojas literally means "vigor" and according to Ayurvedic theory, is the most subtle, refined level of the physical body and, in fact, is its essential energy. Ojas is the sap of one's life energy and is the end result of healthy food which is properly digested. It is responsible for a healthy immune system, reproductive processes, physical strength, lustrous complexion, clarity of mind and sense of well-being. It allows consciousness to flow within the body. With decreased ojas, we are less in touch with ourselves and more prone to weakness, fatigue and to experiencing a sense of disharmony. Ojas depletion can be caused by stress. Ashwagandha is known to relieve the body from these stress-related weaknesses by specializing in the building of ojas and rejuvenating the body, thus maintaining a healthy balance of physical energies. Ashwagandha can also be a natural training aid and its use is becoming popular in sports and athletics. When you train hard, you walk a very fine line between overtraining and training just enough. Even in perfect circumstances, training by itself is a stress on the body. To get the maximum performance from your muscles, you require just the right amount of training coupled with appropriate rest and recovery periods. Overtraining means too much cortisol which leads to the consumption of muscle protein by the body and thus performance suffers. Endurance athletes who train heavily, such as long-distance runners and cyclists, are very prone to infections, as excess cortisol produced in response to the heavy training load suppresses the immune system. It can also lead to muscle and tendon tears because the muscles are weakened due to protein loss under the influence of cortisol.
That's what I love about this shake! Shakeology gives me the confidence of knowing I am getting the best of the best, in one fantastic shake each day, but instead of opening up 70 bottles of pills and powders to get these ingredients, I open up one cool looking bag. Is it lunch time yet?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Happy 18,000th
18,078 coaches to be specific. That's where we are as of yesterday!
The momentum out of the Summit has been strong, built both by people invigorated to achieve their "Extreme Dream" plus the launch of Shakeology.
Hawaii alone has amazing momentum, perhaps thanks to the hard work of Fran Patoskie's team ("ilovetosweat") plus the excitement of Hawaiian hero Dallas Carter's $250,000 victory in the Million Dollar Body Game. I've heard that even Hawaii's Governor, Linda Lingle, is going to officially recognize Dallas and his healthy transformation in front of the State Senate!
But we're seeing enthusiasm and growth throughout the organization, especially now that the 2008 Top Coaches are back at it.
I also wouldn't be surprised if the "Shakeology Math" is helping. Sure, the Shake as the healthiest meal of the day is worth every penny at $4 a serving retail... beats a Big Mac right? And for people like me who intend to take the Shake every day, becoming a coach can save you around $15 a month. ($120 Shakeology retail minus $30 coach discount plus 14.95 monthly coach fee = $105... not including the bonuses or retail commissions you earn when someone tries the shake and buys or joins because of you!)
Whatever the reason for the ramp in growth, this is our year. Thanks for keeping the momentum going coaches!
20,000 coaches by May!
The momentum out of the Summit has been strong, built both by people invigorated to achieve their "Extreme Dream" plus the launch of Shakeology.
Hawaii alone has amazing momentum, perhaps thanks to the hard work of Fran Patoskie's team ("ilovetosweat") plus the excitement of Hawaiian hero Dallas Carter's $250,000 victory in the Million Dollar Body Game. I've heard that even Hawaii's Governor, Linda Lingle, is going to officially recognize Dallas and his healthy transformation in front of the State Senate!
But we're seeing enthusiasm and growth throughout the organization, especially now that the 2008 Top Coaches are back at it.
I also wouldn't be surprised if the "Shakeology Math" is helping. Sure, the Shake as the healthiest meal of the day is worth every penny at $4 a serving retail... beats a Big Mac right? And for people like me who intend to take the Shake every day, becoming a coach can save you around $15 a month. ($120 Shakeology retail minus $30 coach discount plus 14.95 monthly coach fee = $105... not including the bonuses or retail commissions you earn when someone tries the shake and buys or joins because of you!)Whatever the reason for the ramp in growth, this is our year. Thanks for keeping the momentum going coaches!
20,000 coaches by May!
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