The Obvious Choice

How To Be More Efficient By Knowing What to Automate and Delegate (Online Trainer Show #26)

The gang’s “mama bird” – Amber – isn’t on the podcast today. Speaking of birds, Ren has a story about a baby bird he saw in a Disney+ nature documentary. Carolina needs to see a doctor about her toe, and Jonathan is hogging all the multicultural family members for himself. However, what are some common errors that personal trainers make? In this episode, the gang talks about automation and delegation. This process necessarily means setting your ego aside to make your program more efficient. Making assumptions about what clients want from you can lead to constraining yourself when you should be delegating. Listen now to find out how to free yourself by starting the process of automating and delegating!

In This Episode:

• Ren’s Disney character voices [00:52]
• Jonathan’s big news from the Personal Trainer Development Center company camp [08:44]
• It’s a hard lesson to learn, but you may not be as important as you think you are [20:40]
• Are you putting an unnecessary constraint on yourself? [22:00]
• Other ways to be involved with your program…without the constraints [27:14]
• The messaging, tone, and voice can continue with the right people [29:50]
• What to do before you delegate [31:49]

 

“That’s number one: disconnect from your ego for a minute when you’re talking about delegation and automation. Do people actually need to talk to you? With a good structure, they don’t.” – Jonathan Goodman

 

You’re Not as Important as You Think You Are (…sorry) Your ego will tell you that everyone needs to have direct contact with you, but that’s just not true. You can still be involved with your program, but to scale. Jonathan has ways to step back and let your program run without you being there.   Keep Your Essential Message, Voice, and Tone Everyone will have their own way of sharing your message. Before you start delegating, find your own standard operating procedure, your own guidelines. How do you talk about the things you want to tell people?   It’s All About Communication When you delegate to others, they need to know exactly what you expect from them. For that, you need to know what you’re all about. In this episode, you’ll learn how and what to prepare before you even get started automating and delegating your program to get the best results.  

SPONSORS

 

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

The Secret to Scaling Your Online Business Beyond 10 clients (Online Trainer Show #25)

Is Ren at the point where he has more confidence than skill in podcasting? What happened on Carolina’s camping trip that felt like a National Geographic special? And has Jonathan ever seen a moose pee? After sharing their favorite nature stories, the gang discusses how to keep up your momentum when scaling up your online trainer business. One big key: getting a prospect’s payment on the phone versus sending a link to pay online. Carolina shares how she stops hearing the “no”s and gets more “yes”s. Are you digging deep into your conversations with your clients? Does that feel uncomfortable for you? Listen now to hear the secrets to gaining confidence so that you can become a more successful online trainer.

In This Episode:

• Ren has lighting problems, which he blames on a new camera [00:20]
• Catching up with Carolina, who survived her camping trip [6:09]
• What’s in the box??? [11:20]
• Why 5 is the magic number for getting clients on your platform [18:58]
• How the Online Trainer Academy platform system is different (and better) [20:15]
• Jonathan’s 1 key to scaling beyond 5-10 clients [25:29]
• Ren’s key to building your confidence…in terms trainers can understand [26:43]
• The importance of radical honesty in conversations with your clients [31:53]
• Carolina shares why everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to honesty in conversations [33:02]

“The golden rule of online training is, you get that payment on the phone right away.” – Jonathan Goodman

 

Build Your Conversion Process Keep up your momentum by having the confidence to ask for your prospect’s payment on the phone. This one step can help you keep up your momentum without losing clients to a million other distractions. Have the confidence to take money from people who want to pay you for the things you are good at!   Step Into Your Power As a Trainer Lack of confidence leads too many trainers to be underpaid and overworked. Don’t let that happen to you!     Have Those Uncomfortable Conversations Don’t be afraid to dig deep into conversations with your clients. Why haven’t they been successful with trainers and programs in the past? Learn to develop the confidence to ask the hard questions, and you’ll find yourself creating a deeper connection with your clients—and greater success as a trainer.

 

REN’S GIFT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IpBpz1VtW6COVF9AhSBmlYC3V32YpNyS/view?usp=sharing

 

SPONSORS

 

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

How Firefighter Alex Harriman Made $6,578 Online Training Between Shifts (Online Trainer Show #24)

Is it time to level up your online trainer skills? If you want to make more money, then the answer is yes! Alex Harriman started online training as a side gig between shifts as a fulltime firefighter. After the birth of his son in 2017, his priorities changed—which meant his online training business had to change, as well. In this episode, Jonathan talks with Alex about how the Online Trainer Academy Level 2 helped him learn how to focus his energy and prioritize his time. How did this small shift lead to major results and more money for Alex? Learn why Alex recommends OTA Level 2, and how it can help you, too, make more money while freeing up more of your time!

 

In This Episode

• How Alex uses the Online Trainer Academy tactics to make more money [1:05]
• The biggest mistake Alex made when starting as an online trainer [6:46]
• What Alex learned about time management skills from OTA Level 2 [10:50]
• The most important thing you have to do as an online trainer [14:34]
• The 4 weekly goals Alex creates each month [18:46]
• How to focus on the things that are getting you results [23:10]
• One of the biggest points Alex took away from OTA Level 2 [27:50]

 

“When you sit down, you should know what you want to accomplish. The better you can plan for that, the more efficient you are.” - Jonathan Goodman

 

You Can Still Love Training While Shifting Your Priorities Major life events—such as having a baby—don’t have to mean the end of doing what you love. Learn how to shift your focus and pivot your business in order to maximize your skillset and free time. Time Management is a Skill It’s all about planning. The OTA Level 2 program can help you figure out a schedule that works for you, including setting aside blocks of time to focus on specific areas of your business. Focus better, work smarter, and you’ll make more money in less time. Maximize Pockets of Time When you do have free time, how are you spending it? Are you focused and ready to work? In this episode, Jonathan and Alex talk about what they do to prepare for those moments that require them to do the work that they may not want to do.

 

SPONSORS

Ready to scale up your online fitness business? Apply for Online Trainer Academy Level 2 here - https://www.theptdc.com/online-trainer-academy-certification-level-2

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

How To Use Money To Buy A Happier Life (Online Trainer Show #23)

 

Today’s episode is something a little bit different. While Jonathan is away, OTS shares a recording he made of his favorite essay on money. Why is this important? Making money can often cost you in terms of stress and overall well-being. Yet, you need money to live. In this essay, Jonathan shares some hard truths about what money means. Will more of it really make you that much happier? He breaks down the definitions of money vs wealth so you can better understand your life’s principles. Finally, he shares some honest advice about living a life of joy and meaning. This is a special episode that shouldn’t be missed.

 

In This Episode:

• Why money is a taboo subject in our society [0:33)]
• What is money good for – and what isn’t it good for? [1:07]
• The Notorious B.I.G. famously said, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems,” and research suggests he wasn’t wrong [2:01]
• Why you should focus on doing work that’s important and energizing [3:57]
• How to improve your life with the money that you have [6:04]
• Do you suffer from “hedonic adaptation?” [7:35]
• Advice for increasing the length and quality of your life [9:44]

 

“Dysfunctional attitudes toward money—from overspending to false economies and scarcity thinking—don’t just hurt business growth. They detract from happiness.”

- Jonathan Goodman

 

Money Can’t Buy Happiness Studies show that past a certain threshold, money doesn’t make you that much happier. Why? Consider what $10,000 means to a rich person versus what it means to a poor person. Then consider the tradeoff of working harder to make more money versus learning to be happy with the money you already have.   Money is Meant to Be Used You wouldn’t buy a hammer and never use it, right? Consider money as a tool. Stop comparing yourself to others and figure out your life’s guiding principles. Then spend money there.

 

Remove Yourself From the “Hedonistic Treadmill” Jonathan not only shares the 5 Principles of Joy, but he explains how he applies them to his own life. In this way, he doesn’t feel the need to make more money. He’s happy with the money he has because he’s not always thinking about what’s next.

 

SPONSORS

 

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

How To Optimize Your Process To Add Value and Increase Client Retention (Online Trainer Show #22)

Jonathan, Ren, and Carolina aren’t sure what “optimization” even is; but they know you need it for your business. In this episode, they’ll define “optimization,” and discuss why it can be so effective. With a few simple tips, you can learn to anticipate your clients’ needs and become proactive in your business’s client retention. Knowing where your client may be emotionally on their journey is a great way to optimize your business with a few simple but well-timed communications. Avoid frustrated clients asking for their money back because they made a typo! Also in this episode: Ren has something to say about people being polite in online social groups.

 

In This Episode:

• What really chaps Ren’s hide? [0:17]
• The 1 trick Carolina found for keeping mosquitoes at bay [8:31]
• What is optimization and how does it add value? [11:15]
• Ways to get started with optimizing your business [13:45]
• Keeping new sign-ups feeling positive about the process [25:37]

 

“Be smart, be professional - but make it simple.” - Carolina Belmares

 

Why you need to optimize your business You can make more money with very little time and effort. Optimizing your business means adding value for your clients, whether that’s anticipating their needs or effective communication.   Ways to optimize Let your clients know how to get in touch, and with whom, if there is a problem. Be specific and proactive in your communications. Learn what a typical client’s emotional cycle looks like so you can anticipate their needs.   Optimization should be invisible Good service for your clients should flow so smoothly that they don’t even realize it’s happening. Take preventive action. You won’t know it’s working because you’re dealing with problems before they arise.  

SPONSORS

 

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

How To Help Clients Follow Through For Big Results (Online Trainer Show #21)

 

We’ve all had the challenge of getting clients to follow-through. In this episode—which will blow your mind!—the team invites Amber in to discuss how to keep your clients going. Is it your fault? What can you do differently? Also, Jonathan discusses a terrible experience he had as a guest on another podcast, and how that was an example of how not to treat people. Don’t miss it!

 

In This Episode:

• The Online Trainer Show is now the #1 fitness podcast in Romania! [0:50]
• What if your clients stop responding, or stop doing their workouts? [14:57]
• Does Jonathan have to outsource his emotions? [16:26]
• Why you should collaborate with your clients [18:37]
• Learning to be creative and flexible with your clients’ needs [21:03]
• The age-old pineapple-on-pizza debate [24:22]

 

“Our jobs as coaches is to be a port in the storm of information. We facilitate - not dictate.” – Amber Reynolds

 

Feeling like you are failing as a trainer

When clients fail to follow through, is it the trainer’s fault? Amber thinks so, and she’ll share what you should do upfront in order to manage your client’s expectations.

 

It’s what your clients pay you for

Remember that what you know and live all day every day is not necessarily what your clients come in knowing. They are paying you for that knowledge. Don’t take what you know for granted.

 

The “3-week tantrum” and what to do about it

Know that you will have to troubleshoot. Be prepared for the sudden drop in motivation at the 3-week mark. Carolina shares her “stacked log” theory and how you can use it to motivate clients.

 

Resources:

If you have a client who isn't responding to messages, try sending this:

Hey, (Client Name),

I noticed that you haven’t been responding to my messages. No problem. My job isn’t to tell you what to do. Instead, it’s to help guide you.

Can you tell me, on a scale of 1-10, how committed you feel right now to achieving the goal of X that we established a short while ago? Know that there’s no right or wrong answer. You don’t need to impress me or make me feel good. I just want to get a handle on how you feel right now, cool?

 

Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness Book: https://amzn.to/32GnYs4

 

Get all shows and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts at www.onlinetrainer.com/podcast

 

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd 

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

Convert More Clients By Understanding These Two Things (Online Trainer Show #20)

 

Have you ever been on a sales call and the client bursts out in tears? Today, Carolina, Ren, and Jonathan dive deep into why emotions play such a big role in any business and why you should understand what your client wants to change about themselves before you start working with them. They also talk about the difference between features and benefits and how they convey value for your business. 

 

Make sure to send your fan art of Jonathan as a purple monkey loading the dishwasher and a methed out gator! Here is the email address to send it: [email protected]

 

In This Episode:

• Ren’s experience as Harry the Hound! [0:01]
• Jonathan’s Chipotle disaster [3:21]
• Online Trainer Coaching is coming soon! [18:08]
• In person, you have restrictions; online, you don’t have to [25:06]
• How an outline gives your clients a sense of certainty [33:42]

 

“Emotion sells - logic justifies.” – Jonathan Goodman 

 

Emotion Vs. Logic

A feature is logical, a benefit is emotional. In order to grab someone’s attention, you have to use emotional appeal and if you do it correctly, clients don’t actually care about your product or service. 

 

Involving More Services Could Decrease Value

People want to do as little as possible as quickly as they can in order to better themselves. If you require more from them, they may second guess signing up. Keep it simple and easy. 

 

Sales is Curiosity

Get to know your clients so that you can work closer with them and make it easier for them. Being curious and asking questions will help get past the fluff and eventually bring out the true answers. 

 

Get all shows and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts at www.onlinetrainer.com/podcast

 

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd 

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

The Secret to High Quality Online Assessments (Online Trainer Show #19)

How can you accurately tell if your clients have made any progress as they work with you? How do you assess what program to do in the first place? Is it even possible for online trainers? Jonathan, Carolina, and Ren talk about the secret to high-quality online assessments and how to do them without fancy gym equipment! They also clear common misconceptions that you might have about the topic.

Make sure to send your fan art of Jonathan as a purple monkey loading the dishwasher! Here is the email address to send it: [email protected]

 

In This Episode:

• The importance of doing a little research before sending a message [01:08]
• The benefits of being an online trainer – bringing your work on your travels. [9:08]
• Why are mental assessments better than others? [17:24]
• A proactive and lateral approach. [21:29]
• The majority of tests are invalid. Use tape measures instead! [25:02]

 

“Look at assessments and always favor reliability. Choose markers of progress that you know can be reliable from step to step. You can be reasonably confident that whatever you're being reported is accurate.” – Jonathan Goodman 

 

The Reality with Assessments

It’s only a document that shows if you might hurt a person, what your clients are susceptible to, and ensuring that they get better with as little risk as possible.

 

The Best Assessment is the Mental Assessment

Figure out the “why” of your clients, how ready they are, and what you could impact in their life through your training. It’s never just getting a six-pack, but something more emotional.

 

Reliability over Validity

Most of the tests out there aren’t valid anyway. Choose assessments that can identify red flags where you might need to send them to get medical help. If there aren’t any serious issues, use reliable tests like using a tape measure to record your client’s progress!

 

Get all shows and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts at www.onlinetrainer.com/podcast

 

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

 

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd 

 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

How to Price Online Training for Max Profit and Max Clients (Online Trainer Show #18)
How much should you charge? Wasn’t that in a previous episode already? How much should you charge for max profit and max clients? Now that’s something new! Jonathan, Carolina, and Ren talk about creating business models that sell for maximum profits. They get into why you should think beyond using your business as a nine to five and how you can create wealth on top of paying the bills.

In This Episode:

• Jonathan gets a great haircut after almost losing his house [00:00]
• Taking pride in what you do [12:21]
• Setting yourself up for profit on top of a salary [17:57]
• Profit builds wealth, but don’t follow what casinos tell you to do! [30:26]
• Making more money in less time, over time! [35:15]

"That's why companies generate profit and save - because there will always be a time, no matter how good a company is, that things don't go quite right." – Jonathan Goodman 

Don’t Make Your Business a Nine to Five
Before deciding how much to charge, look at how much profit you want. You can hire yourself for a job initially, but you ultimately want to generate dividends and make multiple streams of income.

Establishing a Model that Sells
You want to build a business that generates profit. Your salary covers the bills, but it’s the profits that create wealth! Building a model (or models) would allow for that profit, depending on how much you charge.

More Money in Less Time
The grind is supposed to be only in the beginning. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for every new client.

Get all shows and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts at www.onlinetrainer.com/podcast

SPONSORS
Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

The Best Apps and Software to Manage Your Online Training Business (Online Trainer Show #17)
After a discussion about Hamilton and the biggest birthday bash of the century, Jonathan, Carolina, and Ren talk about their favorite apps and software to use in their online training business. There’s no need to overthink when finding what tool to use. All of these are good enough for what you need, so make sure to keep in mind what you want to deliver and pick accordingly.

In This Episode:

• Carolina’s big birthday bash and the Jedi mayor taking out the guesswork [07:57]
• Trainerize and ProCoach – user-friendly and habit-building [13:09]
• Canva and Facebook – edit photos and build your brand with ease! [19:26]
• Get your notebooks ready for Jonathan’s recommendations [24:04]
• Bruce Wayne’s apps have to match his Tesla! [37:28]

"One easy way to stick out answering questions in Facebook groups - shoot a video answering the question - you'll stick out like gold in a bucket full of lead. Answering questions is your branding." – Ren Jones 

Trainerize (Price varies) - https://www.trainerize.com/
It’s very easy to set up and user-friendly. You can add videos from YouTube or your videos if you have your own recordings. The visual component is key for clients!
 
ProCoach ($99/month+) - https://www.precisionnutrition.com/procoach-software-free-trial
This is more of a longer approach (a year-long program) as this gives daily lessons. Each day sets behavioral components to build habits that your clients need to keep up with. 
 
Canva (Free version available) - https://www.canva.com/ 
It’s the poor man’s Photoshop. Make photos magical without the expertise of a graphic designer! You can generate testimonials from your clients using their templates.
 
Facebook (Free) - https://www.facebook.com/ 
Don’t underestimate the business opportunities here! Ren got a job because people saw his content. You can build your brand by answering questions on fitness groups. 
 
Tripit ($50/year) - https://www.tripit.com/web/download
Forward all your reservations through this app! Hotels, flights, Airbnb, including necessary addresses and numbers, are all organized for you.
 
Evernote (Free version available) - https://evernote.com/
Besides being a note-taking app, you can use it to pull articles off from the internet to save them for later.
 
LastPass (free version available) - https://www.lastpass.com/
Never go through the nightmare of remembering your complicated passwords. Additionally, you can let other people use them without them seeing it! 
 
Hubdoc ($20/month) - https://www.hubdoc.com/
Automatically integrate all your credit cards, statements into a central filing system and take photos of receipts for your bookkeeper!
 
Skitch (Free option available) - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skitch-snap-mark-up-share/id425955336?mt=12
A simple app on your phone that allows you to crop and annotate pictures quickly!
 
TunnelBear ($9.99/month) - https://www.tunnelbear.com/
This app is crucial for protecting your information when you use public networks. It’s a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that cloaks your IP address, so you don’t get hacked. 
 
SelfControl (Free) - https://selfcontrolapp.com/
A productivity tool keeps you away from procrastination. You can set a timer to block you from apps and websites, then restart your system to get access again after working!
 
Backblaze ($6/month) - https://www.backblaze.com/
Save your data on this cloud software to give you peace of mind from data loss. Don’t let your precious photos and irreplaceable work files get lost forever!

Get all shows and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts at www.onlinetrainer.com/podcast

SPONSORS
Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC