In Jan 2009, I made a life decision to improve my health and fitness because my health had declined since retiring from the military and I was on the verge of becoming a type 2 diabetic. I was warned by my family doctor that I had to exercise and eat better or be put on diabetes medication. This was a turning point for me.
I decided to order a in-home workout program called P90X, but during my research and subsequent failure of the “fit test” I decided to start with the Power 90 (P90) boot camp workout. I set a goal in Jan 2009 to lose 30 pounds. Fortunately, I was able to lose 41 pounds from Jan – Oct 2009 using 3 Beachbody programs including Power 90, Power 90 Master Series, and finally P90X. I was able to keep that weight off since Oct 09 until just recently when I let my priorities go haywire. I fell off my program of exercise and nutrition and have declined in my health and gained back 8 pounds of body fat! Yikes!
During this time, I decided to become a Beachbody Coach. My reason at the time was to be able to get the 25% discount on the products offered by the company. I had no real interest in building the business; I just wanted to save money. However, I told my brother about signing up as a coach and he was excited and said he had thought about becoming a coach also, so he decided to let me sponsor him as a member of my team. Once he signed up, I signed my wife up and became what we call an Emerald Coach in the business plan.
Becoming an Emerald coach is the first step to being successful in the Coaching business. The reason is because Beachbody has a unique marketing business model where they give Coaches paying customers once you qualify as an Emerald coach. That is, the company gives you new paying customers every week. Whenever these customers purchase anything in the future from the company, you get a commission. It’s just that simple. I have about 385 customers at this time. The commissions I get from these customers have allowed me to pay off both of my 2010 vehicles, one in 10 months and the other in 14 months. Both vehicles were financed with no money down from the dealers. We have also paid for several vacations in the past 2 years that cost us very little. As an example, my wife and I went on a SCUBA diving trip in the Bahamas in May 2011 and only had to pay for the diving. Everything else was paid with profits we made from our Beachbody business. Even better, two of the trips we have taken are almost totally tax deductable so my total tax liability is greatly reduced. That’s a secret the wealthy have been hiding from the rest of us!
Don’t get me wrong, I have built my business up to what is called a Diamond level business. I get additional bonuses from what the coaches on my team produce. I average anywhere from $400 to $1200 dollars per month doing my business part-time. Not bad for a $39.95 initial investment. That may not seem like much, but it really comes in handy and gives me the freedom to buy things I want, when I want them. I don’t really need much, but it’s good to know I have the extra money if I need it. I do, however, work my business and treat it like a business, not a hobby. Too many people start a Beachbody coaching business and wait around for something to happen. The problem with that strategy is that when you are President and CEO of your own business, if you do nothing, you make nothing. It’s the same as if you invested $500 thousand dollars into a franchise and never showed up for the training or work. You will quickly be out of business and a half-million poorer if you don’t take action. You get out of your Beachbody Coaching business exactly what you put into it.
Fortunately, I’m in an established career and make a fair sum of money, so money doesn’t need to be my primary focus for my business. I want to help others be successful and help them lose weight and get fit and healthy. If they want to make some extra money, I can help them do that also. One of the main reasons I joined the military was to serve others. Being a Beachbody Coach is a natural extension of that desire to serve. I am also competitive by nature and want to achieve what others have done in the business. However, lately I have found myself trying to “sell” our products and the business opportunity. In my effort to achieve “success” in the business, I have lost track of what is really important to me.
My own health and fitness MUST come first. Then second, I want to help others lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. Then, if they want to find out about the business opportunity and learn how to make some extra money, great. If not, that is great too. Not everyone can understand how, or is willing to do the work necessary to build personal wealth. The Coaching opportunity might not be what they want to do. Fortunately, there is still unlimited opportunity in our society for industrious people to make extra money.
I will say one thing though, whatever you do, make sure you are working for yourself instead of someone else. Working for others even part time is building their wealth on the back of your labor. Jim Rohn said it is better to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. This is the way to build a solid financial future, by working for you. But it will take commitment and effort on your part, or nothing will happen. If you’re not willing to work as hard for yourself as you do on your job, then you will probably waste your time and money. Nothing worth having will come without effort. So, whatever you decide to do, make sure you are willing to commit to it and stick with it for the long term. Facebook or Microsoft opportunities only come around rarely. I wouldn’t expect that kind of fortune to fall in your lap, though it is possible.
I am making a new commitment to myself starting today. I will recommit myself to improving my health and overall fitness by following a program I already know will work for me. I will start a new round of P90 and redo each program I completed in the past over the next 12 months. I will learn all I can about proper nutrition and be more disciplined about what I eat on a daily basis. I will enter the Beachbody $100,000 Challenge and work to transform my body and have a chance to win all the cash! I will log my workouts in the WOWY Super Gym for a chance to win $500 each day I workout.
And finally, I will help anyone who wants to improve their health and fitness. If you are interested in joining me on my journey, maybe we can go on it together. Just send me a message and we can start whenever you are ready. Let’s get started.
To your health and fitness,
JW
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