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Our mission is to empower individuals who wish to lose weight and/or improve their health with knowledge and internal, sustainable motivation to transform into the person they deserve to be. We do this by providing articles, tools, products, and services from industry leaders that share easy to understand information and guidance. Our core values are honesty and integrity so that we may offer value by giving our customers a comfortable and convenient place to find everything needed to achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals.
Lose Fat, Not Faith e-Zine Volume II Issue 8 August 12, 2005
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) 1552-6151
There's a quote I've been hearing a lot of lately. Morgan Freeman quoted in a movie,
and it often mistakenly attributed to Nelson Mandela. Here it is, with proper credit:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
— Marianne Williamson
We have been living in St. Petersburg for a month now.
My daughter got to visit the beach, collect shells, and view the devastation of a shoreline
covered with dead fish due to an outbreak of red tide. She started a Montessori school; my
wife began her career in commercial real estate. I traveled to Texas to train Joe Vitale
in person after coaching him online for months as he lost 70 pounds of fat. I will be traveling
to Iowa next week to train another client. This weekend, my wife and I are visiting Bal Harbor,
an island near Miami, to attend a workshop hosted by my business coach, Jeffery Combs.
I used to call a schedule like that, "busy." Now I consider it,
"abundant." We have been blessed to find a new home, new friends, to reconnect with family (my
parents live in St. Petersburg, and Doreen's parents are only a few hours away on the east coast),
and to grow our business. We have been blessed to call our occupation "fun" and to earn a living
following our passion. We have been blessed to connect with generous, loving, compassionate
individuals. Every friendship that I form is valued and appreciated, from the client who I spend a few days with onsite or
at a seminar to the kind voice on the phone or words in the e-mail when you call me or write
with your questions and feedback.
Most of all, however, I want to give thanks to you. It
is your generous feedback that has helped us spread the word about losing fat, not faith through
the positive reviews posted at Amazon.com. It is the online communities you build and actively
participate in that allow us to connect with friends, mentors, customers, and partners alike.
It is your comments and suggestions that help us grow the site, produce better products,
and improve our level of service.
Doreen and I thank you above all for your willingness to
succeed. It's your success stories that give us the passion and desire to improve every day.
No entrepreneur will tell you that building a business is easy, but it certainly can be fun. It's your e-mails,
phone calls, and the triumphs you share online that give us our greatest rewards. It's the
excitement I hear in your voice when you tell me you broke a personal record during your last
cardio session. It's the exclamation points in your e-mail when you share how you were inspired
to write and submit an article to your favorite magazine, and found out it was published.
Sometimes our customers are surprised when they hear my voice
on the phone after I call them to make sure they received their book or CD set or because
they requested an assessment. Don't be surprised, because you are what Natural Physiques™
is all about. Sometimes the Internet may seem impersonal — you're not quite sure who
might really be behind the flashing headlines and paragraphs of text in the articles
and tools you visit online. As I mentioned in my my blog the other
day, someone asked me if I was doing this for money or out of a sincere desire to help people
lose weight. My answer was simple: yes. I am doing this to make money helping people succeed
at living healthy, empowered lives.
We believe in you, and value your opinion. If you ever have
a question, a comment, a suggestion, or feel there is some way we can improve our service to
you, please get in contact with us. Every e-mail that you send is read, and every phone call you
place to us will be returned. So, from our heart to yours as we move from summer into fall,
Thank You!
Lose Fat, Not Faith receives 5 stars! Independent reviews at Amazon.com give
Lose Fat, Not Faith: A Transformation Guide a huge "thumbs up." The
book has been called "AWESOME," "highly recommended," "inspirational," "a must buy book," and a "transformation
guide at its best." If you haven't yet picked up your copy, there is no better time than now! You
can download it or order the paperback from our site and
receive bonus gifts, or request it through your local bookstore. The book is 300 pages. The ISBN
is 0-97690729-2-5.
Don't forget to pick up the Lose Fat, Not Faith Audio Program, which
has also received 5-star reviews. "I listen to Jeremy's CDs all the time when I am working out or when I am driving and I have found them to be a major help in filling my head with positive messages and helpful hints." "Wow, Jeremy hits it out of the ballpark with this one." "Jeremy provides the missing link!" and
"Jeremy is THE motivator" are just a few of the phrases customers have shared after purchasing this inspirational 5-CD set.
Imagine being able to tap into the power of your mind to transform your own beliefs
Learn nutrition techniques that
have assisted people around the world to lose hundreds of pounds of fat
Connect with like-minded individuals who each have a unique
story and approach to share with you
Learn once and for all exactly how to correctly squat, stretch, and perform other physical activities
Learn
how to keep yourself inspired and motivated to follow-through and stop giving up
and of course, much more!
"I attended a Become Your Best coaching seminar recently and I am really glad I made the decision to go. I have been struggling with weight and self esteem issues for about 24 years now ( I'm 41 ) and feel that I am finally really getting a handle on the problem. I have been working with Jeremy for a couple of months making good progress with fat loss, mindset, nutrition and exercise and the seminar really helped tie things together. It was good meeting other people in different and similar situations who helped shed light on some of the issues I'm still dealing with. Physique transformation is an enlightening experience - your body doesn't lie. I feel I can now put energy I didn't have before into what I really want to do with my life. Thank you Jeremy."
— Robin Otto.
New Request: Mail us your success story and/or favorite healthy recipes for inclusion in the upcoming book, "Lose Fat, Not Faith: Recipes for Success" (all contributors who are selected will receive
a free copy of the e-Book) — you must confirm the submission (an e-mail will be sent with instructions) before we can receive it
Carbohydrates have received a lot of bad press in the past few years with the advent of
low-carb diets, but the truth is that not all carbohydrates are "bad" and, in fact, your
body needs carbs to survive.
Many people mistakenly believe that eating bacon, eggs and steak will set them on the road to a thinner body with increased energy and good health, but this is not the case.
While cutting out the simple carbohydrates found in processed foods is a healthier way of eating, neglecting the complex carbs found in fruits and vegetables can be hazardous to your health.
Fruits and vegetables are packed with enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fiber. All key ingredients to your health. They also contain antioxidants which can help your body fight disease and may even help ward off certain kinds of cancer.
Picking The Best Carbs
The old saying "you are what you eat" has a lot of truth to it.
You get the energy that your body uses as well as your nutritional needs such as vitamins, minerals and fiber from the foods you eat. Doesn't it make sense, then to eat foods that will provide your body with the best fuel possible?
You want to avoid foods that are processed. I'm sorry to say that most foods that can be
found in packaged in your supermarket like cookies, cereals and even white bread are
filled with "bad carbs." These foods are often processed to taste better and all the
nutrients are stripped out in the process. Then chemicals are added in to prolong
shelf life and add to color and taste. Your body has no use for these empty calories
so when you eat these foods it is a big drain on the body to digest them and try to
salvage any nutritional value from them.
The fruits and vegetables, on the other hand are filled with nutrients. When you eat these, your body gets lots of high energy fuel that it can use to keep up your energy levels and help your body fight off disease. In addition, the enzymes found in the fruits and veggies aid your body in the digestion process, thus freeing it up for more important activities.
So, in reality, carbohydrates are both good and bad. It is up to you to make sure you fuel your body with more of the good carbs for optimum health. A good rule of thumb when shopping is to stick to the outside aisles of the grocery store and avoid the middle. Buy as many fresh fruits and veggies as you can (organic if possible) and frequent your local farmers market to purchase locally grown produce if you are lucky enough to have one near you.
Just What Is a Carbohydrate Anyway?
During a recent discussion with my father about low carb diets, he pointed to the butter
on the table and said "is that a carbohydrate?" when I started to explain, he then pointed
to the sugar and said "well, what about that?"
Unfortunately, you cannot just point to a food and label it a "carbohydrate" as each food
is made up of protein, carbs and fats in varying degrees. Some foods are almost all carb,
and some, like meat, eggs and fish have none.
To make matters even more complicated, there are simple carbohydrates and complex
carbohydrates. For matters of nutrition, you should always pick the complex carbs
which have a low glycemic index.
The simple carbohydrates include foods like desserts, sugar, white bread, candy.
Typically, these foods have a little nutritional value. Though they may taste good,
they are basically empty calories and are digested quickly causing a high blood sugar
spike and then a quick drop off. This is the reason these foods don't really satisfy your
hunger and you get cravings for more shortly after having eaten them.
By contrast, the complex carbohydrates are extremely nutritious, these are foods like
legumes, whole grains, vegetables and most fruits. They are loaded with fiber, antioxidants,
vitamins and minerals. Calorie for calorie, complex carbohydrates will fill you up more and
leave you full longer then the simple carbohydrates.
When choosing which carbohydrates to put on your plate, you should try to load up on
whole grains, fruits and vegetables but if they are not available in plentiful enough
amounts, you should try to balance your simple carbs with your complex carbs and proteins.
Use the simple carbs as more of a side dish — maybe filling 1/4 of your plate with them and
fill up on the lean protein and complex carbs. This will have a net effect of a more
nutritious and filling meal as well as leave you satisfied longer.
Training: An Old Way to New Biceps (by Jon Benson)
For those of use with naturally wide clavicles, curling and pressing motions are usually more of an exercise for the deltoids than for the chest or biceps.
The Problem
Wide shoulders are hardly considered a 'problem' in bodybuildingbut they can be an inconvenience. I used to feel every chest and bicep movement in my anterior and medial delts (the front and side of the shoulder muscle). Over the years I devised some workarounds, with some assistance from other trainers and orthoscopic specialists, that really take the stress off the delts and puts it where it belongs. In this first example, we'll be putting the stress on the bicep.
The Solution
If you've ever read Vince Gironda's book Unleashing The Wild Physique you may remember his "barbell body drag curl" movement. I never gave this much thought until I tried it one day out of boredom. To my surprise, and Vince's credit, it is truly an outstanding movement for the biceps. It also takes the pressure off the deltoids entirely. Last and certainly not least, you'll get a killer pump from the puppies!
The Technique
You'll be using a light barbell. Don't worry — your muscles have no idea how much weight is on the bar. Men, start with the 45lb bar (or lighter if you haven't been training long). Ladies, find a 25lb straight bar.
Begin the movement in a normal curl stance: bar at your thighs with your grip about shoulder-width. During this exercise you'll bend slightly at the waist, unlike normal barbell curls.
Now, here's where it gets tricky. Instead of curling the weight up in an arch away from the body, as in a normal curl, drag the barbell up, keeping your elbows back at all times. Keep the bar in contact with your body throughout the curl. You'll drag the bar up to about mid-chest level (or a little higher if you can) and control it back down to your thighs. Concentrate on flexing your biceps the entire time.
After about 4-5 reps you'll really feel this in the belly of your bicep and you won't feel it in your delts. Just feel your way around the movement and you'll find the groove that suits you best. Standard barbell curls didn't do much for my biceps, but my front delts grew like crazy! Now my biceps are growing. Give this movement a shot. I aim for 10-12 reps.
A Variation
Vince actually performed this with a reverse grip. To me this works the brachialis more than the belly of the bicep. (The brachialis is the muscle that runs between the bicep and tricep on the outside of the arm). However, increasing the size of the brachialis will definitely make your arm larger, so give this movement a place in your routine. The only difference in form is that you grip the bar with your hands facing toward you rather than away from you when the bar is in the starting position. This movement works great performed body-drag fashion or traditionally, arching the bar away from the body. Concentrate by focusing on the side of the arm rather than the forearms to contract and lift the bar.
My Personal Biceps Routine
I start with seated dumbbell curls. I've learned to concentrate during this movement and twist the dumbbell as the movement progresses in order to minimize the stress on the delts. I usually use 6-8 reps with heavy weight. I do not alternate between arms as that tend to tire me out rather than work my biceps. In other words, I lift both dumbbells at the same time rather than one at a time.
I then proceed to body drag curls. I tend to do these in the 10-12 rep range.
I finish with reverse curls (done in a normal curling arch) for 2 sets of 10 reps.
That's it! Let me know how this works for you.
Jon Benson is a transformational life coach
and health and fitness counselor. He is the creator of the amazing M-Power Series —
total life empowerment from the inside out.
Motivation: Fit Within — The Seven Keys to Permanent Weight Loss Success (Part I of II)
Terrorists are aptly named because their tactics are designed to strike fear into the hearts of the people. This fear is often irrational. Many people bide their time suffering anxiety over the next unlikely attack while falling prey to a monster that kills more people every week than those murdered on September 11th. This killer has no hidden agenda and destroys without prejudice. Those who are unfortunate enough to meet this nemesis often suffer prolonged pain before eventually succumbing and "giving up the breath" as death was described in ancient Egypt.
What could possibly be so terrible? In the year 2000, the leading preventable cause of death was tobacco. Only a few decades ago, doctors and priests would smoke during commercials and share their favorite brand of cigarette. Today, there is a stigma associated with smoking because we understand the link between tobacco and death. Unfortunately, there is a new competitor who is rapidly gaining ground. This competitor claimed thousands lives in the year 2000, and was the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Who is this deadly threat to society?
Poor diet and lack of exercise.
Surprised? Thousands of people die every day due to poor eating habits and lack of regular exercise. The death certificate won't mention their favorite fast food combo meal or the fact that they would rather watch the latest golf tournament than take a stroll through the park. Instead, one of the many degenerative diseases that have been conclusively linked to nutrition and exercise will stake its claim over another life.
Society spends more time and energy worrying about violent threats than dealing with this leading cause of death. While the popularity of products and services designed to address the situation is growing — in fact, the health and wellness industry is en route to become the next trillion-dollar industry according to economist Paul Zane Pilzer — the rate of obesity, overweight, and conditions related to poor diet and lack of exercise such as type II "adult onset" diabetes is increasing. In fact, adult onset diabetes is now being diagnosed in enough children that most medical professionals simply refer to it as "type II."
Perhaps one reason why this epidemic is so hard to combat is that people are focused on the solution as a product or service, rather than a process. To quit smoking, many people receive counseling, join groups or follow systems because it's not as simple as tossing the last pack (the author is one of the fortunate few who was able to stop smoking "cold turkey" but found it far more difficult to overcome his poor eating habits). Overweight and obesity is a condition related to behavior and patterns that have taken years to create, so the notion that some magic product will suddenly undo the thousands of days of programming is absurd. Successful, permanent weight loss is a process, not an event.
During a recent seminar that I conduct, participants explored the concept of just how powerful the mind is and how this relates to losing fat. After a serious of powerful exercises, they were asked to create an action plan based on what they learned in order to successfully lose fat and keep it off. The result of this workshop was seven keys that addressed what most diet programs or weight loss systems do not: the fact that fitness starts inside.
Here, then, are seven keys to permanent weight loss success that start on the inside.
Key #1: Be Positive
You've probably heard this one before. It's a popular cliché. In order for it to work, however, you have to move beyond a catchy statement and integrate this as part of your life. In order to truly "be positive" you must start with an understanding of the mind. Your reality is perception, and perception is influenced by your thoughts. Thoughts create reality. What you think about expands.
A good friend and client of mine was a pilot for many years. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, he was out of work. He went through a period of extreme grief, pain, and anger. His health suffered. It wasn't the money that struck such a powerful blow. It was something else, a mistake many people made.
You see, my friend's reality could be summed up with this statement: "I am a pilot."
Can you see the danger in this? He defined himself by what he did, not who he was. By losing his job, he lost his identity. In reality, he was there all along, but his ego kept getting in the way of finding his true self. He had to learn how to let go and be himself, and define who he was on his own merits, not by his actions, level of success, or how others perceive him.
Many people who are overweight create the same situation. Most will create the statement, "I am fat." Of course, the desire to lose weight might exist, but if your definition of self-worth is based on the amount of fat you carry, what happens when it's gone? If you've lived with "I am fat" for months or years, who do you expect to become when the fat is gone? This subconscious fear of losing your identity can sabotage your process.
What we think about expands. If you focus on the fat you carrying, or the difficulty you have losing weight, then expect more of it. Expect more fat, and expect a difficult time losing the fact. On the other hand, if you focus on releasing the fat, on your success and the process, then this is what you will receive more of. The fat won't go away overnight. However, if you spend just one day eating healthy foods and exercising — even if it's just taking a short walk — would you consider that to be an improvement? Could you call that a "healthy day" compared to your previous habits? What if you decided to be, "I am healthy," and give the fat some time to let go?
Be positive means be realistic, and focus on the positive progress. Focus on abundance — get more of what you wish to receive, instead of thinking about what you don't want.
Key #2: Forgive yourself
Forgive yourself already! ENOUGH!
You are only human. Whatever decisions, choices, or even mistakes resulted in your current position, get over them. Successful people recognize that in life, there are no mistakes or failures. There are simply undesired outcomes that offer a learning experience. Most people operate from the realm of "what if" and live either in the past or the future. You decide that past failures dooms you to repeat these mistakes in the future, or you struggle with the concept of "what if" and contemplate a future that is pure fiction. It doesn't exist.
Get real. Live in the present. As long as you continue to dwell on your mistakes, you are simply creating elaborate excuses to share. You can continue to beat yourself up, or do something about it. So what if you were a binge eater? So what if you knew you were going to gain weight, but gave in anyway? Those were all choices that happened in the past. You are in the driver's seat. You have a brain. You also have the power to control it. No matter how difficult it may seem, you can choose to be different. It only takes an instant to change your mindset. Dwelling on the past is only an excuse to delay the process.
The first step is to forgive yourself. Remember that forgiveness is not an event. It's a process. It takes time. You've spent a long time telling yourself you are bad, lazy, fat, ugly, or other nasty things that just aren't true. You can continue to do the same thing, or recognize that for things to change, you must change. One easy way to do this is to simply stand in front of the mirror several times per day, look yourself in the eye, and say out loud: "The more I love the way I am, the more I am the way I want to be."
Does this feel silly to you? It's not. That discomfort you have isn't because you're doing something stupid it's because you're not comfortable with you. In fact, the more excuses you make to not do this exercise, the more reason you should. You'll find that, over time, you will become more comfortable with who you are. Soon, you'll look forward to greeting yourself. Eventually, you could even learn to love yourself again.
If you've already talked yourself out of the exercise described in Key #2, then you need to read this and go back to it.
Do you feel that bulge in your pocket? No, not the one with your wallet or makeup kit tucked away. I'm talking about the one you carry around with you all of the time.
To learn more about the victim cards we all carry around with us, listen to the fifth CD in my 5-CD Lose Fat, Not Faith Audio program.
In a nutshell, everyone faces challenges. It is popular to define ourselves by comparing what we have with someone else, but in the end, you can't please everyone. I've heard every excuse in the book.
"I just got out of heart surgery." I'll introduce you to a man who lost dozens of pounds after quadruple bypass surgery and improved his healthy tremendously.
"I've had too many children to get a flat stomach." I'll show you pictures of women with half a dozen kids who win trophies in figure and bodybuilding competitions.
"I work two jobs and go to night school." I'll share the story of a woman who was working full time, studying to become a fitness trainer, and teaching her husband how to walk and talk at the same time (he was recovering from brain surgery) while losing over 100 pounds.
The fact is there are always excuses. Instead of wasting your time and energy finding one that sounds good, why not just admit you're not up for the challenge? Ultimately, you must make the decision to change. If you're not ready, then just admit it. Stop feeding us the sad drama and save it for someone else. Find someone else who wallows in their excuses and you can have a grand time exchanging all of the reasons why you're not going to change. The rest of us, we've got a different plan. You see, we all carry the same victim cards, but we're not going to play them. Instead, we're going to stop being a victim and get on with the business of doing what we set out to do.
Key #4: Make it a lifestyle
You've heard this one so much you probably don't even pay attention to it anymore. The idea of a lifestyle change has become a cliché. Sure, we all want to avoid the yo-yo diet plan and make something permanent, but few people really take the effort to learn how.
Are you one of those people dead-set in making a difference, so you strap on your shoes, load your refrigerator with nothing but chicken and broccoli, then put on your blinders and focus 110% for twelve weeks until you reach your goal?
What happens after that?
Most people celebrate. They eat a lot. They take a break from training.
A few weeks later, they are back to square one. Instead of feeling great, they talk about how great it felt. Instead of looking terrific, they tell old stories like grandfathers in rocking chairs, "I remember when I could see my shoes and not my belly when I'd look down at my feet."
It's great to have focus and to take on the challenge and really pursue it. But have you stopped to think about what happens after?
Are you training and dieting for a few weeks, or for life?
Let me ask you this ... if it's for life, can you imagine yourself eating the way you are eating from now until you are six feet under with a bouquet of flowers above your head? If not, it's time to change.
You see, living healthy doesn't have to be about diets and horrendous workouts. It can be about fun. I still recall the first time I set down the barbell and put on a pair of running shoes. Several people wrote me, horrified at the thought of how my muscles would wilt and wither from the rigors of training for a half marathon. How could I give up the admirable iron game for some lousy 13-mile run through the woods? What was I thinking?
The truth is, I'm beyond the need to compare my self-worth to the depth of my abdominal cuts or the girth of my biceps. I'm in this for life, and that means having fun. While I enjoy grabbing rusty dumbbells and slinging them around as I grunt, groan, and sweat like I'm taking an indoor shower, there's more to life than weight-lifting. That's why I like to ski, jog, and do other activities as well. I make it fun. And you know what? I can do fun. I don't have to always have a workout sheet and a pen to stay in shape. Sometimes all I need is a good pair of shoes, two hours of free time, and the good green earth to make my rounds.
The same is true for nutrition. Live a little. Experiment with healthy recipes. Understand what "better bad choices" and "portion control" means. If I want some cheesecake, I might order a slice and split it with my wife and daughter. You'll catch me eating a slice of pizza on occasion, and even sipping on a glass of red wine. The key is moderation. I don't have to count the days until my diet is over because I'm focused on the process, not the end result. Learn to get out of the finish line and into the race. You'll enjoy it more.
This article will be continued with Part II in next month's issue.
Evil Marketing? What A Buffalo Rancher Taught Me About Selling (by Dr. Joe "Mr. Fire" Vitale)
Yesterday I met a rancher who raises buffalo and sells bison products. He clearly loves his job. He gushed facts. For example:
I didn't know buffalo never get cancer. Or that buffalo meat is leaner, healthier and better for you than any other red meat. I also didn't know that buffalo contains less calories than even chicken.
"Most people just don't know how to cook it," the rancher explained. "Since the meat is lean, it needs to be slowly cooked on a really low flame."
He went on to add:
"People on the Paleo Diet, sometimes called the caveman diet, really love it. It helps them lose weight and get trim naturally," he said. "I eat one to two pounds of bison every day, some veggies, and I'm fit and strong."
Since I'm into wellness and just lost over 70 pounds [Editor's note: see Joe's before and after pictures on Jeremy's personal coaching page], I was eager to hear all this. I was so taken by this new information that I placed a large order on the spot.
But the rancher also had some opinions that made me curious.
"I'm just a rancher," he told me. "I run my ranch by myself and I work night and day, yet at the end of it all, I have to go out and market this stuff. I almost hate it."
"You hate marketing?" I asked.
Joe Vitale
"I just saw the actor Billy Bob Thornton on television and he said, 'Marketing is evil.'"
"That's interesting," I countered. "The reason Thornton is on television is he is marketing the latest movie he's in."
"Well, I don't like marketing," the rancher told me. "Maybe it's because I don't know how to do it."
At this point, Nerissa came out and met the rancher, too. He offered her a sample of the buffalo jerky he made. He held it out in front of her as he said:
"You'll eat this and you won't want anything else the rest of the day. This is the most filling and satisfying food you'll ever have," he said. "There are no preservatives and it's all natural."
Of course, at that point I wanted some jerky, too.
When the rancher went to write up our order, he pulled a beautiful notebook out of his truck. He started to place it on the hood of my BMW Z3 sports car when I stopped him.
"I don't want it scratched," I said.
"Look at this," he said, rubbing the leather on the notebook. "Go ahead and touch it and see how smooth it is."
I did. The leather was melted butter soft.
The rancher then asked me something hypnotic:
"Can you imagine walking into a meeting with one of these under your arm?"
Of course, that natural question activated the visual part of my brain and engaged my ego. I instantly wanted the unusual product.
"How can I get one of those?" I asked.
"I can have one made for you, if you want."
I ordered one of the buffalo notebooks, too.
I then paid the rancher, shook his hand, and he got in his truck, still muttering that he didn't like marketing. He said he was so behind in learning marketing that he was prehistoric in his practices.
"Guess you're doing Paleo Marketing," I offered.
He laughed and drove off.
He didn't seem to notice that his "non-marketing" made a lot of sales that day. I bought meat, jerky, and a notebook. I also bought a case of honey, which I forgot to mention. None of it was cheap, either.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Marketing is simply engagingly informing the people most likely to be interested in your product or service that it's available.
"Marketing is simply engagingly informing the people most likely to be interested in your product or service that it's available."
It's not about manipulation.
It's about information.
The more passionately and sincerely you convey your information, the more hypnotic your marketing will be.
But if you try to market your business to someone who has no interest in it, you may be considered evil.
That rancher was marketing, though he'd never admit it. His love for his product was apparent. He eats buffalo, wears buffalo, raises buffalo, and talks buffalo. He doesn't talk bull, he talks buffalo. And when he talks, if the people listening are at all interested in bison, they buy.
Marketing is only "evil" when you lie or mislead people to make a sale, or when your message isn't appropriate for the audience you reached. No one should ever do that sort of mis-guided marketing. Ever. There's no excuse for it.
If you're offering a product or service you believe in, then share your excitement for it to the right audience. (If you don't believe in your product or service, what are you doing trying to sell it?)
Said another way, if you have something that would truly benefit a certain group of people, and you don't tell them, aren't you doing them a dis-service?
Again, marketing is basically sharing your love. Your passion. Your belief. When you share it with someone who welcomes it, more often than not it leads to a sale. Naturally. Easily. Effortlessly.
Life is about priorities. Like everyone else,
sometimes I focus too much on one priority and let another one slide. I might
be so intent on my business that my workouts stop being consistent, or so focused on
training that I stop to pause and take time to be with my daughter. The first
step, of course, to be aware of these things happening. The second is to do
something about it.
I sometimes joke with friends and tell them
that I know how to juggle. Technically, I do. With two balls, I do just fine.
Add the third, however, and you'll find them on the ground more often than in
the air. I know if it was important enough, I could focus on adding that third
ball, practice for awhile, and become skilled at juggling all three. Ultimately,
I could move onto four or five.
Life is the same way. Sometimes we try to put
all five balls in the air at once, forgetting that we haven't mastered the art
of managing just three. Have you heard the phrase, "Jack of all trades, Master
of none?" That is where you may end up if you don't find just one thing and
do it the best you possibly can. Once you master this, then you can start to
take on more.
I realized not long ago that I was mastering
the wrong skill first: working hard to make money. This might be the skill that
I focused on, but my priority was really my family. Becoming an entrepreneur
has allowed me to turn that around, and focus on being the best father and husband
I can possibly be first. In my business, I could easily get caught up in all of
the mundane tasks that are required to keep a corporation running, but instead
of juggling so many balls, I focus on what matters the most — you!
In your journey to improved health and wellness,
sometimes you'll be handed more balls than you are ready to handle. That's okay.
Don't let it frustrate you. Instead of trying to keep them all in the air at once,
focus on the ones that truly count. You'll have time enough to master the rest.
One of the first tips that I give my clients
is to take half of their plate and set it aside or share it with someone else when
they go to a restaurant. This is because the portion sizes are so large, but
most people are in the habit of eating everything set in front of them.
By cutting the portion in half at the beginning of the meal, you are free to clean your plate without overeating. Life can often put
a lot on your plate. During a recent call, someone shared that just because
they put it on your plate, doesn't mean you have to eat it. Again, pick what's
important. The rest can wait.
If you do nothing else this coming week, try
this: take one thing in your life that you love, that you are passionate about,
that makes you say, "Wow." Something that you enjoy so much that if someone paid you
to do it, you'd almost feel strange because you would do it anyway. Take that
one thing, and do it. Only don't just do it ... do it the best you can. Keep
that one ball in the air, and when you know where it will be with your eyes
closed, then you can start adding more to your plate.
Lose Fat, Not Faith receives 5 stars! Independent reviews at Amazon.com give
You'll be using a light barbell. Don't worry — your muscles have no idea how much weight is on the bar. Men, start with the 45lb bar (or lighter if you haven't been training long). Ladies, find a 25lb straight bar.
