Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of The Obvious Choice podcast, where today we're diving into a challenge that hits close to home for many fitness business owners - the struggle to scale beyond trading time for money. We're sitting down with Katherine, who runs a successful personal training studio outside Ottawa and is wrestling with the classic dilemma of how to grow her business while reducing her crazy 4 AM client schedule and creating more freedom in her life.Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzceNot sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapterWho Am I?Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center and host of the popular Obvious Choice podcast, a top show for coaches, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Jon’s been featured in most major business and fitness publications including Men’s Health, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Robb Report, Inc., and many more. Over 200,000 coaches and small business owners in more than 120 countries have purchased business development materials from him. Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribeGet my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerdsJoin my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreenFollow me on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodmanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/Timestamps0:00 Katherine introduction 1:48 Trying to transition to a semi-private training model.2:52 Details about her online program offerings including nutrition coaching and habit coaching4:35 Discussion of current client load10:28 Advice about hiring for small businesses and identifying key skills12:17 Exercise to identify what made past trainer "Chris" successful

In this episode, I discuss my unexpected bout of depression following the successful launch of my book "The Obvious Choice," revealing how the completion of a major project left me feeling empty despite its commercial success. Through this experience, I explore the paradox of achievement and purpose, arguing that the real reward lies not in completing projects but in the transformative journey of working on them.Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzceNot sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapterWho Am I?Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center and host of the popular Obvious Choice podcast, a top show for coaches, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Jon’s been featured in most major business and fitness publications including Men’s Health, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Robb Report, Inc., and many more. Over 200,000 coaches and small business owners in more than 120 countries have purchased business development materials from him. Follow me on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodmanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/My co-hosts:Ren Jones https://www.instagram.com/fitnessjonestraining/Amber Reynolds https://www.instagram.com/amberreynolds.me/Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribeGet my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerdsJoin my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreenTimestamps0:00 Jonathan Goodman introduction0:33 Personal Reflection on Post-Book Depression1:06 The Portuguese Fisherman Parable5:18 The Paradox of Process vs Outcome6:20 Reflection on Ghost-Written Books vs Personal Writing7:52 The Obvious Choice Book Release Experience9:35 Dealing with Unexpected Depression11:14 Learning from the Experience & Getting Back to Work15:53 Story About the Wealthy Oil Businessman17:35 Retirement & Finding Purpose19:55 "Boring Not Vacant" Concept21:18 Critique of Living Without Projects23:20 Story About Friend's Movie Podcast24:34 Reflections on High School Friends' Reunion & Closing

Discover the pivotal $10,000 decision that transformed a career, and explore insights from a new book launch. The discussion navigates the shift in podcasting from authentic content to monetization, emphasizing quality over metrics. Delve into the evolution of business practices in the digital age, where understanding your audience is key. Learn about the challenges of publishing and the importance of authenticity in storytelling, as well as the struggle between social media popularity and meaningful connections in the fitness industry.

This week on the podcast I spoke with Jason about him writing his new book, how to recreate his marketing, and much more. Enjoy!Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce(Not sure if you want to get the book yet, that's okay, you can get a free sample of "The Obvious Choice: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter)Who Am I?Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center and host of the popular Obvious Choice podcast, a top show for coaches, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Jon’s been featured in most major business and fitness publications including Men’s Health, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Robb Report, Inc., and many more. Over 200,000 coaches and small business owners in more than 120 countries have purchased business development materials from him. Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribeGet my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerdsJoin my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreenFollow me on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodmanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/Timestamps0:00 Jason Introduction0:28 Book Publishing Details1:33 - Audiobook Production Discussion3:01 - Marketing Strategy Discussion5:19 - Digital Strategy Development6:38 - Marketing Implementation Plan8:18 - Landing Page Strategy11:04 - Email Marketing Strategy14:29 - Implementation and Scale15:37 - Technical Implementation16:33 - Workflow Integration

Dive into the fascinating world of adult friendships and discover their profound impact on happiness. The discussion highlights the importance of nurturing deep, meaningful connections over superficial acquaintances. You'll hear about Aristotle's classifications of friendship and the emotional dynamics at play. The speakers share humorous anecdotes about the joy found in small moments and how online connections can blossom into genuine relationships. Join them in exploring the value of authenticity in friendships and the beauty of community.

In today's episode, we're diving deep with Kim, a women's empowerment coach who's mastered the art of balancing a high-powered NASA career with a thriving coaching practice. What fascinates me about Kim's business is that it's what I call an 'avocado business' - where timing is everything - and today we're going to unpack exactly what that means and how to market it effectively.Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzceHOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.comHost: Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/Every Friday, over 75,000 jacked nerds (just like you) read 5-Reps Friday, my newsletter with actionable tips on marketing, health, books, and earning more www.5repsfriday.com The Obvious Choice podcast is presented by QuickCoach - free, professional software for fitness and nutrition coaches that elevates the value of what you do. Join 41,000+ coaches and get your account today at www.quickcoach.fit.Timestamps0:00 Introductions and background0:38 Kim's coaching journey and niche evolution1:17 Target audience and coaching approach2:30 Building an engaged following over time3:30 Balancing NASA career with coaching4:48 Challenges with scaling and time management5:29 The "Avocado Business" concept7:24 Speaking to moments vs. ideas9:12 Discussion of business models and group coaching11:42 Strategies for group programs13:42 Creating targeted content and wait lists16:39 Integrating different program offerings18:17 Final advice on starting small

Email isn't really a task - it's where tasks go to accumulate, and your phone isn't really a tool anymore - it's become an appendage that's designed to hack your primal brain. I don't believe discipline alone can work when it comes to controlling these devices, and that's why we need a set of clear rules and structures to keep them from controlling us. Today on The Obvious Choice podcast, we're diving into some practical rules for taking back control of your phone and email usage, because if you're going to show up somewhere - whether it's for dinner with friends or time with your kids - you better actually be there.Episodes referenced in this episode:Episode 187: "Boosting Productivity with Well-being" featuring Dr. Gloria Mark https://youtu.be/_kHLi2zUSTQ?si=xOuVlQJShZOC6azbOrder my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzceHOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.comHosts:Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/Ren Jones https://www.instagram.com/fitnessjonestraining/Amber Reynolds https://www.instagram.com/amberreynolds.me/Every Friday, over 75,000 jacked nerds (just like you) read 5-Reps Friday, my newsletter with actionable tips on marketing, health, books, and earning more www.5repsfriday.com The Obvious Choice podcast is presented by QuickCoach - free, professional software for fitness and nutrition coaches that elevates the value of what you do. Join 41,000+ coaches and get your account today at www.quickcoach.fitTimestamps0:00 The Obvious Choice Intro0:45 Discussion about why discipline alone can't work with phones2:25 The "leave your phone at the door" rule and its importance3:18 Discussion about puzzles and coloring books as alternatives4:23 Personal story about art class and coloring with his son5:15 Conversation about adult vs. children's coloring books7:24 Discussion about being authentically yourself8:10 Tangent about food preferences and dining habits9:45 Humorous discussion about Black Friday posts10:14 Tangent about "Black Jeep Owners" group12:25 Return to phone rules: saying "I love you" before checking phone13:29 Discussion about phones at dinner tables and restaurant solutions14:36 Tangent about credit card roulette and wealthy people's habits15:52 Rule about not holding phone during conversations17:47 Story about acknowledging children immediately when they speak19:58 Rule about setting phone to black and white22:33 Alternative solutions for managing social media usage25:45 Discussion about social media strategy and audience building26:22 Tips for organizing phone home screen29:25 Email organization strategies and folder system31:58 Discussion about email management and inbox organization34:05 Rule about new subject lines for new email threads35:39 The "touch it once" rule for email management

In today's episode, I sit down with Lance, a 21-year-old online fitness trainer who recently made the bold move to leave his in-person training business behind to focus entirely on his online practice. Lance and I dive deep into the unique challenges and opportunities of building a fitness business with a young audience, exploring how to grow alongside your client base as they transition from college students to young professionals.Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzceHOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.comHost: Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/Every Friday, over 75,000 jacked nerds (just like you) read 5-Reps Friday, my newsletter with actionable tips on marketing, health, books, and earning more www.5repsfriday.com The Obvious Choice podcast is presented by QuickCoach - free, professional software for fitness and nutrition coaches that elevates the value of what you do. Join 41,000+ coaches and get your account today at www.quickcoach.fit.0:00 - Introduction & book launch discussion1:08 - Lance's background as an online trainer2:15 - Business metrics discussion 2:45 - Current audience challenges3:56 - Target niche description4:32 - New content project: Fitness "Hot Ones" spin-off5:39 - Main challenge: Client affordability7:51 - Discussion on backup plans and risk-taking9:27 - Strategy: Growing with a maturing audience12:51 - Marketing to life transition moments14:04 - Building muscle in your 20s17:19 - Different types of college clients

Today, we're diving deep into part two of my book launch strategy - and let me tell you, launching a book is a whole different beast than writing one. In this episode, I'm walking you through everything from our content testing approach and social media strategy to how we're handling those crucial final days before launch. I'll share why I switched from pushing pre-orders to offering a free chapter, break down our podcast strategy (and why I had to completely change course on that), and get into the nitty-gritty details of our VIP boxes - which, by the way, are absolutely beautiful. But here's the thing: I'm exhausted as I'm recording this on January 8th, about a week out from launch. All the months of preparation, networking, and planning are coming to a head, and it feels like I'm at that final steep climb before reaching the summit. This episode pulls back the curtain on the whole process for anyone thinking about launching a book or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes.Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzceHOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.comHosts:Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/Ren Jones https://www.instagram.com/fitnessjonestraining/Amber Reynolds https://www.instagram.com/amberreynolds.me/Every Friday, over 75,000 jacked nerds (just like you) read 5-Reps Friday, my newsletter with actionable tips on marketing, health, books, and earning more www.5repsfriday.com The Obvious Choice podcast is presented by QuickCoach - free, professional software for fitness and nutrition coaches that elevates the value of what you do. Join 41,000+ coaches and get your account today at www.quickcoach.fit.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and continuation from part one about marketing "The Obvious Choice" book0:29 - Discussion of content strategy and testing social media posts before launch0:57 - Shifting focus from pre-orders to free chapter promotion, podcast touring strategy1:27 - Overview of workload and personal reflections on launch preparation2:02 - Discussion of launch fatigue and viewing the launch as beginning of a 10-year flywheel4:11 - Content testing strategy and data-driven iteration of social media posts7:00 - Shift in marketing strategy from pre-orders to sample chapter distribution9:34 - Many Chat automation setup for book promotion and launch day notifications11:49 - Reflections on the challenges of book marketing versus writing13:23 - Discussion of podcast strategy and limitations15:53 - Focus on niche podcasts and content creation from podcast appearances17:34 - Creation of media page and promotional assets for podcasters19:06 - Launch team coordination and calendar invite strategy21:10 - "Jacked Nerds" lead magnet strategy and audience building22:55 - VIP box strategy and design details28:46 - Discussion of Casio watch inclusion in VIP boxes31:37 - Personal letter and customization strategy for VIP recipients34:19 - Logistics of VIP box assembly and distribution37:43 - Philosophy behind "unscalable" personal touches in marketing39:04 - Strategic bulk buy strategy, particularly in the CrossFit industry43:00 - Video and meme marketing strategy for launch49:19 - Book opt-in strategy and future automation plans51:14 - Discussion of future book plans and long-term strategy

My book The Obvious Choice is now out!!! I am excited to share my most recent feelings about the book launch and my game plan for the future.Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzceHOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.comHosts:Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/Ren Jones https://www.instagram.com/fitnessjonestraining/Amber Reynolds https://www.instagram.com/amberreynolds.me/Every Friday, over 75,000 jacked nerds (just like you) read 5-Reps Friday, my newsletter with actionable tips on marketing, health, books, and earning more www.5repsfriday.com The Obvious Choice podcast is presented by QuickCoach - free, professional software for fitness and nutrition coaches that elevates the value of what you do. Join 41,000+ coaches and get your account today at www.quickcoach.fit.