After the gym I worked at closed I took a job at a preschool as a maintenance man. I let my ISSA certs expire. I worked there for three years. I liked the kids but the job sucked. Besides it was a bad neighborhood and I worked half my shift at night. During the time I worked there and at the gym I only went home on weekends. It was 2 hours from my home. So I saw my wife for 2 days a week. I quit my job after I recertified with NFPT in 2015 and tried to get a training business going on a shoestring but it never took off. I took a job as a maintenance worker at a campground. It’s a seasonal job, the pay sucks, no benefits and my heart is just not in it. I am currently out of work for the winter. I am working at restoring my spine and getting into my best shape ever. I want to make a comeback in the training business. This time I will put forward my best shot and try to make it my career. I feel like Sylvester Stallone in every Rocky movie ever made. I was rated at marked disability in 2003. People wrote me off back then. But I’m a fighter. I always feel I can do things 98℅ of the world can’t do. Inside me is a beautiful arrogance that drives me harder than anyone always. It is my destiny to be great!
March 20,2017
I am starting up the business. Got the insurance started again, bank account and a mailer is going out. I decided to recycle the old name A Fitter You. I already had a nice logo, forms and a fan page done so why not use them. The mailer is a big gamble. $640 gamble. But I have no rent and own all the equipment so my start up costs are next to nothing. If I do nothing it’s a sure thing that nothing will happen. If I lose the money it’s a one time loss and I’ll move on. Rent on the other hand would be back again and again. I’m hoping to report to you it was the best thing I ever did. I will update you as things unfold.
This is new to me in one way and old in another. My previous gym experience was as an employee of an Anytime Fitness. I was more of a manager than a personal trainer. I have done direct mail advertising before but it was for carpet cleaning. Its hard to say how effective it will be. It’s certainly a gamble. But there is no further obligation as there would be with yellow pages or even SEO for web sales. If it flops yeah it will hurt but it’s not going to dig me into a hole. I just bought a video camera. Next is lighting, I’m starting up a YouTube channel. I have a very folksy way about me I think if I polish up my web persona I will get a good following. I’m thinking that my spiel will be fitness tips for baby-boomers. A lot of guys are in the get jacked market. I think a common sense guide appealing to the average Joe and Jane. Like how to eat healthy without going off the deep end and joining a cult that recruits you at a crossfit box. Lol. I shouldn’t talk too much smack I was paleo for a period of time. You get where I’m going right? Well I’ll let you get back to doing what you do.
I just got the proof back for my ad. 20,000 pieces going out I’m hoping to close at least 3 clients. My normal MO is to try and break even on the first mailer. It sounds horrible but the reality is you are buying your first customers to build from. Once I get rolling it gets easier. Keep some positive mojo going for me. I need some good mauna loa.
A Fitter You – John Rutnik – ad
I’m following the advice of Craig Ballantyne and being contrarian. But even when I worked at a gym I rarely trained there. I like my home gym. My gym my rules. No waiting…..
March 29
Another piece of the puzzle fell into place yesterday. Last summer I worked 10 hours a day 6 days a week at a campground. Yesterday I met with the owner and negotiated a part time gig. My idea is to have a steady check coming in while I build my business. It will take some discipline to do this because i will need to promote my business, see clients and work at the campground 6 days a week. Yeah, it’s a lot but if i do nothing than nothing will happen.
If nothing else I’ll sleep better knowing I have a regular paycheck. The risk is that I need to be up and rolling before winter because I won’t make enough on unemployment from a part time job.
That might help me market anyhow. I’m not sure exactly how but anything that I get up on the web will make my name go up in web search rankings????? I think anyhow. Such is the mystery of technology. Remember Bev half my life existence was prior to home computers, cell phones and TV had 3 channels and was free. You probably never ate a TV dinner out of an aluminium tray or a burger from a styrofoam box or stirred your coffee with a spoon that coke heads used to snort their stuff. All of this stuff was part of my history.
I’m waiting on a video camera. I purchased some lighting equipment and read up on creating a YouTube channel. Soon I will start filming. I have a little experience with it but not much. This will be a new adventure.
A guy just contacted me from reading my blog on Baby boomers. He is launching a new start up business. I told him that I am doing the same and I told him I will share anything I learn. I know from carpet cleaning its hard work to get even one client at first. If my mailer even gets me one and I lose money I will still be pleased. Just breaking the zero client barior will be a win. After that first each one will be easier because I will be building my brand.
