Comments for Rethinking The Business Of Health & Wellness

Comment on Think Pink FAST! Last-Minute Promos For Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Lydia

Lydia — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:49:55 +0000

We have a fishbowl on our sales counter. It’s full of pink coupons that have a discount amount and charitable amount printed on them. Everyone who buys something gets to draw a pink coupon out of the fishbowl. They get the discount, and we make the donation to the Komen Foundation.

Comment on Fitness Tattoos: Stand Up And Be Counted by Ninabeth I.

Ninabeth I. — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:06:59 +0000

I’ve got a lotus flower tattoo on my arm that’s gorgeous. My yoga teacher has an ohm tat.

Comment on Delegation: How to Multiply Your Business Results by Rob Bishop

Rob Bishop — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:47:46 +0000

There were times, years ago, when we preferred to hire trainers or instructors with a lot of experience. One of our managers, our Personal Training Director, changed our thinking on that. Two years ago, we promoted her to the position of PT Director. We trusted her implicitly and gave her free reign to run the program as she pleased. We discussed ideas on a daily basis and I tried to be more of a sounding board. We had always struggled trying to grow the program so I figured–let’s try anything you think might work. She wanted to do things that we never did before (coupons, specials, contests, etc.). Most of it worked, some of it didn’t. We would never have found the things that worked if hadn’t tried new things. The key, for us, was to track what worked and what didn’t and to discuss both. Then repeat the successes!

One of the things she did was to hire several young trainers with limited or no experience but a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. She worked with them closely, mentoring, teaching, goal setting, talking, and encouraging. They have all done a tremendous job. There is a learning curve and they have made mistakes along the way. We ENCOURAGE them to take chances and make mistakes. How else can we differentiate ourselves–how can we be better than other clubs? When we hire a new employee, it is sometimes difficult to get them to make decisions, they want to “check with someone” on everything. Make decisions and try to solve problems. If we think you handled it well, we’ll tell you. If not, we’ll discuss other options for next time–learn new skills and get better at your job. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to take a day off!

Comment on Caption This School Nutrition Picture! by Rachel Knox

Rachel Knox — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:11:32 +0000

Not only do we feel like we’re being followed but we’re inexplicably hungry for crustless bread.

Comment on Caption This School Nutrition Picture! by Rob Micheals

Rob Micheals — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:03:48 +0000

(from the oversized pie) Yum people, now that’s a healthy snack

Comment on Caption This School Nutrition Picture! by Don Muchow

Don Muchow — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:36:27 +0000

This gives a whole new meaning to “jam session”.

Comment on Caption This School Nutrition Picture! by Luke Van Order

Luke Van Order — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:24:02 +0000

The sandwich man is waving trying to get people over, but no one is coming over. He thinks, “Will someone please get me out of this ridiculous suit, I’m dying in here.”

Comment on Do Racy Health Club Ads Really Work? (NSFW) by Leslie Nolen | Radial

Leslie Nolen | Radial — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:58:09 +0000

Actually that’s a great point. Marketing SHOULD discourage potential customers who would be a bad fit for what you’re selling.

Hadn’t thought about that aspect of it!

Leslie

Comment on Do Racy Health Club Ads Really Work? (NSFW) by Patrick Ward

Patrick Ward — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:31:30 +0000

I used to live in NYC, so I have seen many of these ads before (or ones like them) and I always wondered if they worked.

I certainly never joined any of those gyms based on the ads, but that is just me. I don’t go to the gym for the “look” or the amenities. I go their to lift and train, and those ads to me let me know that actually “training/lifting” is not taking place at those facilities – so I stay away!

patrick

Comment on 63% Say “Yes, Regulate Personal Trainers…” by Jeff Bush, M.S., CPT

Jeff Bush, M.S., CPT — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:18:44 +0000

In addition to Massachusetts, several other states, New Jersey, Georgia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia have proposed legislation to license personal trainers. Those bills include use of the National Board of Fitness Examiner’s (NBFE) Personal Fitness Trainer examination as the standardization tool.

Using the NBFE exam as the standardization tool provides many benefits. Among them, two of the biggest benefits are that: 1) The standards are set and the exam is written by and for fitness professionals, rather than government regulators. 2) Using the NBFE exam as the national standard will allow our licensure to be “portable.” So, unlike the legal bar exam, for example, which varies from state to state, we would not have to take another, different exam if we move to a different state. Furthermore, the NBFE exam is legally defensible, meaning that it can work to our benefit if, in the worst case scenario, a personal trainer is hauled into court.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of squabble among some of the larger certification organizations about who should set the standards. The idea that many people don’t understand is that the NBFE is an independent organization, with the sole purpose of standardization, NOT certification. It won’t take business away from those certifying organizations. In fact, it might actually help their business.

It’s going to take more time. However, I think that this is our best bet for standardizing and making personal training a true allied health profession. It could possibly also lead the way to having our services covered by insurance companies.

Check out NBFE.org for further information.