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We’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon over the last few months.
The emails we send that get the best feedback also get the highest unsubscribe rates.
Looking back at these emails, it’s clear that the more honest and genuine we are, the less we sugar coat things the more some people love it and the more others don’t like it and unsubscribe.
We’ve always felt it crucially important to tell the world what we believe in and stand for.
The plain, boring, homogenized, vanilla market in fitness is already saturated.
We are the ‘banana and passion fruit’ ice cream of the fitness world – we’re not for everyone, but those that do like what we do, absolutely love it.
So, with that in mind, I’ve decided to pull the trigger on an article I’ve had banging around my head for a few weeks.
I know it will annoy some and I expect it to give a record unsubscribe rate.
But it’s what we believe.
It’s something I’ve talked about with 1:1 clients for many years.
Even with the different relationship I’d have with 1:1 clients I’ve offended some of them with this conversation.
But every time, I’ve seen something click inside their head.
I can see the penny drop as they realise that something they’ve believed for many years, isn’t true and has held them back.
It’s the often sensitive subject of cost – can you afford ‘it’?
Can you afford it?
Before I get into this, I’d like to make it clear that this article isn’t designed to get people to join us.
If they do because of it, then that’s cool.
But the purpose is to get them doing something.
If every person that takes action after reading this joins a gym or slimming club instead of us, then I’ll be happy.
Because that’s what Matt and I believe in – making a difference first, run a business second.
So, by far the most popular reason ever given by anybody for not doing something that will improve their health is “I can’t afford it”.
Having worked in Health Club management, been a 1:1 trainer myself, ran RISE and trained and mentored over a hundred other PTs myself, I’d guess at least 80% of people give cost as a reason for not doing something (closely followed by ‘time’).
Now, I won’t dispute that there is a cost involved in living a healthy lifestyle.
It does cost more to eat healthily.
People that say it doesn’t have a different definition of healthy to us – changing pasta and bread to wholemeal, eating low fat, restricting calories, etc.
And joining a gym, getting a 1:1 PT, becoming a RISE Ninja, etc do, of course, cost more then doing nothing.
Our world has been very much become much easier and cheaper to gain body fat and live an unhealthy lifestyle then the opposite.
However, I have genuinely never, ever encountered someone who genuinely couldn’t afford to be living a healthier lifestyle to some degree.
This may annoy some, but I genuinely believe that if someone does any of the following, then they are choosing to prioritise other areas of their life over their health:
- Go on holiday
- Own a car that cost more then £200
- Have a TV
- Buy CDs, DVDs, games, etc
- Drink alcohol
- Use convenience food stores (Starbucks, Pret, Costa, Greggs, take out, etc)
- Have a wardrobe of clothes that cost more then a few hundred pounds total
Now, I’m not a monk.
I do all of the above (apart from the convenience food).
But only after I’ve taken care of my own health and that of my two sons.
And I’m not a preacher either.
If people would rather spend their money on other things, then that’s cool – it’s their life.
However, I genuinely think it is part of what I do to question people’s self limiting beliefs.
I’ve devoted my life to helping people get in better health and would feel I was failing them if I didn’t ask certain questions.
So, I never allow people who I care about to use the “I can’t afford it” justification.
If they say “I’d rather spend my money on ……”, then I don’t have any problem with that.
Again, it’s their life and their money – they can live it and spend it how they like.
But I often find when people try to say that they’d rather spend their money on holidays, cars, alcohol, etc then on being happier with the way they look, their energy levels, sex drive, sleep and how long they will live, they can’t say it.
They realise then what a self limiting belief they have been holding on to.
I especially find this with people who have children.
A few times, to really crack this belief, I’ve said to people “So, you’re telling me you’re happy to potentially reduce the duration and quality of your childrens’ lives so that you can drive a nice car?
I’ve had people look like they were about to take a swing at me when I’ve said things like this.
But every time, after the initial shock has worn away, they’ve vowed to change their use of their income.
Every time!
Again, this article isn’t designed to make you want to join us – it’s designed to make people question a common self limiting belief.
If it does help you make a start on a healthier lifestyle (whether that’s eating more healthily, joinimg a gym or whatever) then that would a awesome – and it would be great if you could let us know if it did help.
