One of the main reasons that I took over Super Trainer a few months ago was to have a platform for in the trenches fitness business owners to come together share what’s working for them and what’s not working for them.
I got tired of the same old bull S*** that was being SOLD and TOLD to us by “The Men” who do not even own a single fitness business.
Just a curious observation.
Every franchise that I know of has a few “corporate stores” owned by owners and share holders.
But the main reason that I took over Super Trainer was to EXPOSE all the bull S*** in our industry.
The same person who for years taught against branding and was all about the small business owner is now all about branding (his brand of course) and often times has said “Either get on board with XYZ boot camp or go out of business”.
Look here, I don’t give a damn if I make money from Super Trainer or not. It’s just my hobby and I am having so much fun with it. I make my money and feed my family with my offline businesses that gross over 2.4 million per year and climbing. (Opening up 5 new boot camp locations in the next 30 days)
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves has always been when someone doesn’t man up and admit they have done wrong or they have a problem. ESPECIALLY when there are hundreds of complaints about the same issues.
Remember last year when Toyota’s cars were being recalled? It was all over the news. What Toyota did to solve the issue and bad publicity was brilliant. They rolled out an ad campaign that said something like this ” We have been building reliable cars for the last one hundred years but in the last few months are quality has slipped and we apologize for that. Here is what we’re doing about it. We have stopped all production and beefed up our service department to take care of this problem. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for standing by our side through this”.
In the fitness marketing world these “Men’s” egos have gotten so big that an “apology” or “we messed up and we’re sorry” is just not anywhere their vocabulary.
They keep talking about stuff that just doesn’t work, yet they claim it does work. Is it denial, is it delusion or is it the hallucinogenic. Your guess is as good as mine.
I am in Austin, Texas waiting to get on the plane and…………
Saw a blog post about my so called competitor’s ad that brought in all this money for this boot camp and how they had a huge return on the particular ad. But yet they advertised for 3 months and pulled out.
As a matter of fact I did a whole webinar presentation about “How to make your competition irrelevant” and I talked extensively about why their ads didn’t work. But yet they said it did.
Then I saw that “The Men” quoted that 5000 post cards cost about .60 cents so about 3K to mail out. No it doesn’t.
That particular post cards was made by www.Future-Fitness.com by a guy name Michael Grossman. It costs about .32 cents out the door. So about $1600 bucks. So I just saved you $1400. You’re very welcome ;)
By the way tell Michael Grossman “How you doin” New York Style. You’ll see what I mean the first time you talk to him.
I also have another resource for post cards at that low of a price. www.Getmembers.com and talk to Jeff Bond.
In this recent blog post I saw that the “main man” said something like “Our brand logo is at the top and people recognize our brand vs lesser quality cheaper stuff”.
So does that mean that
- All other personal fitness brands out there are perceived cheap as opposed to the “men’s” brand?
- That their brand is recognized worldwide and is a household name?
- That their brand is uniform which means that one brand in one location is consistent with all other brands in other locations.
- People go and join the facility because of “That particular brand” and no other reason.
- When people move to a new city they are like “I hope there is a XYZ brand boot camp cuz no other boot camp will be the same”
I am convinced that somebody is either smoking something or they are in total denial. Probably both:Â Here is the truth
- There are many personal brands that are absolutely KILLING the “Men’s” brand in the same town. Feel free to leave a comment below and tell me that you’re killing the “men’s” brand in your town. There is simply not enough room on this blog post but I am tempted to make another post just about that.
- You’re not Starbucks. Please stop flattering yourselves and get real. If I ask 10 people in the airport about your brand they going to say “WHO, Never heard of it”.
- Service cannot be duplicated while a product can. So while one location might be awesome another one can be horrible. Starbucks coffee in Austin is the same EXACT Starbucks coffee in Chino
- Talking to many, many of the XYZ brand name business owners, not one and I mean not one EVER has said that the brand name has brought me clients. No one cares about the brand name in the service industry cuz service cannot be duplicated the same way humans can’t.
So here and now I ask the “men” to please wake up and get real. The funny thing is that I genuinely care about “The men” and love their families. I have voiced my concerns MANY times privately just to be brushed off and labeled as a “hater”. I just think that lately the message has been more about $$$ than anything else. I am hoping they will man up and take care of the issues instead of brushing it under the carpet. I don’t think they are “bad” people, it’s just their vision is blurred by the all might green.
What stands out most to me, even not knowing anyone involved on a personal basis, is how many friendships have been trashed over this. Those guys used to be so helpful to “the little guy”, now it seems they just want to convince “the little guy” to hand over their cash at every opportunity. I don’t even bother opening their emails anymore.
For their family’s sake, I hope they’ve saved and invested their well, cause you eventually run out of suckers.
I actually had 2 of these brand name bootcamps open up in my area and within 3-6 months they dissolved.
Glad more people are speaking up about this issue. Sooner or later the truth will surface. It’s too bad because not too long ago these guys were producing good products and events and now it just seems they care about the money. I remember also when they talked about “branding” doesn’t work, logos, customer service should be a priorty, deliver great content, etc…. Glad your stepping up in their place. I knew you would ;)
Christian: For everyone that opens up one either closes down or drops out. Of course we don’t ever hear about them. I can make another blog post about that one.
Sam,
Real recognize real!
There is so much truth to everything you said and something we discussed before. You have to back your claims up, and honestly you should over-deliver on your promises….that’s one of the core values I base my business Ion. I can tell you that I don’t see as having competition in my area because of that and we get clients from other boot camps….including “said” boot camps.
The truth always comes out sooner or later. I know that the “secret” to dominating is hustle harder, continue learning and strive to deliver a service that is not even comparable to others.
Some people will have to step their game up or get left behind.
That’s right Luka. If you have a GREAT product why would you be afraid of the competition? Competition only will mean more $$$ for the person with a better product
Thanks for that!
I agree with you…. well, probably everyone will agree and that’s becoming a bit boring, somewhat like ass-licking, no matter how good for your ego ;)
But, that’s also my observation, most of the “gurus” are only known in the internet thanks to their online activity and calling themselves “great”… talk is cheap! but, they are surely good at selling it!
Keep up your great work Sam!
Thanks Bronek. I appreciate reading my blog.
He just went there.
That’s rugged and raw …
this single post just renewed my confidence in on-line trainers. I went to the “no pitch event” last year and decided the name didn’t mean anything, but I decided to pay Steve for coaching “guaranteed to earn me 10x’s my investment or my money back.” My profits dipped slightly…terrible decision, but I take responsibility and am trying to build back up. Well done Sam, I hope more people step up the work and credibility.
Thank you Rich for the kind words. This is not the first time I have heard of this
Sam what was that you said in Vegas about ad #1
If you can’t sell your boot camp for $1.00..you might as well …_____?
All those ads look like they do a great job at De-valuing their own services.
That was an awesome night of masterminding and partying in Vegas ;) Jonas
Good stuff.
Yes, this may be harsh or direct.
However, I think your readers could (and maybe should) consider this….
Why has there been a total realignment of industry leaders in the past few months?
Why is there an obvious exclusion?
Why are we all (with an exception) getting along so well, and coming together for the betterment of the fitness industry?
Something to think about……
JSE
Don’t know if this is some sort of publicity BS but I don’t know where this is all coming from. I was at the seminar in the UK with the guys and was speaking to them after wards about why it wasn’t for me and they were totally cool with it.
Also there are loads of people doing very well with FBBC, not everyone is going to be a success story, just a fact of life.
@Darragh: No publicity brotha just telling it the way it is. Like you said everyone’s success depends on them not some brand. I agree with that Darragh
What I find interesting is up until recently, Sam would give all kinds of credit to Bedros for making such a huge impact on where he is in his business. Just a year ago I almost signed up for the joint training between you too on how to have a 7 figure studio. I also remember seeing during a launch of new FBBC campaing getting an email from Chris endorsing FBBC saying that it is the best done for you boot camp on the market and I should buy it through his link. I have bought products from all of you. including Chris and Zachs new product just last week. In my opion we have a situation where we have all of these chiefs cock fighting over who is the next best fitness guru. Take Garrett Gundersons advice, and live in Abundance. Something I would love to see from all of you!
Hey Chad I agree with you. I do living in abundance doesn’t mean looking away and not calling it the way it is. As far as I am concerned I don’t really have a product that you have ever bought. I make my money offline. And yes I have personally put THOUSANDS of dollars in their pockets (without an affiliate link) by recommending their products. I still think the man has some great products BUT not the XYZ franchise. If one of your clients keeps referring you people and you don’t take care of them guess what? He is going to stop referring. Just common sense
“franchise brand” yeah right, one of my biggest failure was a success to accept that it was fake.
Being part of a group was nice, but the name it self. Did nothing, no one in my town ran to me bc I was XYZ brand. People did rush the doors or calls flood the line. People where like, “I just want to be fit”. They don’t care about brands. That’s a 90’s thing. Its what Sam said it was about outstanding service. I was always worried about getting refers and not making my clients happy.
@ Lenin: You got that right brotha. They come to your boot camp because of YOU and not any brand.
Thank You Sam for telling the TRUTH. Congrats to all of the big guys (Sam, John, Chris, etc..) for standing up for what you believe in and not chasing money. The CUSTOMER is number 1.
Wow, if this is not a publicity stunt (i don’t think it is but if it is i love it because it works and we can all learn about controversy and tuning in.
I have to say that this is a great post.
They say the Truth hurts.
If what Sam says is bullshit, then no harm done and those making money will continue to make money and should lose no sleep over stones being thrown.
Sam don’t live in a glass house. So preach on.
If the shoe fits then wear it.
IF not then ignore Sam and don’t even bother getting hurt by what he calls out.
Nevertheless, I would listen to what all the teachers/gurus are teaching because they are all successful and we can learn from them all but take everyting with a grain of salt and question everything and do your own thinking.
And Now….
The lines have been drawn.
The fitness industry is being shaken up to its core.
There is strife within the Senate Super Powers
And the legions of students will finally have to choose sides
There will be blood….
To Be Continued…….
What was this stuff Big Chris said? Cannot find it
I have noticed recently that “the man’s” activity online has been decreasing where this blog has been pumping out great content recently which is why I found it strange that less than a week after watching your webinar where you tear apart the ad suddenly the man appears and defends the ad. Must have touched on a nerve Sam ;)
Don’t get me wrong I have bought awesome content from the man you mention in this post and believe 100% that everything I have bought will have an impact on my business for the positive I just thought that it was a bit childish coming out with the defence of the ad straight away. Surely if the ad truly was successful then the man wouldn’t have felt the need to defend it, he could have just laughed at your suggestion and moved on.
Perhaps more proof is needed :P
Wow – Craziness! I too went to a no-pitch event in March this year, only to discover testimonials and social proof regarding a pitch.
Not sure what to think?
I believe it is awesome of them to create a system/franchise and market like that. Wouldn’t any of you like to be the founder of Curves, Snap Fitness?
But what I don’t like is the stuff that Sam mentioned “they” preached b4. “Don’t brand, it doesn’t work. You can’t be like Nike, Coke….”. Yet they are super branding and pushing to buy their brand.
On the other hand, I do believe that they have over delivered in terms of quality info for free. I have purchased their products and they have over-delivered by giving me more.
I’m on the fence guys. Great post Sam. I will still read and buy some of their offerings. True post
@Odhran: The reason “they” can’t match the online activity of the Super Trainer is that they are the SUPER STAR of their own show. They seldom feature anyone else but themselves on their blog and once in a while they feature one of their coaching clients to say how cool their mastermind or coaching is. Super Trainer is about all the trainers in the trenches and anyone with good info for the industry can come and contribute. I don’t care who’s coaching program they belong to. Have you ever seen them feature anyone that didn’t belong in their coaching program. NOPE
@Rob: No I wouldn’t want to be the owner of a franchise if it goes against my core values. Something he preached for for years. By the way I am in no way saying that the men’s products are all bad. They do have some really good products. I am just not a fan of ALL of them especially the one mentioned.
i’m going to start eventually thinking and planning an exit strategy from XYZ boot camp in which i save a ton of more $$$, have my own site that draws people on Google, have my own testimonials, and can maybe better put that somewhere in which i get actual “coaching”
and not some monthly conference call where i’m competing against 20 other people to be heard.
“The word got around – finally – there was a real gangster in town.”
Sam, just saw this – let me gather my thoughts for a day and will have a proper response.
BRUTAL post… thoroughly enjoyed reading it. i PERSONALLY get on with ‘the men’- I like one of them A TON, but the ‘model’ doesnt care who runs it in my opinion. anyone with a wallet and a fitness cert will do.
RULE NO 1 of fitness business success: BE A BRILLIANT TRAINER AND GET BRILLIANT RESULTS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT PAY YOU :-)
Dude! I am so glad that someone threw up the BULLSHIT flag on these posers! Who the hell takes advise on how to be a BAD ASS trainer from a couple of fat ass fags taking pictures of their cars and how fast they are going? Wait, I was one of them that caught a case of the dumb ass.
Thank God that their employees screwed up and shut my website down by accident otherwise I would never have found out just how bad their other franchise owners were doing.
Somehow they didn’t record a $397.00 payment they took from me a threw my name in with 136 other franchise owners that were behind on their “Liscensing Fees” and decided to shut down their websites.
Thank God they breached the contract so I could get the hell out of that rediculous 2 year contract!
Wasted way too much money on shitty ads and coaching calls that would have me calling the same people over and over offering the same old bullshit package just a little differently!
Just a keen observation: I have known my best friend (and I call him my best friend and not BFF) for over 15 years. He is my best friend not because he gave me an idea or made me a bunch of money. He is my best friend because he is JUST MY BEST FRIEND.
I am friends with ALL other fitness marketers including Pat Rigsby, Nick Berry, Ryan Lee, Jim Labadie, John Spencer Ellis, Rocco Castellano, Eric Ruth, Sean Greeley and everyone else. Why aren’t these men friends with anyone else.
Let’s be brutally honest, if we are gonna call bullshit!
The husband and wife duo took off to the West coast when their boot camps started going to shit. I spent a whole day watching those boot camps. Everyone one of those people were lifetime friends from their home town. Hell she was 30 pounds heavier before she moved and that shitty ad in the blog post.
They tried to get all the local owners together for a mastermind group yet had absolutely no input, as a matter of fact they tried to get us signed up on Advocare under them(one of those no pitch mastermind meeting)
They started peddaling their bullshit too! Call “Coach Cara” for a coaching call. What a bunch of bullshit! They sold out and they should quit hiding and take some ownership!
Hey Joe,
Wow I did not know that. I know that they keep training a bunch of people in Chino Hills for free including the whole chick fila employees.
I have no idea what Advocare is but it sounds like one of them multi level marketing scams or a get rich quick scheme.
Again, I don’t have a problem with John and Cara. They were “engineered” by the “men” to come to my turf and compete with my livelihood. I would never do that to a friend that has referred me tens of thousands of dollars over the years. But I guess their “branding” is more important than their friendships.
Funny thing is that the “men” have never approached me once to say they had any intention of putting a competing business in my town. My wife had to find out through Facebook!!!!
With friends like that who the hell need enemies.
Sam you are a total asshole. Let me explain.
You have a lot of balls to say what you say.
I have a question for you Sam.
And now that I have your attention:
I actually wanted to call you up and ask you if you recommend any of the products that one of these men actually sell on creating your own online info business.
YOu say some of their products are good.
So from a third party what is your opinion on their starting an info business products and who do you recommend as the best resource hands down for teaching how to create and sell info products?
And no you are not an asshole Sam =)
Just wanted to get your attention. You are actually a very nice friendly approachable dude because you have always said hello to me all 3-4 times that I saw you at events.
@Retun of the Flash: I am LMAO my friend. I have a thick skin and been called a lot worse. If you want to start an info business product why not go and learn from the best in the world. People like Ryan Deiss, Dan Kennedy, Brendon Buchard, and Frank Kern.
I think that’s the best way. Learn from the best.
Thanks for saying I am approachable Big Chris says “I always look pissed off”. lol
I don’t see anything wrong with expanding one’s business or creating a solid “franchise”, but the problem comes when you take an industry like ours and try to make it too cookie cutter. I mean, what we are talking about is not a true franchise anyway. I have learned a ton of great stuff from everyone involved in this post and am successful partly because of these blogs and events I’ve attended, but you create a disconnect when you only cater more to the one’s that buy into your program. Lastly, I think bootcamps are great, but people let’s not pack 40 people in a room with one trainer. That’s not offering much service. There should be a legitimate client to trainer ratio. Personal training is not dead.
@Greg: Talk about disconnect imagine someone saying ” Either jump on board with XYZ boot camp or worry when one opens up next to you” in a mastermind meeting with heavy hitters and very successful boot camp owners like myself, Dustin Maher, Leanne Ellington and many many other successful independent boot camp owners.
I hear ya Sam. I appreciate your honesty on this blog. It’s the owner of the fitness business that makes the business, and that’s it.
This was an epic post, the shockwaves of which are going to influence the personal training business for a very long time to come. A lot’s been said here which is great because it saves me the time of writing up too much about my feeling of the men and XYZ, but here are two of the biggest lessons not talked about and they are from Sam. They deal with Sam’s values and how he feels about:
1. people playing with his money
2. disloyalty, disrespect, or lack of appreciation
from so called friends.
Everything starts with your balls and that’s one of the biggest lessons you can take away with this.
Sam as you know I’ve been in some of the mastermind groups so have knowledge of what you’re talking about here. And for that matter, except for some of the ultra-negative personal attacks made by a few commenters, I cosign pretty much everything said here.
Now let who is without sin cast the first stone. And in my case, I am definitely not without sin. I’ve used a lot of the man’s tactics myself in my time, have been ultra-late to never in paying affiliate money, late on refunds, and didn’t make an XYZ payment for the mere fact taht I didn’t have the cash flow at the time. But that being said, I feel I’ve owned up in some ways because I’m working my butt off doing every day what the XYZ founders can only hype about.
If you remember, just a short few months ago I had a pretty long post here about why I joined XYZ. Not the only mistake I’ve made, believe that. I joined XYZ out of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of missing out, fear of failure, fear of rejection etc. Well, it is precisely these fear the XYZ founders are ultra-skilled at preying on. For anyone that’s been misled here, I’m gong to tell you it’s probably for the same reasons and these same fears inside of you.
The XYZ guys are really good at finding and preying into people’s fears and self doubt. Unfortunately that’s all they’re good at. Not building a business model that can be run by their licensees, not giving customer service, not at running a coaching program, and not at creating anything unique.
But Sam, you’re not totally off the hook here either. Some of the folks you co-sign in the internet marketing space, Ryan Deiss and Russel Brunson among them, have been known to use the same tactics as XYZ at an even higher level. It is from the “get rich quick by just pushing a button
on the internet while you sit on the beach” internet marketing space that XYZ have learned all of their tactics.
Now these same tactics in the hand of ethical marketers like Dean Jackson, Joe Polish, Sam, and even mean ole Dan, who basically invented this shit can be powerful, if occasionally cheesy at the same time. But when the emperor has no clothes, is when you get what you see here with XYZ.
If XYZ stayed what it started as, a fun low cost coaching group that brought a lot of like minded people together.
And if they realized the asset they had in Sam being on their side (his testimonial is basically waht made me buy XYZ) they wouldn’t have any problems. But we’re maybe seeing some deeper personal issues at work here, like what Sam pointed out, becoming BFFs with your business partner 3 months after you meet them. Again, let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and I definitely am not.
The cautionary tale here is that if your business, any business, turns ONLY into operation money suck WITHOUT giving MORE, REAL value than what you are asking, you are fucked. Please do not underestimate the value of studying marketing, persuasion, and influence as these are the differentiating factors. But just back it up. That’s all you gotta do – at the end of the day, make your absolute best effort to back it up.
And yeah, Sam is right in that a lot of hallucinogens are probably at play here, but that’s another story. XYZ RIP? Not if there are a lot of other fearful trainers lining up waiting to get suckered as I’m sure there are. But if you read this site, count yourself as extremely lucky because now you can finally see the bullshit from the light.
P.S. Sam, does this count as my blog post for the month bro?
P.P.S. John, you were so fucking right. You are free to noogy me and say I told you so.
My final thoughts
*********************************************************************
1) I would never put a competing business in the same town as my “friend” prior to consulting with him to see if he/she was OK with it. I am soon opening up boot camps in Las Vegas and Anaheim Hills. If I can’t have a win win with my boy Justin in LV and a win win with my boy Sako in Anaheim hills then guess what? Yep I will not do it. No amount of money is worth ruining a friendship over. That’s why my boot camp partner Alejandra and I have such an awesome relationship cuz we both know our friendship is infinitely more important than $$$.
2) I would never hire my “friends” former assistant without his prior consent. Just not my style. Big Chris’s former assistant hit me up for a job but I didn’t hire her. Not my style.
3) Kaiser put it perfectly when he said: I don’t like when people play with my money which also means they are playing with my families future.
4) I also feel disrespected for not at least telling me that they are putting a competing business in my town no matter how insignificant they are (it’s the principle).
5) After putting tens of thousands of dollars in their pockets over the years (as you can see Kaiser was just one of many who bought in because of me) this is how I am appreciated?
6) Having said all of that I ran into “the man” yesterday at the 24 hour fitness totally by accident and we had a conversation. (We both missed our workout). I told him what I stated above and asked him to explain A and B below.
A) Why he put a competing business in my area without at least telling me about it. No matter how insignificant it’s the principle. (First time I found out was my wife seeing the ribbon cutting on facebook. She then asked me “I thought that was your friend.”
B) Why did he deny that he put the anonymous nasty comment left on my blog that matched his IP address.
His response to question A was that the Eckerman’s moved here and needed to make more than $15 per hour. So they decided to supplement their income by opening a XYZ.
(he could have said no just like I have turned down people for coaching over the years)
His response to question B was that they later found out that one of their employee (a very loyal one) put that comment on my blog and on their blogs. That employee was fired and replaced by my former assistant.
I also let him know that in no shape or form am i insinuating he is a bad guy or all his products are bad.
He also informed me that he is planning on opening up 5 locations himself including one in Maui.
********************************************************************
Conclusion:
To this date I am thankful to “The man” and will give him credit for some of my success early on. I still love his family including his wife and kids. I still have love for him even though I do not see eye to eye with him these days at ALL. I am not the type of person who will hold grudges forever and look the other way 10 years later. I am however the guy who will have an all out brawl, say what I have to say and then can go and have a couple of cold ones afterwards. (That’s why I love east coast cuz you don’t have to ever guess where you stand with people)
So the lines have been crossed: They have opened up XYZ boot camp and hired my former assistant without at least informing me about it. And so I have decided to purchase the VERY popular Super Trainer blog which according to Alexa.com gets more traffic than both of their blogs in the US and it’s a more authoritative site according to Google PR4 VS PR3.
Are they going to close down XYZ in my town to make things right? Of course not I wouldn’t want them to. It just would have been nice to know and not find out through my wife on Facebook.
Are they all of a sudden going to get rid of my former assistant to make things right? Of course not I wouldn’t want them to. Would have been nice to get a courtesy call.
So now instead of working together we have become competitors. Not at all what I wanted but it’s the hand that I was dealt.
Should I feel bad because I offer coaching program? Should I feel bad cuz I have some KILLER products on the way? Should I feel bad if I decided to have an exclusive invite only live event?
*********************************************************************
What Can Your Learn From This:
1) If you have a client that’s been your “evangelist” and your “spokesperson” take care of them at all cost. Don’t ever forget the people who have helped you get where you are along the way no matter how big you have gotten over the years. Where I come from that’s what keeping it real is all about. People who make it and they forget where they come from and those who have helped them along the way.
2) Don’t EVER assume something is OK without asking first. Especially if it’s a friend and it has a potential to take away from his family. God knows I have turned down many, many coaching clients just because I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. So many so that they come out of no where and remind me that I turned them down before for that particular reason.
3) Always take friendship over money. Money you can always make but once you lose trust and respect it’s going to be VERY hard to get that back.
4) I am not very religious but my wife Johnette is. So today she dragged me to church and pastor Chris gave us a sheet of paper that said.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take a hold of the life that is truly life”.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Yo Sam,
I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all the great information you have been providing on your blog. It’s totally refreshing to see someone exposing the truth and providing great information.
I actually signed up for Hochman’s coaching program and, from the beginning, had the thought in the back of my mind that it was bullshit. All of the info he ever provided for me I could have gotten for free on his blog. He even told me when I was thinking about signing up that he was going to be “closing down the coaching program soon” and he is still offering it. Huh, guess you were right in saying that he feeds off of fear.
Thank you so much for showing me the light and helping to put me on a new path. I’m even trying to figure a budget to get to Joe Polish’s marketing event just so I can actually meet some cool folks like yourself and learn from the best. Keep up the good work!
Hey Sam, How are you brotha?
I just had to stop by and tell you I am SOOOOOOO thankful for you taking over supertrainer and delivering the KILLER content that you have been. You have inspired me to stop building some one elses brand and to do my own thing.
It has been something I have been contemplating for quite some time now and let me tell you. BEST decision I have ever made
This whole situation with OSF (you know who they are) has been getting to me so bad I havent been able to sleep. I can honestly say I wouldnt have made the transition without you.
We have only met twice and you have taken more time to talk to me and reply to me comments than ANY other so called “guru” in the industry and it has meant so much to me.
Just from the little time that you have been putting out this amazing content, my business has exploded.
NOBODY has inspired me or motivated me the way you do and there are NO words that can explain how grateful I am.
I know your time is valuable so I apologize for the long message but I just had to let you know the impact you have made on my business and my life.
Thanks for keeping it real brotha.
I am very sad to hear this. I first met you at this years FBS11 and you were very helpful and were willing to give me some good info. You told me it would be a great idea to join Bedros’s group, and I am very glad I did. Yes I see through a lot of the shit, but all of you have to sell, sell, sell. We all do every day. I just want everybody to know that any body new to running a new fitness buss, should invest in a coach. Bedros, Sam, Big Chris, either way you are going to better you bus. I know I have and I have him to thank. My only opinion is I wish you all could have hashed this out personally not to turn anybody away from the coaching a lot of people need.
Sam:
I have followd many of the aforementioned guys from blogs to blogs. My biggest gripe almost 2yrs ago was when I called out your old friend on his sight…you remember it, because it caused a heat wave of people coming after me because I called him the Tony Robbins of the fitness marketing world, with no MBA or background in business and basically just a big SCAM.
So after seeing this and reading what you and others have posted, it really comes down to a few things.
1. Opinons are like assholes, everyone has one
2. Men have big egos and like one of your followers posted, it’s a big cock fight to pump ones chest on who is the best fitness marketer or fitness guy out there.
3. Until the fitness industry gets REGULATED, where folks have to have proper licenses, bond, insurance, exercise science degrees, proper PT or CSCS certs, etc…..then the industry will continue to pull the wool over the eyes of the most important people…..THE CONSUMER…..so like the business saying goes “Caveat Emptor”
4. At the end of the day, folks should know their lane…if they train, then train, if they want to be fitness marketers, then do that, don’t go back and forth.
A while ago Sam, you were a Bodybuilder, a Board Certified Chiroprator, who then got caught up in all this Mastermind Group bullshit, only to find out their are weasels in all these groups who only care about one thing…..MONEY.
So, what do you do, tell all of the guys you have worked with to F-Off, and do your own thing. Stay training, do your chiropractic care for folks and let the other bullshitters keeping blogging….maybe even pass this shit with Super Trainer to someone else and move on…..life is too short.
If you have fun running your fitness facilities, then do that, train your trainers, do chiropratic treatments, and most importantly, focus on the family.
That is why I never bought into the bullshit and called him on the informational product scam crap that was being peddeled.
Too many Mastermind Groups, Seminars, Sumits, etc….where do you draw the line…..I will tell you where, only go to Seminars and Summits that are in line with your PT or CSCS cert.
If you want to learn business models, take your ass back to college, get a good base and learn by reading from businessmen like Jobs, Gates, Trump, Buffett, or even go back to well known books from the 80’s from Dr. Michael Porter from Harvard with regards to Strategic Management or Marketing.
But nowadays, folks are too lazy to get educated or argue how college is not for them, but yet to profess their undying love for the Robbins, Polish’s, Trumps, etc…workshops or seminars…..so what’s the freakin difference of putting that money into college or going to a CEU or CEC for your profession? NOTHING
There is so much shit being peddeled on the internet, that I feel sorry for you and others that got involved with folks where there main goal was not helping others, but just to line their pockets with more money.
In closing Sam, you may agree to disagree with my observations, but they come from 20+ years of military service leading people, earning my MBA, being a fitness trainer with military and civilian sectors since 1993, teaching college Marketing, and running a couple businesses, one construction and one a bootcamp.
I am glad you woke up to smell the coffee and that when it’s all said and done, you are right, no money is worth ruining a business relationship, friendship, and if the bullshit meter goes off, it’s time to pop smoke and move on with your life….because at the end of the day, it’s all about family and friends and not the money.
Take care and take some of this ol Sarge’s advise and get out of this whole fitness marketing crap ASAP.
I just read this (I know, late right?) but I WISH I would have known this back in August before I wasted time on useless campaigns that I later came to find out didn’t work for any xyz owner. it was after finding out that practically everyone had shitty results with the company that I decided to leave that bullshit behind and go out on my own.
You know, it’s amazing. prior to hopping on board xyz I had a good client following and was commanding decent rates (lowest was $90/hr). I was working minimal hours and living comfortably.
As soon as I started following the very broken “business” models of xyz did I really, REALLY suffer. I began losing a TON of clients until I lost ALL of them due to the shady business practices of xyz that they recommended their licensees to follow. I had a good client following and then had to restart at ZERO. Do you know how that feels? To think that you are being offered a great opportunity and then finding out that you’re wasting time on bullshit campaigns like lead boxes (seriously, those generated NOTHING) and having to become DESPERATE and feel like you’re just a brand new trainer with zero credibility?
Not to mention that every single “powerful” marketing piece they recommended was constantly being “2.0’d” when the first one didn’t work for anyone. Then I later come to find out that one half of “the men” didn’t build his bootcamp with his own techniques, he simply just came across money from a refinancing of his house and that is how he had startup money, NOT through some shitty referral client-hounding program that he has since updated 6 times (and he keeps changing his story on how he did it). First he trained people for free in exchange for referrals and that built his business to 6 figures. Then he charged random people a 75% discount. Then he charged professional (like doctors and therapists) referrals of friends. Then he charged his friends. And so on. If he finally found a perfect method to get on pace for 6 figures, why did he have to keep changing his story all the time? Why not recommend the best way to do it if you tried all those? That’s like me attempting to build a car, then succeeding after 6 attempts, but telling people to build a car the first way that failed me, saying it was the best. Makes no sense unless he is just making it up as he goes along.
Of course, I should have done my homework so I blame myself first and foremost. but when I bought in, i knew nothing of this. This was back in June. I tried and tried to find negative reviews but couldn’t. This surfaced in August and by then, I already had signed a lease on my space and now I’m already in this fully, I can’t really get out. I now need to make it on my own or else put my future in jeopardy.
At the end of the day, I am the true sucker here. I was sold a dream and was hooked, then reeled in. These last few months have been hell ever since my career as a fitness professional took a turn for the worst once I started following xyz. Whatever business sense I had before xyz could have carried me to six figures (albeit slowly but without the risk that now I can’t shake).
Hopefully I can put out the huge fire that this has set on my business in time before I go belly up.
Its good to hear people getting involved, obviously we all would like the truth. I think the #1 thing anyone can do is Over deliver, as I have owned some strong franchises but in the end you need to always over deliver and customers will almost always come back!
So if we over deliver like Pat does every day ,then your business and everything connected to it will drive forward!
Maybe not as quick as you would like at times, but just by taking action and following rules / guide lines will give you a foundation and structure! Thank you.
WOW… All this ‘Bashing’ is unbelievable! All because of the mighty DOLLAR! It’s very unprofessional in my opinion. I wouldn’t do business with any of you!