This past weekend I attended a great workshop up in Providence, RI given by two of the fitness industry’s best….. Rachel and Alwyn Cosgrove.  The workshop was for fitness business owners and trainers to help get them from “Counting Reps, to Counting Revenue” as the workshop is titled.

This workshop was very beneficial in so many ways and their transparency was incredible.  I have never been to a seminar where the presenters actually show you their acutal numbers!!  This was not only tremendously helpful to use as a model but also to see that these guys are really doing what they teach.  Amazing…

I recommend this to all fitness professionals looking to make a difference…

http://performbetter.com/catalog/matriarch/OnePiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_356_A_PageName_E_CosgroveBusinessSeminars

Anyway… one thing that really stuck with me from the weekend was when Rachel said, “sometimes you need to jump and know that the net will appear”.

In our culture it can seem like taking risks is a dangerous thing to do.  But when I look back, I have never achieved anything playing it safe.  We can all have a tendency to wait for things to be perfect and operate with fall back plans.  What if the waiting, the familiar of being in your comfort zone, and the need for a safety net is the very reason why you are not getting where you want to go?

Right now I can think of about 5 things in my life right now that I am navigating without a “safety net”.  Is it scary?  You bet!!  But I wouldn’t want it any other way.

This past year has been a year of transition for me and I think it has been for many people.  It seems in the current state of the world people are looking a lot closer at what is most important in life.   Myself included.  This post is about what is important to me.

Our purpose at All 4 Sports and Fitness is to generate and support healthy lifestyles in the surrounding community through sports and fitness programming, service, and education.  Whether it be an advertisement that goes out, a speed training program we run for a lacrosse team, or hiring a person to run the children’s fitness program… that has been the idea that drives any action we take.

The more I think about this lately the more I realize that we are not in the “gym” business any more.  The access model is long gone and although the low cost “big box” gyms will still attract people who want to pay for something and not use it…. I don’t think that is the long term strategy that people need right now.

Here is the problem.

The old model only provides people with a place to work out but we all know that does not guarantee results.  A lot needs to happen for you to get what you want out of a membership.  While we are on this subject of results, lets define that for a moment because I think that is where most of us set ourselves up for failure.  I think most people define results as changing something about themselves that they don’t like.  Problem is that the entire time that they are working on changing it they are completely focused on what they don’t like.  When you focus on something with that kind of energy it makes it extremely difficult to change.

Can you start to see how this has been a problem?  We have the wrong motivation from the start and couple that with a “body building” focused gym environment… Maybe this is why only 16% of Americans have joined a health club and we are the fattest nation in the world!!

Down the road I have heard that the solution may be using technology to track the activity levels and intensity of people to give them a financial motivation (lower insurance premiums) to live a fit and active lifestyle…..  Or maybe even having the companies pay for everyone’s healthy costs like memberships and trainers…. But until that time people must be motivated for themselves.

My goal this year is to set up the optimal environment for that to happen.

Do I have any idea how I am going to do that?  Not a clue!!  But I do know it is going to be fun!!

I think it all started after September 11th when they played some gutsy games against the D- backs but came up short.

Or maybe it was when Pedro threw Don Zimmer to the ground on that cold day in Boston.

I’m not sure….

Two years ago I had the opportunity to work with them in Spring Training, and that pretty much solidified my loyalty to the team.

My good buddy Dana Cavalea is their Strength and Conditioning Coach and I couldn’t be happier for him after the big win last night!!!

This year Dana will be hosting the 2nd Annual Major League Strength Coaches Clinic.

It will be held at St. John’s University on November 21st.

I am honored to be speaking at the event again and if you are a baseball coach or know a baseball coach this is an event that should not be missed.

Check out the lineup…

Periodization and Functional Progressions for Baseball (Jay Shiner, Strength Coach of the Baltimore Orioles)

Speed Development - Linear and Lateral Progressions (Frank Dolan, All 4 Sports and Fitness)

Injury Prevention and Recognition of the Shoulder and Elbow (Brian Becker, Excel Physical Therapy)

Pitching Mechanics, Warm- ups, and the Importance of Training (John Habyan, Fomer Major League Pitcher and Head Coach of St. John the Baptist D.H.S.)

Load to Explode Power Progressions (Jeff Cavaliere, Head Physical Therapist and Strength Coach of the New York Mets)

Trends of the Modern Day Ball Player (Dana Cavalea, Strength Coach of the New York Yankees

MLS COACHES CLINIC INFORMATION

St. John’s University, Saturday, November 21st

Early Bird Registration only $199

CLICK HERE to sign up

Train like a PRO at this 1-day event! You’ll learn how to become a better baseball and softball specific performance coach or trainer. This event is perfect for the coach that wants to understand strength and conditioning, or the trainer looking to enhance their knowledge of sports-specific movement based education and protocols.

Here’s your chance to learn from some of Major League Baseball’s top strength and conditioning coaches, and take your program to the next level.

Most baseball and softball coaches have very little background on strength and conditioning and do drill after drill, without knowing WHY! This clinic will answer all of your questions.

CLICK HERE to sign up

Please pass this information on to any baseball or softball coaches you know.

Coach Frank Dolan

Tennis Pro Steve Kaplan

Yesterday, Steve Kaplan (of Bethpage Tennis Club) and I presented it to the trainers of Equinox Fitness Clubs in NYC.

Here is a short highlight reel of the event.

Watch this clip.  Think about what you want.  Then choose if it is possible or impossible.

Could it be as simple of making up your mind?