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In my professional and personal life, I have always sought to lead people, teams and projects with one mission: positive influence and impact. As founder of Revolution Personal Training Center, I lead an award winning private studio to impact thousands of lives using the concepts I still teach today. As President of Elevate Your Life from 2016, I switched into a consulting role providing mentoring to those seeking to build a business in the fitness industry. I have effectively taught thousands of people on sales and leadership, generating millions in sales in the fitness and wellness space, as well as multiple award winning and recognized top producers in nationwide companies. Today, I am focused on writing and sharing what I have learned along the way. Uncommon Optimism is the underlying theme of knowing that NO MATTER what life throws our way, we are always able to focus on what we can control - ourselves… Join me on the journey as I share what I've learned to help you elevate your self, your business, and your life.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Some XTeam Results from My Pilot Program

In the beginning the idea was to provide better service and results than personal training, create a product people could stick with and afford long term.

This program is around $200/month.  Do you think its working?

Comment on Facebook and stay tuned.   More to come, these were just a few that Krissy, our 9:30 Xteamer was kind enough to put together for us.  I will post more when they come!

~Anna
P.S.  THe program is just 14 weeks old, so all of these results are the quick story, not the final report.  Not by a long shot!


Paula has been to every nutrition seminar, even had me to teach one at her school for their weight loss group, she designed and shared the meal planning template I just shared on the XTeam FB Group and has not missed 1 session.  She has a PAC Team and uses the program.  The best thing about this picture is that the scale has not moved much at all!  Not even 10 pounds despite buttkicking workouts 3 times a week and training for a 10K.  But she had no idea how much progress she had made just using the scale until she saw these.  And with the encouragement and validation of pictures, she is stronger than ever and I CAN'T WAIT to share her pictures on January 1.

Krissy tried once before, came back and this time, she asked questions, submitted a food log, came to the seminar, did her PAC Team reporting religiously and followed the off day cardio plans.  SHE HAS LOST 20 POUNDS!!!!!!


This is about 8-10 weeks so around 2 months.  Ryan is a model of good nutrition and doesn't have an ounce of quit in him.  He is committed to the program.  He shared a recipe for the group and even shared our workout playlist-he is an invaluable team player.  He brings 110%.  He's lost over 6 pounds of fat and obviously added some muscle;-)


Leslie is cracking me up in picture 3 with that expression..but who is really looking at her face right???SHEESH!  Her body fat went down 1%.  That is NOT EASY when you are already a lean machine!!!  Thanks to Leslie for loaning me Insanity so I can keep their cardio segments fresh, and for sharing recipes and encouragement and inspiration.


I just got off a text conversation with Jenn about which Almond Milk to buy while she was at Publix and we've had a couple of coaching calls, and she's been to every seminar.  She is truly a cornerstone of our team.  She has given 200% of herself to learning this journey and being there for the Team and paying it forward to others in her life.  The change here is breathtaking.  She's lost 18 pounds of fat, and 2 dress sizes.  She started with private training to build a foundation before XTeam started.  Now look at her!  At around 2 and a half months she is lifting with the guys and frankly all her clothes are too big, she doesn't even look like the same person..I think the only thing that hasn't shrunk is her hair and her shoes.

Head over to our Facebook Wall and let us know what you really think?  Is personal training dead for your average Joe and Jane? Let me know.











Anna Smith, NASM CPT
The Revolution Personal Fitness Center
results. driven. fitness.


Revolution Fitness on FACEBOOK

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Backing Up - Before Step 1

Creating Conditions for Success

True or False:  You can give identical service to a client that has a decided heart and one that is wishing for an easy quick fix and get totally different results.  So why waste Client B's money and your time (no referral ever comes from no results)?  Creating results and closing deals begins with pre-qualification.

While especially in this economy it is tempting to sign and take money from anything that breathes, this a step that MUST occur before you get face-to-face with a prospect and that can be scary.  Think of this as 3 items on a check list you need to check off before you spend your time in a consult with a potential new cleint

1) Require them to show you their desire by 'velvet roping' your program.  The velvet rope means only accepted applications get in.  Use a questionnaire to ensure that you are going to be talking to someone who desires to do the work.  They aren't Client B and they aren't going to be around Client B - it shows those who get in that we are ALL serious.  This sets you up to work with people who will get results and get more than their value from your services.  Be prepared to turn people away or you will nullify the system.

Steps 2 and 3 forthcoming!  Comment on FACEBOOK if you are interested in hearing more.
P.S. TO READ ABOUT STEP 1 IN THIS SERIES "THE NUMBER 1 REASON TRAINERS FAIL" CLICK HERE





Tuesday, September 20, 2011

I refuse

Not long ago I took an oath.  It was last Tuesday to be exact.  I took an oath to have faith.  Faith is a toughie.  It requires that you, gasp, let go, gulp, of control.  Now, it's a natural thing to have your sights set on some outcome and to work hard, overcoming obstacles and making sacrifices and therefore really, really want to see your goal met.  That is not the characteristic of a control freak or anything, but it can be exhausting without faith. Then there is the misnomer that if you "just have faith" then it will all work out.  Well that can be a recipe for unhappiness AND lack of success. Here is the difference.

In order to accomplish whatever it is you want, if you work hard and have no faith then you will feel overwhelmed by the stumbling blocks, and heart broken over the obstacles that teach you how to grow.  You take everything as a "sign."  And you feel freaked out that things aren't turning out.

If you have no faith and hold off on working hard, then as I said yesterday, you lose.  Its unfulfilling.  Also faith alone will not do the work.  It reminds me of a song I love, I can't recall the artist.

I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
I could choose not to move
But I refuse
But there is the combination of hard work and faith that has been enlightening.  How willing are you to let go of your outcome?  I know you are destined for greatness, and I believe you have something no body else can give.  But are you open to the fact that what you have in mind right now may not the be where you end up?  That your hard work will land you right where you are supposed to be, even if its not exactly what you had planned?

There is freedom in the willingness to set goals and work hard for an outcome holding on to pure faith that things will be what they are supposed to be in the end as long as you do your part.

There is freedom in faith!

Monday, September 19, 2011

The Lie Successful People Do Not Believe About Hard Work

Its a myth that people who work hard always reach their goals. Do you know any miserable people, who work themselves silly, and still are not getting what they want.  OK, so we all agree on that.

In the movie LIMITLESS, Bradley Cooper is able to get rich and successful by taking a pill.  And while I have not seen it,  I anticipate his journey does not end well.  We are not intended to become happy through a series of instant gratifications are del?

At least I have never met a happy person, who became happy or successful that way. I figure he will achieve great things, then want more and become insatiable and fall hard from the heights he rises to.


What an excellent comment on the alternative to the real route we must take to reach our goals.  

Since being your best is not a quick fix journey,What is the alternative to a success pill?  I always think about this when the going gets tough.



First think of a goal.
Then, think of your mindset, or approach to that goal.

Is it to work hard? 
Endure the lessons?
Overcome fear and/or failure?


That's Option 1. Here's Option 2.


Work hard until it gets hard?
Quit before we start?
Dabble here and there, work and stay busy, 'multitasking,' doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result?
Hope for luck?


Frankly there is no guarantee for success  with either!!!!!! 


Option 1 clearly takes perseverance and focus, which is a bit counter culture these days.  In the era of remote control everything, protein shakes, and quick 140 character text messages, we are starting to see email as the "new snail mail"-  I can tweet it and facebook it to to 400% more readers simultaneously than I can blog and email anymore, and research shows if its more than 140 characters I will lose the reader.

SHAZAM.  

It's no wonder we want to do things and do them in a hurry.   


But, is it a mistake that we find ourselves most happy, and most satisfied because we exercised self-disclipline, overcame a fear, did the right thing, and so forth....regardless of the outcome?  It is really that you must "work hard so you will be happy, regardless of the goals achieved"?  Maybe.


The most inspiring successes are from those who at first failed their butts off.  Bradley aside, I still have never heard nor read of anyone who just woke up fit and rich one day.  The hard truth is they had a hard time and there were tears shed, relationships tested, faith tested, doubts entertained, and tempers flaired.  And while I think the pill Bradley takes that eventually ruins his life would be a bummer, what if I never quite get there and I've sacrificed all the above or [insert imagined sacrifices here]?  Now, that is a tough pill to swallow.  


But, your alternative is to never try.  And if you never try, you'll never know.  And to me that *IS* a guarantee for an unhappy, unfulfilled life.  While you may work hard and never get what you are aiming for...if you avoid committing to it, you will never have a story to tell.  You'll never have the chance to fail your butt off and figure out what you are supposed to be doing.

In his book Today Matters, Brian Tracy (more of our recommended mindset books here) really makes you stop and think about how you define success.  How would you know you had a good day?  Does that align with the goals 
you have set for yourself?  This is a key step for anyone seeking success.  You don't have to think so much about the hard work part, that is a requirement for the happy part.  If the success part comes, then even better.




So, if I define success as using my life for some greater purpose, for some good, learning to become better and better everyday, as a Mom, a trainer, an entrepreneur and friend, and being willing to go for it in all those arenas and learn the lessons along the way, regardless of the outcome, then that beats the snot out of Option 2.





Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Be. Do. Have


Below is an email I relieved today that enriched me enough to share.  Hope every on is enriched today!
Anna

(From Matt Warren, AdvoCare Nutrition Diamond Leader...)





- If I get on the treadmill and set it for 20 minutes, but I stop at 12 minutes... I didn't honor my word...
- If I tell someone I'll email them a document but don't, I didn't honor my word...
- If you tell me you'll ring me tomorrow with more details and tomorrow comes and goes and I don't hear from you... you didn't honor your word...
- If I have to take another call, promise to call you back, and then I don't... I didn't honor my word...

And when we don't honor our word in little things, it trickles into every area of life and ultimately the big things... and the fruit 
(or lack of) in our life will reflect it...

It's tempting to be a flake when it seems we're in a culture that simply has a hard time keeping it's word in both little & big things... 

I was never a "flake", but I certainly pulled a few "flip flops" in my 20's that drew harsh criticism from people whom I respected... I needed it... and I decided to change EVEN the little things...

I'm far from perfect... but I DID get to a point in my life where I:
-          did what I said I was going to do...
-          called people whom I said I'd call...
-       had necessary conversations even if uncomfortable
-          moved forward with commitments that weren't comfortable...
-          avoided making commitments I knew I couldn't keep...
-          gave people advance notice when I couldn't deliver on my commitments...
-          began apologizing profusely when I couldn't deliver on my commitments... (key!)

I read a book at a time in my life (2002) where I decided to live differently... the book radically changed my perspective on ALWAYS KEEPING MY WORD, EVEN WITH THE LITTLE THINGS...

"THE 4 AGREEMENTS"  by Don Miguel Ruiz

The first "AGREEMENT" he encourages to make with yourself is:

Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

  
Things changed in radically positive ways for me when I began to take my word seriously... it's like stepping onto a different playing field in the game of life... you'll like the company you'll be keeping when you choose to step in the arena of "people who keep their word"... (if you're not there already)...

And guess what?  I don't have many folks who flake on me... because I'm not attracting them into my life and I've gotten good at qualifying people before I'll move into business with them... if I don't sense integrity, I'll not progress with appointments, etc... so if you're getting pooped on often, accept responsibility that either 1) the favor is getting returned to you, or 2) you're an eagle who's mingling with turkeys.

Be. Do. Have.


BLOG: Decisions Determine Destinations - the addendum

 I DISPISE SELF PITY. I spent a career learning and teaching how to take outside circumstances and keep them emotionally and physically sepa...