Making Your Workout Crazy Fun For Your Clients

Hey Chris and Jaiya,

This post has me rolling on the floor in tears of laughter. The first reason is that I was there when Jaiya sh*t himself. The best part of that story is that the toilet became clogged and overflowed. There was floating sh*t coming out of the bathroom. Secondly, I am having my computer read this post while I am eating some pasta. The computer voice is over-the-top hilarious on this post. Try it!

Jaiya once threw a stuffed rat over my prospect's shoulder while I was going through the sales close with her. Result: she freaked at first, then I reassured her that Jaiya was just a guy we let hang out at the gym once in a while in a clown outfit to entertain the kids, then she signed up for 12 months of training on auto-debit.

Good times man! Great post.

Chris, I think you should have tried to wear the Naked Sailor's khaki shorts. Holy crap, that was a funny video.

I have a client that says "Any cock will do"
haha

great post dude!

I'd like to withdraw my email subscription. While you have some wonderful tips to help me in my PT business, a lot of times I'm offended by the content (language in particular). Thanks a lot for the advice thus far. It's just not worth reading the crude content along with the good.

lol..didnt know other trainers did this kind of stuff…on valentine's day I dressed up as a "healthy heart" and gave my clients intensive cardio with kettlebells, medicine ball training andskipping rope work.

Tons of fun.

Awesome Post! The best part of it is not only will your clients love you and talk about your workouts all the time…it allows you to have a great time while you're working. Killer stuff!

Lol @ Shelley

byeeeee nice havin u

This is comedy to me!

Dude its great to fill someone with so much emotion that they unsubscribe to a multimillion dollar making blog because of bad words!

Hopefully they only watch G rated movies!

C Mccombs toned my pix down too!

You should have seen the bulge pic he took out!

lol!

James Fitness was the bomb at attracting clients too at a rediculous rate.

Still dont know what your secret was!?

Here is the best tip I can give anybody…

If you're bored during a workout, your clients were bored 15 minutes ago!

lol!

Jaiya Fgueras

That is sooo cool. Definately going to make it happen at Succeed Bootcamp real soon.
Looks like a real hoot and something I know my clients would love…

Soo funny (the girls liked him)

Damn you mcombs…funny b&s^$rd…is Shelley Taylor serious?

are you kidding me? You poo your pants and wear a stupid hat and that helps you get referrals and retain clients? Wow your market must be a little different to the one that i work in! Can you please explain to me again how having an insect or something SCARY is going to help my business and me get new clients? A cock named Spock are you kidding me?
Perhaps you should look more at customer service and hitting your client goals and less about stuffing your crotch and getting 4 foot tall male stripper.
Just a thought.

@Mark @ 3:50 pm

Hey Mark, I can understand where you're coming from

However Jaiya delivers TOP NOTCH customer service, that's a given, but customer service won't pull in referrals by the boat load.

Jaiya makes his workouts so crazy and fun that his clients can't wait to tell there friends about it

Just like my bud Steve Hochman, his crazy workouts are shared at water coolers all around town the next day

This just isn't possible even with the best of customer service… fun and experience is what makes this possible

Results are important

Customer service is important

In fact, if that stuff isn't in place than doing all this is useless

But making the workouts insanely fun is one of the best referral magnets I know of

Is it for every trainer? No

Do some people get offended? Yes

Can it be done in a more 'G' rated version? Of course

Jaiya is a master at getting referrals… I've seen this method work first hand… it's a sick strategy

But it isn't for everyone and if your customer service isn't place, DEFINITELY get that handled first

Now this is funny stuff!!! I love it when people can have fun at work. Aside from the financial aspects being better, I went to work for myself because I was sooooo sick of the overly politically correct people I had to deal with. Case and point…Shelly and Mark.

Shelly, really? You will pass on great advice because you dont like the methods used by another trainer in another state. Have an open mind. WOW!

Mark, I dont even know what to say to you dude! I think Jaiya will take you up on your advice when he stops making in a month what you make in a year.

These people getting wound up about this are as bad as the ones here in Denver a couple year back in an uproar about "The Anti-gym" where trainers would throw twinkies at you, call you fat if you didnt work hard, and handcuff you to cardio equipment. Remember people, just because its not your cup of tea doesnt me it must be shitwater.

Keep it up Jaiya and I'd love to see some more vids and pics of this comedy.

P.S. Sorry for cussing Shelly

Mark I'm not kidding.

In my book, as well as thousands of other trainers, customer service and hitting client goals is a given.

But if you would like some pointers on customer service, here are two great books that I read over and over again while I'm doing poo poo at home(on purpose):

1. The Starbucks Experience by Joseph Michelli
2. How to Win friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

If you have ever studied out of the box marketers like Mask from Tapout, Patch Adams, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, and Prince:

They broke the traditional dress attire of three piece suit and staying in the box with all of the other unknown performers that just relied on the fundamentals of sales and marketing.

You might be saying to yourself, I'm not a performer.

But you really are on stage as group trainer.

All eyes are on you.

Muhammed Ali broke the tradition of a quiet black boxer that was supposed to be quiet and "respectful" like all of the black fighters before him.

He is a legend.

My company's (Your Next Victory) motto is Move outside the Box and we live and breathe by it.

As far as clients getting good workouts.

I came from an old school tradition of training:

My high school track coach John Barnes was an NCAA Champion and Olympian in the 50's (any training from the 50s is militant and gets results for insane people like me). But everyone isn't insane
like me.

My college football Coaches at the University of Oregon
Rich Brooks: NCAA 1995 Division 1 coach of the year
Mike Bellotti: NCAA 2000 Division 1 runner up coach of the year

My college strength and conditioning Coach: Jimmy Radcliffe is one of the pioneers of plyometrics and known all around the world as well.

90% of all of my female clients have the body fat percentage of world class swimmers but they have regular jobs like you and me.

Spock the Cock is actually stuffed and I brought him from rite aid during their fall season sale and he is memorable.

He's made an impression on you, and you haven't even worked out with us yet.

Imagine what he does for our clients.

The cock plus the unboring workout is legendary!

Well…

I wasn't going to post on this one but since you asked again Chris, lol.

I have listened to many fitness professionals over the years as striving to become a successful businessman and some were good – some were great.

Chris, I gotta hand it to you and Bedros (Steve too) YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!

I think the amount of free info given on the subject of Marketing to attract more clients between the 3 of you has been remarkable.

I so appreciate every e-mail (this one was ok, I get the idea though) that comes from you guys – I actually wait anxiously to receive your blog posts.

You guys are helping me so much – I thank-you.

I am trying to grow a professional franchise in-home PT business and something like a sales copy website just can't cut what I am looking to portray.

So what does Mr. McCombs do? He blows me away with the perfect website idea – SALES copy on TV.(not your average bootcamp post)

You over-deliver all the time.

I love all your content.

For my taste foul language can stay out of business. Would I ever stop listening to you because of it – Heck No. I'd be missing out on "Fitness Success University" free tuition!

I can't thank-you enough Chris and Bedros!!!

Hey Chris,
Thanks for the reply, i have been a big fan of yours for a while now but i really think you have dropped the ball on this one.

But just so i am clear you said that these tactics are 'what is spoken about around water coolers the next day' and 'this just isn't possible even with the best of customer service' so i am just trying to imagine how this conversation would go…. can you please tell me which one would be more likely to lead to a referral;
'hey chris you look great'
'yeah thanks i have dropped 5 kilos with my trainer steve he is wonderful, and makes training so easy'
'oh really can i grab his number'

OR

'hey chris you look great'
'yeah thanks, i actually haven't lost any weight yet, and its cost me about $500, but my trainer steve is a riot, he wears really tight little shorts, has male strippers and brings a rooster named spock too each session and has scary bugs'
'oh really that sounds great can i get his number??'

yeah i didn't think so.

I am not sure if its xmas time cheer or what it is, but in an industry that is struggling for credibility and professionalism around the world with the 'short become a trainer in 8 weeks' courses that are popping up all over the place i am not sure if this is the right message to send out to trainers around the world.

We recently interviewed 50 trainers to try and fill 1 personal training position in my studio, 2 of them were acceptable 48 of them were not. In fact one of them (who didn't get the job) said that he does like to wear funny hats to entertain his clients, but when i asked him what the two oblique muscles were he replied 'left and right'. Perhaps that is case and point?

Anyway, i will get off my moral high horse, and look forward to more QUALITY posts from you next year.

Best Regards,
Mark

Hey Mark, yeah I agree you gotta get people into good shape… without that NOTHING else matters

But often times that's a long journey… usually months

***The method Jaiya describes get's referrals ASAP, even before people have had a chance to get results… that's the beauty of it

Often time the referrals come pouring in week one of a new clients training

And I agree with hiring trainers, only about 5% of the industry is worth hiring, but that's pretty much across the board in most industries

What's cool is I think a large portion of that 5% are my blog readers… if you're reading this, I'm pretty sure you're a 5%'er

Often times I find honesty and integrity to be the missing attributes, not to mention punctuality, great personality, strong values, sense of direction and a general concern for the well being and happiness of others

It's easy to take a someone who's a so-so trainer and make him a better trainer, but it's hard to turn an asshole into a good person

I've had countless trainers apply for jobs and only found a few worth hiring as well… that's why we use a pretty in-depth interview and hiring process these days

***P.S – Keep in mind the part where Jaiya accidentally pooped himself was just an accident that happened and isn't actually part of the story… however the entire gym was rolling like crazy… definitely NOT a recommended strategy

Chris and Jaiya,

Thank you for posting that great blog. For the most part, people love genuine, sincere, and transparent people. The "What you see is what you get" works no doubt. For the rest of you….completely understand that you can't emulate what Jaiya does and you can't be "crazy". It does take a certain type of person to be crazy…..it can be done!

And hey, if you think this is too much and rude……well stuffy people need trainers too.

I second you Shelley…and jin you're a moron

Surey you aren't advocating to YOUR subscribers that shitting one's pants is a from of client referral?

How do you explain what was in that email?

Did you even read it before you sent it out?

I hope you didn't or you're part of the 95%.

I'm with Mark and Shelley here.

How about you can all the "kilers" and "awesomes" and give your subscribers some actual usable information.

For those who are worried about their professional appearance say in a more controlled gym setting, I can relate. I started personal training at an upscale athletic club under the watchful eyes up a multi-level hierarchy of directors/managers… I found a unique way of entertaining clients, while in the process only making my fitness directors sweat a little, but for reasons different all together(ie.worried I would break my neck, lol). What I'm talking about…I developed the ability to stand the the top of an exercise ball, almost 1 legged, as well as balance on top of an exercise ball which was on top of a bosu ball. I used this and other unique, circus stunts perhaps, to shock my clients, prospects, and anyone else in the gym who have never seen anyone do such things. Oh and yes… I knew how to make it a bit dramatic, even though it became something I could do in my sleep.

I ran into a member of that gym I worked at over 3 years ago, at the store a couple weeks ago and she was still raving about the time I showed her that stunt.

So, perhaps an alternative for those trainers out there who aren't into the super funky.. do something, with some sort of every day gym equipment, that most regular gym goers, and especially non regular gym goers have never seen in a gym before. Shock people and also showcase your physical ability. Another example.. I'd say most trainers can do clapping pull-ups.. just another impressive (and less circus style than the exercise ball stunt) which you would be surprised how much people who see it will start to rave about.

Any of you who would like to know what I'd say is the least likely to break your neck path to the exercise ball stunt feel free to drop me a line. I can also post up a video on my page if anyone is interested.

Merry Christmas!

@ Troy + Mark + Shelley… I understand where you guys are coming from (mostly), and yeah some topics may upset you – but how about viewing this discussion from a 30,000 ft altitude?

If you ask me… when a Long Beach Personal Trainer can wear speedo's and stuff socks in his pants and STILL get clients… then this is a wonderful world!

It's a beautiful thing that there's an audience for every niche. Even with girls.

Some Pick-Up Artists wear funny hats and peacock themselves to get girls…

…others are 'suit-and-tie' based and have great success with that.

But you really can't argue with the great ('killer') information on this blog. It's truly incredible (It 'awesome' and 'kicks ass')

P.S. To understand the "pooping in his pants" incident, download the interview that Steve Hochman did with Jaiya in which he explains everything in detail. In that interview you'll find Jaiya to have great values and a very STRONG mindset.

So….. I was just lookin for advice on posting a Craigs list ad. Haha!!!! People are too damn serious!! Most clients work in a little cubicle all day. It's safe to be outside the box!!!! The 2 obliques are called pizza and donuts!!!! Ps. Bedros has the interview with Steve and Jaiya somewhere on his close 100 new client website. But you probably wouldn't want to listen to it because the great advice comes AFTER the bathroom story!!!!

Rock on trainers!!!!!!!

Mark and others,

In your scenario you compared getting results to not getting results. In the post, getting results was heavily discussed. One of the main ideas of this blog from Chris is that you need to think outside the normal realm of ideas and try something new and crazy.

Do you have to shit your pants? Of course not. And to anyone that only pulled that from the post, I guess you stopped reading after point 1. How many people did that pumpkin workout shit over Halloween? Or do some other type of themed workout?

Thats the same thing as being discussed here, except maybe not as "out there." Why do people love Crossfit? Because of the experience it brings. They can freakin brag about quickly they ran through Fran or any other workout. Its something to talk about. So they can talk about your workout…or about whats hot on TMZ or American Idol.

BTW, here's the interview with Jaiya where he explains the legendary accident as well as giving away some client-getting business-building nuggets

NOT for the easily offended or easily grossed out

http://www.stevehochman.com/2009/05/25/5-killer-success-principles/

This is great.

The post is actually doing its work.

If you read the beginning of the post, I say be coke and not pepsi.

That means take the information and twist it into your own unique you.

Do you have to shit you pants no. I didn't do that on purpose. But if you angerly skim over the post, its gonna look like I'm a clown trainer with a top hat that shits on himself! Lmao!

Be you unique you. Buying flowers is a great start. Five one to every client.

Buy a flower doesn't mean shit your pants or wear a clown nose. It means be different, be a legend, be memorable for the rest of the day.

Like Chris McCombs said it generally takes 90 to 180 days to get jaw dropping and consistent results of any legit program. Even the p friggin 90!

I admit, sometimes I am extreme but its always by design and well thought out.

So once again. Buying a fake rat and scaring your clients just means, being a friggin kid for once.

Remember that? No bills, less stress, just play. Scaring a client for 1 second and laughing for 1 minute does not take awayfrom the 59 minutes left in a kick ass workout. But they'll forget about the workout before they forget about the rat!

I might just stick to having clients deadlifting their own bodyweight and losing bodyfat if you don't mind.

Wow guys wtf is going on here, if you dont understand the concept on this post then just shut up and stop ranting!.

You are not god to judge him on what he does with spoock the cock or the rat on his future prospect.

jeez the whole reason this post came up is to show that that you should be unique and crazy if you want to sign up mroe people, it doesnt mean you should go and shit ur pants or put on a colored hat at your class if you feel its offending.

Just read between the lines, BE FREAKING UNIQUE! Nowhere does it say to go buy yourself a stuffed cock!

Come on guys grow up, anyways Chris you are awesome with your posts, Yes I wont go this far and bring a chicken to my class and call him cock or whatever but the ideas just gets my mind racing and I always come up with other unique ideas, and my class rakes in $400 for 50minutes of nonstop fun and I have 9 classes a week and the rest I do personal training so heck u better make it interesting if I plan on being busy for the rest of my life.

ha rock on

Are these guys serious? Training is not rocket science. Being consistent with your workouts account for about 90% of your results. If you make your programs a blast to be in, your going to get more retention and more results than making sure your client trains her internal and external obliques.

Come on, getting results is easy, getting your clients to train consistently is hard!

I loved this post! Don't take yourselves too seriously because life is just a game. If anyone does not want to train with pizaz, then just be a boring trainer. Maybe you will get happy clients and maybe you will not. Perhaps the most important things to consider are the following: (5 points)

1) Be genuine and be yourself

2) Do not worry about pleasing everyone all of the time. Some people are going to love your style and others are going to dislike you. So what if they do dislike you!

3) Produce results and run your business like a professional (be on time, have specific policies and procedures, produce real results for your clients)

4) Make the experience enjoyable for your clients. Many people work at jobs that are not fun or even enjoyable. Do you think that they want to come to a workout that is not exciting?

5)Don't you want to have clients who actually look forward to going to your workouts?

Just read the posts again and noticed the idea of a program producing great results after 90-180 days. I am going to vehemently oppose that ideology. Competent trainers and willing clients should achieve significant and visible results every three weeks. (3x a week training) Obvioulsly, a sedentary client needs to have the 1st 3 weeks as a break in period. Thereafter, results should soar!

Look here's the frickin deal…

Just a quick add here folks. Look, I understand where some of you are coming from, but you're looking at things a little too literal. No, crapping one's pants isn't exactly the answer here.

Look at the basic principle of the blog, comments, and/or posts.

Some of the greatest books out there spoke about principles and clues to success via short stories, fables, and legends. Do we FOLLOW THEM EXACTLY? DO they apply to today's standards? (e.g. the Bible)

Instead, take the meat of what they are saying and make it your own.

No, and I am NOT a weekend certified trainer, I have got my degrees, national certifications, certified UNDERGROUND STRENGTH COACH under Zach Even-Esh, was a university trainer, Fitness manager, lead trainer, blah blah blah; and I can tell you where your muscles are, the attachment sites, force production, talk about Muscle Activation techniques, blah blah blah again….

BUT, I will still be silly and come to halloween charity bootcamp day dressed as Richard Simmons and have a blast. I'll exhibit my professionalism by saying each clients name 3-5 times during a workout in positive manners. I'll be the educator and hold mini seminars on Kettlebell basics, sandbag training, groccery tours, etc..

SO you see…it is that balance but still following the principles of stepping outside the box. At the end of the day, You and I will BOTH get our clients GREAT results (because I AM that trainer), show high levels of education etc, exhibit HIGH levels of professionalism…

BUT…..I'm funnier and quirkier, will always have MORE energy and be more fun, and most importantly I'll be REMEMBERED!

Now take that to the WATER COOLER!

Belton Lubas
B.S. Pre Physical Therapy, NASM, MAT-Jumpstart CPT, Undergroud Strength Coach, BLAH BLAH BLAH certified, etc, etc, etc

Belton,
Here's the frigin deal!

I feel your passion and intensity dude! Keep it up……
It will go a long long long way……………………….

all the best,
JD

Hey Steve Hochman here -

Whether for or against Jaiya's message I LOVE everyone's PASSION.

And it's so cool that we are all unified by our passion to provide the best possible experience fro our clients.

I can understand how if you've never met Jaiya and "felt" his amazing ENERGY and charisma, his post can come off offensive.

However, both Chris and personal know and have worked with Jaiya and can can attest that he is genuinely loved and respected by both his clients, and the trainers he works with… (And he's one hell-of-a cool dude)

I remember back in high school there I had a math teacher (I hated math) who was hilarious… I couldn't wait to come to class because I wanted to see what he was going to do next.

In fact, I never skipped a class because I didn't want to miss something awesome.

That's where Jaiy's coming from.

Have an AMAZING holiday!

Rock on,
Steve

Thanks Jeff Drock!

BTW, your name sounds so action figure like. When your famous and in a Jason Bourne type movie…Mr. Jeff DROCK (LOVE IT!) lol…don't forget me. I can stunt doble…wink. Oh wait, I shouldn't joke around like this because I may lose clients or not get any referrals.

My bad…..(heading back to the water cooler)

Hey Guys
This has certainly rattled a few cages and to be fair i can undersatnd why. Although this may be a way of pulling certain clients in, I feel this would certainly be detrimental if you have established yourself as a fitness professional within your community.

Chris, Bedros and Steve are doing an awesome job sharing vital information throughout our industry and have always placed a huge
emphasis on becoming the aurthoritive, professional credible figure within your community. However, an approach of this manner would certainly damage your reputation with the community, professional organisations and medical professionals, physio's and chiropractors to name a few. Collectively these people are the ones that send me a great portion of clients so using this tactic would certainly damage my business.

I can see that this method would certainly work but it there will also be serious payback with using it. Thinking outside the box is great but i think this one is too close to the bone for our industry. Be creative but don't shoot yourself in the foot trying!

Apologies if you guys feel this is negative, but i feel this aproach can actually go against the awesome methods taught by the Great 3.

Have a great christmas guys and an awesome 2010

Lewis

This is great.

Bruce Lee went through the same issues as well. His teachers told him to follow tradition and keep it the same.

But Bruce Lee saw flaws in Kung Fu that he couldn't ignore.

I see flaws in the industry and I just can't ignore it. Its not just about fatloss. There is a mental change that people come to us for.

I personally know and have learned, laughed, and got clowned from the Great 2: Steve and Chris.

I never knew when those guys were serious becuse we would be laughing in that gym so much.

But when they did speak, they always forced me to think outside the box and do what is unique to myself.

I played college football in the Pac 10 in front of tens of thousands of people. But I've also made mistakes in front of them and millions of others watching on TV.

For this reason, my unique strength is not being afraid of people thinking I'm a fool.

I train people in the medical community, chiropractors, and all of the upper echilon of the medical field.

They all need to have fun as well. They need to laugh and workout just like everyone else.and they refer me people that need to do the same.

There is a client for every trainer. If you look at most trainers, their clients reflect them. That's why they have a relationship.

Why give doom and gloom, and more serious and corporate if that's not the personality you are.

Be unique. If your the quiet,shy, intraverted type, and your not trying to make any waves.

Come to work looking like all of the thousands of other trainers out there:

Hat, t shirt, sweats, stop watch, clipboard.

And then look to your right and see a hot ass chick trainer with a gold cape and gold addidas (that's our other trainer) step to your right and give an insane workout with her group.

What will your clients talk about when they get home?

We are like the singers dressing up in the 50's still. Stereotypical gear.

I'm stepping away from it because it bores us and all of our clients.

But that's why our clients train with us.

They are bored.

Hence the name of our workout:

Unboring!

Thanks for all of the input and insight.

I'm definitely excited and open to the change this is bringing to the industry.

And if you decide to dress up like a super hero (we are coming to save the day)send me a phone pic to my facebook!

Ahh yes The Big 3.

Here is the story of the Big 3 in any industry.

Before there was 3 there was 2,
and before there was 2, there was 1.

But before there was 1, there were 3 others that everyone was afraid to be different from.

But that's exactly what they talk about:

Being unique.

Bruce Lee saw flaws in the system of Kung Fu. They all told him to follow tradition and not stray too far. But he thought different.

I too see flaws in the fitness industry just like the Big 3 do. And that is what I decided to exploit.

When I first came to Steve Hochman's gym I was depressed.

Divorce, jail, broke, you name it.

Up until that point I had never worked out for my mind. I always trained for performance. I knew no different.

So when I looked at Steve training his group of 40+ year old women laughing hysterically and putting on a show, I scoffed at him.

I didn't think it was a real workout because they were having too much fun to actually be training at a high level.

So I would always turn him down when he asked me to train.

His workouts looked like a joke to me.

All of the trainers who were working there knew that Steve was an insane workout freak but me.

So I finally "allowed" to train with me. Mr Big Time college athlete.

I lasted like 25 minutes, maybe 30.

All the trainers were rolling on the floor, taking pictures with their phones of my pain. And Steve was laughing too. That workout was almost 5 years ago.

And it only lasted 25 minutes, maybe 30. And it changed my life.

I realized that you can actually have an insane amount of fun but work out at a world class level.

Then I tied it in to all of the successful defenses I played on that ranked high on the national level in college. We laughed, yelled, smiled, and had fun. But we were operating on an extremely high level.

Pete Carrol at USC will go down into the college hall of fame and will go down as one of the most successful and out of the box thinking coaches in college football history.

He does pranks, skits, jokes, and keeps and extremely aggressive and physical environment light. And those are the times when we perform at our best.

When we are relaxed and having fun.

This happens at all of the top teams in the world of any sport. If any of you ever played on a football team and had that guy who was the team captain but was funny as sh*t in the locker room and on the field.

I was that guy.

I just decided to bring to the fitness game.

You might be:

-the quiet player that leads by example.

-the rah rah sideline guy that didn't play but just like wearing the jersey and comraderie of being on the team.

-the QB that had the freedom to be a clown and be serious because he was the leader.

-the characters are limitless.

The point is don't be afraid to be different and sway from the majority and the establishment.

I said in the post, "twist it, add your own flavor to it, and execute it with your own unique style that sets you apart from the millions of other trainer sheep out there."

Don't be me.

Be you.

And what ever you do…

under no circumstances…

don't ever sh*t on yourself!

Jaiya

This aint my favorite post either but it is genius!…look at the amount of comments it achieved!

It just proves being a little contrvoversial every now and then in your business (even if everyone doesn't agree with it) draws interest.

And we all want people to be interested in our business don't we?!!!

Genius Chris!!