I'm not trying to be vain here, there is a reason why I need to admit that I have a personal trainer.
When one of the top doctors in the world sits at the end of your bed and says, "If you don't lose 10 lbs, you will have a heart attack at 55". You have two choices, I like Ewan McGregor in the film, Trainspotting, I "choose life".
January is an amazing time for gyms, thousands of people sign up and for the first three weeks in January - it's like a riot. Thankfully (for me) things get back to normal by the second week in February. It is, of course, a gym's business model that 80% of the people pay money and don't go.
This January I said to Matt (my PT), January must be a great time for you and he said in fact, it was not. Why I ask?
"Because everybody signs up to a gym and thinks they can do it by themselves."
If you are going to lose weight and or get fit then you need to do more than just go to the gym twice a week.
My Weight Loss Journey
To start my weight loss journey, I read a couple of books and signed up to a gym. The books meant I could sit on my sofa, eat the same food and feel good because I thought I was doing something. Of course, nothing happened.
It was then that I realized I could read as many books as I wanted, what I actually needed was to change my habits for a lifetime. To do this I realized I needed third party help and signed up for a weight loss course at my gym.
The course was great, it took me through a total transformation about what I eat, when I sleep, how often I train. It has in fact changed my life.
Also having a network of other people in a similar position to me, this helps to motivate me.
But more than that, I realized I was basically lazy in the gym and I needed somebody to help, motivate and guide me.
The good news (for me anyway) was that with some professional help, I was able to lose the weight and I have maintained the personal trainer. Why? He pushes me and after all, I need to keep from putting the weight back on.
What Social Selling has got to do with going to the gym?
Some of the feedback on my book has been interesting. I've had a few people who have read it and come back to me and say "Now I am a Social Seller". To be honest I would be pretty amazed if you are. Yes, it's a pretty good place to start, (I'm biased) but like my weight loss, no book on training actually got me to put on a pair of trainers.
I've watched comments left on LinkedIn like "We just fired a guy, he played around on social all day and never sold anything".
No S&*t Sherlock!
What results did you expect? More fool you for thinking that "playing around on social all day" gets you results.
Social Selling is a change of behavior and like going to the gym. Our view at DLA is that unless you get a personal trainer, you may see some change, but not the massive difference I bet you crave for.