Moral Dilemma
Owning a health or fitness business creates a dilemma that becomes a daily struggle. One the one hand, we’re in business to hopefully earn a living, but on the other hand, most of us in the business of health and fitness do it because we believe in the message we’re trying to send. We’re so devoted to the good health and fitness of our community, sacrifices are made, extra time is spent spreading the word, and love and devotion is placed into the caring instructions provided those who will listen. The dilemma comes into place when those who are in industries other than health and fitness try to create material and information around health and fitness for purposes of selling advertising. As a business, we need to advertise, as a health and fitness professional, how can we in good conscience place an ad in a publication that has the facade of promoting health and fitness and no professional governance on the materials. I know I sound like a broken record but I can’t succumb to the media makeovers to sell ads and then on top of it, be asked to participate.
For you the public, you have to wade through tons of fitness advice and hype from those who’s motivation is to get a portion of your spending dollar and sell you short on what the goods might do for you. Those who are in it for the long haul, who have real professional advice to give but might not be what you want to hear, have to stay the course. Keep your moral compass in check, work with local organizations who truly want to change the face of health in the community and you will be rewarded. The reward might be a person who’s life you changed for the better, a community’s attitude toward being healthy, or a smile you put on a face when those endorphins kick in while on the treadmill.
If you call to sell me an advertising opportunity for a health and fitness publication than you better be prepared to answer these questions:
- Why did you put the publication together?
- Do you have a health and fitness professional on staff overseeing the content of the material, articles, and ad’s being placed into the publication?
- Do you have the readers best health and fitness in mind?
As a reader of a health and fitness publication, you too should be asking these questions. There are many great publications out there with the mission to spread news and information. There are tons of organizations with the best intent in mind. Seek out those organizations and publications for your best professional advice.
Here’s a list of those organizations or web sites that truly provide great information or resources for the community:
- F1rst organization
- Health and Safety Council of the Midlands
- Olson Center for Women’s Health
- American Heart Association
- Live Well Omaha
- www.sparkpeople.com
- www.befitminded.com
- www.realage.com
- www.livestrong.com
- All your local health food stores, gyms, offices on aging, nutritionists, personal trainers, local health and fitness program creators.
Don’t short change yourself. Find out the business or organization’s mission, be willing to listen to the experts advice and process what makes sense for you! Don’t short change the advisers worth either. They are professionals in the health and fitness field and have researched, studied, and experienced what works best under the circumstances provided. You wouldn’t think of paying a lawyer a dollar for his expert advice nor should you consider a fitness professionals worth is so little. You get what you pay for in some cases so ensure you place value on your health and fitness and seek out an appropriate professional advice for you.
Learn well, live well, and be well!
