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!

It’s all about making the connection….

Have you ever marveled over how small the world is and the whole concept of six degrees of separation? I sit in awe some times at the small connections that we make on a daily basis and the impact it can make in someone’s life. I am committed to impacting people’s lives in a positive way through my work at the gym and have extended my commitment through my work with other small businesses.

As a small business owner, I’ve grown to love the community and camaraderie developed through the people’s lives I’ve connected with and would like to further extend that relationship with each of you. We’ve already made a connection with our common goals toward health and fitness but those concepts extend well beyond the gym’s doors. Our personal and professional lives need the same nurturing as our physical bodies and it requires self examination as it relates to our overall well being. Without that balance of self, family, work, pleasure, and overall mind and body fitness we become unfit and unhappy. Extending services beyond the gym door is a mission of mine that I would like to extent to each of you.

Many of you are business owners, work for a local business, or are a spouse to a small business owner/employee. As a small community of women who are making a difference in your own lives by tending to your health and fitness, I would like to extend additional value to you and your family on the business front. As you may have noticed, I’ve revamped my website and have made it more interactive to help build relationships beyond just the gym. I would like to encourage each of you to Join the RWG community and share things of interest happening around the community, information about your business, promotions, events, and activities. It’s FREE and it’s easy. Just go to www.rockbrookwomensgym.com, click on the “Community Calendar” tab on the menu bar and then click on “Join RWG Community”. Follow the steps to create an account (I promise you won’t get spammed), enter your account and business information and create your own calendar of events. The events and activities, newsletters, etc can be managed through your own account and as a member of the RWG Community, your information will automatically be available to anyone who graces our site. You can additionally add this community calendar to your site for additional exposure to your “community”. It’s all about building community and helping each other grow!

(note – www.localcrow.com was built by myself as an extension of my love and struggles as a small business owner. If you’d like to learn more about how it can be used to your advantage for you personally or your business, let me know.)

For health and fitness tips don’t forget to become a fan of my Facebook fanpage “Rockbrook Women’s Gym” or follow my fitness tips on twitter. (links are located on www.rockbrookwomensgym.com homepage)

Women who take charge of their lives do so with renewed commitment each and every day! You wake up and think about all the things you are grateful for but with a renewed interest in making each day count! Stop kidding yourself that there will be “tomorrow” or “next week” or even “next year” to renew your commitment to your health and your fitness. I’ve played those games and tomorrow never seems to come so you have to ask yourself, “Who’s in charge”. “I’m in charge” so take charge and make a difference in your life and those people around you by inspiring change and improvement.

Here are a couple of books recommended to me that I would like to share with you. They are books that will inspire you to take charge and stop kidding yourself.

“Younger Next Year for Women” by Chris Crowley
“Body for Life for Women” by Dr. Pamala Peeke

Read and be happy!