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The Obvious Choice

The Obvious Choice

Jonathan Goodman

Forget becoming an influencer. This podcast is for people searching for a simpler way to make more money, help more people, and have more freedom. No matter who you are and no matter what you sell, your customer is a human. And yet, marketing these days feels so (in)human. Filled with frameworks, entertaining stories, and admittedly bad-Dad jokes, The Obvious Choice is a much-needed recalibration and, at times, a refreshing slap for a business generation that’s lost its way. New episodes ship out Mondays along with short, business hotseats every Wednesday.
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Top 10 The Obvious Choice Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Obvious Choice episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Obvious Choice for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Obvious Choice episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Following conventional wisdom can be a mistake. The nature of conventional wisdom is to communicate a broad, widely accepted concept. When it's applied to a nuanced situation, it can backfire.

  • Why two membership sites meant to generate passive income failed
  • Why collaboration sounds great in theory, but isn't the sales fuel you want it to be
  • Your business isn't like the Field of Dreams

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FREE GIFT - Get a free copy of the Wealthy Fit Pro's Guide to Getting Clients and Referrals (digital and audio. Sells for $22.99 on Amazon.)

HOW - Rate / review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to [email protected]

--

Hosts:

@itscoachgoodman

@fitnessjonestraining

@amberreynolds.me

--

Join 72,000+ trailblazers, leaders, and coaches who fuel up with our low-stress, high-impact 5 REPS FRIDAY newsletter at www.5repsfriday.com.

The Obvious Choice podcast is presented by QuickCoach - free, professional software for fitness and nutrition coaches that elevates the value of what you do. Join 35,000+ coaches and get your account today at www.quickcoach.fit.

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Today on "The Obvious Choice Podcast" (Hot Seat), we dive deep with three coaches facing pivotal moments in their businesses. We talk with Brianna, who's looking to transition from in-person to online training as she plans a cross-country move, Wallace, who's discovered his sweet spot working with executive women and empty nesters in their mid-40s to 60s, and Jason, who's revamping his CrossFit coaching mentorship program for 2025.

What struck me most about these conversations was how often the solution isn't about fancy marketing tactics or going viral on social media - it's about having real conversations with the right people and building genuine connections. Whether you're trying to make a big business transition or just want to reach more of your ideal clients, there's something in here for you. Let's dive in.

Pre-order my upcoming book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce

HOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to [email protected]

Hosts:

Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

Every Friday, over 75,000 jacked nerds (just like you) read 5-Reps Friday, my newsletter with actionable tips on marketing, health, books, and earning more www.5repsfriday.com

The Obvious Choice podcast is presented by QuickCoach - free, professional software for fitness and nutrition coaches that elevates the value of what you do. Join 41,000+ coaches and get your account today at www.quickcoach.fit.

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction and Brianna explains her background working with single women in their 30s and her goal to transition online

2:01 Discussion with Brianna about transitioning from in-person to online training, breaking down the financial requirements and strategy for retaining clients

15:55 Conversation with Wallace begins, discussing his target market shift from busy moms 35+ to executive women/empty nesters 45-65

21:11 Deep dive with Wallace on targeting empty nesters and leveraging existing client relationships for referrals

35:44 Jason introduces his background and plans to revamp his CrossFit coaching mentorship program

40:20 Discussion with Jason about the different components of running a mentorship program and marketing strategies

53:48 Final thoughts on launch strategies and closing remarks

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The Obvious Choice - How Online Trainers MUST Manage Their Money #29
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09/01/20 • 48 min

How Online Trainers MUST Manage Their Money (Online Trainer Show #29)

To properly kick off this episode, the crew briefly gushes over how awesome Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon Levitt are, as they should. Once the gushing concluded, Ren began the episode by recounting his financial journey, from living in a basement to five streams of income. Carolina followed up with her own quest, emphasizing the importance of getting creative with how you provide services and, consequently, build your income streams. Finally, Jonathan delves into four essential steps for coaches to manage their finances effectively, plus bonus tips that will push you away from basements and toward financial freedom.

In This Episode:

  • Money and wealth are not the same, and finance education is not taught in school [15:02]
  • Why most fitness trainers have ZERO financial training [16:29]
  • How to organize your documents to streamline taxes [23:48]
  • Jonathan shares what can be written off during tax time, ultimately saving you money [24:33]
  • What holds you back from bringing more people in is a lack of diverse knowledge, not fitness certifications or gym equipment [30:35]
  • Jonathan shares a story that illustrates how not watching your finances can cost you thousands per year [32:34]

“Just as important, if not more important, than learning how to make money is learning how to keep and grow money.”- Jonathan Goodman

Hire An Accountant

If you strive to make your money work for you, hiring an accountant is critical. It may cost more upfront, but the money you’ll save through avoiding ripoffs, catching phantom charges, and maximizing your tax refund is worth the investment—YOU are worth the investment.

Educate Yourself

So many coaches find their money running away from them because they lack knowledge in money, not gym equipment or fitness certifications. Dedicating the time to learning the foundations of money management is crucial toward expanding your business and living life on your terms.

Take A Good, Hard Look

Even if someone has the best intentions about money, if they don’t keep a close eye on things, money will inevitably slip away from them. Take an earnest, potentially painful, look at your finances to figure out where you can trim the fat, and your money won’t think twice.

Jamie Foxx's "I Want To Be Your Tennis Ball”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Fr4aM-utk

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

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The Obvious Choice - How To Be A Content Creating Machine #68
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01/19/21 • 44 min

In this episode, our panel discusses the best ways to create and publish fitness content online.

The Episode: How To Be A Content Creating Machine

In the world of online training, the content you put out occupies a sizable chunk of your work and determines much of your resultant success. In order to build and grow, this needs to be an area in which you improve and, ultimately, connect. A few major points here are knowing where your message is going, systematizing your creation process, achieving a level of consistency and getting away from sporadic and confusing messaging. If you can connect these dots, you have that much more chance of reaching your ideal clients and striking gold.

In This Episode

  • Making sure you stay productive and have enough content [0:16:31]
  • Selecting the right platforms to post your content [0:22:20]
  • Taking imperfect action and including calls to action [0:24:22]
  • Utilizing your ideas when they arise [0:29:01]
  • Batching your content creation process [0:32:58]

“I think perhaps the best use of social media in a lot of cases is to test material, and is to test messaging.” — Jonathan Goodman

Upping Your Productivity

It can be helpful to find the times and spaces that you are at your most creative and focussed. This can also mean scheduling time for content creation, so that you can get away from normal distractions. Knowing where the content you are creating will go can help improve your productivity, drilling down on a specific format or message to make the most of your time.

Creating, Compiling, and Posting

As we have said before, calls to action are what move the needle, so do not neglect this amazing tool! Another useful tip is to use social media as a space to test your material and messaging, gauging reactions, and even crowd-sourcing ideas that can improve what you are posting! A lot of the time, your messages do not need to be overly complex, they can be as simple as stating questions that you encounter and offering an answer — and this usually comes naturally to coaches!

Some More Ideas for Content Creation

Making the most of your ideas as they arise will save you a lot of effort, so find a way to collect your thoughts, whether it is jotting things down in a notebook during the day or spending time brainstorming, there are more than enough opportunities to come up with things to share. Remember, content creation is like any other exercise, you get better at it by doing the reps!

Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale?

Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055

Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA

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The Obvious Choice - Introducing the QuickCoach Custom Client App
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11/17/22 • 17 min

Pull up a metaphorical chair and listen as Jonathan shares the thought process behind the design of QuickCoach and how he's chosen to do it differently than any coaching app available.

For more, listen and subscribe to the Goodman Show on your favourite podcast app.

The Goodman Show is presented by Quickcoach.Fit, free professional software for trainers to impress their clients. Register your free account today at www.QuickCoach.Fit

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How To Optimize Your Process To Add Value and Increase Client Retention (Online Trainer Show #22)

Jonathan, Ren, and Carolina aren’t sure what “optimization” even is; but they know you need it for your business. In this episode, they’ll define “optimization,” and discuss why it can be so effective. With a few simple tips, you can learn to anticipate your clients’ needs and become proactive in your business’s client retention. Knowing where your client may be emotionally on their journey is a great way to optimize your business with a few simple but well-timed communications. Avoid frustrated clients asking for their money back because they made a typo! Also in this episode: Ren has something to say about people being polite in online social groups.

In This Episode:

  • What really chaps Ren’s hide? [0:17]
  • The 1 trick Carolina found for keeping mosquitoes at bay [8:31]
  • What is optimization and how does it add value? [11:15]
  • Ways to get started with optimizing your business [13:45]
  • Keeping new sign-ups feeling positive about the process [25:37]

“Be smart, be professional - but make it simple.” - Carolina Belmares

Why you need to optimize your businessYou can make more money with very little time and effort. Optimizing your business means adding value for your clients, whether that’s anticipating their needs or effective communication.Ways to optimizeLet your clients know how to get in touch, and with whom, if there is a problem. Be specific and proactive in your communications. Learn what a typical client’s emotional cycle looks like so you can anticipate their needs.Optimization should be invisibleGood service for your clients should flow so smoothly that they don’t even realize it’s happening. Take preventive action. You won’t know it’s working because you’re dealing with problems before they arise.

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

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The Obvious Choice - Carolina's Time To Shine #62
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12/29/20 • 40 min

This episode sees the team talking about how you can be ready for success when your thing becomes the thing.

The Episode: Carolina's Time to Shine

In the world of online training and beyond, you do not need to win every time in order to be successful. Most really successful individuals only hit the bullseye a couple of times at most. The key is in preparing for when that day arrives so that you can make the most of it and allow that success to become sustainable. Important aspects of this lie in your authenticity as a trainer, so becoming and staying clear on yourself and your audience is vital.

In This Episode

  • Where will you be when your thing becomes the thing? [0:09:21]
  • Hitting gold on occasion is enough — increase your odds strategically [0:16:02]
  • Paying attention to the market and its trends without being swayed [0:23:37]
  • Capitalizing on popular movies and events [0:30:03]
  • Setting yourself up for success and sticking to your unique strengths [0:33:40]

“You only need one big win. You don't really know what those are going to be, you're certainly not going to win every time. Odds are you are not going to win the first time. You should try a bunch of different things strategically in order to increase your odds of hitting gold that one time.” — Jonathan Goodman

Being Ready for When Your Ship Comes In

There are so many examples of times when your service might grow in high demand. It happened to OTA when the pandemic began and it is happening now with chess coaches since the spike in popularity of the series The Queen's Gambit. If you can stick to your thing, when the time comes, you can hit gold, and by staying authentic and consistent, you can make your offer that much more solid for that time!

Staying True to Your Unique Values and Personality

A huge piece of this puzzle is to avoid hopping around and changing your offer. No matter who and where you are, it is likely there are potential customers and clients for your service. So hone that thing you do every day, and pay attention to the markets and trends, but do not let them sway or dishearten you.

Getting Ready for Success

As it is often said, luck happens where preparation meets opportunity and this is exactly what you are facilitating here. You need to be ready to seize that opportunity when it presents itself. The preparation that goes into your work is around your unique personality and value, and by strengthening that authentically, you will be readying yourself when that time inevitably arrives!

Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale?

Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world-leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: http://onlinetrainer.com/ota

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055

Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

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The Obvious Choice - How To Execute #94

How To Execute #94

The Obvious Choice

play

04/20/21 • 40 min

Today the panel of experts talk about the important process of execution and how to turn training into a business.

The Episode: How To Execute

Education and learning are important parts of becoming an online trainer, but none of the steps that happen before execution mean anything if you cannot put your plans into motion. Taking the steps towards executing will teach you more than any course, and will push things forward in ways that nothing else can. We understand that this can be the most difficult and scary step to take, it is a challenge for all of us! No matter what stage of your online business you are currently in, confronting these hurdles is a common experience, and is so necessary to move forward. We want to send you the message to take the leap, holding back will hold you back! There are always rewards from giving something a try and pushing up against your doubts and fears.

In This Episode

  • The post that motivated today's discussion on the question of execution [0:15:39]
  • Components of successful execution [0:20:20]
  • Common fears that we all hold about external judgement [0:22:01]
  • The gift of struggling and how it enables connection [0:23:55]
  • Trying, failing, and the courage that develops [0:26:45]
  • Getting past imagined suffering and confronting fears [0:31:58]

“Two people often have similar goals, the person who ends up succeeding is not because their goal is different, it is because their actions are different.” — Jonathan Goodman

The Challenges of Putting Oneself Out There

We all suffer from issues of comparison, imposter syndrome, and struggling to get clear on our audience. All of these factors can lead to a lack of confidence in executing our plans and reaching our goals. It is important to remember that success depends on actions and not goals and that just planning forever does not count for much. We have seen so many times how once this piece of the puzzle is understood, trainers are able to crush it! It does take time, but it will all be worth it when you can execute confidently and successfully.

Internal Pressure and External Judgement

We all have fears around judgment, and taking what you have learned and shifting it into a space that is exposed can be quite scary. In these moments of doubt, it can be helpful to remember that we all mess up, fail, and make mistakes. The more you expose yourself to these conditions and discomforts, the easier it is to face them! It is possible to prove to yourself that you can do hard things and the inevitably of mistake is not something to hold you back. The more you can embrace the freedom and a certain recklessness of diving in, the faster your business will progress.

The Power of Struggle and Relatability

Shifting your mindset around struggle can be such a powerful move, and when we start to view it as a gift, it is like learning a superpower. Encountering struggle allows you to connect because it makes you relatable to an audience. The people you are trying to reach are undoubtedly also struggling with certain challenges and fears, so do not undervalue this circumstance that connects them to you! It takes a lot of courage to create, and when you exercise this courage it builds on itself and you will find that your worries wane in response. So double down on that enthusiasm for trying, and keep in mind that suffering happens more in the imagination than it does in reality.

Already at $1,000/month online and want to scale?

Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy:http://onlinetrainer.com/ota

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055

Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

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Creating Magical Client Experiences to Increase Retention and Grow Your Business (Online Trainer Show #7)
You need to create a magical experience for your clientele. There’s a lot of talk about marketing and online training, but not much with giving a remarkable service to your clients! Jonathan, Carolina, and Ren talk about how we can make our customers feel special. We’ve unintentionally made this episode filled with more value than usual, so make sure to stay tuned! Who knows, you might catch a rare moment of hearing Amber.

In This Episode:
The old guy in the podcast, hairless chests, and the badass Jedi mayor [00:19]
Thinking of doing something special for your clients [16:09]
How to give gifts the right way [24:33]
Sending actual birthday cards versus a Facebook greeting. [38:37]
A nutritious episode every so often [44:52]
“There are key processes in a company that can make a ton of difference for your clients, and employees that can garner different emotions, if you know when and how to maximize this value of delighting people when they don't expect it.” – Carolina Belmares
Turning Mundane Things Into Remarkable Experiences
Unexpected things have the highest potential to become an unforgettable experience. Always think of doing something special for your clients. Gifts can act as reminders and referral mechanisms!

Invest Time for Your Clients
If you’re already trying to help these people be at their best, why not spend a little more time to get to know them and send something that gives value instead of a promotional item? Make them feel that their money is well-spent.

Maximize the Value of the Right Moment
Think about giving flowers on Valentine’s day versus a random Tuesday in June. It’s the exact same action, but the latter has more meaning to it! Scale your efforts to make more human connections.
Get all shows and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts at www.onlinetrainer.com/podcast
SPONSORS
Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: https://onlinetrainer.com/academy
Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - https://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

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The Obvious Choice - How To Keep Your Online Clients Engaged #54
play

11/26/20 • 42 min

Today’s episode is all about overcoming client boredom and keeping them fully engaged so that they stay long enough to get the results they want.

The Episode: How To Keep Your Online Clients Engaged

In an overstimulated, distracted world, it is hard to retain your clients’ attention and focus. When they find an exercise boring or uncomfortable, they won’t be as committed to doing it right and will thus fail to reach the desired outcomes. Knowing how to keep your clients engaged will, therefore, be most beneficial to both you and them.

In This Episode

  • Why we need our clients to be attentive, committed, and in the zone [0:21:22]
  • Identifying what the client finds engaging and helping them through the boring bits [0:21:58]
  • Striking the right balance between incorporating variety and sticking to what works best [0:22:43]
  • Examples of how you can switch up exercises while maintaining efficacy [0:24:26]
  • The value of focusing on a specific element instead of the workout as a whole [0:27:45]
  • Creating a distraction to support your client through an uncomfortable exercise [0:28:48]
  • Leveraging the fact that some clients are motivated by data and how to spot them [0:34:08]
  • Knowing your client well will guide you in keeping them engaged at all times [0:37:52]

“We need clients to be attentive, we need clients to be committed, we need clients to be in the zone when they are doing our programs in order for them to get results.” — Jonathan Goodman

The Value of Attention

In the world we live in, it is easy to get distracted by the many things demanding our attention. But for a client to get optimal results from your program, they have to be attentive and committed, otherwise they will fail to make the progress they hoped for. When this happens, both you and the client loses out.

Narrowing Your Clients’ Attention

There are four strategies for ensuring that you retain your clients’ focus. Although introducing variety into your program can combat boredom, you have to be careful to not compromise the integrity of the workout. You can also let them focus on one element rather than the workout as a whole, or you could distract them during exercises they find boring or uncomfortable. If they are interested in data, you can talk to them about tracking the metrics to keep them zoned in.

How Well Do You Know Your Client?

If you have taken the time to get to know your client, you will know what will interest them and you can tailor the program to keep them engaged and focused. When an exercise they find boring or uncomfortable is unavoidable, there are ways to distract them to get it done easier but with the same impact.

Ready to scale up your online fitness business?

Apply for OTA 2 here: www.thePTDC.com/OTA2

SPONSORS

Get started TODAY with the world leading certification and business development program for personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and gym owners – The Online Trainer Academy: http://onlinetrainer.com/ota

Enjoy this special offer of 60 days FREE on PT Distinction from The Online Trainer Show! - http://onlinetrainer.com/ptd

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id1468193055

Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jon-goodman/its-possible-conversations-with-successful-online-trainers

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20veRnzFOvUn6fTy9ud8jm?si=zMWTLmtISMm1XrU-4Q8oxA

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JonGoodmanPTDC

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Obvious Choice have?

The Obvious Choice currently has 469 episodes available.

What topics does The Obvious Choice cover?

The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Management, Fitness, Podcasts and Business.

What is the most popular episode on The Obvious Choice?

The episode title 'How to Save TONS of Time Overnight #14' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Obvious Choice?

The average episode length on The Obvious Choice is 41 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Obvious Choice released?

Episodes of The Obvious Choice are typically released every 2 days.

When was the first episode of The Obvious Choice?

The first episode of The Obvious Choice was released on May 21, 2020.

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