Right, let me preface this post with this…
I truly believe that a holistic approach to healing & health is the ONLY way to go. I truly admire what Paul Chek & the CHEK Institute have done in this field – and I still recommend the HLC course to anyone, whether they’re already working in the industry or not.
But, and this is a big BUT…I’m not so sure the CHEK model is a successful model on which to base a business or can really be used successfully to build a profitable, real business.
Why I do think this? Aside from Paul Chek himself, there are very, very few other C.H.E.K practitioners out there who have ‘made it’…using just the CHEK approach alone.
The most successful ones are largely based in the US but in the UK there are only a handful of practitioners running a successful, profitable business. And those that are, are mostly Paul’s most trusted (ADD: who are right at the top of the tree as Level 4′s), receive client referrals from him and also are able to supplement their income with teaching CHEK courses & other educational courses for other trainers. I can’t really name one CHEK person in the UK who has a decent marketing strategy and who has cracked it from the perspective of building up a ‘proper’ business based on coaching the CHEK principles.
Please correct me if I’m wrong by leaving a comment on the blog – but before you do shout me down, I’m not including people who have built up successful personal training business, incorporating CHEK stuff, but real, purely CHEK coaching-based businesses (and my definition of a successful business is not just one that is based on financial performance alone).
So, back to the point of the post…why is this?
I think there are a number of reasons. Some can be resolved, others can’t – at least not easily.
Firstly, I think there’s an inherent flaw within the CHEK courses themselves. You learn all kinds of excellent material on a course. But as Paul himself says, knowledge isn’t powerful unless it’s applied. The big thing lacking on the courses is how to apply that knowledge to clients – the coaching aspect, not the assessments, not the ‘how to’ exercises – but how to help clients apply the knowledge that you teach them to their lives, how to help ‘coach’ them through behavioural change and how to help them overcome often the biggest stumbling block to their success…limiting beliefs.
Something I hear really frequently from my clients is that they just want to work with dedicated, committed clients who are willing to stick to all the things they recommend and who will apply themselves diligently to the nutrition recommendations, the corrective exercises and the extensive lifestyle changes often required.
Come on guys…seriously, aside from us lot, there are very few people who are in a position to or want to make those wholesale changes like we do. I didn’t say there are none, but there are very few. If you really want to use the CHEK approach in its purest form, then you need to get to these guys.
…which leads me on to my second point.
The other main reason I think CHEK practitioners fail is this. They don’t know how to market themselves & get the attention of the people they want to work with to promote their services…
And worst of all many don’t even realise that this is why they’re not successful.
The theory of contraints says that there’s usually just one thing standing in the way of success. For 70% of small businesses, it’s this…marketing.
But if you don’t even realise this is what it is and you make the mistake of spending thousands more on expanding your knowledge in your field instead of also learning how to maximise your potential & income from your existing knowledge, then in all honesty, you are highly unlikely to ever run a successful, profitable business using the CHEK approach.
I know a lot of people think marketing is simply advertising in a few places, sending out a few flyers & emails, speaking to a few more people or encouraging referrals from other clients.
Most people don’t realise that marketing is much, much, much more than this.
Marketing covers:
The Product – the services you provide, what do you offer people, what can they buy from you?
The Pricing – how do you currently decide on your pricing & fees and why do you charge what you charge?
The Promotion – this is the aspect of marketing which covers the “how” do you promote your service. What marketing channels do you use to promote your services?
The Place – where do you distribute your products/services? In a gym, your own studio, home training, online?
The above 4 are all key aspects of marketing.
A lot of people I talk to say things like, “Oh well, I think I need to get x,y and z qualification first then I should be able to offer people more and then business will pick up” or “Well, I just need to hand out some more leaflets & business cards to people who would benefit and then I should be able to get some more clients”.
NOOOOOOOOO. It’s way more complex than that. If that’s “just” what you need to do, then why (a) haven’t you done it yet? and (b) if you have, why hasn’t it worked?
And if it’s the first scenario, then when exactly do you think you’ll feel “confident enough” and “qualified enough” to start really helping clients properly. How are you going to get to these clients, you’re now able to help better?
Thirdly, and this ties in with my second point, CHEK practitioners fail in business because they fail to understand what running a true business is about. They fail to understand about strategic planning, profitability, performance metrics, exit strategies and the like – all of which ‘proper’ businesses have.
Put simply, if you’re a CHEK practitioner, have you thought about your future? How long you plan to do this? Will you keep doing this until you die because you need the income? What if you can no longer do what you do, would your business survive?
I know most of you are young and don’t think about retirement, financial planning and the future – I’m still under 30 (not for much longer though!) but it’s something I think about all the time. I’m making sure I set up my businesses in a way that covers all of this. I don’t want to have to be working at age 50 or 60 because I didn’t have a little bit of foresight beforehand and didn’t want to take some time to invest in my future a few years ago.
My argument is that CHEK practitioners fail because they focus on the wrong things when it comes to business. They are in constant pursuit of upgrading their qualifications (not objecting to that by the way) and neglect to work on improving their business skills too.
Now, you might think this post is just a marketing promotion for my Healthy Business Program, well of course it is ;-)…but actually it’s not just that.
My motives are more altruistic than that. And to prove it, the CHEK Institute have just promoted another marketing course – “Irresistible Marketing” by some other guy. Looks interesting but can’t recommend it as I’ve not heard of it or of the guy – but it’s out there as an alternative to my programs. Can’t find any other details about it, other than an email I received from the forum on it – no website or anything for more details, just a phone number.
What it does show is that the CI are also aware that this is a big part of the puzzle that’s missing for people and that they’re encouraging people to do something about it too.
So, do I think the CHEK model could be set up for business success? Yes, because in the end it delivers. It can help do what it says on the packet. But not for everyone. And certainly not if no-one knows about it.
ADDENDUM: Before commenting, please read a follow-up to this post which clarifies some of my definitions and you also might like to find out more about me, my experiences & where I’m coming from to give you context for this post.
EXTRA ADDENDUM: If you want to know my real intention for writing this post, and not what other perceive was my intention, read this post.
Jonathan Woodward Studio
Kinetiva
Location Independent
Vibrapreneur
Hey Lea,
some interesting comments and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. It begs the question “Can an “Exercise Coach” with sound business practices provide a better service to their clients on their own terms within the first five years of starting their business compared with a “Level 3″ with little business awareness?”
I genuinely think that in order to be truly successful as a CHEK practitioner you need to be able to successfully translate Paul Chek’s “educational” approach, his tonality and his language into something more digestible. A successful fitness “expert” in London has already done this and he doesn’t mention the word CHEK.
We Chekkies are used to listening (sometimes in awe) to Paul during his seminars and courses but rarely have we seen him “in action” with his own clients. Is there a difference in his approach in terms of showmanship, language, rapport, tonality? I would love to know!
Sometimes I feel a fundamental mistake we chekkies make is adopting the way Paul speaks at his seminars as the way, we as practitioners, should speak to our clients.
In some ways, I think it’d be beneficial for all Chek Practitioners to learn about business and marketing BEFORE they work their way up the CHEK ladder.
Hi Lea,
I completly agree, i spoke with Paul some time ago, i came to the conclusion that i needed to focus on my business more before i bankrupt myself with education.
I’ve tried a business coach and various courses but have so far been very uninspired by every teacher or coach i’ve had. Everyone has seemed a little to keen to grab my cash. I’ve been considering PPS as i’m pretty sure i’d get the insperation and teaching style i need.
Billy Craig HLC III
Hello Lea
I TOTALLY agree with Greg’s comment about seeing Paul “in action” with his clients.
When I started studying “emotional freedom technique” by Gary Craig, gary COMPLETELY goes through the ins and outs of how to apply EFT to his clients (IN ACTION). He talks to his clients very differently than to his audience.
I also had the priveledge of watching Chris Maund working with one of his clients on video. Just that one hour of watching how he interacted with his client TOTALLY changed my communication skills with clients overnight!!! (Thank you Chris :-) Yet the way Chris talks to his practitioners in class is VERY different.
I know that Paul is about “LEARNING BY DOING AND WATCHING”. I have a very humble suggestion: Paul should allow a special access part on his ppsuccess.com website where CHEK practitioners can access his coaching in action. I’m all for the belief that if we watched a master in action, that we will imitate what he’s doing and this will bring greater success to all CHEK practitioners. I also believe that a “business course” is more mathematical/logical (only 5-8% can benefit) and watching and doing is where EVERYONE can benefit.
Hi Lea,
Thank you for sharing. I have been struggling with how to market myself lately, the promotion of myself and services specifically.
Chekies have so much to offer by far yet people need to know we exist.
Would love to see Paul a show like Oprah to let millions of Americans know there is a better way than aerobics to loose weight:)
Anyway, I got alot of ideas on what to focus on when marketing myself by reading what you had to say and I just wanted to say thanks.
I think about all the things you mentioned regarding the future. I especially like what you had to say about not necessarily needing more and more certification to feel qualified to help people. Afterall, how can you pay for it if you are not making any money (which at the moment I truly am not) but know I am fully responsible for that b/c I obviously have not learned how to market me or my services properly.
Grateful for your insight and comments
Maria
Hey Everyone,
I couldn’t agree more on these points from Lea and Greg! I am a level 1 Practitioner & HLC1 and have a background and passion for business and marketing. I have met so many CHEK Practitioners that are extremely knowledgeable and highly skilled technically, but have not learned the selling, communication, or marketing skills necessary to build a successful business.
One of the key points that resonated with me is the difference between a “CHEK business” and a “personal training business using the CHEK approach.” I have always marketed myself as a personal trainer and fitness consultant rather than as a CHEK Practitioners. Perhaps I picked up this habit because of my background as a trainer for 2 years before learning the CHEK way. I have found this approach to yield much better results as well as making a lot more money in the process!
For example, if you charge $100 per hour and it takes 8 to 12 hours to complete the CHEK assessment, program design, and program instruction, the profit from that client might be somewhere between $800 and $1200 initially, and then another $100-$300 per month for follow up visits (depending on the clients situation of course).
However, if you take the same prospective client and position yourself as a “personal trainer who specializes in injury rehab, nutrition, or whatever you do in an excellent fashion, then you could sell that same client 48 to 72 HOURS of one-on-one personal training! If you’re charging $100 per hour, that’s a profit of $4800 – $7200 PER client.
Compare the potential $7200 you could make by positioning yourself as a trainer to the $1200 that you make as a “CHEK Practitioner.” Then take the number of clients you have worked with in the last 12 months and do the math. How much of a difference in income does that work out to?
For example, the difference between the numbers above comes out to $6000 PER CLIENT! Thus, if you have had 10 people contact you this year, that’s a potential loss of $60,000 to your bottom line. Now, I know many of us immediately say things like “There’s no way I could sell a client a 72 Hour package!” Or “I don’t know how to do that.” I always remember what one of my mentors, Brian Tracy says: “All skills are learnable.” This means that ALL business skills are learnable. So, if you don’t have the skills to sell, then either work with someone who does or learn HOW to sell.
With regards to marketing and personal branding, have you ever tried to explain to the lay person what we do as a CHEK Practitioner? What is the end result? Do they become intrigued, interested, and ask how they can become a client? If so, then GREAT, keep saying whatever you are saying to get their attention! However, in my experience, trying to explain the CHEK approach to a prospect within 30 seconds or less is VERY difficult and often cumbersome.
When potential prospects (everybody I meet!) asks me what I do, I simply say “I’m a fitness trainer. I help people lose weight and get out of back pain.” Then, I pause for a few seconds and wait for their response………Almost always, the prospect immediately begins asking questions like “Oh, that’s great, where are you located? How do your programs work? Can you get me on a program to lose weight? I have found that this simple approach not only engages the prospect, but it’s also comes across a lot smoother and more professional.
In his excellent book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Before You Quit Your Job – 10 Real-Life Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know, Robert Kiyosaki outlines the 5 critical components of ANY business. They are explained in order of importance: 1. Cash Flow (Accounting and Payroll Procedures) 2. Communication (Sales, Marketing, & Advertising) 3. Systems (Scheduling systems, methodology for sales and prospecting, etc..) 4. Legal (Lease agreements, contractor agreements. Legal advise) 5. Product (CHEK services or personal training)
The 2 most important concepts that I have learned and applied from this book are why specialization and delegation are essential for the survival of any business! For example, if you LOVE practicing the CHEK approach with clients but do not enjoy dealing with the other 4 levels of a business (accounting, legal, sales, etc.), then you may want to ask yourself “Who else do I know that can handle these aspects of the business to free up my time to do more CHEK training??”
Personally, my passion is selling, marketing, and advertising Holistic Personal Training (which is essentially another way of saying the CHEK approach). Thus, I have designed a business where I can specialize in selling and communications and then have highly competent, highly trained staff members and contractors work on the other areas of the business. For example, an assistant can work on the systems, an attorney can do the legal work, and good accountant can help manage the cash flow and payroll (although you’re still the one responsible for the bottom line!), and highly trained CHEK Practitioners can do all of the assessments, nutrition coaching, and personal training. Certain people specialize in working ON the business while others specialize in working IN the business.
I have found that surrounding myself with a team of experts who can each specialize in each of the 5 areas of the business (Cash Flow, Communications, Systems, Legal, and Product) is not only more profitable in the long run, but it’s also much easier mentally and emotionally on the CHEK Practitioners because of not having to deal with all the other hassles that often drag us down.
These are my thoughts and opinions based upon what has worked for me here in St. Petersburg, FL. We currently have 2 personal trainers and are seeking 6-8 more to work in our 3 studio locations. So if anyone has an interest in relocating to sunny Florida and being a “personal trainer practicing the CHEK Approach” I would love to hear from you! (See my latest post of the CHEK forum for details.)
Thankfully, courses like Paul’s PPS Program and now this awesome looking course from Lea are available to educate and inspire us to new levels of success and financial freedom. Courses that teach how to start, build, and manage successful companies can accelerate us years ahead of our competition! Just like the CHEK Courses have accelerated many of us emotionally, spiritually, and physically, I think courses like Lea’s can give us that mental edge in strategic thinking and business planning.
Lea,
I think you are right on with this topic. I was impressed when I did my regular web searches to check my rankings and found your site, which is based on marketing CHEK professionals. Its about time!
I realized these pitfalls early on in my career as a CHEK pro. No one understood what the hell I did, and I was completely at a loss for words in describing it. I have since spent an immense amount of time in learning direct response marketing tactics and trying to “systemize” my business. This has been no easy task, and I definitely feel like I have a long way to go. Sticking points can happen at any point in the process, from gathering leads (which I have been very successful at from my website http://www.endmybackpain.com), but get stuck trying to package my services, especially since I have the following all together:
1. Functional lab testing, supplements
2. Corrective exercise, stretching
3. Manual therapy
4. NLP
This has been a real nightmare trying to explain how and why all of this is important to integrate, while also keeping the costs of the program affordable and under 10,000!
I have had to study and come up with all these marketing concepts myself, from reading how others market themselves and try to “translate” it into my business as a Chek Practitioner.
Your work is VERY much needed.
I could not disagree more with this.I became certified as a trainer in 95 and graduated with a degree in Exercise Science in 96.That is when I started my personal training business (in Canada)My business was doing well but until I started to study Paul’s teachings and implement his principles was when my business took off(1998) I have averaged over 35 hours of training per week since 98 and have also hired 2 trainers because of my overflow.Studying what Paul teaches has given me the confidence to talk in front of large groups of people and the medical feild. I’m the only regular speaker at the chiropractors AGM the last 7 years.I have tried other marketing tools such as radio ,newspaper,flyers,cross promotion with minimal success.The real success came from client’s results.
If you are gaining knowledge shouldn’t your clients be gaining knowledge(results)??
In regards to how long I will work at this job.I would say longer than most professions because I’m in the minority of people who enjoy what they actually do.This may sound like I’m blowing my own horn here quite a bit but you said you didn’t know of many successful practitioners.
Do you expect when someone hands you food they are going to chew and eat for you as well?
We don’t do pushups for our clients do we?
Leah, you obviously have somewhat a hidden agenda here although you come right out and promote your course.
Good luck with your marketing course I’m sure it will have a 100% success rate.
Sean Mullowney
Soon to be Chek3
HLC1
A more appropriate title could be Why do MOST Fitness Pros (CHEK or otherwise)fail?
Yes, CHEK PRactitioners are more thsan fit pros, but for this discussion, the truth is that most people in our industry lack the business developemtn, sales & marketing to succeed.
I have been a fitness pro for 13 years in NYC and have learned several things:
There is absoluetly no correlation to skills / knowledge base and business success.
A lousy Ex Coach will mos def exceed a skilled Level 3 if they have better sales & marketing skills.
You dont need Paul to give you referrals, you can develop your own network of professionals who refer to you. This success is largely determined by how good you are (results) and your desire (law of atraction).
What I have learned about coaching, I have learned some from NLC 2 but mainly from working with a Life coach and taking seminars and working w other experts and fellow Chek friends.
I have never heard Paul or the Institute make claims or offer busienss development courses. So WHY would anyone expect the ‘leader in exercise education’ to provide that for you?
P{enny did recently suggest a marketing person on the forum who charges somewhere around $1500 for his course. There are several other courses, especially these days, that are much less expensive…im not sure about what they offer comparitavely.
I am interested in what this site has to offer asd I just found out about it…which begs the question, how good is this site at marketing if I just found out about it???
I have been on an aggressive Sales & Marketing hunter/gatherer mode for the last 2 years.
One essential element (in all areas personal, professional developemtn, life coaching, client mngmnt, etc) that I have learned from Paul that NO other course offers or even touches on is this:
What is the purpose and what do you do when your business fails because of your spiritual / emotional issues!
I fell into adrenal fatigue, parasite infection and other spiritual, mental & emo issue, lost most of my clients and incredible opportunities last year.
I had no idea WHY untill I went thru NLC 2 and PPS live workshop. I also took live courses rfom James Ray and Dr DeMartini (from The Secret) learned what the real purpose was and what to do from an emo / spiritual.
I think a business development, sales and marketing course is critical for any CHEK practioner (or any one in any industry for that matter) who wants to be successful.
But the holistic approach to what we do AND a holistic approach to understanding business development are integral components to true success. in copnclusion, i have learned from many experts and found them all to be important for me to put all the pieces together. I will be interested in checkin out what ythis site has to offer and what other practiioners have learned along the way and what you all do for sales & Marketing.
Peace
Antonio NLC2, Level 1
I have to agree with Sean and Antonio. Lea’s post confirmed what I have observed the past 10 years or so of following Paul’s work. Most CHEK Practitioners will go through some sort of issues with the business aspect and it probably won’t be until you become a Level IV that you truly understand everything there is to understand about not only business but more importantly yourself. Having mentored many fellow practitioners, the one common emotion I observe is FEAR. I’ve been through it. We’ve all experienced it. And it’s a common universal root cause to holding us all back. If we all overcame our primal fear of not being able to provide for ourselves and our family, our survival, than this blog wouldn’t be relevant. Of course it’s not easy and that brings me to another observation I’ve made. How many practitioners truly spend QUALITY time with Dr. Quiet? We can all intellectualize why meditation (in all its forms) is beneficial to our health & well-being but how many of us use the practice effectively? Rudolph Steiner’s book Intuition as a Spiritual Path explains it all. CHEK Practitioners as well as most of society have a tendency to be desnsitized to their inner self, or intuitions, and instead of acting out of love, act out of fear. Fear drives us to make decisions to what appears safe but safety is never guaranteed. Most end up living a life that feels incomplete. My background started as a physiotherapist in NY and I worked my way to my own successful practice in which I just recently walked away from to start a complete CHEK Approach practice. To give you some insight on this situation: in NY a physio would be considered insane to drop all medical insurance payments and transition to a cash-based business. Accepting insurance was the safest route but I was hating life and at conflict with my inner self. As Antonio mentioned, it’s not just CHEK Practitioners who fail, or fitness professionals in general, but any profession. I know many physios and chiros with busy practices who spent thousands of dollars to L. Ron Hubbard-type of marketing programs who have all made their money back and more but from what I observe still are not happy and keep climbing their financial Mt. Everests because they have not answered the one fundamental question of what’s their purpose in life?
When we take all the CHEK courses they are geared to help us become CHEK Practitioners, not business moguls. If you want to learn more about business, hire someone to teach you. Many people like Lea see the opportunity of a unique profession such as ours and take advantage of it to help other practitioners gain more business awareness. There’s nothing wrong with that. But when you mistakenly think that Paul’s work will do everything for you, you will be at conflict, become scared, and act out of fear. We as CHEK Practitioners have a golden opportunity. No other profession (from what I’ve seen) has a more well-rounded approach to contributing to our world. If people in your area do not know what a CHEK Practitioner is, than most likely you haven’t taken full advantage of the thousands of dollars you spent on your CHEK training; meaning you aren’t practicing it, you aren’t getting the results you can get, and you haven’t completely addressed your own issues.
My final thoughts on this issue: spend more quality time with Dr. Quiet, get clear on your purpose, have the courage to have faith in a higher power than yourself, follow your intuitions, act out of love rather than fear, and hire a mentor if you’re still confused about what I just said.
Love & Light,
Michael Jocson, PT, MS, OCS
CHEK IV, HLC II
http://www.jocsonhealth.com
mjocs@aol.com
Some interesting comments.
I think a lot depends upon the work environment that we choose to work in or not. It was suggested to me after level 1 that I needed to leave my gym as soon as possible as it didn’t fit in with my values. While I agree with this what if we as practitioners are not ready to change our environment, maybe for mental, emotional or spiritual reasons. Are we doomed to fail because we aren’t ready to take a risk?
I don’t think so as long as we put our training into the context of our environment- plus make a conscious decision to create our ideal environment.
For example, in line with Neils comments I was very strict on following my level 1 training to the letter. In effect while working in a gym environment I was positioning myself as a rehab specialist but the volume of potential clients were not there. Most people with an injury aren’t attending a gym or are already seeing another specialist about it. So I knew what I could do for people and how that could translate into referrals but unfortunately couldn’t build enough of a client base because most people wanted a quick fix that the CHEK system did not fit into.
Whenever I did get clients I set them up on a program and suggested seeing them again in 1 month. Some I did see again and some I didn’t- either because they had gotten better and didn’t feel the need to continue or they couldn’t follow the program.
Regardless of that I would have needed a major turnover of clients to make a succesful business.
Now I market myself as a highly skilled trainer- trained by the CHEK institute that can have a major impact in a clients health and happiness. I still go through the same assessments and coaching but I also recommended they see me 1 x per week at least. Now I have more client hours per week, more new clients because I am visible and getting better results because clients are adhering to my programs.
Why am I more succesful now? Because I asked for it. I decided to work 25 hours per week, started planning my client sessions a week in advance (booking appointments in the diary with clients before I had spoken to them) and asking clients to train with me more regularly- surprise surprise they were more than happy too!
Hello to all,
This is an interesting debate, created for whatever reason. My opinion on this whole topic is from a pro CHEK side of the camp. I’m a CHEK trained professional in the form of Exercise coach, Golf Biomechanic, and HLC II. Am I successful ? YES ! Here’s a question for you all, what defines success ? In my book it’s pretty simple, Bliss! Total happiness in all aspects of my being. Have I got that? YES ! Now I began in the fitness side of life while in the Military, I was a physical training instructor trained by the military for training the military, did they teach me marketing? No. I progressed from there to learning the nicities of dealing with the civilian population by undertaking a National certification in health and fitness, did they teach me marketing? No. I then, while in a jungle in east Timor met a very interesting Kiwi soldier that had a plan to study “this new earth shattering approach to fitness/rehabilitation” from a guy called Paul Chek. ” Never heard of him” I said in a closed defensive tone, “anyway I know fitness” I said, again in a closed, defensive tone, but this Kiwi began talking more and more about Paul Chek and a little seed planted itself in my subconscious to later show up again when I had returned to Ireland from my overseas posting. I began studying Sports injury treatment and rehabilitation preparing myself for leaving my military life, I was half way through a two year syllibus when I happened to find myself in England on a Golf Biomechanic course, and the seed that was set began to grow, slowly at first but later through further CHEK courses it flourished, and now it’s a huge forrest of compassion, love, and applied knowledge, and most importantly BLISS. I’m not finished with my CHEK education and I will get through the whole certification program because it makes me feel good, and it in turn helps me to help others feel good. I have all the bliss in my life, which is my definition of success because of the courses and contact with the CHEK institute that I’ve had. Yes I’ve other qualifications and use them with my Chek training but, and this is the important bit of this rant, the introduction to the CHEK approach is what glues it all together, It’s what has me now working for myself in a successful manner, has given me the confidence to be now teaching Sports Therapy to other souls on their journey and has be telling everyone that will listen and a few that won’t about the CHEK institute, there’s marketing from the CHEK Institute for you, me a healthy happy smiling individual, one of the many CHEK professionals in the world living the approach and spreading the approach through thought, word and deed. I’ve helped a lot of people to help themselves to smile, I have all the time in the world to do what nurtures my bliss, the most stressful aspect of my life now is timing my appointments with the surf forcast, that in my book is success. Floating my business on the stock exchange, owning a fleet of cars, feeding my ego, none of these mean success to me, maybe to some people it does, and here’s the lesson, success is subjective, there’s no need to judge peoples success in your terms if it means a completely different mind set to the people you’re judging.
Thank You and enjoy Life.
Hahahah I can tell I need Lea’s help, I just wrote a beautiful response and lost it!!! Today is Friday the 13th right?
Here I go again:
I totally agree with Lea’s post and that is why I am one of her clients. I will soon be launching my online practice to a geographical area that has never heard of the CHEK Institute. Yet I believe that it is one of the most sought after target market areas in the world ;-)
Don’t get me wrong, my CHEK qualifications got me out here to work for a Royal family in the first place, but my current venture is to market my practice to the prosperous but (in my opinion)’unhealthy’ states of the UAE such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the Expats in other Gulf States such as Bahrain and Qatar. But, if I were to market myself as a Chekkie I am sure I would not get very far.
Like all of us, I have invested much time and money into my education but as Lea often says, most Chekkies lack the knowledge of how to market themselves properly. And lets face it, she knows how!
Aren’t we are all reading and responding to her post. She has done her job!
So in response to Antonio’s comment:
“I am interested in what this site has to offer asd I just found out about it…which begs the question, how good is this site at marketing if I just found out about it???”
Well you know about her now! and I am sure you will be talking about her and her services some more. She is doing her job!
It appears from this post that we all agree that our fellow Chekkies would benefit from more advice of how to run and market our businesses more effectively, so hopefully we will be hearing more about this topic in the future.
Surely, effective marketing will make us more visible to those that need us most.
And isn’t our ultimate goal to make more people healthy?
Let’s hope I don’t lose this post!!
Normally I wouldn’t apply to a blog but in this case I feel compelled. I am a C.H.E.K. Practitioner Level II, Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level II and Neuromuscular Therapist. I have been in the health industry since 1986. I have been using the “C.H.E.K. stuff” since 2001 and have been extremely successful in applying that knowledge to clients. I have also been extremely successful from a business point of view mostly through referral from happy, healthy and educated clients. My colleague has done the same.
When I enrolled in the C.H.E.K. programme, I did not enrol in a marketing course. I wanted solid information and tutoring that would enhance the skills that I already had and give me the confidence to go a step further with my clients. Paul’s courses gave me exactly what I expected and more and, as you have inadvertently stated, Paul encouraged us to get out there and use these skills. Thus his comment, ‘knowledge isn’t powerful unless applied’. And while C.H.E.K. Institute is not a marketing company, in their courses they do in fact touch on business strategies in order to make us aware that there is a need to look after ourselves in that area. In fact that you state that yourself: “the ‘CI’ (C.H.E.K. Institute?) is also aware that this is a big piece of the puzzle that’s missing for people and that they’re encouraging people to do something about it too”.
I enjoy what I do and plan to be doing it well into my fifties and sixties. In order to help make that possible, I will continue to follow the C.H.E.K. principles and to further my education with the C.H.E.K. Institute. If I need marketing help along the way I may invest in a company that will fulfil that need. But I fail to see the correlation between the type of practices that we run as C.H.E.K. Practitioners, whether they incorporate C.H.E.K. principles or are ‘real, purely C.H.E.K. coaching-based businesses’, and your marketing scheme. And while I wish you every success in your ‘Healthy Business Program’, I will admit that I would prefer to enlist a company that sold itself on its own merits. Not one that uses tactics that undermines other companies, through what I would consider false and unsupported assumptions, in order to attain patronage.
Regards,
My name is Alan Farrell, I am a C.H.E.K. level II Practitioner and HLC II and also a practicing NMT. In response to your blog Lea, I find your post presumptuous and condescending.
Lea states “I can’t really name one CHEK person in the UK who has a
decent marketing strategy and who has cracked it from the perspective of
building up a ‘proper’ business based on coaching the CHEK principles”
Just because you have not come across a Practitioner out there who hasn’t
yet “made it” tells me you clearly haven’t looked very far. Lea, please define what “proper” is and and what exactly “made it” means in your apparently limited view? For me I am very happy with where my business is and how it continues to grow, not to mention the innumerable clients I
have had tremendous success with, so actually it is right where its meant to
be…. FOR ME. I am sure there are plenty of Chek people in the UK who feel the same way!
Lea states “Firstly, I think there’s an inherent flaw within the CHEK
courses themselves. You learn all kinds of excellent material on a
course. But as Paul himself says, knowledge isn’t powerful unless it’s applied.
The big thing lacking on the courses is how to apply that knowledge to clients -the coaching aspect, not the assessments, not the ‘how to’ exercises -but how to help clients apply the knowledge that you teach
them to their lives, how to help ‘coach’ them through behavioural change and
how to help them overcome often the biggest stumbling block to their success…limiting
beliefs”
Why do you think trainers are mostly drawn to the CHEK principles in the first place? It’s because for the majority of us we need this stuff ourselves and from there, we can teach others.
Lea, as Paul also says on his courses, “YOU CAN’T TEACH WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE” and he makes it very clear that we ourselves must LIVE this way so we can help people and inspire them to improve in any way possible. This, to me is the best marketing tool one can ever possess, and you don’t need to go to marketing college with its ” strategic planning, profitability,
performance metrics, exit strategies and the like” to learn that.
Neither myself or my colleague, another fellow CHEK Practitioner here in
Ireland, have to advertise what we do as for the most part the amount of
referrals we get from clients says it all and I can assure you Lea we ONLY utilise the pure CHEK “stuff” as you put it. Remember Lea being a CHEK practitioner means you have far more options available to how you work with an individual than your average trainer/therapist, it might be exercise they need, it might be diet, it might be breathing or it might be a shoulder
to cry on, the list goes on. Furthermore, you state “If you really want to use the CHEK approach in its purest form, then you need to get to these guys” As I have already stated, I am using the CHEK approach in its purest form Lea and I am sure there are many out there like me doing the very same thing so it is very narrow minded of you to assume that the majority of
Chek Practitioners out there are flailing about miserably in the dark waiting
for someone who is looking to impose their “limited beliefs” about how one
should attract business. If you know anything about the Law of Attraction
Lea I think you’ll find that it also works very nicely indeed from a business point of view.
Lea states “My argument is that CHEK practitioners fail because they
focus on the wrong things when it comes to business. They are in constant pursuit
of upgrading their qualifications (not objecting to that by the way) and
neglect to work on improving their business skills too”
Again please don’t make sweeping generalisations and blanket terminology
about people you know nothing about Lea, its a very limited viewpoint you have there and an incorrect one at that.
There are many people in various fields of work from construction workers through to doctors who don’t know a lot about business but who make a very nice, successful and adequate living from what they do nonetheless. In addition, not everyone who gets into this line of work uses it as their sole income, does that mean they have
“failed in business” because they don’t earn their wage from pure CHEK material?
Not everyone wants or has to have the helicopter pad in the back garden just to
say they’re successful.
Lea states ” What it does show is that the CI are also aware that this is a big part of the puzzle that’s missing for people and that they’re encouraging people to do something about it too”
Again rather presumptuous, its a missing piece for SOME people Lea, not all
and the C.H.E.K. Institute will have widely researched who and what it promotes for its’ practitioners’ benefit.
Lea states “But, and this is a big BUT…I’m not so sure the CHEK model is a successful model on which to base a business or can really be used
successfully to build a profitable, real business”
Paul Chek’s teachings are not only ground breaking but I think you will find that in the not too distant future, what this man is doing will be the benchmark for how people LIVE whether they are currently aware of that or not. So as far as I can see, the more people that choose this for their career now and in the future will only
strengthen its reputation across the globe because when man brings himself to his
knees from the choices he makes for his life and health (and man is certainly
heading in that direction!), people like us will be in GREAT demand.
So Lea, yes there are some people out there who need business help but I don’t think your generalised, inaccurate and presumptuous comments will serve your own business any better or will be welcomed by many as it makes out that a lot of the CHEK Practitioners out there are somewhat dim and
have never managed up to this point in their lives without the revelation and
illumination that was your blog.
Love, light and insight to you Lea,
Alan Farrell
CHEK II
HLC II
Hi All,
Very interesting discussion. As a young exercise health professional looking at the process of applying my learning to world in a positive way, it is interesting to hear from others who have been doing so for awhile. From my experiences thus far, and perhaps in the tradition of ‘The Secret’ or ‘The Code’, i firmly believe that my ‘success’ or ‘failure’ as a holistic trainer will come directly from my vision for the present and future (own thoughts), working from love not fear when creating with clients / other professionals, and basing my actions/ decisions firmly on self-responsibility and the life i have envisioned for myself…essentially i am restating what some of you have already said. I am yet to experience the joy of fully transforming my learning to helping clients and i do know that there will be much i need to learn with regard to business skills / marketing. However i know that with my vision firmly present in my mind i will be able to utilise the appropriate mentors, courses and experiences in the same way that the CHEK institute has enabled my growth as a trainer – which may or may not include Leas tools. I think the important thing is to be open to what inherently i know i need without dwelling on the problem…and as i grow i will be able to provide the same assistance to others.
So in essence i believe that any struggles i have (and indeed that any of us have) need to be looked at from the perspective of inwards out which is most refreshing. Thank you for your posts and good luck to you Lea
Dear Lea and all Chekkies alike!
Thank You.
Some very passionate responses.
I think a few people have misinterpreted the purpose of this blog to some degree.
There have been many posts by people that are already successful as practitioners who only came across the blog because of Pennys forum post. However if you focus on what Lea’s business is about- helping to make people successful then why would she be marketing to already successful businesses? There are many less successful people that are more in need of her help that know about her- In my book that is good marketing- knowing your audience.
Plus Lea is not attacking the C.H.E.K institute or what it teaches. However the fact is that many people take the courses without knowing how to fit it into their work structure or having a strong vision of what they want to achieve. I fell into this group until I did the PPS course and understood my legacy so I am in gratitude (again) to Paul for this.
Of the currently successful practitioners that have posted on here I am sure that all of them have a definite vision that they want to achieve and they have been able to use their training to help achieve this.
Success is definitely a case of how much you want it but it is important to define what ‘it’ is first, and then you can start achieving it.
On a sub-note to put this into context there is a need/opportunity to increase the profile of C.H.E.K. trained (coaches, practitioners, golf, HLC) practitioners in the UK. Something I believe that Lea is a driving force behind.
Than-you Lea, Paul, Penny and everyone else for helping to make the best better!
Steve Hensel
CHEK 2
HLC 3
I do truly want all chekkies to experience the level of happiness & success that they choose and welcome all suggestions to help achieve this.
As a rule however – I would generally not recommend having somebody post glowing reports about a competitor on your own website or blog ;-)
Namaste Lea,
Here are my thoughts.
You said, “But, and this is a big BUT…I’m not so sure the CHEK model is a successful model on which to base a business or can really be used successfully to build a profitable, real business.”
This is where you lost me as a client. Because as a CHEK Practitioner (CP) I want to use the CHEK approach to help my clients, and you are telling me I need to change my approach. Well, if I did not think that the CHEK approach is the right approach, than I would do something else.
This makes me questions your ability to effectively teach me how to successfully market and sale my services. A true marketing and sales guru can teach someone how to successfully market and sale “shit in bag”.
You said, “I didn’t say there are none, but there are very few. If you really want to use the CHEK approach in its purest form, then you need to get to these guys.”
A true marketing and sales guru can teach someone how to successfully market and sale to “anyone”.
You said? “you are highly unlikely to ever run a successful, profitable business using the CHEK approach.”
My understanding form this statement is, that you can not teach me how to make a profit by using the CHEK approach. Than why are you marketing to me (a CP)?
You said, “So, do I think the CHEK model could be set up for business success? Yes, because in the end it delivers. It can help do what it says on the packet.”
Isn’t this a contradictory statement?
Love, Peace & Harmony,
Chaim Alexander, CHEK 1, HLC 2
Chaim
Thank you for your comment. I do in fact coach my clients how to use the CHEK model in their business and I’m sure many would be happy to talk to you about how this has worked for them.
But if you check out my definition of what a ‘real’ business is (in a later post), then it might clarify this statement. This is not just true of the CHEK approach but of many different approaches in many different industries. Of course, it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do something just because it doesn’t fit my definition of a ‘proper’ business, but just make sure you’re in possession of all the facts so you know what you’re getting into.
I agree some marketing & sales gurus can & do teach anyone to market “shit in a bag” – but I believe this is what gets marketing (as a competency) a bad name. Personally, I only want to help market something that adds value to people’s lives.
A ‘true marketing & sales guru’ in my opinion would not teach somebody how to market to ‘anyone’ because more often than not, that somebody doesn’t have the marketing spend to try & convert just anyone.
My point about using the CHEK approach in its purest form was about making sure therefore, that you specifically target your marketing at people who will respond to this approach…and not just at anyone.
Any good marketer will tell you that the first rule of marketing is about “who” you target – not just anyone, but defining a target market. If you want to go right to the top and look at how the world’s biggest brand & marketing company does it (P&G), they always, always start with the “who”.
This is where I feel chekkies can really be smart – yes, the CHEK approach can help everyone but that doesn’t mean everyone wants it. The key to successful marketing for a chekkie (and not just a chekkie) is attracting the attention of the people who do actually want & will respond to what you offer.
The final quote you mention – if you put it in context, you’ll note that I stated you would be highly unlikely to be successful if you don’t recognise, admit & acknowledge that there might be a missing piece in the puzzle and do something about it.
Chaim – you are right, I do contradict myself a little at the end but I do believe the model “could be” set up & implemented in business for success, it just needs a tweak here & there first.
Best wishes to you
Lea
Namaste Lea,
Thank you for your reply and clarifications. My whish to you, may your Project help many CHEK Practitioners achieve success in their business. And by them being successful you are going to gain more success which will cause the world to be in a healthier and more loving place.
Love, Peace & Harmony,
Chaim Alexander, CHEK 1, HLC 2
good comments and food for thought…the chek programs are by far the most comprehensive but without and good sources of referrals from existing clients and professional, you can not grow a business. it is critical to set up a network with professionals..ie i also do cardiac rehab and pulmonary rehab so my patients convert many times to clients
bottom line..people listen when they in pain..find the people in pain and they will pay as i say..teach a women and rehab a man..it’s like shooting fish in a barrel..but you must have a marketing plan to succesfully implement the chek material..don’t go broke obtaining knowledge without aplication! people need this knowledge..the key is to getting them when they are open to change and that is when they are in pain!
I was a bodybuilder who was struggling. Paul Chek said you could make 100 grand a year with a mat, a ball, and a stick. Two months after he said this I was bringing in 8 grand a month working out of the back of my car. True, he doesn’t teach a Tony Robbins marketing class, but the work speaks for itself. The testimonials of my clients have driven my buisness from day one, and in a small community, the CHEK method has catapulted me to pied piper status. If you can’t sell CHEK, you can’t sell anything, because it is the Zapruder film, the answer, and it’s not an idiot proof, training for dummies, can’t miss class. He’s giving you the answer, if you can’t bring it home and make it profitable, then maybe you don’t belong in the business. Doctors and physical therapists give up their practices to follow this guy. How much of a babysitter do you need? By the way, to get away from Obamacare, I’ll be moving to the UK, and I’ll demonstrate CHEK marketing 101 if you want to take notes.
Ryan Rex
CHEK II
Texas