Apr 2009
Physical Copy Release
04/28/09 09:51 AM Filed in: The Book
The Fat Trainer is now available as a soft cover book! Hurry out and get one for yourself and a friend!
I will now start marketing it harder and work on getting it on the Kindle and other ebook readers.
Don’t forget to tell all of your friends.
I will now start marketing it harder and work on getting it on the Kindle and other ebook readers.
Don’t forget to tell all of your friends.
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Not Quite There
04/21/09 11:24 PM Filed in: The Book
Just a quick note. I just made a handful of small adjustments to the print version of the book. I think it is as close to perfect as I think I can get it. Lulu requires that I purchase the book and approve the physical version, so it will probably be another week before I get the book printed and shipped and approved. I am getting rather anxious to move on with promotion and other formats of the book (Kindle, audio, etc.)
Regarding Lulu, I am a little unhappy with the end-user experience. In order to purchase an ebook (or any product) the customer must register on the site. It is more than just filling out credit card info, but the customer essentially creates an account that they can log into. That is a bit disappointing.
I’m considering moving back to a google checkout/paypal or ejunkie option. I just ready to get the book officially released. Thoughts?
Regarding Lulu, I am a little unhappy with the end-user experience. In order to purchase an ebook (or any product) the customer must register on the site. It is more than just filling out credit card info, but the customer essentially creates an account that they can log into. That is a bit disappointing.
I’m considering moving back to a google checkout/paypal or ejunkie option. I just ready to get the book officially released. Thoughts?
Mini Twitter Explosion
04/15/09 11:49 PM Filed in: Personal
I haven’t figured out why yet, but in the last few days I’ve had 16 people add themselves as followers to my twitter account (@TheFatTrainer). Perhaps it is my previous blog post about Social Media? Perhaps it is my comment on a friends blog? Perhaps it’s just one of my recent tweets? Perhaps it’s just coincidence...
Well, whatever it is, thank you for following me. I hope I add value to your twitter experience. I feel like I’ve learned a lot in the past month or so that I’ve been on Twitter. I started out just doing updates of when I was going to the gym or what the weather was like, but now I try to be relevant to my book and personal brands and provide useful information or links.
In my opinion, if Twitter will ultimately succeed, it’s users must be useful and relevant to followers.
Thoughts?
Well, whatever it is, thank you for following me. I hope I add value to your twitter experience. I feel like I’ve learned a lot in the past month or so that I’ve been on Twitter. I started out just doing updates of when I was going to the gym or what the weather was like, but now I try to be relevant to my book and personal brands and provide useful information or links.
In my opinion, if Twitter will ultimately succeed, it’s users must be useful and relevant to followers.
Thoughts?
Social Media for Small Business
While looking for another video on AMEX’s OPEN Forum to show some coworkers the other day and found this video and thought I’d share. It is a quick couple of minutes relating to whether or not small businesses should use social networks to market their products/services.
I agree with the comment that small businesses should use social media marketing, but the communication should be authentic, relevant and useful to their audiences. Engagement, openness and dialogue should be the goal, not selling.
If you’re real, the awareness and revenue will come. (At least that’s what I’m hoping.)
Here’s the video (sorry I can’t embed it - shame on you AMEX!)
http://www.openforum.com/marketing/video_socialgood.html
I agree with the comment that small businesses should use social media marketing, but the communication should be authentic, relevant and useful to their audiences. Engagement, openness and dialogue should be the goal, not selling.
If you’re real, the awareness and revenue will come. (At least that’s what I’m hoping.)
Here’s the video (sorry I can’t embed it - shame on you AMEX!)
http://www.openforum.com/marketing/video_socialgood.html
Dual Cable Cross
04/11/09 10:34 PM Filed in: Strength
I was asked recently what my favorite machine is at the gym. Well, it’d definitely have to be the Dual Cable Cross by FreeMotion. If you don’t have FreeMotion equipment in your gym, you’re missing out.
The Dual Cable Cross is really a great piece of equipment because of it’s extreme flexibility. You can do all kinds of lifts and variations for so many purposes. It is using a type of training called functional training. This is when you use resistance training to mimic sports movements. One lift I came up with was mimicking a “pull” for a lineman in football. I do it quite frequently.
If you have 6 grand lying around, I’d recommend picking one up next time your out.
The Dual Cable Cross is really a great piece of equipment because of it’s extreme flexibility. You can do all kinds of lifts and variations for so many purposes. It is using a type of training called functional training. This is when you use resistance training to mimic sports movements. One lift I came up with was mimicking a “pull” for a lineman in football. I do it quite frequently.
If you have 6 grand lying around, I’d recommend picking one up next time your out.
Lulu
04/10/09 11:07 PM Filed in: The Book
Should any of you be interested in self-publishing, I just wanted to briefly touch on how my experience is so far with Lulu.com.
Lulu is a self-publishing/print-on-demand site that gives everyday people all kinds of printing options. From family calendars to photobooks to full-on books like The Fat Trainer, Lulu has a pretty wide product offering.
I am using an advanced desktop publishing software called InDesign (made by Adobe). It took me a little while to get the full bleed to fit just right, but I got it all figured out. Lulu isn’t the cheapest place in the world, taking about 20% of the revenue of each sale, but I like their site and prefer them over PayPal.
The ebook is now hosted and for sale on the Lulu’s site. The hard copy version will be available for purchase from Lulu in about a week or so. Something that I’m happy about is that I will be able to sell the audiobook version of The Fat Trainer once I get it recorded and edited.
So far, I’m happy with the experience with Lulu and will keep this blog updated if I find something new.
Lulu is a self-publishing/print-on-demand site that gives everyday people all kinds of printing options. From family calendars to photobooks to full-on books like The Fat Trainer, Lulu has a pretty wide product offering.
I am using an advanced desktop publishing software called InDesign (made by Adobe). It took me a little while to get the full bleed to fit just right, but I got it all figured out. Lulu isn’t the cheapest place in the world, taking about 20% of the revenue of each sale, but I like their site and prefer them over PayPal.
The ebook is now hosted and for sale on the Lulu’s site. The hard copy version will be available for purchase from Lulu in about a week or so. Something that I’m happy about is that I will be able to sell the audiobook version of The Fat Trainer once I get it recorded and edited.
So far, I’m happy with the experience with Lulu and will keep this blog updated if I find something new.
John Stockton
04/08/09 09:47 PM Filed in: Personal
My favorite athlete growing up was John Stockton. Durning the Final Four in Detroit, it was announced that he is in the class of 2009 for the basketball hall of fame.
He was hard-nosed, unselfish, extremely skilled and talented and made all of is teammates better. I tried to emulate him in my athletic endeavors and miss seeing him play. I just wanted to take a minute to pay tribute to my sports hero. Here’s a YouTube clip of the announcement:
He was hard-nosed, unselfish, extremely skilled and talented and made all of is teammates better. I tried to emulate him in my athletic endeavors and miss seeing him play. I just wanted to take a minute to pay tribute to my sports hero. Here’s a YouTube clip of the announcement:
Above the Neck
I thought this blog post from Fitness magazines senior editor, Bethany Gumper, was a good thought on whether or not to work out when ill. She says that if your symptoms are “above the neck” then it is typically okay to work-out. I like this terminology.
Typically, if I think I can at least walk for a bit, I almost always feel better having worked-out than not. If I’m sick with something other than a cold, I think it is wise to rest until your body can catch up.
I first heard about this post from Twitter.
Typically, if I think I can at least walk for a bit, I almost always feel better having worked-out than not. If I’m sick with something other than a cold, I think it is wise to rest until your body can catch up.
I first heard about this post from Twitter.
Pulldown Jerk
04/06/09 02:26 PM Filed in: Strength
While at the gym today I noticed something that I talk about in The Fat Trainer. A man was doing a lat pulldown exercise and was using such poor form. For starters, he had too much weight on the weight stack. Because of this excess weight, he used jerking motions to pull the weight down. He was pulling the bar down in front of his face, but could barely reach the top of his head.
Proper form for a lat pulldown:
You can apply most of these suggestions to most of your exercises. Get with a trainer for best results.
Proper form for a lat pulldown:
- Sit tall and align your neck with your spine. You may lean back slightly.
- Grasp the bar just past shoulder width apart.
- While keeping your body steady, lower the weight from full extension to just below the level of your chin.
- Return the weight at a controlled rate to the starting position.
- Avoid rocking, jerking or bouncing the weight.
You can apply most of these suggestions to most of your exercises. Get with a trainer for best results.
Whirlwind Week
04/04/09 11:19 PM Filed in: The Book | Humor/Random
Well, it has been a whirlwind of a week. I was so crazy busy getting the book released on time, but even after it was released, I’ve been go, go, go to fill in all of the marketing cracks.
I’m getting close to getting the book on Lulu for self publishing. They have a bunch of options and I’m just trying to be sure I choose the best one for The Fat Trainer. Plus, I’m having some issues getting my InDesign file to upload correctly to their site as a PDF with a full bleed.
I’ve also been working on Facebook marketing at the personal level, and that is fun. The thing I’m still trying to figure out is Twitter. I try to tweet useful things, but also keep it at the personal level. It is a fun challenge to have.
It has been a great week. Be sure to tell your friends and acquaintances about the book now that it is released. Also, let me know if you have any suggestions or comments. Thanks!
I’m getting close to getting the book on Lulu for self publishing. They have a bunch of options and I’m just trying to be sure I choose the best one for The Fat Trainer. Plus, I’m having some issues getting my InDesign file to upload correctly to their site as a PDF with a full bleed.
I’ve also been working on Facebook marketing at the personal level, and that is fun. The thing I’m still trying to figure out is Twitter. I try to tweet useful things, but also keep it at the personal level. It is a fun challenge to have.
It has been a great week. Be sure to tell your friends and acquaintances about the book now that it is released. Also, let me know if you have any suggestions or comments. Thanks!
BOOK RELEASE
04/01/09 01:24 AM Filed in: The Book
Hello! I am back. I had to descend into the cave of getting the book ready for yesterday’s release. Well, after hours and hours and hours of work, the time is finally here. The book is done and is available for sale now.
I am really excited to have that portion of this journey done with and am now looking forward to spending more time promoting the book. I need your help though. Please tell all you know about The Fat Trainer.
I am working on getting a physical copy available to be purchased, the book Kindle ready and even an audio version. I still have lots to do.
Anyway - take a look at the book. It’s only $1.29 as a limited introductory special. Let me know what you think.
I am really excited to have that portion of this journey done with and am now looking forward to spending more time promoting the book. I need your help though. Please tell all you know about The Fat Trainer.
I am working on getting a physical copy available to be purchased, the book Kindle ready and even an audio version. I still have lots to do.
Anyway - take a look at the book. It’s only $1.29 as a limited introductory special. Let me know what you think.