I began bodybuilding in 1985 after seeing a magazine with Bob Paris on the cover.

I was standing in the checkout line of the grocery store.

It was Spring.

I played football in High School.

But now that I was just out of High School, I was not doing much physically.

Of course I was still eating the same amount of calories daily as when I played football.

So I needed to find something to do.

And I noticed the Muscle and Fitness magazine cover.

I bought that issue, took it home and devoured it from cover to cover.

I joined Gold’s Gym there in Waco,  ...]]>

This is a post about me, my friends Joe Vitale and George Helmer and of course, Steve Reeves.

I began bodybuilding in 1985 after seeing a magazine with Bob Paris on the cover.

I was standing in the checkout line of the grocery store.

It was Spring.

I needed some motivation.

I played football in High School.

But now that I was just out of High School, I was not doing much physically.

Of course I was still eating the same amount of calories daily as when I played football.

But now those calories were sticking with me instead of being burned off through football practice, lifting and running.

So I needed to find something to do.

And I noticed the Muscle and Fitness magazine cover.

I bought that issue, took it home and devoured it from cover to cover.

I joined Gold’s Gym there in Waco, Texas (I was attending Baylor University at the time).

Results came quickly for a 21 year old.

It motivated me even more.

I cleaned up my diet.

I ate chicken, rice, broccoli, repeat, repeat.

The gym owner told me I should “compete”.

At what?

I thought.

Enter competitive bodybuilding.

I competed in 1988 at the NPC Heart of Texas Classic and got 2nd place.

In fact I got 2nd place in just about every contest I entered over the next 13 years.

(note - if you plan to compete in bodybuilding, fitness or figure MAKE SURE and hire someone to help you over the last 6-8 weeks.)

I had enough of it and finished competing in 2001.

I was married and my interests turned away from competitive bodybuilding to a more healthy approach.

(note -competitive bodybuilding is not about health.  The people on the pro and national level stage are usually the most unhealthy people around.  At least during the contest phase).

I got into the entrepreneurial mindset with the help of my great friend, Joe Vitale and another guy who I’ll always be grateful to.

Fitness was/is still my passion.

But now, I run an indoor fitness boot camp business, create DVD’s with Monica Brant, DVD’s with Lee Priest, ebooks, audio coaching program for fledgling fitness entrepreneurs, a documentary on 4 time Ms Fitness Olympia, Adela Garcia, online training, telephone coaching for fitness professionals, message boards, and a bunch of different websites.

And with all of that, one of the moments that I’m most proud of is meeting Steve Reeves best friend and business partner, George Helmer.

Steve Reeves is unknown by most people that I talk to.

It’s hard to believe.

Steve was the number one box office movie draw in 1959 due to the incredible success of the movie Hercules.

Steve was a role model for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and a host of other well known personalities.

A few years ago, I had the incredible pleasure of attending “The Steve Reeves Fitness and Film Festival” near San Diego, California.

Joe Vitale and I spent the weekend there in that wonderful San Diego weather soaking up all of the stories about Steve Reeves told by Steve’s greatest fans and longtime friends.

Namely by George Helmer.

George was Steve’s long time friend, business partner and training partner.

I can identify a lot with George because little did he know that he would become such a great friend to Steve Reeves.

Just as I have with Lee Priest, Monica Brant and others.

Steve told the story of how he met Steve.

How Steve helped George’s gym business grow.

How George used to drive out to Steve’s nearby ranch from San Diego on the weekends.

In order not to be late, George would arrive early and sit in his car under a grove of trees near Steve’s Ranch.

Steve asked George how he did it.

How did he always arrive on time?

George never told Steve how he did it.

I heard some amazing stories that weekend.

I met some amazing fans and friends of Steve’s.

I got to see up close and personal some of Steve’s belongings.

Clothing, car, jewelry, bicycle, trophies, letters, photos, paintings, and more.

One of the coolest things that I got to see was a piece of the wall that Steve used to write his workouts on at his childhood home.

It was nearly lost forever though.

Until George got involved.

George went back to Steve’s childhood home after he learned that Steve had written or carved his workouts on the garage wall of the home.

He wondered if it was still there.

He asked the home owner (can you imagine?) if he could look for it in the garage.

The owner said “Sure”.

George could not find the section, it had been covered up.

George asked if he could remove sections of the garage wall (he paid them) to look for it.

They said “yes” and after hours of trying, he found it.

George now owns that piece of wall.

Steve was everything that was good about bodybuilding.

He had a great physique, he was honest and hardworking, he was charismatic and he had the ability to make a great living by following his passion.

Joe Vitale has taken on the great responsibility of guarding some of Steve’s greatest belongings.

Such as the bust that you see in the top header of this post.

There were only 3 made.

Joe now has 1.

1 is lost.

And 1 is in the hands of the sculptor’s family.

The bust was created by artist Kenneth Kendall.

Kenneth is best known for his work with

James Dean

.

“His bust of James Dean is on display at the Griffith Park Observatory where the movie “Rebel Without A Cause” was filmed.

Dean was at Kendall’s studio one day and Kendall asked Dean to follow him back to the studio’s work area.  Ken had been working on Steve’s bust and had a towel covering it.

He removed the towel and asked Dean if he knew who this was.

Dean replied, “That’s the one and only Steve Reeves.”

George is full of stories like this one.

Personally, I find it amazing and I love the history of bodybuilding and fitness and the folks like Steve who have helped bring popularity to health and fitness.

Steve Reeves played a huge role in getting the general public’s attention and getting them to take an interest in health and fitness.

Joe Vitale has taken ownership of Steve’s beloved 1977 XJS V-12Jaguar that Steve bought off the Hollywood showroom floor in 1977.

Rock Hudson wanted it.

But Steve talked the salesman out of it saying “I know Rock Hudson.  I know he’s in Europe working on a film.  So sell me the car and Rock can get another one.”

So Steve got the car.

And now Joe has it.

And I’ve sat in it.

And I’ve sat at his dining room table - the one Steve’s parents owned when Steve was a boy.

And the same one that Steve used later on as an adult.

And I’ve tried on Steve’s Mr. America watch.

Getting to know who Steve Reeves REALLY was and actually sitting at his table, wearing his watch, sitting in his car and working out on his home universal gym has been one of the highlights of my involvement in the fitness industry.

As Gene Landrum writes in his book, “The Superman Syndrome”:

“Paint superman on your psyche and dare anyone to knock him off”

And:

“Everyone has Superman or Wonder Woman lurking within; those who can tap into that power will leap tall barriers and think faster than a speeding bullet.”

Thanks, George, Joe and Steve for the “insiders only” look into one of the greatest ever in the health and fitness industry.

I just wrapped up my audio series called, “How To Make Money In BodyBuilding, Fitness and Figure 101!”

It’s at www.howtomakemoneyinfitness.com

This 12 CD/Multimedia package is chock full of the knowledge, resources, and secrets that I use everyday to create more and more wealth in the fitness industry.

In this series I interviewed amazing individuals like: Jennifer Nicole Lee, Joe Vitale, Nancy Georges, Clifta Coulter Perez, Nita Marquez and more!

Here’s an excerpt from CD 12 (February 2010):

We had Monica Brant and Austin Fit Magazine out at the XFC training facility recently to photograph a FullForceFitness workout!

Read all about it, see the rest of the photo’s here!

If you’re in the Austin, Texas area - check out my fitness boot camp at www.fullforcefitness.net

I remember Clifta.

In the early 90’s, Clifta Coulter started appearing in Flex magazine as well as Ironman, Muscle and Fitness and others.

In 1996, Clifta turned pro by winning the Overall USA Championships.

She competed a bit and then changed directions in her life.

Clifta began to immerse herself in her personal training business and in her love for horses.

Time went by.

In early 2009, I began working with Clifta on the business side of fitness.

I love to help.

It’s what my passion is.  It’s what part of my business is. 

Coaching, mentoring, creating.

Have you ever had someone ask you - “Do you workout?”

Or

“How did you get such great abs?”

Or

“How can I build biceps like yours?”

These are potential customers.

And they will pay you for your training information.

With the internet, we (as bodybuilders, fitness and figure enthusiasts) have a gold rush of opportunity in the “Wellness Industry” to create passive income, leverage our time and design the life that we truly desire!

As a result of this “internet gold rush”, I consider myself to be retired these days.

I work when and where I want and with whom I want.

I make money in the fitness industry throughout the day.

Every day.

It’s an amazing time and there are amazing opportunities if you are a business minded bodybuilder, fitness or figure competitor or enthusiast.

Here’s why:

The “Wellness Industry” (e.g. health  ...]]>

Have you ever had someone ask you - “Do you workout?”

Or

“How did you get such great abs?”

Or

“How can I build biceps like yours?”

These are potential customers.

And they will pay you for your training information.

With the internet, we (as bodybuilders, fitness and figure enthusiasts) have a gold rush of opportunity in the “Wellness Industry” to create passive income, leverage our time and design the life that we truly desire!

As a result of this “internet gold rush”, I consider myself to be retired these days.

I work when and where I want and with whom I want.

Every day.

It’s an amazing time and there are amazing opportunities if you are a business minded bodybuilder, fitness or figure competitor or enthusiast.

Here’s why:

The “Wellness Industry” (e.g. health club memberships, personal training, supplements, vitamins, health and fitness information products, massage and more) is currently raking in over $300 BILLION dollars a year as stated in the 2006 book, The Next Millionaires, by New York Times Best Selling Author, Paul Zane Pilzer.

By 2010, Pilzer (who was not only an Economics professor at NYU and an economic advisor to 2 U.S. Presidents) says that the Wellness Industry will be worth closer to 1 TRILLION a year!

For the last 4 years I have been reaping the rewards of this knowledge by creating my own “products” and as a result -residual income - in the bodybuilding and fitness industry.

For most people, the only way you are ever going to accumulate a significant amount of wealth is through passive income, which is another term for residual income.

Residual income is income that continues to flow after the work that created it has been completed.

As Paul Zane Pilzer points out “There is a critical distinction between economic freedom and servitude.

If your income consists exclusively of compensation income, then even if you work at a very high rate, such as a highly qualified lawyer or surgeon you are still tied to your work hours.

Every day, you have to start over from scratch and earn all over again.

If you stop working, then you stop earning.

So what type of products can we create in bodybuilding, fitness and figure?

Skip La Cour has one.

I have more than one (and will continue to create more in 2010).

Ask anyone of them how they like their ebook business?

But you’re not an expert in bodybuilding, fitness or figure!

But you don’t like to write?

You don’t have time to write?

You don’t know how to create an eBook!

You don’t know how to market an eBook!

You don’t know how or where to sell an eBook!

All of these questions and fears are laid to rest in this CD-ROM.

And now for the bad news.

I have been working with a select few business minded bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts each month through my bodybuilding and fitness mentorship program to help others create their own eBook publishing empire.

It’s over.

I simply don’t have time anymore to continue with my eBook mentorship program.

It’s just not the best use of my time and though it has been extremely rewarding in terms of helping others, I have to focus on other opportunities at this point.

Now the good news.

I just finished creating a "How To Make Money In BodyBuilding, Fitness and Figure 101!" CD-ROM.

You simply pop the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive on your computer.

And with a couple of mouse clicks, you simply follow along as I use video screencasts and mp3 audios to take you step by step into the bodybuilding and fitness eBook creation process!

It couldn’t be any easier.

And if you just take action, it could make you a ton of money.

I was charging $397 per person for the bodybuilding and fitness mentorship program.

This CD-ROM is a lot less than that.

But it’s going to be just as helpful.

Because you can watch and listen to the information over and over.

Just one or two eBook sales will pay for your investment.

One of the key factors that separates people who create abundant wealth in this world is that they invest in themselves and in their futures.

The bodybuilding lifestyle - working out, tanning, eating correctly, competing and all of that is a wonderful lifestyle.

But it’s only part of the lifestyle.

The other part is making money with your bodybuilding and fitness knowledge.

I mean it costs money to compete, to travel, gym fees, supps and all of the other nickel and dime things.

So why not make money using your expert knowledge?

There are tons of potential customers worldwide who are interested in your workout methods and will pay you for that knowledge.

As Amazon’s Kindle (and other eBook readers) continues to grow in popularity, guess what?
More and more digital downloads (eBooks) will be purchased.

Why would I spend my time creating digital products like eBooks, if they didn’t pay off BIG TIME!

As of September 09,  the bestselling author Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol, has sold more copies in DOWNLOAD format (ebook) than in print form according to Amazon.

Is this starting to make sense?

This is like a hot tip from a reliable stock broker that you must act on.

Don’t second guess yourself just take action and start taking control of your financial future.

If you are a subscriber to my www.howtomakemoneyinfitness.com , relax!

You will be getting this CD-ROM this month as part of your subscription to “How To Make Money In Body Building, Fitness and Figure 101!”

This CD-ROM is #8 in the 12 CD of the month program.

If you are not a subscriber then I am making a 1 time special offer to you right now.

For a limited time, you can get the CD-ROM for just $47 (regularly $97).

And if you take action, it will become one of the best investments that you have ever made in terms of creating your own eBooks and creating your own income stream.

This product is something special and I will not be offering it again soon at this discounted rate.

Here’s the payment link to get your copy at the special discounted rate of $47!

 P.S.

P.P.S. This product is an information rich resource for creating your first eBook in the soon to be 1 trillion dollar a year Wellness and Fitness Industry.

I will guide you, step by step, into this profitable world.

This product is a CD-ROM.

Digital book readers could soon become the ‘next big thing’, as new models with new features are released this fall.

If you doubt that the shift to electronic publishing is happening, check this out. According to Amazon, the digital version of Dan Brown’s new thriller "The Lost Symbol" is outselling the paper version at Amazon.

Basically more people are buying the downloadable, Kindle version, than are buying the print version - at least through Amazon.

What makes this more amazing is that there are only 3 million Kindle owners! Imagine what would happen if there were 100 million ebook readers out there.

This is good news for info publishers of all sizes. If the trend holds, it means that when ereaders are mainstream, digital books could be major sellers.

Digital books are far less expensive to duplicate and  ...]]>

Digital book readers could soon become the ‘next big thing’, as new models with new features are released this fall.

If you doubt that the shift to electronic publishing is happening, check this out. According to Amazon, the digital version of Dan Brown’s new thriller "The Lost Symbol" is outselling the paper version at Amazon.

Basically more people are buying the downloadable, Kindle version, than are buying the print version - at least through Amazon.

What makes this more amazing is that there are only 3 million Kindle owners! Imagine what would happen if there were 100 million ebook readers out there.

This is good news for info publishers of all sizes. If the trend holds, it means that when ereaders are mainstream, digital books could be major sellers.

Digital books are far less expensive to duplicate and distribute than paper books, with distribution costs of ebooks being near zero once the book has been created.

http://business.theatlantic.com/2009/09/online_dan_brown_selling_faster_on_kindle_than_paper.php

If you are a business minded bodybuilder, fitness or figure enthusiast/competitor, YOU MUST create an eBook.

Easy to create, highly profitable and a new source of income is instantly added to your bank account. I’ve got more big news about this coming soon!

Scott York filming an infomercial - courtesy of Lava Studios/Austin, Texas

You may have heard the quote that states “Perfection is a moving target”.

Too often, we get caught up in trying to get everything just perfect.

 While you are working on “perfect,” someone else with “just okay” is raking in all the money.

Reading the next book, attending the next seminar, or trying the latest software alone will do nothing for you, the key lies in taking action.

This is the Ready, Aim, Aim, and Aim syndrome.

Always aiming and never pulling the trigger.

I would like to invite you to try a technique suggested to me by Michael Masterson-the Ready, Fire, Aim technique.

Do something; even if it is wrong go ahead take the shot, screw up.

At the very least, you are  ...]]> Scott York filming an infomercial - courtesy of Lava Studios/Austin, Texas

You may have heard the quote that states “Perfection is a moving target”.

Too often, we get caught up in trying to get everything just perfect.

 While you are working on “perfect,” someone else with “just okay” is raking in all the money.

Reading the next book, attending the next seminar, or trying the latest software alone
will do nothing for you, the key lies in taking action.

This is the Ready, Aim, Aim, and Aim syndrome.

Always aiming and never pulling the trigger.

I would like to invite you to try a technique suggested to me by Michael Masterson-the Ready, Fire, Aim technique.

Do something; even if it is wrong go ahead take the shot, screw up.

At the very least, you are moving in the right direction.

When people ask me what I do, I tell them that one of my many projects is at www.HowtoMakeMoneyInFitness.com

I record monthly CD’s filled with fitness money making marketing advice, I interview some of the top names in the bodybuilding and fitness industry like Jennifer Nicole Lee, famous authors and marketing geniuses like Joe Vitale, publicity experts who know how to engage the media in order to create a win-win for both you and the media, former pro bodybuilder like Clifta Coulter, and much more.

I am literally laying out the steps needed for someone who has a passion in bodybuilding and fitness to create their own future, create their own fortune and not have to depend on someone else like a boss, a spouse or a company.

When asked how I record the CD’s, I tell people I do it at home in my office.

“What?”, they ask.

“Don’t you need all kinds of professional recording equipment?”

Nope.

Technology, in case you haven’t been paying attention, allows all of us to be on a level playing field when it comes to creating music, audios, videos, books, online magazines, blogs, membership sites, coaching programs, online personal trainer programs and more.

You’re literally one skill away from a potential fortune.

What skill?

Creating videos, CD’s, books, online magazines, blogs, membership sites, etc.

But you have to take action.

You have to have desire.

It ain’t just going to happen by itself.

But tomorrow will come.

And so will the next day and the next month and the next year.

Whether you are ready or not.

Are you ready?

Or not?

The answers are in your actions.

If I had never started www.BodyBuildersReality.com with a $300 Sony miniDV video camera, I would have never been in the wonderfully fulfilling position that I am in now.

I’d still be working for someone else.

Follow your passion and once  you let go, people and opportunities will enter your life.

Otherwise, you simply are not trusting enough in yourself and in your abilities.

You’re coming from lack and fear.

Live life to the fullest, chase your dreams.

Once you do, your dreams will slow down just enough to let you catch up.

Have a safe and happy labor day weekend!