by Coach Jimmy Hays Nelson
Last weekend marked a pretty significant anniversary in my life. Five years ago, I took a step of faith to become a Beachbody Coach. I know that term still contains a lot of mystery for many people.
What is a “Coach” exactly? What are the requirements? Am I qualified? How much does it cost? As a busy person, what exactly do I have to do when I sign up? Is it like being a trainer? I’m not fit yet, will anyone want me as a Coach?
That is just a small sample of the questions I hear every day. Before I answer any of those questions, let’s jump in a time machine and go back five years to 2007. I was living in New York City with my wife, Kelly. I talked her into moving up there at the end of 2005 so I could pursue my acting career. I hit the ground running in NYC. I was gonna make this work, dammit, and no one was going to outwork me! By this point, I was a big fan of Beachbody; their programs had completely changed my body, giving me the confidence to make this leap of faith in the first place. I was up at 6am every morning doing P90X and off to auditions or classes by 8am. Well, after two years of hustling, training, networking, and auditioning, I saw a little success here and there, but my reality was nowhere near the vision I had hoped for.
I saw our debt continue to climb as I bounced from part time job to part time job, trying to do my part to bring in some form of income. Most of these jobs were rather demeaning to me: gourmet coffee presentation in department stores, catering gigs, and the ultimate low – passing out chocolates in Times Square at 4:30am while wearing a ridiculous ‘Newsies’ outfit. This was NOT where I saw my life at 30!
Do you ever take a moment and look at where your life is currently and realize somewhere along the line that you’ve settled?
Two maxed out credit cards, passing out chocolates with no real career to speak of was not how I envisioned providing for me and my wife! All I knew is I was passionate about two things: impacting others through my love of performing & sharing the incredible results I experienced with Beachbody products.
Thankfully, a friend I made on the Beachbody message boards, Melanie Bolen, told me about this Beachbody Coaching thing. To be honest, she didn’t have a ton of details, a training plan, or any success to ‘prove’ to me that it worked. But all I knew was:
- I trusted her as a friend
- Everything I ever used from Beachbody worked
- Getting a discount on products appealed to me as a broke actor
- There wasn’t a contract and if this was some kind of scam I could get my money back!
Honestly, I did not jump into this thing thinking, “Omigosh, this is what I’ve waited for! I’m going to make a huge business and be able to take care of my family as a Beachbody Coach.” It was more like, “I’m all about getting a discount on these products I’m already using, and if I get a referral fee every now and then that’s not a bad bonus.
I mean, what did I know about business? Oh, did I mention I’m a college drop out…. a THREE TIME COLLEGE DROP OUT. Not exactly the credentials for being a business building entrepreneur!
As I look back on it, I will say that my lack of knowledge and success did serve me well in one area: I didn’t come into this thing thinking I knew it all and was just going to pave my own way. I obviously was rather humble coming in. (I mean, we can all see where my ideas/efforts had gotten me to this point.) But I was hungry and more importantly I was TEACHABLE! Hell, five years later, I’m still humble and teachable because everytime I think I have it all figured out, God has a funny way of humbling me.
I am so thankful for the leaders, teachers, friends, and family I have created through this journey! I truly shudder at the thought of where my life would be in had I not taken the step of faith to change the situation I was in.
Look, I didn’t know anything about coaching, business, and I wasn’t the fittest guy in the world, but what I did know is that I was dissatisfied with where my life had ended up and if I kept doing what I had been doing, I was going to keep getting the same results.
SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE!
Have you reached that point in your life? If so, what’s stopping you from changing it. If you are like 90% of most people I talk to, it comes down to some form of an excuse about time or money …. right?
This scenario always amazes me. I talk to the married guy in his mid 30’s who hates the job he has been at for years, is barely making ends meet, wants a change, but tells me he can’t afford to invests $160 in a starter pack to test out working with my team, THE CREW, for 30 days. I look at it this way. If you are a working American that has been faithful to a job for multiple years and you don’t have $160 to invest in something that could potentially change your life – then you can’t afford NOT to take a leap of faith and find a way to get started. I mean look at me, you think I had money lying around when I got signed up? (REMINDER: Two maxed out credit cards and a habitual job hopper) I was in no position to ‘invest’ in something, but I found a way. There are times when desperation meets decision and you have to jump, or choose to live the rest of your life on Someday Isle ….. as in ‘Someday I’ll _______.” You fill in the blank.
I am part of an amazing group of Coaches, we call ourselves THE CREW. I refer to them as the family I got to choose. They lift me up and encourage me on a daily basis. We lean on each other, celebrate each other’s successes, cry on each other’s shoulders, all while we figure this thing out together! It’s amazing the lives that have been changed just by choosing to be humble, teachable, and keep showing up consistently.
Am I promising you that if you choose to join my CREW as a Beachbody Coach that your life will magically turn into a P. Diddy video with yachts and mansions? NO! Is that a possibility? ABSOLUTELY!
What I can promise you is a RISK FREE chance to change your life! Who else is giving you that chance? And I hate to break it to you, just sitting around hoping things will magically change is very native and futile. That’s not me having a lack of faith! I believe wholeheartedly in living by faith. But I also lean on these verses:
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. – James 2:17-18
But I’m only one guy with one story, so don’t only take my word for it. I encourage you to watch this short video and hear the testimonies of others.
At the end of the day I have learned that your life ultimately produces Results or Excuses. I’ve had seasons of both. And let me tell you, being teachable and taking action is way more rewarding than blaming circumstances.
In fact I’m so serious about you seeing the results in your life that you desire and deserve I took a break before my morning workout to record this short message.
You may be completely satisfied with every area of your life. Relationships, finances, health, etc. If that is the case, then I say congratulations and I look forward to learning from you! HOWEVER, if you are tired of settling and know you were meant for more than your current reality, I invite you to fill out the form below so we can connect and see if this is a fit for you. As much as we would like to work with everyone, that just isn’t possible. But I’m happy to chat with you and see if what you need and what we do is a fit.
I look forward to hearing from you. In this thing together – Coach Jimmy