A prospective member decides to join the club. This is a currently sedentary person who looks and sounds like someone who needs exercise instruction. You give the member a free 30 minute personal training session and make a note of your new sales lead. After all, this is the “perfect” candidate for PT.

You’ve just set up the member for failure on the first day.

We all know the statistics about how most Americans do not engage in the recommended amount of exercise. For the sedentary person to go from 0 to 30-60 minutes a day of exercise seems like trying to climb Mount Everest – mission impossible.

A recent research review by Kim McGonigal, PhD, in IDEA Fitness Journal (July-August 2011), reveals that even 10 minutes of exercise a day can have positive health benefits.

When’s the last time you sold 10 minutes of PT or encouraged a new member to only stay for the first three or four tracks of a group fitness class? Even “going at your own pace” is easier said than actually done in a group setting for someone who is completely out of their comfort zone – mission impossible.

Ten minutes of exercise doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a start and it’s an example of one of the key principles of the Members4Ever program – changing mission impossible to doable.

We know that for new, sedentary members, even small steps can lead to big changes. The journey starts with providing the member with the education as we guide them along.

As the member progresses through Members4Ever and starts to feel increased energy, improving mood, self-esteem, and quality of life, you’ll know that you haven’t set up the member of failure, but for a life-time journey of improved health and fitness.