Why I became a coach?

I just want to share my story on why I became a coach!  

I started really working with Beachbody last September!  Wow, I can not believe it has been a year already!  I started with the Slim in 6 program and lost at least 1 pants size in the 6 weeks!  I thin moved on and did some P90X, and some Turbo Jam, then Slim Series,....  I went through all the programs!  I just know that in the past year, I just seemed to melt away.  I repeated tell people I was a tight size 12 when I started in Sept. and now can wear a 4!  It never stops amazing me!

Along my journey, I had an awesome coach, Miss Barbie!  She was there for me everyday!  I could email her and chat with her online.  She helped clean up my diet and pushed me that little extra to keep me going and staying on track!

In May of this year, I decided to look into the coaching thing.  Never did I really think of it as a whole business aspect.  It was more of a way to take everything I learned and turn it around to help others.  I wanted to thank my coach for helping me get my results, by returning the favor to help others.

I remember asking around to my coach and a few other Independent Beachbody Coaches to determine is this really what I want to do?  Does this take a lot of time or cost a lot of money to do?  Is it as rewarding as it sounds?

I had concerns about the business side of the coaching.  I didn't want to be forced to "sell products".  I don't consider myself a salesperson, so that would not be good if I need to go 'door to door' to get a product to move.  I had concerns about losing money on the whole deal and about just managing this from a business side.  Will I get customers and succeed, or will I just flop?  I also kept hearing that this is a "pyramid scheme".  So, I needed to think this out and get some answers before I committed to doing anything!

All the coaches I spoke to pretty much had the answers I needed to make the decisions.  I'm going to share a few of them with you.

• How much time does it take?  It takes as much time or as little time as you want to put into it!  It can be anywhere from an hour a day to much more.  It also depends on how much you want out of it to determine how much you will put into it!
  
• Does it cost a lot?  No?  As a coach, there is a 1 time start up fee ($40) and a monthly fee of less then $15 a month.  There are certain min. requirements that need to be held to maintain active coaching status, but they are not much and may not cost you anything.  
• Do I need to "sell" stuff?  This is a tougher answer.  As a coach, you get a commission on sales.  So, selling products is the main goal.  Some coaches have a whole approach that they created to just to sell products.    I personally don't "push products" on my customers or really focus on selling products!  I got into the coaching business to really help others achieve their weight lose goals!  I will offer my honest opinions and thoughts on the products for what works, doesn't work,...  I believe the products sell themselves.  They work!  I know they do and I have the result and see others getting awesome results from using Beachbody products!  I only request that my customers order things they want through my website or refer their friends to my site.  Because, when the do order something through my website, I get a "thank you check" for helping them!  
• As a coach, you do not have to "buy" and hold inventory in any products!  All sales are still directly through Beachbody!  So, no need to take cash/cards from customers. 
• As for the whole coaching business, I tell you Beachbody couldn't make it easier!  Their back-office available to all coaches is set up with everything you need.  You get your own website (see www.HeatherBuchman.com for my Beachbody website), which can be personalized.  You get your own email account, they have all the charts to track customers, orders, commissions,... Everything is right there for you!  They also offer training to help you grow and to help you help others!   
• Is this a pyramid scheme?  My answer is no.  This is my reason.  As noted above, there is very little money that you need to put into it!  Mainly a start up fee and a small cost to maintain a website!  You don't need to buy products!  The people at the top don't always make the most money!  I could make more money then the coach above me.  So, its what you put into it that you get out of it!  Just think, all companies have a chain of order.  From the president, to the VP all the way down to the secretary!  Beachbody coaching business is no different then any other large corporation!  There are people above you and people below you trying to work their way up the chain!

I continued to get the same answer from all the coaches I spoke to!  Do it!  Coaching is so rewarding!  It is a great thing knowing that you are helping people achieve a fitness level they want!  Maybe its as simple as losing a few pounds or as tough as getting totally ripped!   I get customers who send me their before/after photos and stats and just have to sit back and smile knowing maybe I was a small piece in their journey!  Hey, they do all the hard work, I just offer my support, motivation and answer any questions they have!

You can take this coaching to any level.  There are some people who just do it to get the 25% discounts (just a bonus and that almost alone makes it worth while), there are some coaches that do it solely to help others and care less how much their "thank you check is worth".  And then there are others who are no longer working any "real" jobs because the coaching business is such a great success for them that they could "retire" or they made enough to put their kids through school.  So, the possibilities to take this as high as you want are there!

I love coaching!  I love helping others everyday!  I love that the coaching thing has made me step up to the plate!  I tend to take the whole eating healthy and getting fit to a new level.  I now what to learn more!  I want to find out how to teach classes at my gym!  I want to be able to do this everyday verses sitting behind a stupid desk!  

If you have considered becoming a coach, I would love to talk to you more about it!  You can drop me an email at  HeatherB@BeachbodyCoach.com!  Also, there are links on my side of blog of videos and additional information on coaching, take a second and check them out.  The other great thing about Beachbody is that all the coaches want to help all the new coaches succeed!  These people are hear to help and will answer any questions you have.  Barbie, her coach, Kevin and I have started a blog just for our coaches to share ideas.  We offer conference calls to share thoughts on how to succeed in this business!  Why not consider joining our team!