"Walking the Talk" Insanity: Day 25 of 60

There is so much noise these days everywhere.  I mean endless, mindless, baseless, and completely unfiltered chatter…everywhere.  As the internet has become the tool of communication choice for folks, the more everyone has something to say and the more everyone thinks their voice will and should carry the day. The most discouraging part of all of this is that, even if your message has real value, and could potentially save lives, it will always fall victim to the “Kim Kardashian Wedding” or the “Octomom.”  Many great messages are falling to the side of the road.  It’s the nature of the game.

So, if you have a valuable message that constantly rings the values of health and fitness…how do you give resonance to that ring?

There is only one real way to do it.  Walking the talk.

The first rule of persuasion or selling is to be able to demonstrate expertise.  It’s the hardest hurdle to overcome.  Nothing fuels the leap over that hurdle like credibility.  If you are a doctor, you are there.  If you are a credentialed Nutrition specialist, you have a distinct advantage.  If you are a certified physical trainer, point for you!  But if you are talking health and wellness, and you have none of these things, you better wear credibility as a suit every day and it starts with looking like you are healthy and fit.  The other key is that, if you are helping people get from unfit to fit, you better be able to relate to and verbalize that journey.

“Walking the talk” gives your message strength and resonance.  Here is another secret.  By “walking the talk” you have a distinct advantage over even those who are actually professionally credentialed!  If you are a doctor, nutrition expert, or personal trainer, and you look like you are not fit yourself…you may persuade some people, but there will always be those who look at you skeptically with one eye cocked.

When I went on the Optifast diet in 2008, the physician running the program was a short, tubby, and kind of jolly looking man.  I have to say honestly that, as he was touting the benefits of weight loss and the value of the program, no matter how good those words sounded, they lost resonance coming out of that rolly polly frame.

Since 2008, many have asked me about my journey.  My blog has been read as far away as New Zealand and some have even emailed me for advice.  The reason they reach out, I believe, is that I practice what I preach.  I have been in their shoes.

I have done a lot of reading and research about nutrition.  I can tell you how the body breaks down food and processes it.  I can tell you how the bad food is processed and stored…and how toxic fat truly can be.  I can talk about the personal issues that being fat can cause.  I can talk about the challenges of keeping the weight off.   I can tell you how valuable exercise can be for you.  BUT, do you know what people respond to more than anything else?  A side by side photo of me in July 2008, in my bathing suit at 285 lbs, and a picture of me in March of 2009, at 205 lbs.

A picture is worth a thousand words.  No kidding.  I know, because I have written HUNDREDS of thousands of words and the pictures do it every time.

My blog helps.  I do have a certain writing style.  Those who know me claim that when they read my writings, they can literally see me saying it.  My writing and my real voice and style carry the same resonance.  Many have called my writing style “graphic”…in the nice way.  They say that when I write about something, it is very descript and you can actually see it happening.  I tell you my entire journey of fitness and many have said that you can feel the work and energy that went into the whole voyage.  It’s a nice complement, because that’s how I like my writing to be seen.

But, in the end, it’s the damn pictures!  Show me.  That’s the world today.  In and amongst all the chatter and blather, you better have something visual to show people.  Because words are cheap.  Hell, they’re free.

Are you walking your talk?  My question today addresses health and fitness but the question and comments apply to whatever it is in your life that you are working to promote. 

If you don’t sincerely believe that your product or service works and is good, or, more importantly, if you can’t demonstrate it, you’re in a tough spot.

“Why is everyone so skeptical of these products?”

“Why don’t they understand that this will HELP THEM?”

“Why do they always say that there are other things that work better?”

“How can I motivate them to make a decision?”

The answer lies with you.  Look in the mirror and ask yourself if YOU believe it.  Ask yourself if you can demonstrate that message.  More to the point, ask yourself if you portray someone who looks and feels better.  Do you?

My old boss Glenn Morin used to have a saying, and he may have heard it somewhere, but he said on a few occasions, “You have to be able to eat your own dog food.”  Now that’s graphic.

So look in that mirror.  Do you “Walk the Talk?”