September 1, 2009

Teamwork

Long ago, I learned that if you want to succeed at something worthwhile, you usually need to have a good team behind you. It’s just too tough to do it on your own. This is true if you publish an online publication such as SeriousAboutFitness.com, of if you’re a lone competitor in fitness who wants to move ahead in the industry. That’s why teamwork is a key part of everything we do at SeriousAboutFitness.com.

For example, every SeriousAboutFitness.com issue is a collaborative effort involving our various writers such as Natalie Waples, Michelle Matthews, and Alison Aulph; our art director, Karen Fanas; our copy editor and proofreader, Janet Dingle; and, of course, myself. It wouldn’t come together each month without this team.

Teamwork is also critical for other things we do, such as our SAF Model Search competitions. At the Summer ’09 show on June 21, there were about ten people working diligently behind the scenes to make sure it was a huge success. It certainly was – but it couldn’t have been without them.

The SAF Model Search teamwork doesn’t stop there and on that day. The main goal with our SAF Model Search is to select winners who will become part of the SAF Elite and part of the SeriousAboutFitness.com team. These women, once they’re part of our team, help us make SeriousAboutFitness.com and the SAF-related sites better and even more successful. In return, we work with them, as part of their team, to help forward their careers in the fitness industry. It’s this kind of back-and-forth teamwork that creates a win-win situation where everyone can come out ahead.

SeriousAboutFitness.com's Natalie Waples (front left) and Michelle Matthews (middle) lead the SAF Camps -- day-long fitness seminars that teach women about how to get into great shape. Natalie and Michelle recruit SAF team members to help with each camp. The photo above was taken in May in Sudbury, Canada.

Teamwork also helps get sites launched. A recent example is our new Girls of SAF site (GirlsofSAF.com). Karen and I created the site and made it part of the SAF Network, but it’s the Girls of SAF who provide the content for it and really make it happen. Who are the Girls of SAF? The SAF Elite, mostly – the ones who were winners in our SAF Model Search. But there are other ways to get on the Girls of SAF team. For instance, fitness superstar Mindi O’Brien is involved. Mindi has never competed in our SAF Model Search events, so she’s never been part of the SAF Elite. But she is the event’s MC, she has worked with SeriousAboutFitness.com almost from the beginning, and of course, she’s an icon in the fitness industry. It’s people like Mindi whom we want on our team because it makes it grow stronger.

The Girls of SAF site offers these team members exposure opportunities as well as the chance to inspire others to achieve the same kind of success. Visit the site and you will find profiles, articles, photos, and videos. You’ll also find online journals that many of the team members keep to document their progress and show the world what they’re going through. Most of them are documenting their journey to the 2009 SAF Ottawa Elite Challenge, but Mindi’s journal focuses on the Fitness Olympia competition that will take place in Las Vegas later this month. The Fitness Olympia is the most prestigious professional fitness competition in the world and it’s her sixth time there.

Teamwork happens in other ways you might not expect. Currently, we’re doing some work with Denis Pedneault, a three-time Canadian bodybuilding champion who is one of the best trainers there is. I got to know Denis over the years through my work on SeriousAboutMuscle.com and my respect for him has grown steadily. One reason is because of his educational and professional background. Denis, who studied kinesiology, not only works as a personal trainer but also as a therapist, and he teaches at the University of Sherbrooke. His accomplishments are impressive, as is the way he went about them.. Denis achieved all of his bodybuilding titles naturally – he is a lifetime, drug-free champion and would have it no other way. Given his achievements, knowledge and experience, I obviously wanted him on our team. So he’s helping out with SeriousAboutFitness.com in a unique way.

I personally coach figure star Natalie Waples and I’ve asked to Denis to work with us to formulate some special exercises and training routines to further improve her already-outstanding physique. Denis and I talk often, and Natalie has traveled to Quebec twice to train with Denis. The results have been remarkable and, in time, we’ll be sharing these exercise articles and videos so readers and viewers can learn more about the interesting way in which Denis teaches and trains.

Denis Pedneault is an expert in exercise prescription. He's working with Natalie Waples and SeriousAboutFitness.com to improve her already outstanding physique by teaching her some unique and effective exercises. You'll read about some of these exercises in the months to come.

I could go on and on about the teamwork that happens here, but it’s probably already evident why it’s so important. So let me just say this: whether you’re putting out a publication, putting on an event, preparing for a competition, or simply getting into shape, it’s really hard to do it by yourself – you need a team on your side, even if it’s only a small one, if you really want to succeed. Teamwork makes things happen. Try it!

. . . Doug Schneider
das@seriousaboutfitness.com

Note: Do you want to become part of the best fitness team around? Winners from the SAF Model Search events qualify for SAF Elite status and become part of our team. Look to SAFModelSearch.com for details on how to enter. But that’s not the only way to join the team. If you feel that you can contribute to SeriousAboutFitness.com in a positive and meaningful way, send an e-mail to the editor@seriousaboutfitness.com and tell us about yourself and your ideas. We’d like to hear from you and, perhaps, have you join our team.

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