Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

Got your attention, didn't I?  That double-take you just did is exactly the same thing I did when I spotted a book called Get Off Your Ass! by Marty Tuley at the library last week.  You see, I'm trying to get a bit more fit, and lucky for me the library is willing to help.  (Other than the fact that they are located down the block from one of my favorite restaurants...but at least I park at one spot and walk to the other, right?  Right!)

Anywho, obviously the title of the book caught my eye, but so did the smile on the author's face.  You've got to admit, in today's red tape society it's pretty nice when somebody says what they think, means what they say, and even if they're blunt, they say it with a smile.  And frankly, we all know that most Americans do need to get up off their butts and get going...at any pace, at any time.  I know I do!

So what does this have to do with small business, hmmmm?  Several things, actually!

First of all, the author, Marty Tuley, is an experienced personal trainer.  He understands not only what it takes for his clients (aka readers) to get fit, he understands that it's not easy to fit fitness into your day when you're working a 45 hour week.  And what are small and home-based business owners often guilty of?  Throwing themselves into building their businesses to the detriment of their waist measurement and stress levels.  (Again, guilty as charged here; I'm not just picking on you!)  The confrontational stance this book takes isn't about guilt-tripping the reader into doing twelve step aerobic exercises, it's more the tone of a buddy who is sick of hearing you complain about your big butt and tells you to quit shoving multiple Ding-Dongs down your throat while you're blogging.  Er, working, I mean.

Secondly, it's proof positive of how a business owner can build their business, establish their expertise, and branch out into other endeavors.  According to his bio, Tuley is a competitive natural body-builder and power lifter, a personal trainer, and an author.  He's owned and operated a health club for over a decade.  Which of those job descriptions do you think came first?  Personally, I'd be willing to bet that it started with his own health and fitness, moved into competitions, then ran on into business ownership and entrepreneurial endeavors.  What do you think?

Third, there's a great PR lesson in this book as well.  Not only will Tuley make people love him or hate him based on his "put down the fork and go walk the dog" type comments, he'll gain attention for himself and a favored cause.  A portion of the book discusses childhood obesity and he brings up PE4Life, an organization created to inspired active, healthy living for kids.  Then, when you get to the back of the book, you learn that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to PE4Life.  Now doesn't that just make genuine PR opportunities dance in your business-minded brains?  After all, it got me to mention the organization he supports twice.

So get off your ass...and excuse me while I get off mine too!