I first met Lisa Champion and Nigel Champion at PT On The Net's Meeting of the Minds in Colorado a few years back. They were kind enough to invite me out to Sydney for FILEX 2011, allowing me to share my views on the changing fitness industry. Thanks to them both. I learned that they are launching fitforgood - aiming to enhance the lives of Australians in need by providing health and fitness opportunities. What a wonderful idea and what wonderful people. Please let me, Bryan O'Rourke, know that you are going to give and get involved in fit for good.
What a great audience today for my first of 3 presentations at FILEX 2011.
Special mention goes out to Nigel and Lisa Champion and their team for the invitation and their being gracious hosts. I also want to thank the team at fitmarc, including partner Robert Dyer, for helping me attend and contribute to the fitness industry.
I've included the content below. Tell me, Bryan O'Rourke, what you think of using alternate media in the fitness industry. What is working for you ?
The socialization of the web and even Internet search is upon us. While Social Media has been the buzz (you know I hate that term) for the past few years the next few years are going to be softer as players figure out the ROI. Then, as a result of technologies and consumer adoption, it will explode. If you don't believe that view watch this clip from Gary Vaynerchuk, author of the Thank You Economy as he explains details.
In thinking about innovation in fitness and wellness, I sometimes get frustrated. It amazes me, for example, that so many leaders in the wellness and fitness industries don't even know what Google Health is or actually oppose social media marketing out of fear of what their members or clients will post.
I realize that there is some great innovation going on, but with many health club and fitness facility operators, innovation seems very limited. Obesity continues to rise and the number of people participating in fitness and wellness continues to be stagnant. Why isn't innovation in wellness and fitness happening as quickly as it could be ? I think it might be a function of the industry environment. Are there enough quality exchanges between thinking professionals about what the real problems and opportunities are ? Steven Johnson recently wrote Where Good Ideas Come From, The Natural History Of Innovation. According to Steve, great innovations need time to incubate and they need to collide with other hunches. They require great collaboration. Watch his video below as he explains how environment can create greater opportunities for innovation and further explores the issues of innovation in general.
Please let me, Bryan O'Rourke, know your thoughts about innovation in fitness and wellness. Do you think there are great opportunities that aren't being realized fast enough ? Do you think innovation is lacking in the fitness industry or in the wellness industry and why ? How could we create a better environment for innovation in our industry ?
