For every 18-year-old on social media who thinks they need a big following just to make a few sales, there are 100 silent business owners quietly earning more. "The information economy," according to journalist Oliver Burkeman, "is essentially a giant machine for persuading you to make the wrong choices about what to do." Creating content is an overrated way to build a business. So what's better? Read the full article here: https://www.theptdc.com/articles/are-you-using-social-media-all-wrong Pr...
May 21, 2025•7 min
Pre-order my next book, "The Obvious Changes" here: https://amzn.to/3EsBKUt Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter Who Am I? Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center and host of the popular Obvious Choice podcast, a top show for coaches, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Jon’s been...
May 16, 2025•15 min
A tap on the shoulder on the subway. "Is that a sales book?" he asked. I took the subway instead of driving to read. It turned into a 15-minute impromptu business consult with a man named Mandeep. ”It’s more about business structure,” I said, showing him the cover of Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself. He told me he was a new business owner with an e-commerce store. Read the full article here: https://www.theptdc.com/articles/me-and-mandeep-talk-about-mentorship-on-the-subway Pre-orde...
May 14, 2025•6 min
Comparing yourself to others and obsessing over their success might just be the deadliest trap you can fall into on your journey. I've learned that while it's healthy to admire what others have achieved, it's crucial to understand the full story of what they sacrificed to get there – and to recognize that their path might not be one you'd actually want to walk. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a fre...
May 02, 2025•3 min
The secret lies in embracing seasons—focused periods of intensity followed by deliberate shifts. Like nature itself, our lives need rhythm: work and rest, doing and being, acceleration and recovery. This approach isn't about sacrifice. It's about sequence. Not limitation, but liberation. Let me show you how to stop drowning in overwhelm and start thriving through seasonal living. Read the full article here: https://www.theptdc.com/articles/solving-burnout-a-very-old-solution Pre-order my next bo...
Apr 30, 2025•13 min
Small talk for introverts is a necessary evil. As artificial intelligence increasingly pervades our daily interactions, mastering the art of small talk paradoxically becomes more valuable, not less. Knowledge is rapidly becoming universal and immediate. Whether it's a networking event, party, in-person business (like walking the floor as a trainer at the gym), or via online chat, meaningful unscripted exchanges are becoming premium skills. Read the full article here: https://www.theptdc.com/arti...
Apr 23, 2025•11 min
Doing the work worth doing is a wonderful thing. That's what I'll write about today—how doing work that makes you better as a result of the work, not because of any results you might get from it, is worth doing. Read the full article here: https://www.theptdc.com/articles/as-ai-takes-the-easy-you-must-choose-your-hard Pre-order my next book "The Obvious Changes" here: https://amzn.to/3EsBKUt Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “Th...
Apr 16, 2025•9 min
Today, I'm diving into the idea that real success isn't about chasing a finish line but about crafting systems that celebrate every little win along the way. In this video, I share my journey on how shifting from traditional goal-setting to building effective, life-affirming processes can turn your everyday efforts into triumphs. Order my book, "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://...
Apr 11, 2025•9 min
Everyone teaching social media growth is competing for attention . . . on social media. They're forced to share what performs best, not what works best. Read the full article here: https://www.theptdc.com/articles/how-to-grow-social-media-from-nothing-or-basically-nothing Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Mentioned in this video: "Viralnomics: How to Get People to Want to Talk About You" https://amzn.to/4i1x0Dd Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choi...
Apr 09, 2025•22 min
Books I recommended in this video: Snow Leopard by Category Pirates https://amzn.to/4ii8zBS The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter https://amzn.to/3QHaKmS Four Thousand Week by Oliver Burkeman https://amzn.to/4h2nxe3 Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb https://amzn.to/4hjOVVn The Humans by Matt Haig https://amzn.to/41AicWR Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://www.thept...
Apr 04, 2025•15 min
It's been almost two months since The Obvious Choice was released. Lots of people have been asking me how it's been going. If I'm honest, my answer is "not great". I've been disappointed with sales and so has my publisher. I'm sharing five crucial lessons I've learned from this experience. Not to complain, but to illuminate the path for anyone bringing something valuable into a noisy world. Whether you're launching a product, sell a service, or creating art––these five lessons transcend any spec...
Apr 02, 2025•18 min
Writing isn't just about putting words on a page—it's about clarifying the chaos in your mind and presenting ideas in a way others can understand. In a world where AI can write for us, mastering this inhuman skill might be the most powerful advantage for any ambitious person today." Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter W...
Mar 28, 2025•7 min
In today's episode, I'm thrilled to sit down with my long-time friend Alex Hutchinson, New York Times best-selling author of "Endure" and his new book "The Explorer's Gene." We dive into the courage it takes to explore new creative paths rather than getting typecast by your past successes, and Alex shares how his unplanned writing journey led to his most powerful work. Get my friend Alex Hutchinson's new book, The Explorer's Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on t...
Mar 26, 2025•59 min
In this episode, we're talking about letting your geek flag fly and how embracing your unique obsessions can be your secret weapon in business. If you're tired of blending in with everyone else online, I'm going to show you why your weird, nerdy passions are actually the key to standing out and connecting with the exact people who will become your most loyal customers. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here...
Mar 21, 2025•19 min
Success everywhere is a lagging indicator of becoming great somewhere. Read the full article here: https://www.theptdc.com/articles/success-everywhere-is-a-lagging-indicator-of-becoming-great-somewhere Order my book The Obvious Choice here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter Who Am I? Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center ...
Mar 19, 2025•18 min
Welcome everybody to the Obvious Choice podcast, where today I'll be explaining some major changes coming to this show as I pursue my singular goal of becoming a truly world-class writer. I'm putting an end to the scattered approach that's been holding me back, focusing on what truly matters to me, and yes, that unfortunately means firing Ren for what must be the fifth or sixth time. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Who Am I? Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the...
Mar 10, 2025•50 min
In this episode, we explore how to celebrate the process of doing challenging, meaningful work rather than fixating solely on outcomes—a concept I explore in my upcoming book, The Obvious Challenge. As I share my method of scheduling waypoints with loved ones to mark milestones in creative projects, we wrestle with explaining this approach without reducing it to another formulaic framework that sounds nice but offers little practical guidance. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amz...
Mar 03, 2025•55 min
Welcome to The Obvious Choice podcast, where today we're joined by Paul for a Hot Seat conversation about why successful businesses inevitably break down and how to systematically rebuild them. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your growing business, this episode will show you how to identify your natural strengths and create systems that allow you to focus on what makes you special. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you want to get my book, “The Obvious...
Feb 26, 2025•21 min
I've been thinking a lot about love lately. I heard this quote the other day that really stuck with me: "if you think you understand love, you don't." Which, honestly, is pretty damn wise when you think about it. Today's episode dives into a chapter from my upcoming book, tentatively titled "Grow Separately to Grow Together." We're going to explore some counterintuitive things I've learned about relationships – like how our differences, not our similarities, are what actually make partnerships w...
Feb 24, 2025•49 min
Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of The Obvious Choice podcast, where today we're diving into a challenge that hits close to home for many fitness business owners - the struggle to scale beyond trading time for money. We're sitting down with Katherine, who runs a successful personal training studio outside Ottawa and is wrestling with the classic dilemma of how to grow her business while reducing her crazy 4 AM client schedule and creating more freedom in her life. Order my book "The Obv...
Feb 19, 2025•15 min
In this episode, I discuss my unexpected bout of depression following the successful launch of my book "The Obvious Choice," revealing how the completion of a major project left me feeling empty despite its commercial success. Through this experience, I explore the paradox of achievement and purpose, arguing that the real reward lies not in completing projects but in the transformative journey of working on them. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce Not sure if you wa...
Feb 17, 2025•26 min
In this conversation, I reveal the pivotal $10,000 decision that shaped my career path and eye-opening insights from launching my new book "The Obvious Choice." From social media's false promises to the counter-intuitive truths of building lasting success, this episode challenges conventional wisdom about what it really takes to build a sustainable business in today's digital age. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce (Not sure if you want to get the book yet, that's o...
Feb 10, 2025•59 min
This week on the podcast I spoke with Jason about him writing his new book, how to recreate his marketing, and much more. Enjoy! Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce (Not sure if you want to get the book yet, that's okay, you can get a free sample of "The Obvious Choice: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter ) Who Am I? Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center and host of the popular Obvious Choice podcast, a top sho...
Feb 05, 2025•18 min
Today we're diving into something I've wanted to talk about for a long time: adult friendship. This is probably one of the most important and least understood topics that can massively impact your quality of life. And I've got some pretty strong opinions on it – opinions that might seem a bit counterintuitive at first. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce HOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.com Hosts: Jonathan Goodm...
Feb 03, 2025•51 min
In today's episode, we're diving deep with Kim, a women's empowerment coach who's mastered the art of balancing a high-powered NASA career with a thriving coaching practice. What fascinates me about Kim's business is that it's what I call an 'avocado business' - where timing is everything - and today we're going to unpack exactly what that means and how to market it effectively. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce HOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, an...
Jan 29, 2025•19 min
Email isn't really a task - it's where tasks go to accumulate, and your phone isn't really a tool anymore - it's become an appendage that's designed to hack your primal brain. I don't believe discipline alone can work when it comes to controlling these devices, and that's why we need a set of clear rules and structures to keep them from controlling us. Today on The Obvious Choice podcast, we're diving into some practical rules for taking back control of your phone and email usage, because if you...
Jan 27, 2025•37 min
In today's episode, I sit down with Lance, a 21-year-old online fitness trainer who recently made the bold move to leave his in-person training business behind to focus entirely on his online practice. Lance and I dive deep into the unique challenges and opportunities of building a fitness business with a young audience, exploring how to grow alongside your client base as they transition from college students to young professionals. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzc...
Jan 22, 2025•20 min
Today, we're diving deep into part two of my book launch strategy - and let me tell you, launching a book is a whole different beast than writing one. In this episode, I'm walking you through everything from our content testing approach and social media strategy to how we're handling those crucial final days before launch. I'll share why I switched from pushing pre-orders to offering a free chapter, break down our podcast strategy (and why I had to completely change course on that), and get into...
Jan 20, 2025•53 min
My book The Obvious Choice is now out!!! I am excited to share my most recent feelings about the book launch and my game plan for the future. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce HOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.com Hosts: Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/ Ren Jones https://www.instagram.com/fitnessjonestraining/ Amber Reynolds https://www.instagram.com/amberreynolds.me/ Every Friday, ov...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr
With my book "The Obvious Choice" coming out, I decided to share all the inside baseball marketing secrets to marketing a book. Let's get into it. Order my book "The Obvious Choice" here: https://amzn.to/4ghBzce HOW - Rate/review this podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to obviouschoicepod@gmail.com Hosts: Jonathan Goodman https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/ Ren Jones https://www.instagram.com/fitnessjonestraining/ Amber Reynolds https://www.instagram.com/amberreynolds.me/ Every Frida...
Jan 13, 2025•56 min
