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Cherry Pop

Jake Steinfeld Jake Steinfeld
Author of 'I've Seen A Lot of Famous People Naked, And They've Got Nothing On You!'

'Revealing The Bare Necessities of Life!'

Jake Steinfeld has helped millions of people pump up their health, their bodies, and their confidence.

Can he help you pump up your business?

You bet as his new AMACOM book 'I’VE SEEN A LOT OF FAMOUS PEOPLE NAKED, AND THEY’VE GOT NOTHING ON YOU!' reveals the street-smart entrepreneurial secrets that helped Jake turn a one-man business into a global brand.

As a young personal trainer in L.A., Jake Steinfeld had a knack for motivating people to do their best, landing his phone number in the Rolodexes of some very famous people. As their trusted fitness expert, Jake saw many of these folks naked. No, not bare-nekkid naked! He saw them stripped of all the Hollywood glitz and pretense. No limos, no Rodeo Drive high fashion, no paparazzi—and no bull. What he realized is that these people are just people. They weren’t born with a special “success gene.” The secret to their success is hard work, street smarts, and a don’t-quit attitude. Jake made those qualities his own, and he’s never looked back.

Now it’s time for Jake—the founder and driving force behind the multi-million-dollar Body By Jake global fitness brand— to share his experience and knowledge with entrepreneurs everywhere. With signature style, Jake recounts his own spectacular rise and offers plenty of practical wisdom in 'I’VE SEEN A LOT OF FAMOUS PEOPLE NAKED, AND THEY’VE GOT NOTHING ON YOU!'

Chatting recently with the man himself, Jake Steinfeld, I first wondered where the title for this book originated ... and what other names could it so easily have been called?! "Look, this is a title I’ve had for 7 years and wanted to put on a book – it could have been ‘Business by Jake’, but how boring. We all know how fast everyone’s lives are and how much is thrown in one’s face, and I just felt this title, although has a lot of meaning, also really grabs you and you sorta say “What the %^&*I?”. The bottom line – the title is very a propos, although I haven’t actually seen famous people naked, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you! I had the opportunity to train big stars – Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Priscilla Presley, Bette Midler – and they’re just like us. The only difference is that they had a dream, and never took ‘no’ for an answer. I may never direct 'ET,' but I’ll have my own success in life. And I want to empower you too. That’s the American dream - to be in control of your own destiny; not to work in a situation where you’re not happy."

So, in those early days of being a Personal Trainer, how easy was it to 'strip down' your famous clients of their Hollywood pretense in a manner that also began to afford you yourself some inner qualities? "That’s a great question! It was immediate, I wasn’t being anyone but myself. I’d be at your home – I would come up with a nickname for you, and when I look back, it was very natural thing for me to do. It broke the ice and also made me feel comfortable. I starting calling Steven Spielberg “Wheels” and it was just like we were hanging out in the neighborhood. Nobody else called Spielberg “Wheels”! It made him feel loose and easy. It’s a very personal and private thing to work out – I’m in people’s bedrooms and there has to be a trust factor there. It became more and more apparent to me that no matter how famous you are, you still have to get up in the morning at eat your bowl of Captain Crunch."

Is it true that you were a 'birthday gift' for Steven Spielberg and that is how your friendship developed, culminating in his wish to write your Foreword? "Absolutely. His girlfriend had called me, this was in 1981, and said “My boyfriend is a film director and he needs to get in shape. Would you mind coming to his house in Coldwater Canyon? I want to give you to him as a birthday present”. 'Jaws' had been done and 'ET' was just about to come out. And this guy has been my big brother!"

Why was the time right now to offer up your own wisdom in book form? "I now feel at the age of 47, after I’ve built a number of businesses, after I’ve sold two businesses, that I am capable of telling a story. I’ve spent time with the most powerful and famous people in the country. The moment hit me in 2002 when I was speaking at Stanford University to their Entrepreneurial Business class. During the question and answer section, all of the questions came from really intelligent people, and they were as pure as can be. Nobody wanted to know about my successes. They only wanted to know about my failures and what I did when people would say ‘no’. I got told ‘no’ a lot. When I first launched 24 hour fitness on TV, people laughed. When I said that I was going to make a business of going to people’s homes to exercise, people though it would never last. Now personal training is a commodity business. I feel equipped to tell the story – not just in the way that I’m telling you my story for you to think I’m great. I want you to read the book and think, “If this guy can do it, I can do it”."

Why was the time right now to offer up your own wisdom in book form? "I now feel at the age of 47, after I’ve built a number of businesses, after I’ve sold two businesses, that I am capable of telling a story. I’ve spent time with the most powerful and famous people in the country. The moment hit me in 2002 when I was speaking at Stanford University to their Entrepreneurial Business class. During the question and answer section, all of the questions came from really intelligent people, and they were as pure as can be. Nobody wanted to know about my successes. They only wanted to know about my failures and what I did when people would say ‘no’. I got told ‘no’ a lot. When I first launched 24 hour fitness on TV, people laughed. When I said that I was going to make a business of going to people’s homes to exercise, people though it would never last. Now personal training is a commodity business. I feel equipped to tell the story – not just in the way that I’m telling you my story for you to think I’m great. I want you to read the book and think, “If this guy can do it, I can do it”."

And, on the subject of revealing things, over the many years what has been the most outlandish thing that any celebrity (no names, if you do not wish so!) has ever asked of you in the pursuit of their own development?! "Jake, do the work out for me. I’ll pay you, then you’ll be my body double. They’ll use my head on your body! No names, but he wasn’t kidding!"

This new book is really quite fascinating, but it begs the question of whether or not you've ever quit something in your life and continue to regret it to this day? "I’ve never quit anything. I was cut from my 8th grade basketball team and was destroyed. A girl I knew gave me a phone call saying “Don’t quit.” I practiced every day and made the team in 9th grade. I talk a lot about not just quitting but getting started. You don’t want to wake up at 50, 60, 70 and say “When I was 25 I had a shot. When in was 35 I had a business opportunity that I turned down“. The worst thing that happens is that it doesn’t work. Or that someone tells you no - it’s not a death sentence it’s a “no”. If you’re passionate, and you have a kick-ass idea, and a no quit attitude, then you’ll find it’s that simple. A lot of people love the book and point out that it’s humorous – and they tell me that the business tips are basic. But business IS basic. When you overanalyze, you paralyze yourself. You think about reasons why you won’t be a success. In any situation there will be doubt, but that’s the fun, man! It’s YOU challenging YOU. Especially when everyone tells you that you can’t do it. This book will tell you that you can."

So, just how easy is it for the Average Joe to acquire the personal realization that they themselves can become a Street-Smart Entrepreneur? "Everybody‘s got a dream and an idea. I imagine everyone who reads this website is in a job that they might not love. Or they’re in a position that they think they’re smarter than their boss. Or they’ve been laid off or fired, or they’re in college and don’t know when to do – but they have an idea. If you have an idea and passion, you’ll succeed. It may not be today or tomorrow. As long as you keep that uniform on, they’ve got to put you in the game. Then it’s your moment. You’ve got to be ready. It’s better to be in control of your own destiny. I would much rather be the guy driving off the cliff than the guy sitting next to him!"

Tell us more about your 'Live Your Dream' Contest and how our readers can enter it? "Well, it’s really simple. Read the book first. Then go to www.aol.com/bizbyjake and fill out your street smart essay. What I’m looking for is someone with a kick-ass idea, who has a boatload of passion and a major ‘don’t quit’ attitude. This past Tuesday was the premiere of the contest on Fox News (Fox and Friends). My next appearance will be on 9/30 and every 2 weeks I will be reading business ideas from people and will pick a finalist. There will be 10 finalists and the contest ends on 1/31/06. A winner will be chosen on the third week of February and the winner will be presented with $200,000 in cash and Marquis Jet Card worth $50,000. The hook is that I take no part of your company – this is not an investment. It’s one street smart entrepreneur to another, and that’s really how it will go. I pulled one entry yesterday from a woman in Compton, with 5 kids and 2 jobs. And she wants to be, in her words, “The Black Mrs. Fields”. And I love that. I don’t want anyone to feel their idea isn’t worthy. The reason for the contest, is not just to sell book (although I would like to do that), it’s to inspire you to write down your dream – your business idea. When you put something down on paper, it becomes real and it becomes attainable. You might not win contest, but you’ll win your new life."

Lastly, I like Penguins ... do you?! "We loved 'March of the Penguins' … Do they read? I think they’d like this book!"

Interviewed by Russell A. Trunk

Jake's Contest Website

If you would like to win a SIGNED copy of Jake's new book, just answer this easy question: Jake has appeared in several major motion pictures and has even starred in his own sitcom ... what was its name?!

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these great new books, SIGNED by Jake himself! Just send us an e:mail here before October 15th with your answer and the subject title 'JAKE's BOOKs' to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net

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