The Obvious Choice

Latest Episodes:

341 I Less Doing, More Living I Jonathan Goodman and Ari Meisel Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

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 featured in most major business and fitness publications including Men’s Health, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Robb Report, Inc., and many more. Over 200,000 coaches and small business owners in more than 120 countries have purchased business development materials from him.

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 74,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

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340 I Doing Hard Sh*t Together Creates Deeper Connection Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

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?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 74,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

339 I You're Using Social Media All Wrong May 21, 2025

Show notes

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

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?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 74,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

338 I If You Want To Start a Business, Read This Book May 16, 2025

Show notes

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?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

337 I The Millionaire Mindset: What I Told a Stranger on the Subway About Real Success May 14, 2025

Show notes

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-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?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 74,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

336 I Admire Success Without Desiring Their Life May 02, 2025

Show notes

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 free sample to check out: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter

Who Am I?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

335 I How You Can Avoid Burnout (in Life and Career) Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

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 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?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

Timestamps

0:00 Solving burnout

1:52 The silent creep of stuff

3:02 Broken ancestral rhythms

5:15 The power of endpoints

6:29 The Slinky Effect

8:09 Breaking out of burnout

11:14 Finding your rhythm

334 I The Introvert's Guide to Meaningful Small Talk Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

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/articles/ditch-your-cringey-conversations-with-just-two-small-tricks

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?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

Timestamps

0:00 Small talk for introverts is a necessary evil

1:41 The Single Goal of Every Conversation

2:41 Trick 1: Ask Open Door Questions, not Stop Signs

6:22 Trick 2: Conversation Threading

8:40 5-Minute Social Prep

333 I Finding Meaningful Work in an AI World Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

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, “The Obvious Choice”? Here’s a free sample to check out: https://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter

Who Am I?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

Timestamps

0:00 Discover work worth doing in an AI world

1:52 Choose your hard

3:02 Your good work that matters is all that matters

4:45 The work worth doing tests

8:35 The exhaustion is satisfying

332 I How To Design Your Dream Life (Create Systems, Not Goals) Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

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://www.theptdc.com/the-obvious-choice-free-chapter

Who Am I?

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "5 Reps Friday" read by 73,000+ each week: https://www.theptdc.com/newsletter-subscribe

Get my FREE "Jacked Nerds Reading List" here: https://www.theptdc.com/11-best-books-for-jacked-nerds

Join my Online Trainer Mentorship program: https://onlinetrainermentorship.com/mentorship/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=OTMEvergreen

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman/

X: https://x.com/itscoachgoodman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-goodman/

Timestamps

0:00 Most successful people set systems