Jack LaLanne revolutionized the fitness industry, skillfully used media for marketing, built a lasting business legacy, and lived to age 96. I love fitness, am involved with marketing, and want to live to age 100. And recently, I dug out my “Jack LaLanne Juicer” and did some homework on the guy. So for all of those reasons, I want to share with you why his life teaches us some powerful lessons:
1. Believe in Yourself: At 15, Jack was just a skinny kid. But he decided to change himself, which was as important as the action.
2. Be Innovative: Jack didn’t just open a gym. He invented the health club concept with features like a juice bar. He did this 85 years ago, way ahead of his time.
3. Start Small and Grow: Jack began with little. No big funding, no huge media partners. Just his vision and hard work.
4. Use Media Smartly: Jack understood the power of TV. He used it to gain trust and teach others, mostly for free. He knew how valuable it was to get people’s attention.
5. Work Outside the Spotlight: Jack never had a prime-time TV show, but he still managed to change culture from the edges.
6. Control Your Work: Jack owned the rights to his 3,000 TV shows. He was in charge of his content.
7. Stay True to Your Brand: Jack didn’t change his brand to seem new or fresh. He stood for something special and never wavered from it.
8. Live Your Message: Jack lived by his health rules, even when no one was looking. He famously said, “I can’t die. It would ruin my image.” He was the real deal, through and through.
Jack’s life is a lesson in authenticity, innovation, and dedication.
