Author-Coach James Patrick Shares His Experience Through ‘FIT BUSINESS GUIDE’

James Patrick is an award-winning photographer, best-selling author, entrepreneur coach, podcast host, and public speaker based in Phoenix, AZ. He is the founder of FITposium, an annual conference guiding fitness entrepreneurs to grow their careers. James has received a bevy of awards for his work as a photographer, marketer, and entrepreneur. Leveraging his diverse experience, James has presented on stages coast-to-coast in the United States and has been interviewed for numerous TV, radio, magazine, newspaper, and podcast features. James Patrick’s mission is to create art and opportunity for others.

Please tell us about your book ‘FIT BUSINESS GUIDE: THE WORKOUT PLAN FOR YOUR BRAND’. What does the book concentrate on?

The book was based upon my work as an entrepreneur coach for health and fitness professionals and my experience as the founder of the annual FITposium conference. I wanted to equip fitness professionals with the tools, insights, and resources they needed to establish their brand, market their brand, and profit from their brands in the fitness industry. The book covers how a fitness professional can either get started or gain momentum on their business growth.

Please throw some light on your podcast ‘Beyond The IMAGE.’

The podcast, Beyond the Image, is an entrepreneurial show dedicated to helping professionals push past surface-level limitations in the growth of their businesses but also in living a fulfilled life. The podcast operates on three pillars; setting a clear vision for your future, living with purpose, and leaving behind a legacy. The show has new episodes three times a week and includes interviews with top professionals, coaches as well as features with entrepreneurs who are right in the trenches with the listeners. The show is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

How would you describe your photography style?

I’ve been a photographer for nearly 20 years and in the time have photographed more than 500 magazine covers. For me, photography is not just about taking photos that look good. The knowledge of photography is quite ubiquitous and it has become much easier to take good photos. Instead, I wanted to focus on making images that worked for our clients. This meant I had to gain an in-depth understanding of what images worked in the marketplace and how to consistently create those photos. I further niched down my work to the health, fitness, and sports industry creating athletic portraiture.

What details do you believe make the best photographs? How do you go about focusing on them in your work?

The best photographs, in my opinion, are the photos that help a client achieve their goals. If that is landing a magazine feature, selling more of a product or service, or communicating an emotion. It is not enough to take good photos, we have to make images that work.

What are the 3 main things you focus on in your speeches?

I’ve been a professional public speaker for well over a decade and have spoken on stages coast-to-coast in the United States. In that time I focus on three facets when crafting a presentation. The first is knowing who the audience is and what they truly need. The second is understanding any obstacles they might see in their path to achieving their goals. Lastly is to help bridge the gap for them so they can see a path to achieve their goals that go over their obstacles.

How would you ensure that your speeches are intriguing and informative?

Beyond the three facets listed above, I think the best presentations are the ones where I as the presenter and the audience are connected on an energetic level. Whether I am presenting on stage in front of a thousand or whether it was through a zoom meeting in 2020, it is my mission to ensure the audience feels the energy and sees clearly how easy it is for them to take action on what I am teaching right away. I want my presentations to be applicable so the attendees don’t just walk away with inspiration, but with an action plan.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I regularly spend time meditating and journaling about the future I am working towards both personally and professionally. Although a lot of that is just for myself and my family I can say that before I launched my first business as an entrepreneur, I wrote myself a letter about where I wanted my life to be in 5 years. I described that life in great detail. I then sealed that letter and did not open it again for 5 years. By the time I got to open it, I did not remember anything I had written in it 5 years earlier. But upon reading it I got to realize that everything I wrote, everything I forecasted for myself came true. So that is my advice, write yourself a letter about where you want your life to be in 5 years. That will set the foundation for how you will get yourself a little closer to that goal every single day.

Listen to BEYOND THE IMAGE

Apple Podcast App: Beyond the image

Spotify: Beyond the image