1. Tell us about yourself and your business.

My name is Jason Zaretzky and I'm founder of Optimal Performance Training Center (OPTC), www.rocklandsportstraining.com located in Rockland County NY.  I opened up shop about three years ago and am proud to say that we are the areas first and only (until recently) Sports training facility. We primarily see athletes from pee-wee to the elite collegiate athlete. We do also offer semi-private training as well as ongoing monthly bootcamps www.rocklandcountybootcamps.com (that are now on the rise thanks to the Bootcamp Blueprint).

I studied exercise science with a minor in strength and conditioning in college, and have been in the personal training industry since 2001. I am certified through the NSCA as a CSCS, and NASM for both CPT and PES. I am also a CHEK exercise coach and an Youth Fitness Specialist through the IYCA (as soon as I submit my test).  Before opening up my own facility, I worked the typical health club and private studio circuit until I woke up one morning and knew I was ready to venture out on my own.

2. How has being a part of PTU impacted your career / business?

I think I have been part of PTU since around '03' or  '04' (when I was still pretty new to the field). I would say I was the typical guy who saw the value in the info and the great business stuff PTU provided, but just never put it into action... However, when I began to mature as a fitness professional I found myself naturally doing and grasping the importance of the business side of training like having systems, EFT, etc.. I credit PTU for that. And Since the rebirth of PTU this past year, I took things like the 6f6 and ran with it. That's when The light bulb went off in of my head. I also began to interact in the forums which I believe is huge in terms of learning, helping, and motivating not just me, but others as well.

3. What are your 3 biggest tips for your fellow PTU Members?

For Starters I will keep the theme from above...

1) TAKE ACTION - Don't do what I did and just sit on the quality info on this site. Put into play ASAP.  And not just for utilizing PTU - Get off your butt and do something pro-active every day to grow your business. Remember Actions speak louder than words  and saying isn't doing - so go do it ;-)

2) GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE - this is one I still struggle with today, but when you begin to do things that don't feel comfortable for you or you just don't feel right doing, ask yourself this, "Is what you are currently doing working?" Maybe pushing out of that comfortable area is just what you need to elevate to the next level ;-).  Maybe it's getting in front of people and public speaking, maybe it's meeting and greeting people, or maybe it's finally getting that Joint venture thing going (by the way - all of which are on the top 6 list for best offline marketing things, compliments of the PTU boys)

3) Utilize the forum - As I'm sure you've been told and have heard many times - The Forum is worth at least double you investment of PTU alone - But just don't log onto PTU and be a watcher, get in there and post.  Questions, success stories, weekly objectives (when I started submitting my objectives every week, I started getting $h!t done), the key to the forum is being interactive.

Now Kick @ss and take names