Ep. #1184: Jonathan Goodman on Writing, Success, and Finding Your Way
Muscle for Life with Mike MatthewsShow Notes
Why is simplicity so important in marketing? What is the “unique game” approach, and why does it work? And how does storytelling help you build trust and achieve long-term results?
In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Goodman, acclaimed author and entrepreneur, to discuss the insights behind his latest book, The Obvious Choice.
Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center and host of the Obvious Choice podcast, a top show for coaches and entrepreneurs. Featured in Men’s Health, Forbes, and more, Jon has helped over 200,000 small business owners worldwide grow their businesses.
In this interview, you’ll learn . . .
What it means to define your “unique game” and play to your strengths Why storytelling is critical for connecting with your audience How to focus on solving problems, not chasing likes or algorithms The power of community, specificity, and familiarity in building trust Why success comes from simplicity and identifying your "good enough"
And more . . .
So, if you want to discover practical strategies for finding your way in a crowded market while staying true to your goals, click play and join the conversation.
---
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(04:57) Why “The Obvious Choice”?
(09:30) Winning the Internet
(17:57) Growth strategies
(26:01) Smart marketing
(32:38) Writing a book: why and how
(39:46) Writing focus
(47:02) Choosing your game
(01:00:38) Exploring your hypothesis
(01:07:05) Finding focus
(01:13:36) Commitment and consistency
(01:17:59) Knowing when to quit
(01:22:32) Achieving excellence
---
Mentioned on the Show:
Pulse
The Shredded Chef
Creatine Monohydrate
Jonathan Goodman X
Jonathan Goodman Instagram
Jonathan Goodman YouTube
Jonathan Goodman Linkedin
The Obvious Choice Podcast
The Obvious Choice: Timeless Lessons on Success, Profit, and Finding Your Way
More from Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews
Yup—it’s true—after more than 10 years and nearly 1,200 episodes, I’ve decided to step away from the Muscle for Life podcast… at least for now. In this final episode, I share how I came to the decision to pause the pod, what’s next for me and Legion, and how I’ll continue creating content to help you get fitter, healthier, and happier. I also reflect on what the show has meant to me, what I’ve learned along the way, and why now feels like the right time to move on. So, to everyone who has listened, shared, worked on, appeared on, and supported the podcast—thank you. It’s meant a lot. Farewell for now.
In this episode, I discuss strategies to beat bad eating habits, my favorite free-weight exercises for leg day, upcoming developments with Legion Clear Protein, and more. As always, these questions come directly from my Instagram followers, who take advantage of my weekly Q&As in my stories. If you have a question you're dying to have answered, make sure you follow me on Instagram (@muscleforlifefitness) and look out for the Q&A posts. Your question might just make it into a podcast episode! If you like this type of episode, let me know. Send me an email ([email protected]) or direct message me on Instagram. And if you don’t like it, let me know that too or how you think it could be better. --- Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:03) Intermittent fasting—fad? (06:33) Beat bad eating habits? (10:39) Dream Whey+ flavor? (11:25) TLS workouts—full coverage? (11:52) Dexa scans reliable? (12:50) Butter healthy? (13:24) Best Adonis belt exercise? (14:34) High urea—lower protein? (14:54) Fastest way to first pull-up? (15:21) Green powder worth it? (16:00) Bicep tendonitis—alternatives? (17:11) Biggest Legion challenge? (26:03) Count all protein? (29:03) Train on period? (29:46) Raising what cows? (30:47) Check nutrients without bloodwork? (31:19) Compound vs. machines? (34:47) 100g+ protein needed? (36:01) Phosphatidic acid thoughts? (37:16) Natural or enhanced? (38:54) Best leg exercise no machines? --- Mentioned on the Show: Coaching Page The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation Whey+
What’s the secret to living a long, happy life? How do relationships influence happiness and longevity? How does social connection impact stress and well-being?
In this episode, I discuss the best carb and calorie-efficient foods for muscle growth, how to optimize deadlift variations, my top tips for problem-solving, and lots more.
How do Hollywood stars transform their physiques for the big screen? Are Hollywood transformations really achievable without performance enhancers? Can you achieve your fitness goals with limited time and imperfect nutrition?