Years ago, during my time hosting Dave DePew’s Fitness and Nutrition Radio, I had the honor of interviewing none other than the “Godfather of Fitness,” Jack LaLanne. Known for redefining what it meant to be fit, Jack built his reputation on performing awe-inspiring feats of strength. Some of his most legendary accomplishments include:
- Swimming from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf while towing a rowboat—handcuffed and shackled.
- Completing 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes.
- Towing 70 boats with 70 people in them for a mile at the age of 70.
- Performing thousands of pull-ups, including breaking records in front of crowds.
It was during this interview that my cohost, Jeff Kotterman, asked Jack a simple but profound question:
“Why do you perform these incredible feats of strength?”
Without hesitation, Jack responded with a question of his own:
“Why did Jesus Christ perform miracles?”
Jeff and I exchanged glances, unsure where he was going. One of us finally shrugged and responded, “I don’t know, Jack. Why?”
His answer was sharp, deliberate, and deeply insightful:
“To draw attention to his profession.”
Jack’s response reshaped how I thought about not just fitness but life itself. It was a lesson about the power of attention—how it drives movements, inspires action, and builds lasting legacies.
Attention With Purpose
At first glance, Jack’s statement might sound like it was about ego, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Jack wasn’t performing these feats for fame or admiration. He used them as a tool to draw attention to something bigger than himself—his profession and his mission.
Jack LaLanne’s feats of strength were about:
- Bringing awareness to physical fitness when it was far from mainstream.
- Challenging the cultural norms about aging, health, and what was possible.
- Inspiring others to take action, to believe in their ability to change their lives.
Attention, when tied to purpose, becomes a catalyst for meaningful impact. Jack’s message wasn’t, “Look at me.” It was, “Look at what you can do.”
Attention vs. Usefulness: A Perfect Balance
“Popularity may get you noticed, but usefulness gets you results.”
Jack’s feats grabbed attention, but his message and teachings made him useful. It’s easy to chase popularity for its own sake, but attention without purpose is fleeting.
Being useful means:
- Solving problems. Jack gave people tools to live longer, healthier lives.
- Creating impact. His work helped transform fitness into a mainstream pursuit.
- Contributing value. Whether through his TV shows, books, or public demonstrations, Jack brought substance, not just spectacle.
While popularity often relies on perception, usefulness is grounded in action. A popular person might draw attention, but a useful person earns respect and becomes indispensable.
Why Usefulness Wins
In a world obsessed with likes, followers, and fleeting fame, usefulness is the ultimate currency. It’s the difference between being a passing trend and building a lasting legacy.
- Popularity fades, but the problems you solve and the value you provide remain.
- Popularity is shallow, but usefulness builds trust, credibility, and opportunities.
- Popularity seeks approval, while usefulness seeks to create real change.
Jack understood this balance perfectly. His feats of strength got people to listen, but it was his message and solutions that kept them coming back.
The Role of Attention in Fitness
As fitness professionals, coaches, or advocates, it’s easy to dismiss attention as self-serving. But Jack’s words challenge us to rethink that perspective.
Attention isn’t bad—if you use it with purpose.
When you draw attention to your accomplishments, message, or skills, you create an opportunity to:
- Inspire others. Your story or actions might be the spark someone else needs to start their own journey.
- Challenge norms. Jack showed the world that age wasn’t an excuse. Today, athletes and trainers challenge limits and redefine what’s possible.
- Create a movement. Attention builds awareness, and awareness leads to action.
Fitness professionals often hold back, worried about seeming self-promotional. But when you focus on usefulness—providing solutions, sharing knowledge, and inspiring action—the attention you earn becomes meaningful.
The Shift From Approval to Impact
The real magic happens when you focus on being useful. It shifts the spotlight from you to what you contribute:
- What can I give?
- How can I help?
- What problems can I solve?
This mindset doesn’t just serve others—it builds your own skills, confidence, and fulfillment. The rewards?
- Respect replaces applause. People trust and value you for what you do.
- Opportunities multiply. Value attracts the right people and opens new doors.
- Legacy outlasts popularity. Popularity fades, but usefulness leaves an impact that stands the test of time.
Jack’s Legacy: Drawing Attention, Creating Value
Jack LaLanne didn’t perform his feats of strength to bask in the applause; he did it to turn heads toward a message that mattered. He earned attention so he could teach, inspire, and provide solutions to an unhealthy world.
This is the lesson:
Attention gets you in the room, but usefulness keeps you there.
By solving problems, providing value, and focusing on impact, you don’t just get noticed—you build something that lasts.
Conclusion: The True Power of Attention
Jack LaLanne’s words—“To draw attention to his profession”—remind us that attention, when used with purpose, is a powerful tool for change.
In fitness, in business, and in life, the goal isn’t to be seen for the sake of being seen. The goal is to use that attention to inspire, educate, and help others.
Popularity may get you noticed, but usefulness gets you results. Focus on providing value, solving problems, and creating impact, and you’ll find that the rewards—fulfillment, respect, and legacy—far outweigh the fleeting benefits of attention.
Be someone who doesn’t just draw the spotlight but uses it to light the way forward for others.
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