Dom Wells, a fitness mentor for the super-rich, says it is not just vanity that gets the wealthiest people breaking into a sweat – though it is a key part of working out. The right fitness regime will also sharpen the mind to help clients get their personal finances into better shape.
The 29-year-old works with a host of multi-millionaires, including former The Apprentice winner and investment guru Joseph Valente and property billionaire ‘gypsy king’ Alfie Best.
He says: ‘There is an increased understanding that creating wealth is directly linked to having a higher energy level and feeling more motivated. A fitness regime helps achieve this – making all the difference between someone bouncing out of bed to tackle fresh challenges to having a lacklustre approach.’
Dom works with the very wealthy, but says everyone can benefit from the tips he uses.
Create more energy and focus for your work
Time is the biggest excuse used by people for not getting into shape, so Dom starts with no more than half an hour set aside to work out two or three times a week. This is ideally in the morning but can be at any time. Excuses that there are not enough hours in the day are thrown out when he searches for periods where you might find yourself flicking through channels on TV or scrolling through a smartphone, when you could be working out.
Fitness might start with brisk walking, then jogging a couple of minutes, before walking again. It is important not to push too hard too soon because this makes people throw in the towel when the workout is not enjoyable.
Dom has worked with investment guru Joseph Valente, who won The Apprentice in 2015 after impressing Lord Sugar with his plan of franchising his plumbing company
Dom says: ‘Within a couple of weeks energy levels can go up so that you get into a positive mindset to deal with people you might not have bothered with before – it might be a lucrative deal you otherwise miss.’
He adds: ‘Chemicals in the brain, known as endorphins, are released when you take exercise, and this should make you feel in a better mood and bring clarity of thought – lifting a fog so you can make better financial decisions.’
Just a 20-minute run is a great way to boost endorphin levels. Other popular activities that can untap this chemical include hiking, dancing and swimming.
Build a body that inspires confidence and success
Sports cars, expensive jewellery and a super yacht are accessories no self-respecting billionaire should be seen without. But these days the super-rich also want to show off their wealth by parading a super body – with fitness experts saying this gets their finances into better shape.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has hired fitness instructors to beef up his body and now completes five kilometre runs in just over 20 minutes.
Property billionaire and ‘gypsie king’ Alfie Best, who is the founder of the UK’s largest mobile home park company, also works with the 29-year-old
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been pumping iron to prepare for his marriage in Venice this summer. The 61-year-old billionaire now sports a six-pack on his abdomen after working out.
Dom says: ‘Just look at billionaires like Zuckerberg and Bezos. These guys have personal trainers providing guidance in the gym. Billionaires are still desperate to show the world how successful they are by the way they look. It helps motivate them to make more money.’
Physical appearance for the rich is seen as a status symbol like owning a Ferrari car, Hermes bag or Tiffany jewellery, says Dom.
With wealthy individuals such as Lord Sugar’s chosen winner Valente, this might be taken to extremes – as he occasionally brings film crews and cameramen with him to share how he is getting in shape with followers on social media.
Dom says: ‘A wealthy client contacted me recently because his wife had just left him and was demanding a divorce. This can happen when driven individuals put making money above all else – including personal relationships.
‘You end up being a bit of a therapist in this job and it turns out he felt unattractive and overweight. If he had come earlier, it might have saved their marriage.’
The images of often out-of-shape politicians lumbering around public parks is part of a misguided desire to look good for the electorate, says Dom. These are often orchestrated photo opportunities to give the impression of being in great shape to do their job.
Wealthy men typically like to start by improving their upper body physique – believing flexing bigger biceps improves the muscle for negotiating inside a boardroom. Dom believes picking up adjustable weight dumbbells set initially on 8kg each is a great place to start building biceps – holding them by your side and lifting – keeping upper arm down but flexing the elbow so the dumbbells rise to shoulder level.
Make ten to 30 lifts in a couple of minutes, stopping when your muscles feel a strong burning sensation. After two weeks it should hopefully feel easier. Rather than pump more Dom suggests raising the weights to 10kg – slowly up to 15kg.
For high-flying women Dom says body toning is often the main focus, with squat thrusts and lunges key exercises. He says you might start with 20 squats and a dozen lunges every day. Within a couple of weeks you should feel the difference and be able to increase them.
Get the tools to work through adversity that may hold you back
Peterborough-based instructor Dom says that if you want to learn the fitness tricks of the super-rich you have to delve into their minds – and this can often be a dark place.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been pumping iron to prepare for his marriage to Lauren Sanchez in Venice this summer. The 61-year-old billionaire now sports a six-pack
Dom says: ‘What you often find with high achievers is they have experiences trauma in their lives and great hardship. They want to channel this negative experience into something positive – being survivors fighting to escape a difficult past rather than simply striving to do better.’
He adds: ‘You cannot bark orders to wealthy people and expect them to do what they are told. The secret is to understand why they want to get in shape – what they want out of it – and make it seem the regime is their idea. To do this you unlock the motivation behind it all. This is the same for anyone wanting to get in shape.’
Dom says that the motivations to get fit are varied. Entrepreneurs may be fuelled by self-belief, but they can be lonely figures because they are leaders – often feeling unloved – and getting into shape boosts their self-worth.
Success can also lead to over-indulgence and a weight problem that a fitness instructor can help tackle. Being tied to the desk all day brokering money-making deals can lead to fatigue – with exercise boosting energy levels.
High achievers are also competitive by nature so embracing sporting events can provide an enduring motivation that we can all use. You do not have to enter marathons but an activity such as a 5km park run offers a great way to maintain fitness levels, and events are regularly held across the country. Visit parkrun.org.uk.
Find the perfect mindset to tackle your finance
A positive attitude towards success is also vital for wannabe millionaires – as they need the self-belief to pick themselves up and try and again if a business fails.
Alison Shadrack is founder and chief executive of Adia PR, which works with high-powered ‘disruptor’ entrepreneurs, such as former boss of Porsche, BMW and Lamborghini Kevin Gaskell, who is set to row across the Pacific this May.
As a former junior athletics hurdler, who competed at a national level before injury, Alison believes setting goals is vital and for this a clear mind is essential.
She says: ‘A personal fitness trainer is vital for the body but for mental strength I use yoga. It helps you focus on goals – not just if you are multi-millionaire wanting to make more money, but for personal family issues as well.
‘With the right mindset you can have a positive attitude that helps you achieve more. Putting aside a few minutes a day for meditation is also time well spent, because afterwards you are more likely to take action on the things that otherwise would be put off until it becomes too late.’
While you can spend hundreds of pounds on mental well-being classes, Alison prefers daily lessons at home using an online tutorial that covers Kundalini yoga by the Life-Force Academy, available on a £20 per month app.
Meditation can start with just 20 minutes sitting upright cross-legged, or even sitting on a chair, in a quiet comfortable place. Close your eyes and think of the other senses of sound, touch, smell and taste – and try to connect these with your body.
Stop worrying about day-to-day thoughts. Slowly breath in and out. Focus on this breathing, trying not to be distracted by anything else.
Focus on financial goals
A goal for everyone is to be financially secure in old age – with the super-rich often including a legacy for future generations to justify that yearning for greater wealth.
Dom says: ‘But what is the point of having money if you are not fit or healthy enough to enjoy it? Many people are yearning for freedom and believe wealth opens up more opportunities, such as travel.
‘This is only true if you are in good enough shape to enjoy the fruits of all your labour. This is a great motivational goal for both rich and poor to stay in shape that is all too often overlooked.’
Dom believes you should look at long-term financial goals – such as savings, investments and pension plans – as going hand-in-hand with any long-term fitness goals.
Employing a private fitness instructor such as Dom can cost £100 an hour. This is small change for the super rich who might pick their instructor up in a helicopter – or perhaps even a private jet. Transport via limousine or taxi is part of an hourly rate.
Fortunately, and because wealthy people are often jetting around the world and have little spare time, technology allows lessons to be given via the internet and apps.
Dom charges £997 for a three-month app-based ‘transformation’ course guaranteeing to get you in shape, where one-to-one tutorials can be offered via the phone.
He says: ‘People fear without a personal instructor on their shoulder they are more likely to cheat – but that is rarely the case. But I have heard lame excuses, such as a pet dog dying despite the person not having a pet.’
There is no need for an underground equipped gym or indoor heated swimming pool to join the ultra-rich, says Dom, though he admits such luxuries make life easier.
For weight training to bulk up the body a pair of adjustable dumbbells costing £30 from Argos is all the necessary equipment required to begin. For toning exercises a £20 exercise mat is enough for you to begin.
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