THE FYX 013: Zooming Out and Understanding the Macro View with Stu Brauer, CEO of WTF Gym Talk

Have you ever gotten pulled over for a speeding ticket? Remember how angry and emotional you were in the moment when the lights went up in your rearview mirror? [Maybe you haven't been stopped--in which case, lucky you, can't say the same.] Have you ever thought about how, truthfully, that anger or frustration is a bit irrational? Today's podcast guest would challenge you to step back, observe the situation happening, and dissect it from a less emotional lens: Chances are it wasn't the first time you'd been speeding--it was probably the hundredth. In reality, it just so happened to be the first time you were actually caught. Most of us don't focus on the latter though. Instead, we get too close to the argument. According to Stu Brauer, the brains behind WTF Gym Talk--a brand dedicated to providing business education to micro gym owner--what we should do in these moments is zoom out. Become an observer of the circumstances and assess, in this case, the likelihood of whether you would've gotten pulled over at some point on the road. Answer? If you keep speeding, well, duh. 

It's with this skill and a sheer willingness to do the damn work, that the now 30-something has expanded his resume into quite a career. What started from exercise physiology and sociology degrees with CrossFit coaching experience ultimately became founder and licensor of strength and conditioning gym Urban MVMT in Charlotte, NC, fitness business consultant, real estate owner, podcaster, content creator, and Dad. Stu, a Cleveland native from a loud Irish family, is easily one of the most straightforward humans I know. He serves up REAL content without a bunch of bullshit.

As you'll hear in today's intro, we recorded this episode just weeks before Stu launched a new series for his WTF Gym Talk podcast and YouTube channels--long form podcast segments called Shoot the Shit. The content drop in early March had some unexpected results, or what Stu calls, a moment that makes you say, "What the Fuck?!" [And yes, that is the entire premise behind the name of the brand, which he launched in 2015]. But after a few expletives and fleeting moments of frustration, Stu leaned into his super power: zooming out. It sure sucked to lose six years of content and a chunk of your digital footprint with essentially the click of a button, but was it absolutely devastating? No. For Stu, he was presented with yet another opportunity to test his resilience and tenacity. And shit--that's why we're entrepreneurs after all. If you have no desire to be tested, if you prefer predictability, if you don't embrace change, run like hell because you're sitting in the wrong seat at the table.

Tune into this episode to learn:
Why the best career moves are the opportunities that fill in the educational gaps
How to successfully operate a business with a lean team
The best methods for empowering your employees
The benefits of a licensed vs. franchised brick-and-mortar fitness concept
Why work life balance is a bunch of bullshit 

Fill your coffee cup, sip away, and get your FYX of Coach Krysta on her new podcast. Get schooled in the business of fitness by following Stu on Instagram and YouTube: It's simple--search @wtfgymtalk and you're there. As an added plug to support Stu in rebuilding his YouTube following, be sure to hit the subscribe button on his latest and greatest channel.

Can’t get enough of your FYX? Lynk up with Krysta on all of her social channels:
@thekrystahuber
@thefyx.officialpod
@fyxstudios
Visit Krysta’s website for coaching services: www.thefitnessfyx.com