Escape Your Limits & LIFTS

Paul Byrne is the former President of Precor. He's also a forward-thinking innovator who’s the reason every gym in America has an elliptical machine. Under his leadership, he transformed Precor into a $350 million-dollar global supplier of home and commercial fitness equipment and was a key asset in its recent acquisition by Peloton. Today, he serves as an industry advisor and is the author of two powerful prediction reports that will change the game for the health and wellness sector and continue pushing the entire industry to innovate. What does the future look like for manufacturers? Where is the boutique segment headed? How do you go about being successful in an overly saturated consumer space? Paul has the answers.

How do you start a wildly successful business with little to no money? What allows some entrepreneurs to bootstrap their business to success while others falter and fail? The truth is: It takes remarkably little money to make money, if you're clever and work hard. British entrepreneur Oliver Cookson should know. He bootstrapped Myprotein, a successful sports nutrition business, in 2004 after borrowing £500 from the bank. No venture capitalists. No outside help or influence. A few years later, he sold Myprotein to The Hut Group, maintaining 100% equity and earning a nine-digit exit. During our interview, he highlights the advantages of bootstrapping a self-sustaining, self-funded business. Nothing is off the table, as long as it’s relevant to the customer. Oliver was recently named the UK’s number one self-made millionaire under 40 with a net worth of £306 million. His memoir, “Bootstrap Your Life,” which he began writing at the beginning of the first lockdown is due to be published in summer 2021. Oliver also hosts the podcast Bootstrap Your Life, which features 15-minute episodes that cover topics such as self-esteem, business advice, mental health, mindset, and investment. Link to Oliver’s Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bootstrap-Your-Life-turn-million/dp/0349429197/ref=sr_1_1?field-isbn=9780349429199&qid=1620308719&refinements=p_66%3A9780349429199&sr=8-1

Elaine Jobson is a fitness industry veteran, with 25 years of experience working in executive positions for the world's largest fitness brands. In this week's Escape Your Limits podcast episode, she talks about her industry experiences, how she has adapted Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to develop an award-winning, international fitness franchise, and shares real life lessons on how to lead people and transform workplace culture. She is best known for teaming up with well-known industry entrepreneurs including Mike Balfour OBE, Founder of Fitness First, and Sir Richard Branson owner of Virgin Active South Africa. Elaine is passionate about building successful companies through great cultures and growing exceptional leaders.

What’s the secret of Planet Fitness’s massive success? Planet Fitness isn’t really known to attract members who are super in shape and is often the butt of jokes when it comes to the fitness industry. Did you know that more than 40% of its current members had never even stepped foot in a gym before signing up? Planet Fitness has a competitive business model, strong brand, and low-cost memberships, but that’s not necessarily how it became the leader in fitness franchising. Many people believe it’s the no-frills atmosphere, simple selection of machines, and free pizza but there’s so much more to it than that! The key to success in business is to not be afraid of doing things differently. This week, we sit down with Victor Brick, the CEO of Planet Fitness Growth Partners, one of the largest privately owned fitness franchises. He’s here to reveal the secret formula that makes Planet Fitness such a huge success. Victor also explains how to use other people’s money to finance business growth, why goal setting and dreaming big are essential, and dives into the pros and cons of being a franchisee. Episode Highlights: How to use other people’s money to finance business growth The secret behind Planet Fitness’s massive success Why Planet Fitness gives members free pizza What makes the franchise so competitive Importance of goal setting and dreaming big The pros and cons of being a franchisee Strategies for franchise growth Gym inclusivity and affordability About Victor Brick Victor Brick has 35 years of success in the fitness industry and is CEO of Planet Fitness Growth Partners (PFGP), the largest privately owned Planet Fitness franchise with 80+ clubs in the US and Australia. He’s also an author and motivational speaker. He co-founded the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation in honor of his brother, John, who struggled throughout his life with mental health, but was never once offered a holistic plan supporting his wellbeing. His brother suffered from schizophrenia and died of complications from the disease. The foundation’s goal is to change the way the world treats mental health. Victor was also the co-founder of Brick Bodies, which is a chain of full-service health clubs in the Baltimore, Maryland area. He is still the Chairman of the Board for Brick Bodies. Brick Bodies Padonia was named as one the top 25 health clubs in the United States by Fitness Magazine. He is a member of the board for the John Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, the Board of Advisors for the Global Wellness Summit, and the Board of Directors for Defiance Fuel, which is the first structured water on the market.

When was the last time you thought about how you influence others — how you change minds, shape opinions, move others to act? The ability to influence is one of the essential skills for not only success, but happiness. The bottom line is that influence matters. Jon Levy, a behavioral scientist and author, best known for his work in the fields of human connection, influence, and adventure believes the size of your life is in proportion to how uncomfortable you're willing to be and understanding the power of influence in today's connected world. How can you make a consumer's entire experience with your brand, especially at the end, really special? Want the secret to guaranteeing gym members are left with a positive impression when they leave your facility? Do you know what the IKEA Effect is, why it’s important, and how to leverage it to improve your business model and build a loyal community? Why is novelty important and how can you leverage it to be happier and more successful? Our guest this week has all the answers. Levy specializes in applying research to transform the ways companies approach marketing, sales, consumer engagement, and culture. He also founded “The Influencers," a secret dining experience and community, whose participants include more than 2000 leaders across industries, ranging from Nobel laureates, Olympians, and celebrities, to executives, editors-in-chief and royalty. In 2016, Jon released his first book, "The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure," which explores the science of living a fun, exciting and remarkable life.

Today, we’re speaking with the President and CEO of Self Made Training Facility, Miguel Aguilar. Two years ago, he was our guest on the Escape Your Limits podcast, where he shared his humble and inspiring story of his rise to success. This time around, we caught up with Miguel at his Self Made headquarters to discuss how he managed to come out on top during an ongoing pandemic. When things get tough, do you sink or swim? Miguel decided to swim. When thousands of gym owners reluctantly closed their doors in early 2020, hoping to reopen in two weeks when things went back to "normal," he never wavered. Instead, he banded together with other Riverside Country fitness facilities and stayed open. His franchise owners educated the consumer while staying open and didn't give in to the bully tactics attempting to close down business. Miguel was able to put his head down and have faith that things would work out. Throughout this interview, he reveals how Self Made became one of the most successful training franchises in America, operating 40 locations in 11 different states. Miguel also explains how they managed to stay open while countless other gyms were forced to shut down. This is one interview you don't want to miss. One thing's for sure: You're going to walk away inspired. Please welcome Miguel Aguilar back to the Escape Your Limits podcast.

How do you conquer life’s impossible challenges? Why is resilience more important now than ever before? How can you live your life with more purpose and authenticity? Our guest this week is Stacey Copas. She is the author of the book How To Be Resilient, a coach, international keynote speaker, and facilitator on finding the opportunity in change and adversity. At 12 years old, she broke her neck and almost drowned in a swimming pool diving accident and became a quadriplegic – needing a wheelchair the rest of her life. Stacey has created a framework of resilience based on her life experiences of overcoming adversity. By sharing her experiences of how she has coped, adapted, and thrived she hopes to help others overcome the challenges and setbacks they face. There was a time when it felt like her world had ended, but she believes that accident was the best thing that could’ve happened to her. This is her story. You’re about to be inspired like never before. 

Dr. John Jaquish is an innovator, thought leader in the biomedical fitness market, and a Wall Street Journal best-selling author of the book "Weight Lifting Is a Waste of Time." His objective? To challenge you to rethink how you burn fat and add muscle.  That's what led him to invent OsteoStrong, a bone-density building medical device used to fight osteoporosis, which is now in 130 clinics in 8 different countries. The X3 Bar is his most recent invention. At 6’0” and 240 pounds, he has a zero-carb diet and works out 10 minutes a day, 6 days a week. He claims that, along with an unconventional diet, by using the X3 for only 10 minutes a day you can have the body of someone who spends hours in the gym every week. Tune in to our conversation as Dr. Jaquish dives into his research-based but controversial approaches to strength training, muscular development, and diet. He also addresses the criticisms he’s received online. 

Should gyms be considered essential businesses? One of the more controversial aspects of the various shutdowns, lockdowns, and business closures was that of the extended closures of gyms and fitness clubs worldwide. In this week’s Escape Your Limits podcast episode, we speak with one of America’s leading health educators and exercise physiologists, Eric Durak. He believes that gyms are, in fact, essential businesses and he’s here to reveal what gym owners need to do to make sure they remain essential, avoid closure, and take advantage of revenue opportunities by providing holistic solutions to their members. Eric Durak is one of the nation’s leading clinical Exercise Physiologists and Health Educators and is the founder and president of Medical Health & Fitness. He has a 35-year career in fitness, medicine, and health promotion and is now entering into medical fitness, population health, and precision wellness. Most recently, Eric developed the Healthy Stats Outcome software. Eric has also logged thousands of hours in clinical care, wellness, and research and works as a Wellness Specialist at the University of California to promote wellness and manage workers compensation claims. He is the 1999 IHRSA Institute Aware Winner for the Cancer Well-fit Program. MedHealthFit is a visionary wellness company that looks at the profession of health promotion through interaction of research, data collection and outcomes. Subscribe to get all the latest podcast-related content: https://www.youtube.com/user/EscapeFitness Connect with Escape Fitness online and on social below: Website: https://www.escapefitness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Escapefitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escapefitness Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/escapefitness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/escape-fitness  

Today, we’re speaking with Eric Von Frohlich and Debra Strougo, the husband-and-wife team who founded Row House, the highly successful indoor boutique rowing franchise and Xponential brand. Through blood, sweat, and tears, they’ve discovered a way to do the work they love while also empowering people through community. In this episode, they share how they manage to balance family and business, carve out time for wellness to achieve optimal health and performance, and how Row House continues to stand out in a crowded boutique studio landscape. As entrepreneurs, they’ve had to be extremely committed to their vision and make intentional sacrifices to turn their dreams into a reality, but the plan was always to scale and sell Row House. Please welcome Eric Von Frohlich and Debra Strougo to the Escape Your Limits podcast. For more information visit https://escapefitness.com/podcast Video Version - https://youtu.be/W2ENJROerWs Eric Von Frohlich and Debra Strougo are the husband-and-wife team who founded Row House, the highly successful indoor boutique rowing franchise and Xponential brand. They met teaching on the NYC fitness scene. They followed their passion for fitness and grew two brands with their own pennies and a lot of blood, sweat and tears — creating security for their family of 5 and jobs that they love. Row House has revolutionized the way people not only view the experience of rowing but also solved a problem and created a low-impact, cardio enhancing, full-body strength workout for the 70% of the population not working out.   Today, the franchise has plans to expand to over 250 locations throughout the US and Canada. Row House was born in the Columbus Circle Neighborhood of NYC in 2014. Co-founders and husband/wife team, Eric Von Frohlich and Debra Strougo took the rowing machine out of the corner, and put it front in center. Born of the couple’s search for a workout that two individuals with varying fitness levels could do together, they created a workout that gives people of all different shapes, sizes, and abilities an efficient and effective workout. Row House’s values are: Inclusivity, Rewarding, Camaraderie, and Authenticity.   About Debra Strougo Debra left a life behind the desk to bridge her business acumen with her passion for fitness. She teamed up with her husband, Eric, and started to build the dream. Together, they balance their work and family — and have found a way to do the work they love and bring their vision for fitness communities far and wide.  Debra is the Founder of Row House and EVF Performance. She owns and operates 5 NYC studios with her husband and business partner, Eric.  Debra is a Goldman Sachs 10KSB scholar; in 2016 Row House was chosen as a company likely to have exponential growth. She has over 15 years’ experience teaching at NYC’s premiere gyms including Equinox, Crunch, SCLA and NYSC, and has consulted for numerous national fitness brands, including SELF.   About Eric Von Frohlich Eric is a seasoned fitness pioneer, National Brand Founder, and national spokesman in the fields of health, exercise, and wellness. He is an expert on trends and techniques in fitness and wellness, as well as on what it takes to create a strong community.  He owns and operates five NYC studios with his wife and business partner, while keeping his finger on the pulse of all things fitness, sport, and wellness to continue to help people. An avid 20+ year trainer and athlete.   Episode highlights Why it’s crucial to stick to your vision. Secrets to running a business with your partner and leveraging each other’s strengths. The story behind creating a very inclusive, scalable brand that was designed to go global. How to make intentional sacrifices for your business. Regardless of how successful you are, there’s always more work to be done. How they targeted 70% of the population that doesn’t work out. The importance of approaching every problem and every solution with gratitude. Accomplishing big things without sacrificing family, their values, or their core beliefs. Celebrating the small victories. Coming up with real solutions when you have limited resources, time, and money. Being an entrepreneur is not all fun and games. Join Matthew Januszek in powerful conversation with Eric Von Frohlich and Debra Strougo.