Gym Business - Business for Unicorns Podcast

Mark and Michael are back with another bonus episode of the season. In this episode, Mark and Michael discuss: Our experience in peer groups Why we started the Unicorn Society Situations in which Unicorn Society is NOT going to be the best fit

About Brittany: Brittany Welk is the COO and Co-Founder of LadyStrong Fitness-- a boutique fitness studio designed to empower women to look good, feel good & perform good, both in fitness and in life! She has a passion for changing lives in our studio as well with other entrepreneurs like herself! Besides running the LadyStrong Fitness with her fiance and business partner Marciea, Brittany also is a Performance Consultant for studio owners at Loud Rumor. Her specialization is helping studio owners build systems that run the business and to build winning teams behind those businesses. Brittany has been involved in the fitness and health industry since 2012, and is famous for being a Fitness Entrepreneur, Business Coach and Speaker. In this episode, Michael spoke with Brittany about: Importance of finding a business partner that is the opposite of you Brittany talks about key metrics she uses to manage her business and why she's chosen them Big two objections Brittany gets in sales conversations and how to overcome them Finally how to systematize your business - specifically Brittany discusses the training processes in her business

About Alwyn: Alwyn Cosgrove is the co-owner of Results Fitness - a gym twice named as America's Top Gyms by Men's Health magazine. His special brand is all about "changing the way fitness is done". The Scottish born, is considered a "rockstar" in the fitness industry. His passion led him from competing in martial arts, to reading everything related to fitness and training. His degree in Sports Performance further enhanced his learning along with training with fitness professionals and trainers from around the world.   He has authored several articles in leading publications including a regular column in the Men's Health magazine. In addition, Alwyn has also co-authored two of the "New Rules of Lifting" series and is currently busy juggling the training of clients and his staff at Results Fitness. Alwyn is also quite active on the lecture circuit as well as coaching fitness trainers worldwide.

Mark and Michael are back with another bonus episode of the season. In this episode, Mark and Michael discuss: Managing, navigating, coping, and designing change The tools we turn to when navigating change

About Laura: Laura is the Founder of TriggerMapping™ - a certification and mentorship program designed to help nutrition professionals radically change the lives of the people they’re called to serve by infusing traditional nutrition practice with deep connection and neuroscience. She is collectively waking coaches up to a new, more healing-centric form of mastery...where freeing clients from toxic relationships with food and chronic dieting patterns becomes our default. She instills in her students new coaching modalities based in empathy, change psychology, subconscious patterns, identity and ultimately new more grounded forms of communication that cultivate true connection and establish them as a guide and a healer for their clients, rather than simply a vessel to an external outcome.  She believes that nutrition coaches are among the most powerful change-makers of today. She wants to awaken you - to an embodied, feminine coaching system where being who you are is your biggest asset. In this episode, Michael spoke with Laura about: Perfectionism and how that’s shown up this past year How to create connection with nutrition clients Tips and tricks for how to be a better nutrition coach  

About Pete: Pete is one of the few fitness professionals who identify specifically as a "business guy." He has served as the Vice President and Business Director of Cressey Sports Performance since co-founding the company in 2007. With an MBA from Babson College, more than a decade of fitness industry experience, and a profound appreciation for the nitty-gritty realities of managing a fitness facility, Pete brings a unique perspective to discussions surrounding the business of fitness. Most importantly, Pete is a proud husband to Katie, and father to Collin and Owen Dupuis.   In this episode, Michael spoke with Pete about: Why Pete thinks there’s no one recipe for partnership The challenges he’s had with his partnership How to manage underperforming employees

Mark and Michael are back with another bonus episode of the season...this time with a special guest and an announcement! In this episode, Mark, Pete, and Michael talk about: Having a bench of people you can hire from Having an effective internship program  

About Jess: Jessica is co-owner of Empower Personalized Fitness. She and her best friend and business partner at the time Ronda Williams founded the company in 2004 and shared the responsibility for all aspects of the business for the 15 years. Her main focus during that time was on marketing, client relationship functions, business growth strategies, and employee mentorship. In January of 2021, Jessica took over as sole owner of Empower and now is helping her small business not only recover from a global pandemic but RISE to new heights. Since opening in 2005, Jessica and Ronda built a thriving fitness community, an amazing dream team, a creative company culture, and a strong business that continues to grow and thrive. Their years of experience inspired them to create a signature fitness philosophy called ThinkFUN, Get Fit, Eat Well, Sleep Well and this formula has helped thousands of clients stay motivated to live fit and healthy lives. In 2016 Jessica and Ronda launched Empower Partners Coaching and Consulting as their online personal development, coaching, and mentorship brand where they work specifically with a small number of wellness studio owners to help them systemize their business to maximize profits and free up their valuable time. With almost 25 years of experience in the health and wellness field, Jessica has evolved from a personal trainer and sole proprietor to become a leader in the fitness industry and she enjoys writing, speaking and mentoring the next generation of fitness professionals on topics related to business ownership, business partnership and balancing a successful career and a family. Jessica is nationally certified and a North Carolina state licensed athletic trainer (retired). She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), a Sports Fitness Specialist (SFS), an active Beachbody Coach and a certified BLS Healthcare Provider trained in CPR + AED rescue by the American Heart Association. Jessica is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the National Academy of Sports Medicine and IDEA Health and Fitness Association.
 Jessica received her B.A. in Exercise and Sports Science and her M.A. in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
 Jessica is an entrepreneur at heart and loves the challenge and excitement of running a small brick-and-mortar fitness business and an online coaching and consulting company.  When not working she can be found hanging with her husband, daughter, pup Luna and friends, exploring the great outdoors, traveling the world and enjoying great local foods and craft beers. In this episode, Michael spoke with Jess about: The systems she uses in her business to create a culture How she handles conflict with her team and with clients The importance of having consistent, organized, targeted meetings

About Sam: Sam Leicht is a fitness coach and broadway actor based in NYC! Over the past three years he's starred on Broadway (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical), toured the country, and started his own wellness business - Leichtning Health. Other coaches focus on "looking your best." Instead, he encourages his community to lean away from aesthetic goals in order to find sustainable health and wellness. He focuses on providing quality, lifelong fitness & lifestyle training to help them fall in love with movement. Through Leichtning Health, he's looking to make health and fitness accessible for all through free workouts and equipment donations to those in need. In this episode, Michael spoke with Sam about: How to grow online How he uses social media to leverage his brand How he delivers his services His approach to creating sustainable fitness

Mark and Michael are back with another bonus episode of the season. In this episode, Mark and Michael discuss: Lessons learned from our successful referral Initiative How to make sure your team members have clear roles and responsibilities