Gym Business - Business for Unicorns Podcast

In this episode, Mark Fisher joins me as we talk about our plans for Business for Unicorns in 2021 and our top three lessons learned from 2020. Our industry continues to struggle through COVID, so we share our ups and downs from a super tough year. Thanks as always for listening (and not watching)! Please spread the word to all your fellow fitness business nerds. Let's kick some 2021 ass! In the episode, Michael and Mark discuss: The value of community  This year of COVID and what we’ve learned about ourselves and our business  What percentage most gyms should spend off salary for their teams

About Stuart and the LTB Podcast: The LTB Podcast is a place where personal trainers (PTs) can gain education, insight and knowledge from other trainers and experts. Our aim is to provide you with the know-how and inspiration to build the kind of career you want to build. Stuart is the head of member support at Lift The Bar, a company designed to help personal trainers have more enjoyable and successful careers. He runs the LTB podcast and spends most of his time researching guests, writing blogs and talking to LTB members about challenges they are having as they look to grow their businesses. Check out Lift the Bar Podcast. In this special episode, Stuart spoke with both Mark and Michael about: The closing of our Bowery Location Marketing and Sales Strategies Our Long Time Partnership

About Betty: Betty grew up in Vancouver, Canada, where she grew interested in wellness and sustainability. Her experience spans strategy, human capital, and digital transformation as a consultant at McKinsey and Kearney advising leaders across industries including consumer goods, agriculture, and tech.  She is a Yale School of Management MBA candidate specialized in Management Science and holds a BCom in Accounting & Sustainability from the University of British Columbia, and Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell’s T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. She is also a certified yoga instructor and (almost) daily meditator In this episode, Michael and Betty Discuss: Triple bottom line management How to foster a culture of innovation The ups and downs of entrepreneurship during COVID Mentioned in this episode: Upright Oats Follow Upright Oats on Instagram

About Kristen: Kristen Grossi is the Founder + CEO of Los Angeles-based talkTECH and Co-founder + CEO of Joint PR. She brings over 15 years of experience to the two public relations agencies. Her multi-faceted approach in delivering strategic, results-oriented PR campaigns and launches, expertise in media relations, and grassroots branding tactics has a proven track record. Under Kristen's direction, talkTECH has developed into one of the fastest-growing U.S. PR firms for early-stage and established startups. She has managed communications for over $300M in collective venture capital funding announcements and facilitated media coverage for over 375 companies since talkTECH’s inception ten years ago. One-third of talkTECH's portfolio has been acquired. In 2019, Kristen and her partner, Alysha Light, created Joint PR, a powerhouse communications agency for emerging and established cannabis companies. Joint PR helps cannabis brands at every stage and every corner of the industry, from manufacturing to VC funding to consumer and B2B products and services. Prior to talkTECH and Joint PR, Kristen was the Director at Grace PR, a lifestyle agency in Chicago, where she managed a variety of noteworthy clients and high profile events. Kristen graduated with a B.A. in Public Corporate Communications from Butler University and is involved with organizations such as Women 2.0, L.A. Promise Fund, and has taught PR workshops at General Assembly LA and the 1871 Accelerator in Chicago. Kristen was honored with Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Women Making a Difference” award and the L.A. Biz Award for “Women of Influence”. In this episode, Michael and Kristen Discuss: Rolling out a road map for DIY PR How to find someone for a one-off launch How to make the most out of media coverage Working in the cannabis industry Mentioned in the Episode: The Class Light Watkins General Assembly Email Kristin at kristen@talktechcomm.com

About Leeatt:  Leeatt Rothschild is the Founder and CEO of Packed with Purpose, a corporate gifting company with a social mission. From award-winning coffee made by adults with disabilities to artisanal granola produced by female survivors of abuse, everything in a Packed with Purpose gift box is a premium product that creates a societal impact.  Prior to founding Packed with Purpose, Leeatt spent 12 years in the private sector  — first at a digital marketing agency, and later as a CSR consultant to Fortune 500 companies, where she advised Chief Sustainability Officers on how best to spend their CSR budgets to impact society while simultaneously creating a financial return for the company. Leeatt has been philanthropically-driven since the very beginning of her career. After college she served two years in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, where she launched an income-generating fertilizer business with local farmers, witnessing first hand the profound positive impact that economic development can have on the lives of individuals living in underdeveloped communities. Following her experiences in the Peace Corps, she earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and a Masters in International Studies from The Lauder Institute. In this episode, Michael and Leeatt discuss: Embedding purpose into one's business Using scrappy tools to source insights and solve problem Managing and growing a highly seasonal business Mentioned in this Episode Packed with Purpose

About Melba: Dr.  Melba Nicholson Sullivan is committed to building individual and collective resilience. She has more than 25 years of leadership experience and is the CEO/Founder of Freedom Flow Solutions, LLC. Freedom Flow Solutions partners with organizations to train, consult, and provide services related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, stress and resilience, professional growth and development.  Dr. Sullivan collaborates with leaders in the human rights, nonprofit, government, healthcare, and corporate sectors.  She draws from her experience as a licensed clinical-community psychologist, contemplative practice facilitator, professional performing artist, and energetic healing practitioner. In this episode, Michael and Melba Discuss: Managing Workplace Stress and Resilience Using all the senses to enhance learning Creating a more human workplace  How to approach diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in your workplace Mentioned in this Episode: Equalibrium Group Velocity Women's Coaching If you are a MFF Ninja and would like to attend Melba's workshop series, you can register using your MINDBODY account    

About Beth: Beth Clayton is a TEDx speaker, podcast host of Fiercely Human, and a soul-based life coach with over a decade of experience. She has helped hundreds of people to uplevel and in their own lives by helping them understand and breakthrough their own self-sabotage. She helps open-hearted people create the lives their souls have been longing for by combining mindset work, deep healing, bad-ass action, and self-love. She helps hundreds of people transform their lives by transforming their relationships with themselves. You can find her on Fiercely Human, at soulbodylife.com, and on Instagram at @bethclaytoncoach.   In this episode, Beth Interviews Michael About: Obstacles to Growing a Business- From Building a Team to Creating a Culture The Power of Curiosity Creating Boundaries-- What Feedback to Let in and What Feedback to Let out The Value of Group Coaching vs. One-on-One Mission, Purpose, and Values The Biggest Challenges Michael Sees in Leadership Mentioned in this Episode: Beth's Podcast: Fiercely Human Soulbodylife.com Follow Beth on Instagram Thanks for the Feedback

About Anthony: Anthony Renna has been a personal trainer since 2004, first working with Equinox, then on his own at different facilities before opening his own gym, Five Iron Fitness, in 2008.  He sold Five Iron in 2016 so he could focus on his true passion of providing educational resources for fitness professionals to excel in the profession. His mission is to help them find success and make an impact in the world by sharing all he has learned from the best of the best. As the founder and host of both the Strength Coach Podcast and Strength Coach TV, he has interviewed hundreds of strength coaches, fitness professionals, physical therapists and gym owners. He applies what he learned by helping fitness professionals in his personal coaching and accountability group. Anthony still trains clients a few hours a week and is a partner with Michael Boyle in StrengthCoach.com and BodyByBoyleOnline.com In this episode, Michael and Anthony Discuss: His Approach to Continuing Education The Secrets to Great Client Retention What it Means to be Your Own Personal Brand Mentioned in this Episode: Be Like the Best: A Guide to Reaching the Top in the Fitness Profession Building a StoryBrand Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals  Never Lose a Customer Again Follow Anthony on Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin

About Mike, Nat, and Bob: Mike Doehla, founder and CEO of Stronger U Nutrition, one of the most successful nutrition coaching companies in the industry. Learn how Mike scaled his business from a one man band in 2015 to a team of over 70; all while providing *amazing* service to over 40,000 (!!!) lifetime clients. Nat Huerta, founder and “Chief of Making S**t Happen” of the Queer Gym in Oakland, CA, Nat pivoted her business online after the lockdown and is having more success than EVER. Nat will share how she made quick decisions to serve her clients, all while moving closer to her personal ideal business. Bob Thompson, founder and CEO of Legion Transformation Center, Bob owns 8 locations and has 11 franchise locations. Instead of panicking, Bob brought his services online, kept 85% of his members, and has been GROWING his business: with new online *local* clients primed to be future in-person members. In this episode, we discuss: What Makes Good Online Coaching Marketing Onboarding New Clients Nuts and Bolts of Pricing Q&A Mentioned in this episode: The Queer Gym Stronger U Legion Transformation Centers Mark Fisher Fitness Online

About Brandon: With a vision to launch an alternative higher education venture focused around marrying one's purpose to solving grand challenges by fostering the acquisition of critical skills, Brandon is researching traditional higher ed constraints and how startups are creating radical new models for a worthwhile education, equipping students to solve next-generation problems, bolstered by cognitive science, technology, and business. He is developing his own model to better prepare students personally and professional for an ever-changing world. As a podcast host of Evolve, Brandon interviews thought-provoking leaders and successful founders to educate, inspire, and empower other's success in leaving impact on the world. Through his Power to Podcast program, he has successfully taught thousands of others to successfully launch their own podcast. As a freelance designer, Brandon has 8+ years of modern design experience and a proven knowledge of cross-functional remote design teams, digital marketing, and web & sales funnel design. He is currently upgrading his own skillset in UX/UI design. Brandon sharpened his design thinking as an Architectural Designer for top firms in Spokane collaborating on designs for numerous educational & commercial spaces. He earned his Masters of Architecture from WSU's School of Design & Construction, where he lead a multidisciplinary team of students in taking 1st place in the Senior Capstone design project in front of 200 industry professionals in Seattle. In this episode, Brandon Interviews Michael About: Michael's Experience Starting and Growing Mark Fisher Fitness How Theater and Michael's Previous Work Influenced MFF What We've Learned Along the Way Mentioned in this Episode: Brandon's Podcast Follow Brandon on Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin