Geronimo Unfiltered

TBC Studios
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Oct 28, 2025 • 1h 31min

Burn the Boats & Build the Machine: How Fitstop Owners Turned a ‘Sinking Ship’ into Record Profit

For our Sale A Day Playbook go here: https://bit.ly/pod-saleadayplaybook1 Ever felt like you’re doing everything “right”… but the numbers still aren’t moving? Today’s chat is for the owners who nearly walked away - then doubled down, rebuilt their engine, and clocked best-ever months and highest profit. In this episode, three legends from the Fitstop network get brutally honest about expanding too soon, clawing back from under-100 members, and the identity shift from chief-everything-officer to real CEO. You’ll hear the exact plays they ran - leads, sales, content, roles, KPIs, and hiring - that turned overwhelm into momentum, and momentum into money. Here’s what we’re covering: -The multi-site mistake (and the readiness checklist to avoid it) -Why your manager shouldn’t own sales - and the simple split that fixes retention -Avatar-led content that pulls quality leads (even when ads don’t get the click) -Become obsessed with your numbers: daily tracking, net member movement, and realistic lead targets -How a VA can buy back ~15 hours a week - and what to do with that deep work time -Accountability over excuses: stop blaming HQ, markets or seasons -Designing lifetime retention beyond 90 days (and building member “future”) -Hiring sequence for scale: content first, then sales, with clear KPIs and forecasts Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] Cold Open & Intros: From nerves to wins on the board ⏳ [06:42] The Hard Lesson: Went multi-site too early and paid for it ⏳ [09:44] Are You Ready for Site #2? Team & structure checklist ⏳ [10:27] Burnout & Churn: The surprises no one tells you about ⏳ [19:46] Losing Hurts, But It Teaches: How setbacks sparked better marketing ⏳ [20:29] Ditch Free Trials: Paid offers that attract the right members ⏳ [37:10] Split the Roles: Managers own retention, one owner owns sales ⏳ [42:18] Know Your Numbers: Daily tracking and reverse-engineering leads ⏳ [44:14] Content That Converts: One clear avatar per site ⏳ [57:03] Follow-Up That Lands: 6–7 calls in 3 days + smart DMs ⏳ [63:09] Buy Back Time: Hire a VA and do real deep work ⏳ [73:00] Lead Like a CEO: Clarity, KPIs, standards, cadence ⏳ [75:21] No More Excuses: Radical ownership beats blame every time ⏳ [79:45] The Cost of Wearing All the Hats: Burnout and a silent studio ⏳ [83:06] Big Next Moves: Content hire, then full-time sales, then scale ⏳ [86:02] Freedom & Optionality: Build a business you can keep - or sell ⏳ [87:16] One Piece of Advice: Learn fast, get help, and get out of your own way Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: ⁠https://thegeronimoacademy.com ⁠ IG Geronimo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy⁠ IG Hey.Doza: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa⁠
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Oct 21, 2025 • 39min

The Green Line Game Plan: How Ryan Fernance Built 300-Club Studios (And You Can Too)

If your studio limps into summer every year, bleeds through Christmas, then prays for a New Year miracle - you’re not alone. But you don’t have to cop another rinse-and-repeat. This episode is a line in the sand. Ryan Fernance (the bloke who steered multiple F45s to the 300 Club through lockdowns) breaks down “Separation Season” - the next 90 days where the pros surge ahead and the dabblers burn out. No fluff. Just the boring, battleground basics that actually move the needle. Here’s what we’re covering: -The real reason studios spiral - and how to stop it at the source -Why “boring is the battleground”: show up, sleep, macros… and business fundamentals -The Green Line: grow by net +3 members per week (and why it saves your summer) -Lead flow that works: 20 leads/week, call inside 5 minutes (1 minute = 300x pickup) -Offers that profit from day one (ditch free/$7 trials) and convert 80% to full-price -Your UVP: be “[Your Suburb] [Your Brand]”, speak to one avatar, one problem, one offer -Seasonal strategy: spring push, Christmas survival, and rolling into the New Year miles ahead … and a whole lot more Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] From Spiral To Structure: Ryan’s Lowest Points (And The Way Out) ⏳ [02:10] Backstory: 10 Years In, Hitting The 300 Club (Twice) ⏳ [06:40] Boring Is The Battleground: Basics That Actually Win ⏳ [09:40] UVP 101: Be “Hope Island, F45” - Not Just “F45” ⏳ [15:00] Fix Root Causes, Not Quick Hacks ⏳ [17:10] What Is “Separation Season”? ⏳ [20:14] The Green Line: Net +3/Wk So You Don’t Limp Into Summer ⏳ [22:30] Lead Gen That Lands: Avatar, Content, One Profitable Offer ⏳ [28:35] Turn Pro: Standards, Separation Sunday, Time Blocking ⏳ [34:05] Profitable Intros, Real Retention, 2–3% Churn ⏳ [35:51] Traction Discipline: How To Win The Day ⏳ [37:50] Grab The Playbook + Next Steps Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: ⁠https://thegeronimoacademy.com ⁠ IG Geronimo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy⁠ IG Hey.Doza: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa⁠
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Oct 14, 2025 • 1h 31min

How Newstrength Went From 'Good Enough' to a $1M Run Rate

If you’ve been coasting on “good enough”, this one’s a rocket. Nate and Jacob from Newstrength (Newcastle) walk us through the exact standards, systems and mindset shifts that took them from restless operators to a million-dollar run rate while juggling kids, 3am training and a team that now runs with them, not behind them. Here’s what we’re covering: - The moment they said “fuck that” to fine and chose standards over excuses - From ~$60k months to an $84k run rate, and 210 → 220+ members (fast) - Letting go of control so the team can actually step up (and stick) - Vivid Vision, permission to dream, and making the metrics mean something - The systems stack: SALAD sales, scripts, scorecards, playbooks, handbooks, KPIs - “Separation Sunday” and the weekly rhythm of million-dollar studios - Sales as belief transfer: make a friend, help a friend - then change a life - Building real careers in fitness: pay, roles, and culture that lasts - Visionary × Integrator: how this partnership actually works day-to-day - The 300-member plan, a NZ team retreat, and why 2026 is on the board - Parenting while building: 3am training, uncommon standards, zero victimhood Why most gyms stay stuck and how to stop normal habits delivering normal results Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] “Fuck That”: Refusing to Settle for Fine ⏳ [00:03:52] From Survival to $1M Run Rate: The Plan and the Numbers ⏳ [00:04:46] The Model: Small Group & Semi-Private for Busy Parents ⏳ [00:12:06] Standards > Excuses: Carving Your Own Path ⏳ [00:17:19] The Turning Point: A Line in the Sand at $1M ⏳ [00:21:11] Letting Go: Handing Over Control So the Team Can Win ⏳ [00:30:14] The Systems Stack That Moved the Needle ⏳ [00:33:59] Playbooks, Skill Gaps & Content That Actually Converts ⏳ [00:42:05] Leadership Evolution: Making It a Mission, Not a Job ⏳ [00:49:06] Lifting Industry Standards: Real Careers for Coaches ⏳ [00:59:57] Separation Sunday & Level 10s: The $1M Weekly Rhythm ⏳ [01:09:00] 300 Members & a NZ Team Retreat: The Vision ⏳ [01:17:04] Stuck at $20-30k/Month? Start Here ⏳ [01:23:45] Who Shouldn’t Join Geronimo (Real Talk) Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: ⁠https://thegeronimoacademy.com ⁠ IG Geronimo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy⁠ IG Hey.Doza: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa⁠
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Oct 7, 2025 • 56min

STOP Hiring the Wrong Salespeople: The Wolfpack Playbook to Build a Studio Sales Machine

If your “sales hire” is squeezing in calls at lunch and blaming leads by Friday, you don’t have a sales function - you’ve got a headache. This episode is your full, no-fluff Wolfpack Playbook: how to find, hire, pay, and lead a salesperson who actually sells - plus the rhythms, standards and incentives that turn one rep into a team that hunts together. You’ll hear real war stories from scaling a multi-country sales team doing 200+ sales a month - what worked, what bombed, and the exact structures you can swipe and deploy this week. Here’s what we’re covering: -The biggest hiring mistakes studio owners make (part-timers, wrong pay mix, and “nice” trainers who can’t sell) -What great sales candidates look like - and where to find them (phone sales > retail smiles) -The must-have hoops in your recruiting funnel (fast video response, script roleplay, “close me” moment) -The red flags to spot early (low energy, slick talkers, weak punctuality, zero learning velocity) -The Wolfpack Academy: your first 14 days to get a rep selling fast -The five non-negotiables (first 5 minutes, first 4 seconds, script discipline, call blocks, daily PD) -How to manage and motivate salespeople (scoreboards, public recognition, clean incentives) -Targets, activity and timing: 3-7pm and 8:30-10:30am call blocks, daily quotas, and follow-ups that win -Commission, spiffs and “Woolies card” sugar hits -without trashing refund rates -Integrating sales with marketing and ops so your rep is fed, focused and not buried in admin … and a whole lot more Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: ⁠https://thegeronimoacademy.com ⁠ IG Geronimo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy⁠ IG Hey.Doza: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa⁠
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Sep 30, 2025 • 47min

The 8 Principles of the Top 1%: How Elite Studio Owners Think, Act & Win (Without Burning Out)

Connect with us: My website: ⁠https://thegeronimoacademy.com ⁠ IG Geronimo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy⁠ IG Hey.Doza: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa⁠
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Sep 23, 2025 • 42min

The Culture Playbook: 90 Days to a High-Performance Studio

If you think culture is free brekkie and a flash coffee machine, think again - this is the nuts-and-bolts playbook to build a standards-driven, high-performance team in a real Aussie studio. In this episode, we get practical: exactly how to reset your vision, earn buy-in fast, set non-negotiables, and run a 90-day turnaround that dials up performance without burning your people out. Here’s what we’re covering: -Culture ≠ perks: it’s standards, rituals and accountability (not vibes) -How to relaunch your vision with vulnerability - and make it about your team’s financial freedom -The 90-day turnaround: lead with actions, earn respect, then meet -Non-negotiables are the floor: reward behaviours, not just outcomes -Gamify the next month: incentives, consequences, and removing fear of failure -Measuring culture: track the intangibles and non-talent KPIs that actually win games -Hiring truths: choose culture fit over raw talent (“change the man or change the man”) -Everyone’s a leader: clear lanes of ownership that lift standards -The SRB framework (Situation-Impact-Behaviour) for tough conversations -Reframes that kill frustration, keep your best people, and create momentum … and a whole lot more Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] Culture Isn’t Perks - It’s Standards, Rituals, Accountability ⏳ [01:26] The Playbook Brief: Bringing World-Class Culture to Small Teams ⏳ [02:52] Re-Energising a Team After Poor Leadership: Vision & Vulnerability ⏳ [06:31] Cadences & Ownership: Weekly/Monthly Rhythm That Sticks ⏳ [07:19] Week One: The “Respect Checklist” and Leading With Actions ⏳ [09:03] Link Personal Goals to Business Goals (You Go First on Vulnerability) ⏳ [12:29] Make Non-Negotiables the Win Condition - Reward Behaviours ⏳ [16:02] Gamify the Next 90 Days: Incentives, Consequences, Accountability ⏳ [18:13] How to Measure Culture: Intangibles and Non-Talent KPIs ⏳ [21:27] Talent vs Culture Fit: Pick Your Pain (Choose Culture) ⏳ [24:05] “Change the Man or Change the Man”: Setting a Standard ⏳ [29:03] Tough Chats Made Simple: The SRB (Situation-Impact-Behaviour) Model ⏳ [36:04] Avoiding Conflict Loses Your Best People ⏳ [38:32] The Simple Truth: Standards Drive Everything ⏳ [40:01] When Culture Runs Without You (And Attracts Performers) ⏳ [41:15] Wrap-Up & Your Next Step Hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: ⁠https://thegeronimoacademy.com ⁠ IG Geronimo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy⁠ IG Hey.Doza: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa⁠
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Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 23min

The Hidden Reasons Your Culture Sucks and How to Build One Built to Win

If you’re burnt out, juggling casuals and “spare parts”, and hoping a fruit bowl and team brekkie will fix culture - you’re kidding yourself. Here’s the truth: culture isn’t vibes. It’s standards, systems and accountability - lived daily. In this episode, we unpack how elite footy programs like the Melbourne Storm and Norths turn “off-cuts” into pros, and how you can install the same habits in a five-person studio. We’re talking non-negotiables (as the floor, not the ceiling), recruiting on character over CV, team-driven leadership, and the exact rhythms - huddles, reviews and scoreboards - that lift performance without you barking orders. Here’s what we’re covering: -The difference between real culture and “bribery” (and why free coffees won’t save you) -Why recruiting on character beats qualifications every day of the week -Non-negotiables as the floor (not the ceiling) - and how to set them -The Storm “work program”, Purple Hearts and rituals that hardwire effort -How to build team-driven accountability (so standards police themselves) -The review room: 3 effort-based actions, player self-scores and visible scoreboards -Mini-teams, healthy competition and gamifying the right behaviours -Leading with questions, not speeches - practical prompts you can steal -How to reset a weak culture in 90 days (without blowing up your team) -What to do when a high performer is in a slump (support vs standards) Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] Why Your “Culture” Isn’t Working (and What It Actually Is) ⏳ [01:05] Character Over CV: How Elite Teams Recruit Winners ⏳ [07:07] Systems, Standards, Accountability - the Culture Trinity ⏳ [12:21] Rituals That Matter: Jerseys Off the Floor & Standing to Greet ⏳ [20:10] Non-Negotiables Are the Floor, Not the Ceiling ⏳ [23:06] Inside the Storm: The Work Program & Perspective Shift ⏳ [33:44] Spotting Weak Culture: Meetings, Dialogue and Behaviours ⏳ [41:10] The Review Room: Effort Metrics, Self-Scores & Scoreboards ⏳ [44:30] Build the Framework: Themes, Mini-Teams & Gamification ⏳ [51:30] Listener Q&A: Spare Parts, Monthly Meetings & Where to Start ⏳ [1:03:00] Coaching High Performers Through a Slump (Without Dropping Standards) ⏳ [1:16:20] Daily/Weekly Huddles That Drive Action (Not Just Talk) ⏳ [1:21:30] Vision That Sticks: From Top-Down to Team-Owned Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: ⁠https://thegeronimoacademy.com ⁠ IG Geronimo: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy⁠ IG Hey.Doza: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa⁠
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Sep 10, 2025 • 48min

The $1M Rise of Earth To Body

Can you build a savage training culture, scale to seven figures, and regenerate rainforest - without burning out? Adrian and Chrissy from Earth To Body prove you can. In this unfiltered convo, we dig into how they turned a hardcore strength-and-conditioning community into a movement that funds rewilding in the Daintree -while tightening systems, team design and sales to hit a million-dollar run rate. Here’s what we’re covering: The origin story: from plant-based living to a “most savage” Melbourne training ground HYROX as the perfect plug-and-play test of real-world performance “Sustainability isn’t soft”: why fitness and rewilding belong together The Daintree partnership, $40k raised so far, and the goal to revegetate a hectare Retreats & tours that lock members into the mission (Bali, reef & croc tours) From vibe mode to business mode: vision, clarity and looking at it daily The sales unlock: Sell-By-Chat reps that built genuine confidence Separation Sunday + Deep Work: simple systems that changed their week Knowing the numbers: capacity, cadence, KPIs and team ownership Letting go of control (for real): ego, delegation and building leaders … and a whole lot more Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] Meet Adrian & Chrissy + Why This Is An Unfiltered Chat ⏳ [01:06] Savage, Legit, Real-World Performance: What Earth To Body Stands For ⏳ [04:15] “Sustainability Isn’t Soft” - The Planet-First DNA Behind the Name ⏳ [06:42] Daintree Partnership: Land Back, Rewilding & $40k Raised ⏳ [17:47] Before the Shift: Frustration, No Clear Vision, Ready for More ⏳ [22:07] The Sales Game-Changer: Why Sell-By-Chat Built Real Confidence ⏳ [28:04] Know Your Numbers: Capacity, Profit, Cadence & Team KPIs ⏳ [34:25] Burnout vs Vision: Why Clarity Stops You Hitting Rock Bottom ⏳ [36:36] Level 1 Advice: Plan Your Week, Time-Cap Tasks, Kill the Overwhelm ⏳ [41:31] Now vs Then: Team Design, Ownership & a Clear Path to Capacity Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: https://thegeronimoacademy.com IG Geronimo: https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy IG Hey.Doza: https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa
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Sep 2, 2025 • 1h 6min

STOP Playing Small: How Kristy Sellars Built a Booming Studio Network & a Game-Changing Booking Platform

If you think pole is “just a class”, think again—Kristy Sellars turned a single weekend studio into a 20-location network, won Australia’s Got Talent, placed on stages around the world, and is now taking on the software giants with a platform built by a studio owner, for studio owners. This one’s part mindset reset, part masterclass in community, pricing, processes—and a full-on permission slip to go bigger. Here’s what we’re covering: The origin story: from renting a dojo on weekends to a 20-studio network Why community (not ads) is your unfair advantage in 2025 The $1,000/week trap: work out your real hourly rate (and fix it fast) Pricing without guilt—and why “treat it like a business” wins Processes, delegation and escaping overwhelm at Level 1 Dirty calories: when to refund, reset and protect your energy The “frequency” toolkit: breathwork, grounding, water, exercise, gratitude Visualisation, evidence and the 300% Rule (clarity, belief, consistency) Inside Groovier: class chats, progress tracking, retail, auto-cancels & more Big goals: reigniting owner fire post-COVID and scaling to 1,000 studios Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] AGT Winner, Studio Owner, Tech Founder: Meet Kristy Sellars ⏳ [06:00] From One Room to 20 Studios: What Actually Worked ⏳ [08:45] Community Over Everything (and how to build it on purpose) ⏳ [11:00] Treat It Like a Business: Pricing, margins and no more guilt ⏳ [15:20] The $20/hour Reality Check: Do the maths on your week ⏳ [18:00] Buy Back Your Time: Processes, delegation and momentum ⏳ [19:10] Dirty Calories: Refund fast, protect reputation, move on ⏳ [23:40] Energy & Leadership: Keep your vibe where growth lives ⏳ [33:00] The 5 Tools: Breathwork, grounding, water, exercise, gratitude ⏳ [39:00] Visualise the Win: Building evidence and unshakeable belief ⏳ [44:10] All-In on Software: Risk, resilience and the 300% Rule ⏳ [54:30] Groovier Deep Dive: Features studios actually use ⏳ [61:20] Goals That Pull You Forward: 450 → 1,000 studios & reigniting owners ⏳ [66:00] Final Word: Brainwash yourself (the good way) & pick a destination Hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: https://thegeronimoacademy.com IG Geronimo: https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy IG Hey.Doza: https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa
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Aug 26, 2025 • 1h 41min

ClassPass on Trial: Who It Helps, Who It Hurts, and Why It Divides the Industry.

ClassPass - friend or foe? For years, studio owners have argued whether it’s the best tool to fill empty spots or the very thing devaluing boutique fitness. In this episode, we go straight to the source. Doza sits down with Kinsey Livingston, VP of Sales at Mindbody & ClassPass, to unpack the biggest myths, frustrations, and opportunities when it comes to using ClassPass in your studio. Here’s what we’re covering: -Why some studios make $16k/month from ClassPass while others swear it’s killing their business -The brutal truth about what ClassPass is (and what it isn’t) -The real payout structure - and how rates surge or drop based on demand -The 4 biggest myths about ClassPass (and the data that busts them) -Why free trials aren’t the enemy (and how studios can benefit long term) -What the numbers actually say about cannibalisation of your members -How corporate wellness deals with Canva, KPMG & more are changing the game -Why your strategy - not ClassPass - is the real difference between success and frustration … and a whole lot more Chapters: ⏳ [00:00] ClassPass Love - Hate: $16k a Month But Still Frustrated ⏳ [06:00] The Real Purpose of ClassPass (And Why Studios Get It Wrong) ⏳ [12:00] Who ClassPass Users Really Are (And Why They Rarely Convert) ⏳ [18:00] The #1 Mistake Studios Make With ClassPass Strategy ⏳ [26:00] Pricing, Credits & Why Most Studios Lose Revenue When They Demand More ⏳ [33:00] Free Trials, Fraud & Why ClassPass Still Backs Them ⏳ [43:00] Studio Success Story: $8-10k a Month & 20% Conversions ⏳ [47:00] Cannibalisation: The Data vs The Felt Experience ⏳ [56:00] The Mindbody Guarantee: How ClassPass Offsets Risk ⏳ [01:00:00] Corporate Wellness Deals & New Revenue Streams ⏳ [01:06:00] The 4 Biggest Myths About ClassPass- Busted ⏳ [01:12:00] Final Word: ClassPass as a Tool, Not a Business Model Hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below with your biggest takeaway. We read them all. Want to LEARN proven systems to grow your business without burnout? Go here: https://live.geronimoacademy.com/newsletter Connect with us: My website: https://thegeronimoacademy.com IG Geronimo: https://www.instagram.com/thegeronimoacademy IG Hey.Doza: https://www.instagram.com/hey.doza LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewhandosa

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