WTF Gym Talk

Another look at what I believe will emerge as a popular business model in the fitness industry - the Hybrid gym.  A facility that caters to the open gym seeking, come when you want and do what you want type client + has a separate space and dedicated area for group classes. In this episode use an analogy I had with an individual where I used golf and driving ranges as the comparison. Let me know what you think. 

If you don't think you have enough money to hire full-time staff - you may be right...but IMO, you may be very wrong.  It's just about reorganizing your money. 

Recently, my good friend and colleague, Sean Pastuch, owner of Active Life - announced that they will be opening up with first corporate brick and mortar. Sean has been working hard with hundreds of gyms over the years to create his unique service model - but it's always been remotely. Now he's risking it all to prove that he can stand up his own facility built on the service and business principles that he's been teaching other gym owners for years. Here's what I think of this...

Had a 30 minute drive, so figured I'd rap on how I think about the balance of hard work + smart work.   When do you need to work hard, versus when do you need to work smart?   How do you know it's time to switch? Let me know what you think. 

2021/2022 has kept me very busy with helping microgyms during a pre-sell.  For some of these businesses, they are launching the first iteration of their concept.  For others, they are relocating and need to drum up new business in this new location.  Here's how I go about my overall pre-sell strategy. 

My last podcast episode was with Stephen Hitt where we discussed his evolution of the "in-place" model.  And I was really excited for the microgym world to get a hold of it. But for some reason, there are still a high number of us that refuse to learn about new ways of doing this thing of ours. And it's going to be the downfall for most of the owners, I fear. 

Stephen Hitt is the founder of Industrious in WA, an incredible microgym with a true brand identity that's been killing it since 2011.  We've shared the stage at speaking engagements together and he was on my podcast previously for his DJ-inspired music app for microgyms. However, today we are talking about the evolution of his brand's operating system in terms of installing an 'In-Place' model that he's dubbed the Halo System.  A 169 sqft station with every strength & conditioning toy you could imagine, for every member. With the early success of this new system, they have opened up their franchise model and are currently accepting applications.

Members are not movers, you cheap fuck.   Listen for full context.

Somewhere along the line, I've been pegged as "Don't you hate CrossFit gyms?"  "Aren't you against all the things that CrossFit gyms do???" This couldn't be further from the truth.   Here's how I address that misidentification. 

If anyone giving you business advice has ever put down marketing + branding and made a statement that sounds like "Don't worry about marketing, we're going to teach you how to have such an amazing service that your customers do the marketing for you." These people are fucking morons.  Here's why.