Alloy Personal Training Business

In this episode, we discuss why high intensity interval training (HIIT) may not be the best type of exercise for your business.We talk about high intensity training - the pros and cons, and how it fits in somebody's program.High intensity interval training just means getting hot and sweaty. And it's super popular right now.It's just really been popular since the explosion of the studio model, which has really been probably eight years or so of the real popular studio models.And because of that, the “heart rate” was introduced.And that sort of drove that as well. The brand promise of some brands is heart rate.And so when you start tying effort level during a workout to the number of calories burned, and the end goal is like what happens just in these 45 minutes or this hour or these 30 minutes or whatever, you run the risk of then effectively telling your customer that the most important thing is how many calories they burn and how high they can get their heart rate in the next 30 minutes.And then you might make claims like: “Hey, this not only is going to burn calories; it's also going to build muscle.” Which is not true if you know the science behind muscle-building.Stay tuned as we delve deeper.Key Points of Discussion:Benefits of a short, intense exercise (5:05)You can't put out that much effort in 30 to 45 minutes (7:31)It doesn't actually produce maybe any of the results you're looking for (9:05)Doing metabolic-based training is better than sitting on the couch (9:30)The metabolic finisher - at the end of a true strength training workout (10:33)Your body's going to adapt to strain, strenuous activities, and stimulus (11:04)Doing it with strength training and sensible eating (13:51)There is a really high churn rate in a HIIT-based business (17:14)Fitting HIIT into clients’ schedules (22:45)If you’re looking for fat loss, general fitness, and you want to feel better… (29:12)---------Additional Resources:Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

A brand is more than just the name and logo. Building a relevant brand takes time and effort. There is a lot that goes into it. Initially, you have to decide what the brand has to do and the promise it has to deliver. Eventually, if you do everything right and deliver on the promise, the brand will take a life of its own. You’ll get some people who will champion for the brand and take it to the next level.Rick takes us through the process of branding he went through from the early stages when his gym was known as Good Bodies Personal Training which was a good name back then. This was until one of the subcontractors in the gym left with some clients to start a gym known as better bodies.  Rick had to change the name to NorthPoint Fitness. This went on for a while till the licensing business began and the name had to change. That’s when Alloy Personal Training business was born after a long process.The name was just the start, trademark rights, branding  and launching were to follow which took about four and a half months. Having done with the logistics of branding, delivering on the promise was the most important thing. You can have a good sounding name and branding but delivering on the promise is what counts. Listen in to learn about how you deliver on the brand promise and the customer experience and grow your brand.Key TakeawaysHow to build a brand (02:35)How we started our gym back in the day when it was called Good Bodies(03:31)Rebranding to Northpoint fitness (06:02)Searching for a new name that we could trademark for our licensing model (07:28)Settling on the Alloy Personal Training Business name (10:48)Delivering on the promise of the Alloy brand (17:00)How long it takes to build a brand (24:33)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Many fitness professionals such as coaches and instructors have the ambition of transitioning to being a gym owner. However, they do not know how to go about it. They do not know where to start. In this episode we look at the steps you have to take to successfully transition to being a fitness entrepreneur. The first step is having a business plan. Many entrepreneurs start their businesses without one which leads to failure. A business plan should be built around your vision. To have an effective business plan, you have to simplify your vision. Determine precisely what kind of service you want to offer and build your business right from the start. Securing capital to start the business is a big deal. Many business professionals underestimate the amount of capital needed to open a new business and building a brand. You can get this money from your own savings, friends and family, or a bank. However, for a bank to give you money, they have to see a solid business plan. If you cant come up with this, a franchise would be a better option since all the details are taken care of. A fitness franchise is like a massive shortcut. You don’t have to make the same mistakes entrepreneurs who came before you made. The system is already well developed.  Listen in to hear more of this and other steps you need to take in your journey from a fitness professional to a fitness entrepreneurKey TakeawaysHow can a fitness professional transition to being a fitness entrepreneur (04:16)Why having a business plan is the first step to starting your fitness entrepreneurship journey (05:04)Simplification of your vision and your business plan is a core value in business (07:38)Finding and securing enough capital to start and run your business (10:36)Why getting hold of a franchise is better if you cant come up with a solid business plan (13:46)Being part of a fitness franchise is like a shortcut. You avoid making the same mistakes (20:25)Looking at the end game of your fitness business and planning your exit strategy (25:02)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

We start off the episode with a quick update on reopening the gym. Half of our clients are coming to the gym while the other half is training on virtual. This shows the need for gyms to remain flexible after reopening and cater to both groups of clients. We have sold some new memberships to our gym without marketing. We lost about 20% of our overall clientele due to the situation. The kettlebell is a cool training tool. Clients love it, we explore how they fit into our personal training model, how we use them, and the good things about them. We look at some not so good things about them. Lastly, we look at kettlebells through the lens of gym business.Kettlebells are one of the favorite tools in the gym for many clients. They help in increasing strength and even building muscles. They may not be the best for building muscle but they certainly have a place. In addition, kettlebells swings help with balance and movement and generally make us feel great which is important to keep clients motivated. With social distancing in the gym now, kettlebells are a great tool for workouts. They make everything better but just like any other tool, gym owners should test them with their clients and find out the right use of it. Key TakeawaysGym reopening progress and update (01:33)Why Kettlebells are the perfect tool for social distancing workout (05:56)Why coaches should disassociate their likes and dislikes and focus on their client’s fitness goals (17:47)How to use the kettlebell to increase strength  (18:41)How the kettlebell can help build muscle (25:27)Kettlebells make you perform better, feel better and look better (29:51)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

It’s been two weeks since we reopened our fitness facilities and adapting to the new normal. Rick takes us through an update on the business side of things and how we have ramped up our marketing to attract new clients since some other gyms and fitness facilities are yet to reopen.When you reopen your training facilities, you should be prepared to support people who may not be comfortable coming in yet. Running a hybrid system of virtual and onsite training will be good for your business. It is also a great opportunity to find good talent in the market right now. There are many coaches and managers coming from other fitness centers and others making a career change. It’s the best time to keep your funnel full in case you need to fill a position. Even if you haven’t reopened yet, you can still start working on the screening process and interviews for potential candidates. Listen in as we talk about these and other major lessons we have learned after reopening.Key TakeawaysRamping up your fitness marketing efforts after reopening to attract new clients (03:28)Running a hybrid system of virtual and onsite fitness classes to cater to clients who may not be comfortable coming to the gym (08:29)Expecting some hesitancy from coaches and team members about reopening and how to encourage them (09:55)Taking this opportunity to find good talent in the market and hiring them once you reopen (12:47)Keeping your funnel full with good candidates in case you need replacing or adding up some positions (15:22)Starting the screening process virtually to eliminate candidates who don’t fit with your brand (17:41)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Many businesses are still under lockdown across the country and are facing uncertainty on when they will be allowed to reopen and how they will go about it. Having reopened earlier than planned we talk about this experience from the perspectives of the owner, the coaches, and the clients.As the owner, you have to make sure you build trust. People need to be sure that you are taking every precaution necessary to keep them safe. If it involves taking them through the process, you have to do it. This should be your main message. You should then back it up by taking care of even the smallest details and maintaining high standards of cleanliness. Small group personal training helps in social distancing. This worked in our favor since we had already pivoted to this. Our clients are able to trust each other more because they are a small tight-knit group.We talk about why owners need to communicate effectively to the coaches while reopening and anticipating that they may have some hesitation to get back to work  for fear of their safety. Letting them participate in safety measures around the gym can help them feel safer.  Key TakeawaysBuilding trust and confidence after reopening by demonstrating you are taking all precautions to keep people safe (05:26)Enforcing social distancing with smaller group personal training (09:03)Going public with the efforts you are doing and let your clients know (16:14)How we dealt with our coaches during the lockdown and turning to virtual personal training (18:35)Understanding that your team may not be nervous about their safety after reopening (24:10)Communicating clearly with your team on why you need to get back to business (25:23) Taking personal responsibility for your business (34:24)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Covid-19 has brought a lot of disruption. One thing everyone in the fitness business should be prepared for is the changes that will come after the lockdown measures are lifted. The future of fitness is small group personal training. Having a business model that is based on a smaller number of people who are more controllable and more specific and who can social distance is the future. We take you through the transitioning process. Whether you are running one on one programs or bigger classes. The transition might be scary at first, but you’ll soon realize the benefits of small group training. You have to convince your clients and coaches why you are making the change. Building systems and programs to help with the transition makes it easier.If you manage to get your coaches on board with the new model, it will be easier to convince your clients. Coaches have personal relationships with clients and can easily convince them to try out the new small group training model.Tune in to find out how to go about the transition and all the benefits of small group training. Key TakeawaysWhy you need to transition your fitness business to small group personal training (04:02)Why is much more profitable to run a small class fitness business (5:00)Building systems and programs around small group training (12:35)Benefits of group training and why it is the best model going forwards (20:05)How to convince your coaches and clients to shift from your current model to small group training (23:39)Getting the coaches on board who will then convince the clients about the new model (36:18)Why small groups help you have accountability sessions with your clients to address any specific issues (42:18)How to make your small group training feel like personal training rather than team training (45:12)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

80% of all communication is nonverbal. It doesn’t matter how great your words are, if you are not matching them with your body language, you are not communicating effectively. Improving our body language is something all of us, especially in the personal training business can greatly benefit from. We talk about different body parts such as the feet, legs hips, torso, and arms and how to use each of them from a coaching and sales perspective to improve communication. The legs are a big part of body language which we should never ignore. We also learn how to read the small nonverbal communication cues from our clients. Your arms and hands are the most important of all body parts as far as body language goes. Some of the things we do with them are subconscious but as a coach or a salesperson, you should learn how to use them to communicate better. Crossing your arms, hiding your hands behind your back, and definitely no pocketing. Tune in and learn how powerful body language is not only through the lens of fitness but in all aspects of communication. Key TakeawaysWhat are the two types of body language?  (5:06)Why your feet and legs are important in body language and how to use them effectively to communicate (5:39)What can you read from the hips and laps in a sales setting (15:30)Why the arms are the most important in nonverbal communication (19:27)Why you should never cross your arms or walk with your hands behind your back as a coach (21:28)How to look out for discomfort signs from your clients (29:08)Recognizing body language through the lens of fitness (31:16)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Listen in as we talk about the Enneagram which is a great tool of communication. We talk about this test, what it entails, how to use it and how it gives you an idea about the different types of people on your team and how they communicate. There are nine different personality types on the Enneagram Test, we go through each of them in detail and how their personality affects their communication and how they relate with other team members. It is important to note that there are no wrong or negative personalities. The key is to understand your own type and how it may affect other people. Everybody has one dominant personality type and a secondary one. As a business owner, once you understand your individual team member’s dominant personality types and their secondary personality types, you can assign them the roles that suit them well. Tune in as we go through each of the nine personality types in great detail.Key TakeawaysWhat is the Enneagram Test and how to use it to improve communication in your team (2:06)The nine different personalities in the Enneagram Test (4:35)The advantages and downsides of a reformer  (4:48)Identifying your dominant personality and your secondary personality type and why it is important for coaches to have a caring interpersonal personality (7:53)Why an achiever personality type is good at sales and marketing (11:06)Why the challenger personality type makes a good team coach (24:28)Understanding the positives sides of every personality type and coaching to improve on the negative side (31:47)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

The first thing we talk about is working on yourself. You achieve this by planning a routine and organizing your day just like you were going out to the office. Keeping your routine ensures you remain productive. Have some stuff scheduled throughout the day and even the week. This is the time to do those things you have always pushed aside due to lack of time.The second thing you need to do is to look at your business model and why you set up your business. Are you in the right trajectory? Do you need to change anything? Are you solving the problems you set out to solve? These questions will help you bring the motivation back and remind you why you are in the fitness business. The third thing we talk about is working with your team to improve some of the processes in the business and special projects. Having team accountability by everyone knowing what each team member is working on while at home is critical. Key TakeawaysHaving a daily routine even while working from home (4:31)Why having some personal challenges helps you become more productive (5:44)How to take a reflective look into your business model and why you do it (9:05)Taking advantage of this time to work on new revenue streams for your business (15:21)Connecting and interacting with people in your industry to learn new things (19:13)Team accountability while working virtually (19:44)Why now is an excellent time to upgrade your facility (23:06)Additional Resources:www.AlloyPersonalTraining.comLearn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!