It’s long been said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different result.

Well friends if you are trying very hard to run your studio or business the way you used to then it’s likely you are feeling out of sorts and like you’re fighting an uphill battle.

The world has changed, and it’s likely we’re not going back to the way it was before… at least not for a long time. 

So as business owners where should we put our focus?

No, we don’t have a crystal ball, but here’s our best “one foot in front of the other” guess of how business will shift in the coming weeks, months and years.

1) The future of fitness is personal – With so many opportunities out there and different virtual platforms available (ones with presumably larger budgets than we have as small studio owners) it is going to be hard to compete in that space… unless you already have a lot of notoriety...

All this time in pandemic has many of us thinking “what now?”

Some business owners have decided to close their businesses. Others are pivoting in a new direction (maybe one they didn’t choose), and yet others are feeling a little lost and uncertain about what to do next.

Essentially we are all in transition.

And sometimes transition breeds uncertainty and lack of purpose.

Discovering your purpose is not an easy process. You don’t magically wake up one day with a clear vision of what your purpose is and exactly how it is going to take shape (unless you are extremely lucky). However, discovering your unique gifts and talents and doing what you love can add so much more joy to your life.  It doesn’t have to be someday . . . you can start today!

Grab your journal, answer the following questions, and take some time to truly reflect on what matters most now.

1. What did you do for fun as a kid?

Children are naturally drawn to what resonates...

Not only are we in the midst of a pandemic fraught with shifting tides, stress and uncertainty, but we are also under a racism pandemic. The scab has been pulled off of this deep wound, and as conscious business owners we have a responsibility to bear witness, listen, learn and act.

We trust that you too have been grappling with your role in this conversation and navigating your own thoughts and feelings and how to consciously STAND UP for RACIAL EQUITY.

We don’t propose to have all the answers, but we are committed to learning, listening, engaging and acting.  

A Reflection from Iman Abdul-Salaam – Personal Trainer at Empower Personalized Fitness

 “This past month has been a very difficult time for many people, especially for African-Americans like myself. First with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, then Breonna Taylor and now George Floyd. Being a person of color in this country has always been challenging, but one would think by 2020 it would be or should...

First and foremost… it’s time for a giant collective exhale. We hope that you, your family and your studio community are all healthy and safe.

The last few weeks have been non-stop as we all try to do our part to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus AND figure out new ways of working. For most studio business owners this means that we’ve had to bring our businesses completely online in a matter of days… a process that usually takes months… or even years.

But the wellness community is strong… and resilient. And we love seeing fitness business owners creating and expanding in new and different ways. Your ingenuity, your commitment to your team, the way you leading your community and your strength and perseverance is truly unparalleled.

One topic that’s been on all studio owners’ mind is how do I continue to be profitable as we weather this storm. 

When times get tough it’s common to focus on your revenues – after...

It’s a fact that the fitness industry is notorious for high employee turnover- an unfortunate opportunity cost that can be both financially draining and emotionally exhausting. So, how do you attract top talent and foster long-term staff loyalty so your business can run on auto-pilot?

Step 1 – Build a team culture

The very first step is creating a collaborative, team-oriented culture where all members feel like their thoughts and contributions matter. Building a team culture takes time and your culture is ultimately an extension of your core values as the owner. 

You must first define your core values, your vision and your mission and then teach it to your team members. Ultimately, they will help you carry this vision forward so it is extremely important that you work every day to instill your values in your team. You can do this by sharing your vision regularly and making sure your team is aligned and on the same page. If and when problems do arise or you notice...

You have heard the adage that you should work more ON your business and less IN your business, but what does that really mean?

Of course, as business owners our “to do” list is a mile long and there are truly never enough hours in the day. So why do so many studio owners continue to fill their schedules with clients and never officially step into the higher-level tasks that fall in the working ON your business category?

Before we get started, we have to share a bit of training about this concept that we learned from one of our friends and colleagues, Ashley Selman, owner of Evolution Trainers and Thrive Studio Coaching.

Ashley teaches about this concept of $15/$100/$1500 per hour tasks, and she encourages studio owners to lean into their highest value/highest return tasks as much as possible – hence the $1500/hour tasks.

Let’s break this concept apart a little.

$15/hour Tasks

What are the $15/hour tasks? These are any tasks that can be completed by...