I know a LOT of gym owners.
Sad to say, many gym owners never get off the struggle bus.
But then some gym owners are absolute ass-kickers.
So what’s the difference maker?
I’ve thought a TON about this over the years.
Here’s what I’ve noticed…
There are 5 foundational habits if you want to be a high-performing gym owner.
And when you get them all dialed, you can pretty much expect your results to go into overdrive.
The 5 Habits of High-Performing Gym Owners
1) They Manage Their Physical Energy
This should be obvious to anyone who identifies as a “fitness professional.” And yet it’s all too easy to let the stresses of running a gym run roughshod over our personal fitness.
There’s nothing sexy or complicated here. It’s the same things we harp on with our clients.
- Get enough sleep each night.
- Workout regularly.
- Eat “like an adult” with plenty of protein and vegetables.
- Don’t drink too much.
Your physiology is the basis of your performance as a leader, a coach, a leader, a strategist, a marketer, and a sales person.
2) They Manage Their Psychological Well-Being
I know, I know. This one may sound soft. But it’s not.
Your psychological state is another component of your performance. If you’re feeling burnt out and unhappy, it’s hard to have a high quality and quantity of work.
When we’re feeling low, it’s tougher to build and maintain good relationships. It’s harder to think creatively. It makes it challenging to be resilient in the face of the inevitable challenges for running a gym.
As a leader, coach, and salesperson, our mental state is infectious. So committing to the personal practices below are keystones of performance.
- Gratitude journaling
- Meditation
- Reading personal development
- Monitoring Your media consumption
- Time away from the gym
To sum up Habits #1 & #2: Energy Management > Time Management
3) They Create Clear Goals
I’m a BIG fan of goal setting. It’s hard to feel like we’re winning if we have no targets and we’re not keeping store.
I’m a proponent of long term and short term goals for both you AND your business.
These will overlap, of course. But since we’re discussing personal habits, I’d encourage you to get crystal clear about the life you’re excited to create.
We want to use both numbers to set goals for things like:
- Income
- Net worth
- Hours worked each week
- Health and fitness markers
- Qualitative rankings for relationship satisfaction
Since your feelings are a big part of the game, there’s a place for tracking both quantifiable and qualitative goals.
4) They Never Stop Learning
Life-long learning is an obsession for every great gym owner I know.
Below are some of the main buckets that gym owners focus on to keep upleveling their skills.
- Marketing and Sales
- Customer Service
- Training Knowledge
- Finance
- Leadership and Management
- Fitness Business Specific Education
Most have a variety of tools for learning, from books to podcasts to videos to coaching to live events. While they can all play a role, free resources tend to have lower value density. And high performers are not shy about investing in faster results.
5) They Build and Maintain Supportive Relationships
Two cliches that are true:
1) “You can’t fly with the eagles if you hang out with turkeys.”
2) “You’re the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with.”
This is part of the value of working with a coach and/or being a part of a learning community.
And there are two key benefits.
One part is knowledge and skill transfer. You will formally and informally learn tactics and strategies. You’re buying speed for better, faster results.
But there are also powerful psychological benefits. You’re developing relationships with people who understand your goals and challenges. And getting to “do life” with people who truly see you is an important piece of personal fulfillment. This in turn bleeds into business performance.
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So, based off this model…
- Where do you think you’re strongest?
- Which habit represents your greatest opportunity?
If you feel inspired, hit that reply button and share your reflections.
What love to hear what came up for you!
Your fellow gym owner,
Mark
PS If you feel like you’re missing out on #5, the Unicorn Society may be exactly what you’re looking for.
You can book a call to learn more HERE.