(Not trying to be a jerk, please read to the end)
1) The problems in your business are a reflection of your current deficiencies and limitations as a gym owner and/or person.
If there’s a problem in the business that can be fixed,
YOU are the one who has to get it fixed. Either personally or through other people.
2) Because fixing these issues requires admitting weaknesses and usually requires help from another person,
Ego is often in the way of the next level.
NOTE: You almost always need an outside eye for problems that linger for months.
If you could fix it by consuming content, it would already be fixed.
3) Some problems aren’t solvable.
Some staff can’t attain acceptable performance. No matter how much you coach them.
Some locations and markets are always gonna be swimming upstream.
BUT
Even if you can’t fix it,
You’re still responsible for removing the problem (firing staff, moving locations, etc.).
4) Client retention is a function of your leadership. Either directly as a coach with clients, or as the leader of staff.
Staff retention is ALSO a function of your leadership.
5) A lack of basic computer literacy is an unforgivable tax on productivity and results.
If you run a business, you need to master the following:
- Typing speed
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Basic spreadsheet skills
- Using software like booking, billing, and CRM platforms
If you don’t master these,
You will lose thousands of hours over your career hunting and pecking for letters or using software inefficiently.
As a knowledge worker, you must wield your computer like a sword.
(h/t to Ben Supik)
6) Disgust with marketing is often fear dressed up in a tuxedo.
You will need to face:
- Discomfort about marketing incompetence and/or
- Imposter syndrome about the caliber of your services and/or
- Social anxiety disorder/ fear of strangers
7) Sometimes the issue is NOT imposter syndrome.
Sometimes you correctly assess you’re not actually great at what you offer (at least not yet).
8) Self-righteousness — about the purity of your intentions and superior training acumen — is often a halo for jealousy of competitors.
(h/t to Dr. Mark Cheng)
9) When you trade time for money, you’ll stay broke.
When you trade money for time, you start on the path to wealth.
Sometimes you should just eat ramen for a month or two to save cash,
Then hire a fractional admin to free up hours every week.
Then use that extra time to drive business growth.
10) If you keep repeating unhelpful patterns over and over, coaching alone may not cut it.
You may need:
- Therapy and/or
- Plant medicine and/or
- The exact right does of personal trauma (not too much, not too little)
Otherwise, coping mechanisms in your psychology can make you:
A disorganized chaos monkey who rebels like a child against structure
OR
An oppressive drill sergeant with horrible self-talk, because a semi-abusive authority figure is the only way you know how to take action.
*******
A final note…
The above are meant with love.
And of course, they probably don’t all apply to you.
Further, your author is NOT immune to many of the above issues.
So please know, this is not me standing on the mountain shouting down at you.
This is me walking alongside the craggy mountainside path with you, offering you a mirror and a flashlight.
And a map to the next vista.
If you want,
We can go there together.
Beyond mountains there are mountains,
Mark
PS If you’re interested in learning more about how we help gym and studio owners build a business — and a life — they love…
The first step is a 10-minute brainstorm call.
Book yours HERE.