461 Managing Through the Ugly: How to Deal with the Hard Changes with Ben Ludwig

The Fitness Business Podcast is ending after 8 years and 527 shows, but we are leaving you with a thought-provoking episode.  There is no easy business, and the fitness business certainly can present its challenges. But fortunately, our industry is filled with industry leaders willing to share their knowledge and advice. Today's episode is filled with exactly that.   Our guest is JT Tamsett, a business expert with extensive experience in the fitness industry. JT's work with Rex Roundtables and Active Management makes him the perfect person to share his knowledge and advice on the challenges of running a fitness business. Learn the difference between a blue ocean and a red ocean in the marketplace, highlighting the importance of finding unique opportunities. JT also defines the difference between trends and fads, emphasizing the significance of long-lasting styles and habits. He emphasizes the importance of strategy and planning, explaining how they support each other in achieving business goals. Lastly, JT discusses the misconception that quitting or ending a project is a sign of failure, emphasizing the importance of recognizing when to move on and focus energy elsewhere. We hope you enjoy!  Show Notes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/527 The Fitness Business Podcast has been a beacon of education and inspiration for fitness business owners around the world. It has provided a platform for industry experts to share their knowledge and insights, helping listeners improve their businesses and achieve their goals. While the podcast may be taking a pause for now, the impact it has made will continue to resonate within the fitness industry. As we look to the future, we can expect new opportunities and ventures from the hosts of the Fitness Business podcast. Their expertise and passion for the industry will undoubtedly lead to new ventures that will continue to shape the fitness business landscape. In the words of JT Tamsett, "You never say never." So, while this may be the end of the Fitness Business podcast for now, who knows what the future holds? - Dori Nugent, Weekly Host

Lou Lentine believes connected fitness is here to stay, as it offers convenience and affordability for people who may not have time to go to the gym. Echelon Fitness is constantly innovating and has several new products launching, including treadmills, ellipticals, a stair climber, and partnerships with Disney and Advent Health.  Summary: Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Lou Lentine, the founder and CEO of Echelon Fitness, who shares his background and story behind this global company.  Echelon Fitness offers a range of smart fitness equipment, including bikes, rowers, treadmills, and mirrors. The equipment can connect to the Echelon Fit app, which provides access to over 1,500 live classes per month. Echelon Fitness has a strong community of supportive members and instructors who are relatable and real. The company has seen success in both the home and commercial fitness markets, with a low churn rate and high usage levels.  About The Guest Lou Lentine is the founder and CEO of Echelon Fitness. With a background in product development and a track record of successful consumer products, Lou started Echelon Fitness in 2015. He was inspired to create fitness products after his doctor advised him to get in shape. Echelon Fitness has since become a global leader in connected fitness, offering a range of smart fitness equipment and an app with over 1,500 live classes per month. Key Takeaways: Echelon Fitness offers a range of smart fitness equipment, including bikes, rowers, treadmills, and mirrors. The equipment can connect to the Echelon Fit app, which provides access to over 1,500 live classes per month. Echelon Fitness has a strong community of supportive members and relatable instructors. The company has seen success in both the home and commercial fitness markets, with a low churn rate and high usage levels. Connected fitness offers convenience and affordability for people who may not have time to go to the gym. Echelon Fitness is constantly innovating and has several new products launching, including treadmills, ellipticals, a stair climber, and partnerships with Disney and Advent Health.

The passion that fills today's episode is inspiring. Tim Keightley has dedicated his professional career to making a difference in the fitness industry. His journey is incredible and worth a listen as he shares what he has learned along the way. From his time in the British Royal Marines to his leadership roles in fitness clubs, Tim provides valuable insights on fortitude, leadership, and building successful businesses. Tim Keightley is a veteran in the fitness industry with over 25 years of experience. He has held various leadership positions in well-known fitness organizations, such as Fitness First UK and New York Sports Clubs. Tim is known for his expertise in building and scaling successful fitness businesses, as well as his passion for helping others achieve their fitness goals. Read show notes:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/525

Learn how to take your personal training business to new heights with Anthony Amen, the owner and visionary behind Redefine Fitness in New York.   Anthony shares his expertise in selling personal training. He emphasizes the importance of knowing how to sell to help more people and make a difference in their lives. He discusses the steps to take before starting the sales process, including creating a welcoming and clean gym environment, making a personal connection with potential clients, and offering a tour that focuses on building rapport. He also highlights the importance of role-playing to improve sales skills and overcome objections. Anthony concludes by explaining the key elements of a successful fitness assessment and the importance of asking for the sale. Check out the show notes here:  https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/524

Terry Blachek, CEO and owner of Austin Fitness Group, LLC, which operates 133 Orangetheory studios across Texas, Arizona, and Kansas, shares his insights on building a dream team and cultivating a successful and productive work environment.  Terry Blachek is a seasoned leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience in the fitness industry. He has successfully launched and managed multiple fitness businesses, and is known for his expertise in building dream teams. Terry is also the host of the podcast "Tuesdays with Terry," where he shares insights on self-development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and sales and marketing. He's also one of the original founders of Orangetheory Fitness.  Get the full show notes here:  https://fit    

Donna McGeorge joins the Fitness Business podcast to discuss the power of ChatGPT (also known as Charlie) in improving productivity. ChatGPT is a language model that can generate written content based on a vast amount of data it has been trained on. Donna explains that ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for fitness business owners in various aspects of their work, such as writing social media posts, marketing materials, and website copy. She emphasizes the importance of approaching ChatGPT with curiosity and using it as a tool to enhance and refine written communication. Donna also highlights the need for proofreading and editing to maintain credibility and avoid potential errors or inaccuracies generated by ChatGPT. SHOW NOTES: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/522  

Join Sarah Pellegrino as she speaks with Ross Campbell, CEO of FIT Summit, all the way in Singapore for September’s Value Proposition episode. FIT Summit is a global, business network for the health, fitness and wellness industry, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific market. FIT manages many business networks and events and produces exclusive business content, all while promoting the industry globally. When attending a FIT Summit, attendees can expect to see large scale operators representing several verticals: fitness, hotel, resorts, retreats. This is an amazing time for us to collaborate and communicate between multiple verticals and meet as many buyers as possible. FIT Summit is where wellness meets health, health meets fitness, and fitness meets sports. Their next event is this November 21-23 in Sydney, Australia, and you can expect about 750 CEO’s at this next VIP event. Learn More About This Event and Their Calendar of Events for 2024: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/521

Hank Ebeling is the founder and owner of H4 Training. He is passionate about helping small businesses transform their customer service and elevate their customers' experience. Hank is the author of the book "Crushing the Competition with Service" and has created an online course called "Superhero Service Super Profits" to help businesses deliver outstanding service consistently. He joins us to discuss his four-step process for handling customer complaints. The process includes acknowledging the complaint, apologizing, making it right, and thanking the customer. Hank emphasizes the importance of listening to the customer, avoiding defensiveness, and finding a solution that meets the customer's needs. He also highlights the value of thanking customers for bringing issues to your attention and using their feedback to improve your business. Show notes and more resources: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/520    

Discover the secrets to mastering the Instagram algorithm and boosting your business! Tune in to the latest episode of the Fitness Business podcast to learn from social media maven Joanne Hernan. Joanne Hernan has over 17 years of experience working with Instagram and other social media platforms. She is known for her expertise in mastering the Instagram algorithm and creating authentic and engaging content. Summary: Joanne Hernan joins the Fitness Business podcast to discuss how to master the Instagram algorithm and use social media to grow your business. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, consistency, and creating great content. Joanne explains that the Instagram algorithm looks at various data points, such as user behavior, content engagement, and hashtags, to determine what content to prioritize in users' feeds. She also shares tips for leveraging Instagram stories and reels to increase visibility and engagement. Joanne encourages listeners to conduct an audit of their Instagram accounts to identify areas for improvement, and offers a free audit tool to help with this process. Get show notes: https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/519   0:00:06 Introduction to the importance of social media for businesses 0:01:03 Sponsorship message from Hapana 0:02:28 Myzone's Fitbizpiration segment 0:02:36 Top three suggestions for getting content seen on Instagram 0:03:33 Sponsorship message from Myzone 0:04:02 Introduction to the interview with Joanne Hernan 0:04:35 Definition of the Instagram algorithm 0:07:01 Signals that Instagram uses to understand content preferences 0:09:21 Instagram's consideration of user-posted content and captions 0:12:26 Leveraging the algorithm for success on Instagram 0:15:30 Importance of branding and addressing customer problems in posts 0:16:37 Creating a professional persona for target audience 0:17:50 Reels have a bigger reach and longer shelf life than stories 0:19:32 Using an Instagram account audit to identify areas for improvement 0:21:30 Contact information for Joanne and subscription link provided 0:22:46 Quickfire Five introduction for next week's guest, Hank Ebling 0:23:20 Hank's guilty pleasure: chocolate chip cookies 0:24:21 Productivity habit: getting up early 0:24:49 Calming activity: cooking 0:25:57 Book recommendation: "Magic Words" about persuasion and relationships 0:27:03 Pitch for next week's episode on handling customer complaints [0:28:24] Thank yous [0:28:24] Founding partner, Active Management [0:28:24] Partners: myzone warrior instructor, Academy, Body Map, Hapana [0:28:24] Advertisers: Rex, Roundtables, Mxmetrics [0:28:24] Leaving a legacy

Jason Stolwell leads a roundtable discussion with three expert guests on the prospects of artificial intelligence (AI), artificial reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) in the fitness industry. The guests discuss the potential impact of these technologies and where fitness businesses should make strategic capital investments in the next three to five years. They also explore the integration of cryptocurrencies into the fitness industry and the role of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in navigating these technological advancements.  Learn how to leverage artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to boost productivity and achieve health, wealth, and freedom in this special "Thinking Ahead" edition.  The Panel Jake Posner: Engineering & Product Leader at Meta in Reality Labs, specializing in user-facing experiences for the Quest line of devices. Michael Benso: Co-Founder of Buzops, a fitness business owner and developer in the Web 3 space, with a focus on NFT projects and decentralized finance. Michael Gaio: Founder and CEO of Mythic Systems, an entrepreneur, educator, and innovator focused on leveraging AI and emerging technologies to boost productivity and achieve health, wealth, and freedom. Visit our show notes page for links, resources, and more!