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My friends, I think we’ve begun to turn the tide. 2016 opened as a year of uncertainty for many microgym owners. Some doubted our brand; others doubted their ability to survive. We heard pleas, blame and–frankly–desperation. But in hindsight, most of this self-doubt and questioning of authority was just part of the maturation process. To put it another way, 2016 was the year many gyms grew up: from breakeven hobbies to profitable businesses with a real future. The most common theme we published in 2016 was this: if you want to help more people in the long-term, fix your business right now. I know other groups followed the TwoBrain lead. And now, happily, we’re entering 2017 with a new sound ringing in our ears: Success. We’ve all been successful at fitness for years. CrossFit has been a turning point in the fitness of many people, and it’s been the catalyst for launching thousands of small businesses worldwide. But a fitness model isn’t a business model. As 2017 dawns, so does the realization that the affiliate world needs models of success, and clear steps t get tohere. Sustainable business doesn’t come from great programming. It doesn’t come from data. Good business comes from good business coaching. Why do I think we’re turning the tide? Here are few reasons: 1. If I said the word “profit” in public two years ago, I’d have been skewered. “I’m not in it for the money” was the rally cry of the affiliate owner. It was once mine. No longer. Now we don’t confuse “profit” with “greed”. We know WHY we need money. Right? For stuff like this:   2. No one falls for the “projected revenue” story anymore. And no one takes gross revenue at face value. We’ve all figured out that spending is easy. People ask about net, or profit, more often than ever before. 3. We’re buying houses and cars and having families. ...

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10368″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As the end of the year approaches, it’s a great time to take the temperature of your gym community. As with anything else, there’s a “right way” to do a client survey, and definitely a “wrong way”. When done well, a client survey can First, here are some of the most common mistakes gym owners make when surveying their clients: Their questions are too vague. “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said, ‘a faster horse.'” – Henry Ford. Keep your questions very specific, with yes/no or rating-scale answers. The data isn’t actionable. “Overall, how do you like our gym?” is nice…if your goal is to stroke your ego. But this question tells you nothing about the client’s plans to remain with the gym, refer a friend, or quit in 2017. If you ask, “How clean are our bathrooms?” you should be prepared to make your bathrooms cleaner if you get a low score. The answers are irrelevant to growing the business. “How do you like our programming?” is a bad one. Clients weren’t thinking about alternatives to your programming before…and now they are. They do nothing with the data. Imagine the mayor comes to your house and says, “How can I make this town better for you?” You say, “I’d like my garbage picked up on Thursdays.” On Thursday, there’s no garbage truck in sight. Has your opinion of the mayor increased or decreased? The ask the clients to compare or rank the coaches. This is usually an ego trip for the owner–but erodes confidence in the brand. I’ve also seen it destroy the confidence of some coaches. As the owner, it’s YOUR job to write down what makes a good coach in your gym, clearly make those expectations known, and evaluate regularly. Next, here are some ways you can use surveys most effectively: Include a Net ...