My new book is out, and I’m excited to set you loose on the Golden Hour Challenge: You’ll work for six weeks to grow your gym in just one hour a day!
Does the plan work? Yes! Example: One of our mentors used simple marketing tasks in his Golden Hour to add 5 percent to his client total in just four weeks.
I laid out the details of the challenge on a podcast here and in a video here.
Now, I’ll answer the eight most common questions about the Golden Hour Challenge, which starts Nov. 1 in the Gym Owners United group.
1. What is the Golden Hour Challenge?
The Golden Hour Challenge is a six-week program designed to help gym owners develop a daily habit of working on their business during the first hour of their day. The challenge builds key tasks—such as content creation, client connection and marketing—into a manageable daily routine that will ensure consistent business growth.
2. Why is the first hour of the day called the “Golden Hour”?
The first hour of your day is typically when you’re most focused and least distracted. By dedicating this time to high-impact activities, such as marketing and communications, you can make significant progress in growing your business. This Golden Hour has the potential to generate more results than several unfocused hours later in the day.
3. What specific tasks do I perform during the Golden Hour?
The Golden Hour follows a structured routine, summarized as the GOLDEN Framework:
- G: Go to a quiet place where you can focus.
- O: Open your mind through journaling or clearing mental clutter.
- L: Lead with marketing “reps”—consistent actions that attract new clients.
- D: Do your big projects that grow the business.
- E: End after one hour to maintain discipline.
- N: Next steps—plan for the rest of the day.
4. What is the six-week structure of the Golden Hour Challenge?
The challenge is designed to build habits gradually:
- Week 1: Focus on content creation and distribution (Monday and Tuesday tasks).
- Week 2: Add client connection and lead generation (Wednesday and Thursday tasks).
- Week 3: Incorporate social media planning (Friday task).
- Week 4: Start collecting client testimonials (Saturday task).
- Week 5: Introduce staff communication (Sunday task).
- Week 6: Implement the full system for a complete week.
5. How can I ensure I stay consistent with the Golden Hour?
The key to consistency is setting a clear, unbreakable daily habit. Schedule the same time each day, ideally first thing in the morning, and make sure you have a dedicated space free from distractions. Even on busy days, prioritize doing at least the marketing tasks, as they will keep your business growing.
6. What if I can’t complete everything in one hour?
It’s OK if some tasks take longer initially, especially in the first few weeks of the challenge. The goal is to build the habit of working on your business daily, even if it takes more time. With experience, you’ll improve speed and efficiency. The discipline of working for an uninterrupted hour is more important than perfect execution early on.
7. How will the Golden Hour help me grow my gym?
By focusing on critical tasks first—such as client outreach, marketing, staff communication—you’ll consistently spend time addressing the things that drive the growth of your business. The compound effect of dedicating just one hour a day to business development ensures that you make steady progress in all critical areas and don’t get distracted by tasks that don’t move the needle.
8. Can I adjust the routine to fit my schedule?
Yes, while it’s most effective to schedule your Golden Hour first thing in the morning, you can adapt the routine to your lifestyle. The main point: You must dedicate an uninterrupted hour to these business-building tasks when you are very productive. The exact time is less important. The structure and focus are most powerful, so stick to the GOLDEN Framework even if the exact timing of the hour changes.
Join the Challenge, Grow Your Gym!
The Golden Hour Challenge starts Nov. 1, and you can be part of it by joining the Gym Owners United group.
I’ll be in that group to lead you through the challenge, and together we’ll build momentum and grow your business for six weeks in just one hour a day.
To get your copy of “The Golden Hour,” head to Amazon.
