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Articles by Bob Surface
Christopher Montoya on How Iron Sharpens Iron
Christopher Montoya, the president of Thrive Business Development, discusses peer-to-peer groups, his leadership philosophy and more. What is the most important piece of advice you ever received, and who was it from? “Don’t let anyone define you or put limits on your future.” Also, “It doesn’t matter what you’re doing — do it to the best of your ability.
Reh-Fit: The Future is Medical
How Sue Boreskie and Reh-Fit are revolutionizing what it means to be medically integrated and improving health outcomes in Manitoba, Canada. Not that long ago, the concept of “exercise is medicine” was a foreign one. “When I first started in the industry 40 years ago, we were trying to convince patients that exercise was safe to do,” recalled Sue Boreskie, the CEO of Reh-Fit, a state-of-the-art medical fitness facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
ATC Fitness on the Importance of Giving Back
September 2021 Club of the Month, presented by ABC Fitness Solutions: ATC Fitness, est. 1992 For ATC Fitness, giving back and supporting the community is a core aspect of the business. Whether it’s supporting St. Jude or donating equipment to a local hospital, the brand takes pride in rallying members together around a common cause. Here, Spencer McDaniel, the owner of ATC Fitness, shares why giving back is so important to the brand, keys to success, and leadership advice for other operators.
Prioritizing Professional Development
Bob Surface September 1, 2021 Are you prioritizing professional development for your team? If not, here are five reasons why you should. Professional development in the context of fitness and wellness involves continuing education to learn new ideas and strategies. And, it’s a must for successful operators to ensure they’re meeting the needs of their customer base. Here are five reasons you should start prioritizing professional development: 1. Shared learning.
5 Things You’ll Get From Your Mastermind Group
By now, hopefully you’ve heard about the new industry mastermind groups. If you haven’t, as a quick reminder they are peer groups for owners/operators, general managers, sales and marketing leaders, and fitness/personal training directors. The groups consist of no more than eight members and a facilitator, non-competitors, and meet virtually twice per month. For those of you who are still considering, check out these five takeaways: 1. Accountability. We all need accountability.
Justin Drummond: The Bottom Line
Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the August issue, we sat down with Justin Drummond, the COO for PF Growth Partners. 1. How did you get started in the fitness industry? I started my career in the fitness industry in 2010 as the general manager of our company’s Planet Fitness location in Catonsville, Maryland.
Peer-to-Peer Groups: Your Personal Advisory Board
Jon Brady, the president of Midtown Athletic Clubs, shares the importance of peer-to-peer groups and the benefits he has experienced firsthand. As a member of Club Solutions Mastermind Groups, what benefits have you experienced as a gym operator and leader? What is the greatest value from your perspective? The greatest value for any operator is to have a valued board of advisors to help sense-check some decisions and thoughts around improving their operations or products.
Sarah Luna: The Bottom Line
Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the June issue, we sat down with Sarah Luna, the president of Xponential Fitness. 1. How did you get started in the fitness industry? I spent my earlier years as a dancer and Pilates instructor in Chicago. I created my own Pilates business, offering online classes, and selling clothes and equipment.
Mastermind Groups: Why Haven’t You Joined?
So you’ve been thinking about joining a mastermind group but for some reason you haven’t. Why is that? Let’s look at some of the reasons and then break down each one. “I don’t have the time.” With only a one-hour commitment two times per month and no travel required, mastermind groups are designed to fit into everyone’s schedule. Meetings are held online and bi-weekly. This makes the overall time commitment very small and the meetings very efficient.
Tired of Feeling Like You're Alone?
It’s easy to feel like you’re alone and that you don’t have any help. 2020 was one of the most difficult years we’ve ever faced in the fitness industry. COVID-19 related challenges, local and federal regulatory issues, changing consumer trends, and canceled memberships can all make you feel overwhelmed and as though you’re alone. I recently spoke with a former health club operator who told me his biggest challenge was feeling like he was alone. The truth is you’re not alone — there is help.
Bodyplex Fitness Steps up for its Members and Community
May 2021 Club of the Month, presented by ABC Fitness Solutions: Bodyplex Fitness, est. 2008 Bodyplex Fitness in Milledgeville and Grayson, Georgia, understands the importance of putting members first and that by doing so, success will follow. And it puts members first in a variety of ways, whether it’s through ensuring customers feel safe and welcome at all times, engaging and serving seniors during lockdowns, or supporting other local businesses in need.
Ann Glor: The Bottom Line
Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the April issue, we sat down with Ann Glor, the general manager of Wisconsin Athletic Club. 1. How did you get started in the fitness industry? In 2001 I was a new mom and member at the Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC). The WAC offered a program to train individuals to go from taking group fitness classes to teaching the classes.
Your Managers Should Be in a Mastermind Group, Too
Bob Surface April 2, 2021 Bob Surface, the SVP of Club Solutions Mastermind Groups, shares why your managers can and should benefit from peer-to-peer learning. I once heard a friend say, “Ideas without implementation are just intellectual entertainment.” Having a good idea alone is not enough. What’s more important than just having a good idea is being able to implement your idea. So then the question is, how do you get better at implementation?
Which Mastermind Group Is Right for You?
Bob Surface March 3, 2021 There are four types of mastermind groups in the industry: Owners, Operators, CEOs and Presidents Management and General Managers Sales and Marketing Leaders Fitness Managers, Program Managers and PT Directors So which mastermind group is right for you? The simple answer is to join the mastermind group that best describes your area of responsibility. 1. Are you an owner, operator, CEO or president? This is a straightforward question and answer.
Chris Stevenson: The Bottom Line
Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the March issue, we sat down with Chris Stevenson, the owner of Stevenson Consulting. 1. How did you get started in the fitness industry? I grew up as a high-level competitive martial artist, so exercise was always a prominent part of my daily routine. As much as I loved competing, I equally loved the cross-training aspect of the sport.
Luke Carlson: The Bottom Line
Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the February issue, we sat down with Luke Carlson, the owner of Discover Strength. 1. How did you get started in the fitness industry? I’ve been passionate about strength training and exercise since as early as I can remember.
Is a Mastermind Group Right for You?
Bob Surface February 3, 2021 Is a mastermind group right for you? This is not a trick question nor is it rhetorical. There is only one correct answer and that answer is “yes.” The real question is: Why are you not in a mastermind group? There are likely several reasons, but no good ones.
Thought Leaders Panel: New Year Trends - Where the Industry is Headed
When: Jan 19 at 2:00 PM ET Thought leaders from a cross-section of the industry share the biggest trends in the fitness industry in the new year.
Mastermind Group: 6 Reasons You Should Join
Bob Surface January 4, 2021 Now more than ever, you need support and tools to help you manage your business. Between COVID-19 related issues, government regulation and challenges in the New Year, you are feeling the pressure. A mastermind group can offer the lifeline of support you’re looking for. Mastermind groups consist of a maximum of 10 individuals (non-competitors) and a facilitator.
Sheldon McBee: The Bottom Line
Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the January issue, we sat down with Sheldon McBee, the personal training director at Universal Athletic Club. 1. How did you get started in the fitness industry? I was into athletics my entire life. I gained a true fire for conditioning after my experience playing high school and college football. That passion led me to study athletics and nutrition in graduate school.
What Health Club Owners Are Evaluating in 2020
Photo by PeopleImages / Getty Images. To prepare for the changes ahead, club operators must design great member experiences, thoughtfully integrate their technologies and market more effectively, which will help build a solid foundation for whatever the next decade may bring. (Editors' Note: This sponsored article is part of Club Industry's report, "Fitness Trends: Spotlight on 2020.") Whenever a new decade arrives, it seems people pay extra attention to what’s trending in the new year.
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