THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF THE "GYM BUSINESS"
PART 1 A True Story!
PART 1 A True Story!
For those of you that know me I’ve been out of the “gym” business for some time. My focus has been on primary and continuing education and event planning.
I was approached by relatives who were interested in purchasing a new business and found a medium size facility in a fairly exclusive upscale area on the north shore of Long Island.
On goes my consultant hat along with the idea I may have a home and place to build as “I see fit” (pun intended). My relatives had owned other businesses in the past but they had no experience in the “gym/fitness” industry. Without tooting my own “horn” my expertise was the reason they approached me in October about this endeavor or so I thought.
I was both flattered and excited to be a part of this whole process.
What happened over the next 5 months floored me. I have had many experiences in the gym, fitness, education, training and consulting side of our industry and what looked too good to be true became just that.
My personal training business has been steady since hurricane Sandy but to be honest I have not been focused on growing that aspect of my business. I was maintaining a steady clientele, many of which had survived the storm (quite literally). I had just finished the FEI Eclipse 2015 event and was already focusing on the upcoming year.
The timing was perfect and the ideas of combining a facility with everything I had been working on appealed to me on many levels. One which of course was a steady income and of course the idea that I could helm and rebuild this brand along with my "others". Kettlebell Spec Ops, Reality Personal Training and those with whom I was working and consulting with at the time.
In the beginning of November the homework began. I took every detail of the potential sale and started the evaluation process.I threw myself into this thinking I had the full support of my "partners/family".
In part 2 of this blog I will take you through that step by step process and the vision I had.
For years, advanced fitness tests have been used to prove your mettle in the Special Operations world. For instance, the regular Navy uses the pushups, situps, 1.5 mile run, but the Navy SEALs / EOD / Diver community use the 500yd swim, pullups, pushups, situps, 1.5 mile run JUST to get into the 6–12 month training program — which is the true test. The regular Army has the pushups, situps, 2 mile run, and the Rangers and Special Forces both add pullups, a 5 mile run, and a 12 mile ruck as part of their testing / evaluating of their potential combat troops. The Marines are tough with the regular Marine having to do pullups, crunches, and a 3 mile run. This is by far the hardest regular military fitness test in the United States. Perhaps, it is time to adjust the fitness test to combatant and non-combatant troops. If a Marine (man or women) wants to be in a combat unit, the elevated standards apply – everyone does pullups. If someone is in a non-combatant unit, flexed arm hangs are sufficient for both men and women. One must also remember, just because you can do a pullup does not make you a combat ready troop. The Infantry Schools, SFAS, Q Course, BUD/S, RECON / MARSOC and other combat training programs are the true test. Being able to do pullups will help you with your upper body strength / grip to grab people and equipment, lift yourself and others from A to B, and up and over obstacles. The pullup does not ensure your ability to graduate from these advanced courses of instruction.
If we want to address and fix the bigger problem, we have to get kids to maintain a healthy weight and practice pullups. Whether you are a boy or girl, you should start playing on playgrounds and start building your grip and pullup muscles on the monkey bars. Moms and Dads who watch their kids or coach on youth sports teams – make your team do pullups, pushups, and run regularly. Coaches and gym teachers in physical education class, add the inexpensive exercises of pushups, situps, running, and pullups to your kid’s list of activities and start testing them now!
