The Truth About Fitness Business Success

Are you creating a success that you’re going to enjoy?

I know it sounds strange to ask if you’re going to enjoy success – but bear with me for a few minutes and you’ll see what I’m getting at.

Over the weekend Nick and I went to Perform Better in Providence, Rhode Island.  We got to see lots of friends and colleagues – plus we got to head down to Pembroke, Massachusetts to visit Athletic Revolution franchisees Dave & Andrea Gleason.

Hanging out with guys like Pat Beith, Eric Cressey, Mike Boyle and Alwyn Cosgrove is not only a great time but always thought provoking.

One of the things Alwyn and I were chatting about was how much traveling he was doing and how it was wearing on him a bit. He’s one of the most in demand speakers in the industry (If you’ve ever heard him talk, you know why – he’s awesome) – but his speaking schedule has expanded so much that he’s getting on a plane about every 8 days on average.

He’s basically become so successful at this that so much travel is making it less enjoyable.

So right now Alwyn is developing his plan to make this part of what he does serve him better.

It reminded me of when Nick and I initially planned on opening about a dozen health clubs.  We had 2 locations and were about to sign a lease on a third, but knowing how much time and energy each one required it was going to be years and years before we’d ever really be able to enjoy the fruits of our efforts.

Personally, the health club side of our businesses was not what I enjoyed the most – not by a long shot.  And the thought of being on the road every day to visit the clubs and being away from my family that much was not the type of success I was looking for.

So instead, we shifted gears and started shifting our business interests to things we loved doing and that are congruent with the lifestyles we want to have.

Getting to catch up with Eric Cressey just reminded me again of how important this concept is.

Eric is an incredible coach and could probably expand his business to serve any market he wanted to.

He gets opportunities to expand the Cressey Performance brand into other locations.

But Eric has carved out a position as one of, if not the best baseball performance facility in the world and is loving every minute of it.

Sure, he could add a bunch of fat loss offerings – but that’s not what he loves doing.  He loves the baseball market and he’s already created a success he’s enjoying –and I guarantee it’s just going to get better from here.

And the example I love the most is Dave Gleason.  Dave had a very successful in-home training business but didn’t really love what he was doing.

He attended the first IYCA Summit and decided then and there that youth fitness was what he was meant to do.

So Dave and his wife Andrea became one of our first Athletic Revolution franchisees and opened their facility last fall.

They’re enjoying great success already and it’s getting better by the day.  The atmosphere when we walked into his facility was incredible and you can just see how happy they were with what they’re doing.

Heck, they’re already talking about adding a second location.

To me, that’s what this is all about.  Forget all the Four Hour Workweek crap, you’re going to spend a LOT of time working in your business, working on your business and thinking about your business if you’re going to be successful.

That’s the case for all these guys and I know that’s the case for me.

I work a LOT but it rarely feels like work.  I absolutely love what I do and love the people I work with.

Not only do I wish the same for you – but I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you can get there.

Because if you sift through all the B.S. some folks would have you believe about never having to really work or put in the time and accept that you’re going to be putting in your share of time and effort – you need to be building toward a success that you’re going to enjoy and one that serves you instead of the other way around.

Dedicated to your success,

Pat Rigsby

Pat Rigsby is a Co-Owner of the International Youth Conditioning Association & the youth fitness franchise Athletic Revolution as well as a fitness industry consultant serving thousands of personal trainers and fitness entrepreneurs. Sign up for his fitness business free newsletter to discover proven marketing, sales and business strategies, along with blog updates, news, and more! While you’re at it, follow him on Twitter.

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