This is a very personal post to me. Since I know so many people who read this I don’t feel bad about sharing…. Quite honestly, I’m really proud to share.

A little over two years ago I had the audacity to tell Andy that this system we’re doing will be transferable to others, no matter what city, no matter what pedigree. “This stuff works everywhere” I told him. Kelley Rakow (I believe at the time was convinced to attend by her husband Steve) from CrossFit Ocean City, and Jennika Gordon, from CrossFit Westside, were the first to take the plunge. They came, learned and went home with a bunch of homework to do. Again, I had the moxie to say that the people we work with will not only have the most successful boxes but also the best trained athletes. It’s how I ran martial arts schools and, to me, this would be no exception. To me, having a great business and training great athletes aren’t mutually exclusive, they’re necessary compliments.

Jump forward two years.

200 affiliates have been trained and, more importantly, thousands of lives have been transformed, because those affiliate owners really stepped up their game. They let their passion spill into their businesses and infect their clients. They had the courage to share part of themselves with (then) strangers they now call friends and teammates. It didn’t really hit me JUST how successful those affiliates have become until Jennifer Lawrence, from CrossFit Northwest Tucson, had 3 athletes come in the top two positions (1st and 2nd for men and 1st for women) at the AZ/SD sectional, or is it the SD/AZ Sectional…? She did this AND had a PR month for business as well!

So, here’s a small list of affiliates who really live their CrossFit… and it shows… they have an amazing business and their athletes are moving on to the next round of competition. Cheers.

CrossFit Scottsdale
Lalanne Fitness
CrossFit Chicago
CrossFit LA
CrossFit Surf City

Post thoughts to comments. If you should have been recognized as an affiliate we've trained (or if you've purchased our Raise your Game! materials) and are not listed, I apologize. Please post your results here, make sure to have your affiliate name, and I’ll create a second post.


Enjoy this clip of Tony Robbins. It’s 6:53 minutes in length and worth it.

Interestingly I was hanging out in the gym after a WOD today and this athlete was mentioned... and I go to youtube today for a completely different reason and this video was suggested to me... fate?

Pretty impressive performance for about 250 lbs body weight.

Post thoughts to comments:

Every time I see Seth I'm awed by his ability to boil things down. I like that. I believe that great ideas should be able to be embraced by as many people as possible and not out of reach. This video is another example of that... and just in time for our upcoming Marketing and Outreach seminar to get the creative juices flowing.

Enjoy!

Post thoughts to comments.

Quick question:

What system runs your business? If it took you longer than a few seconds to answer that... you might have a problem... especially if you need some semblance of a life.

The following article from INC. magazine discusses a well run pizza parlor in Chicago. Talk about systems!

Post to comments (BTW- Chicago readers, stop in and let me know how well this place runs):

Article: LESSONS FROM A BLUE COLLAR MILLIONAIRE.

Enjoy this clip about THE CHECKLIST MANIFESTO:

Timothy Ferris, author of THE 4 HOUR WORK WEEK, giving a presentation in Paris. Sooo much of this video is WAY over my head... I'll have to watch it 2 more time... make that 5.

Post thoughts to comments.

Just a heads up... this clip is 20 minutes long and WORTH IT.

Have you ever seen this picture? Take a look and tell me what you see FIRST.



Ok. What was it? If you saw a young woman or an old lady isn't as important as that you saw something differently (possibly) than someone else. This simply illustrates what you see depends on your perspective. Here's some of the psychology behind what you saw.

Why is this photo test important? Because where some people in this current economic climate see the old lady (problems and tough times) and some see the young lady (solutions and opportunity). Your perspective affects what you see and IS your reality. Personally, I love times like this because it separates the men from the boys.

Post thoughts to comments.

Here are some pictures from the NEW space for CrossFit Chicago. Rudy - you've come a LONG way!!

Not sure what a lemming is just check the link.

Why should you care? Because if you're doing something everyone else is doing you're bound to their fate.

I say this because currently I see a lot of trends of people reducing prices, going for the lowest common denominator and basically selling themselves short. And to that I say... great. Because if all business are going to do a price war (which, BTW, leaves a lot of businesses dead - google it) that leaves room at the other end of the spectrum for something really valuable and high priced. It's a natural void that is created. Smart businessmen will seize this opportunity and make a hugely successful business. However if you want to charge $1000 for coaching, or 5x greater than the average in your industry you better bring 10x more value.

What are some programs you could create?

Post to comments.

Haven't had a Seth video in a while. Enjoy.

If you lived a mere 150 - 200 years ago, and you had to hunt for your own meal... would you starve? Or would do what you had to each day to feed yourself and your family?

I heard Coach Glassman say something several years ago and it has stuck with me ever sense. I'm sure you diehard Crossfiters could find it somewhere online. I'll paraphrase, it goes something like this... Train your client spectacularly each day so as to earn their business the next. Regardless of your business model, contracts, pay-as-you-go, punchcard, that mentality needs to apply in your class approach. I say need and I believe that is an accurate word. It is a need. It's a vital ingredient in your approach to your business and your clients.

How do you insure you can put food on your table each day?

Post thoughts to comments:

Enjoy this clip on what you could do to separate yourself from others:

There is an old question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.

Success is just like that. Success is being just a little better each day. Success is like your Zone diet. Your muscle up. Your handstand hold.

If you want to court failure, try to re-imagine EVERYTHING all at once.

If you've recently taken stock in your business (which I suggest at least 2-3 times per year) and find you have a lot of areas needing work dedicate no less than 30 days to improve a given area. Look for a change over a year period. Your business will not look a lot different in a day or week but it will in a year.

Here is a list of things you could get just a little better at tomorrow:
Listen to your clients - REALLY listen
Show up 5 minutes earlier for class - cause I know most if not all barely get there on time
Look for the good - coaching isn't always pointing out the flaws
Saying "thank you"
Understanding the movements by watching at least one video on CrossFit.com

Got something to add?

Post your thoughts to comments:

Enjoy this video of Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV.

Often, in the seminars we lead, Andy and I discuss one of the "secrets" of our system is building a team. The biggest challenge, we've found, is having the leadership abilities to really lead people. If you've done work on yourself (coaching, communication, athletically) and still finding it difficult to grow your business... look at what kind of leadership skills you have. Part of that is the ability to connect with and "read" people correctly.

The following video discusses your "Emotional I.Q.". Similar to intellectual I.Q. it deal with how well you connect with other people.

So, are you working on leading your staff?

Post thoughts to comments.