Andy found this video on youtube about motivating your team. The video sheds light on the traditional "carrot and stick" motivation compared to news ways of thinking which, to me, resembles
Maslow's Theory of Motivation - Hierarchy of Needs.

Take a look and tell me what you think.

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Video 11 minutes in length.

If you haven't read the book GOOD TO GREAT by Jim Collins yet (or his follow up WHY THE MIGHT FALL) I suggest you get it tomorrow and start reading. For those of you who have read the book you'll recognize the subject of my post.

(to get a quick understanding CLICK on Jim's name above - THEN go buy the book to really understand it)

B.H.A.G is an acronym for Big Hairy Audacious Goal. The B.H.A.G. for me is to train every affiliate in CrossFit to Raise the Game! of their business. Below is a video of something we do called an On-Site. I go in for 2 1/2 days and examine every inch of the business and tear it apart... for the good of the business. I then create a plan of action to take the business to the next level. I want to thank Jen and Matt Sharp, as well as Lincoln Brown, for inviting me into their great community. I now have friends for life.

Tell me, what's your B.H.A.G.?

Post to comments.

Why do what you do? Not the obvious reason, but deep down inside? While you're thinking about that I'll let you know what my "why" is with running the Raise Your Game! System.

I believe that more people could have more resources to build a better life. That the outcome of a successful business isn't just a large bank account, but a large QL (Quality Lifestyle) account. That more happens within the walls of your business when you learn to lead from the front. The right people will follow you to hell and back if you ask them.

Now. Your turn. Post thoughts to comments after watching this 18 minute video. It's worth 18 minutes of your life to find out your "why" if you haven't already.

In a recent conversation, the topic of hard work came up. As the discussion continued I was reminded of how I was when I first opened my first martial arts school. Obsessed doesn't even come close to describing my focus at the time. For the first 18 months I was all martial arts all the time. If I wasn't teaching, I was reading something about how to coach better. And If I wasn't learning a new way to teach, I was working on my own skills. If I wasn't developing my skills, I worked on doing a local demonstration with a school. If I wasn't working with the school districts, I was training my staff. I would listen to books on tape in my car everywhere I went to sharpen my sword on topics such as communication, dream building, time management, and marketing. My dinner conversation were easy to predict since I chose those times to postulate ideas from what I heard other, more established, schools were achieving and how I could duplicate it. Linda, my wife at the time, even told me I was talking about my business in my sleep. I was perfectly happy with not knowing who was playing in any sporting event... or movie... or even watch TV for months on end. My favorite thing to do was be around people who wanted this excellence in their business as I did. The energy from the people I surrounded myself with was palpable. The result. I had 400 clients in a town on 30,000 within 2 years. My school was voted the 2nd best martial arts location in the country and I was 22 years old.

If anyone has read Malcolm Gladwell's book OUTLIERS you may have heard about the famed 10,000 hours to be an expert. I think I put in my 10k in the first 2 years. It's possible (probably not healthy - let's be honest), I did the math.

I've linked two seemingly different videos at the bottom.

One is Gladwell discussing the Beatles. Awesome. The second is the trailer from the movie FAME. Fame was based on Juilliard in NYC. I remember watching this movie when I was young and what stood out to me is people practicing their craft everywhere. Between classes they're rehearsing lines to a play or writing. Spontaneous improvised dance could break out at any moment. People would jam with anyone who could catch their beat because they wanted to be the best. And if you don't know much about the school EVERYONE DOES EVERYTHING.

To me, your box should look like the hallways of Juilliard. Between classes, your staff and instructors-in-training should be jamming together. The reason I say this is because Juilliard produces the best and so do you.

So.... have you paid your dues?

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We've just announced that we're holding a special Raise Your Game! Seminar right before the 2010 CrossFit Games in L.A. in July. Seating IS LIMITED and most likely will sell out. To find out more click this link.


Enjoy this 5 minute clip of what we do at our seminars.

Raise Your Game! Teaser clip from CrossFit LA - The BIZ on Vimeo.

This simple home movie has an amazing view count (hence the tile of the post) and I have no idea why. There is no production company behind it like Lonely Girl 15 and the children aren't actors. The only youtube video with more views is a Lady Gaga music video by a mere 8 million views. And Lady Gaga is part of an entertainment machine. She should be ashamed barely beating two children.

Why do you think it's so successful?

Post thoughts to comments.

I believe most CrossFit Affiliates might not know how to define themselves. Some say Coach. Others say Trainer.

I say Leader. Leader defined as eagerness to do something.

Below are some other ways of saying leader. Find one that fits well on you.

Action
Ambition
Drive
Dynamism
Energy
Enterprise
Enthusiasm
Get-up-and-go
Gumption
Innovator
Inventiveness
Moxie
Originality
Punch
Push
Resourcefulness
Spunk
Steam
Vigor

Post to comments with the term you like best that describes you.

This video is worth every moment of the 2:41 it takes to watch.

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.

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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.