Fitness Business Podcast’s Interview With Liz Clark, Barrie Elvish & Richard Beddie
Click to listen to the podcast here & get all the links
Episode 2 of Season 1 dropped a couple of weeks ago and it was a fantastic chat with 3 of the busiest people in the world as they represent our industry. If you don’t want to listen to the episode, you can read the questions I ask here . . .
“Hey JT, you know the folks running the fitness association are all volunteers, right? If you think you can do better, why not step up and join them?”
I took that challenge head-on! I stopped my whinging and bitching over the water cooler – because we didn’t have key board warriors back then!
I joined the executive team of my State Association and eventually the national body here in Australia. It wasn’t until I was on the inside that I truly understood just how hard these people—both paid staff and volunteers—work behind the scenes to support our incredible industry!
The moving parts are almost impossible to grasp until you’re immersed in that world—trust me, it’s mind-blowing! So, before you start typing away as that keyboard warrior, remember that there are 100’s of volunteers all over the world giving their all for the betterment of our industry.
Today, we’re thrilled to have Barrie Elvish from AUSActive, Richard Beddie from ExerciseNZ and Liz Clark from the Health & Fitness Association. They’ll be sharing the lobbying efforts they’re driving in their countries, how their associations are elevating our industry, and what you can do to make our industry even more extraordinary!
We have a heavy hitters panel for you this episode! So by the end of the next 30 minutes, I guarantee you’ll be ready to wave the fitness industry flag in the faces of decision-makers in your community!
Welcome to Episode 2 and before we get the panel on, let’s hear 3 minutes of Wise Words from our expert: Lindsay Vastola from Vast Potential.
Click Here To Listen To Lindsay’s Wise Words
The Questions The Panel Were Asked
- As Association leaders how do you define the fitness industry and why should people join your association?
- There is no question, that the fitness industry was screwed by governments around the world in 2020 (if not before and perhaps even still now), so why is the relationship with Governments so important now, perhaps more than ever?
- In March we saw IHRSA change their name to Health & Fitness Association, which I am sure helps in the corridors of Washington. What is at the top of the lobbying efforts in the US?
- What is at the top of the lobbying efforts in Australia?
- What are you seeing around the world as lobbying efforts?
- In the US we’ve also seen one click to cancel and the right to be forgotten laws. I know many of this is state legislation but both ‘laws’ have a significant impact on our industry. Are you lobbying for anything in these spaces?
- Barrie, I have just started to see the Australian media picking up on how difficult ‘subscription businesses’ are making it difficult to cancel. Will similar to the US laws come to Australia?
- Are there any other laws or policies you see on the horizon that might impact our industry?
- This is not a political podcast but it would be remiss of us not to mention the upcoming election in the US. Do you see any impact on the industry based on the result of your federal election that owners need to get ready for?
- Barrie, Australia has an election in March 2025, can the fitness industry expect to play a part?
- I guess one of the problems when working so hard on lobbying is there is a very slow ROI of your time, what do you say to the industry about patience?
- What is happening with your membership numbers and how do they compare with new players in the market place – ie are you increasing your penetration and by what numbers?
- How is your association ‘attractive’ to the smaller gyms that are now commonplace?
- If you had 30 seconds to speak to the entire industry in your country or globally, what would you say to them.
- What is your 90 day challenge for the FBP Community in your country?
Suppliers Pitch – Listen To Dana Milkie from EGym Here
Here are 4 REX Roundtables Trusted Suppliers you should check out:
- Smart Health Clubs: offering customizable fitness software solutions for health clubs – https://smarthealthclubs.com/
- Saltbox: delivering digital and traditional marketing solutions https://www.saltboxmarketing.com/
- Reinig Insurance: Ken Insurance Guy specializes in risk management and insurance for fitness businesses https://theinsuranceguy.com/
- Club Com: providing gyms digital entertainment, communication, and revenue solutions – https://www.clubcom.com/
Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our thriving LinkedIn Community, where REX guests will be to answer any follow-up questions you may have.
I really hope you have a new appreciation of the effort, hard work and strategy that your national associations are doing for the industry. I want to encourage you to visit their websites and if you are like I was, unhappy or unimpressed then doing shout from the sidelines, get into the game and help your industry.
You’ve got actionable steps from today’s episode to enhance your leadership, drive innovation, and boost profits. I’m eager to hear about your wins, so is everyone! So please share your wins in our LinkedIn community! Click here to join our community.
Next episode, I’ll be chatting with Jamie Kennedy from Brave Moon Podcasts. We are going to be delving into why & how to make podcasting part of your marketing arsenal! And she’d know because she’s now producing this podcast!
“What we leave behind is not set in stone monuments but what is woven into the lives of others.”
Catch you in 2 weeks!
Justin is the Managing Director of Active Management, which he began January 2004. He offers coaching to businesses worldwide in everything from start up and design to marketing and sales systems. Justin also facilitates four Australian and New Zealand ‘fitness industry roundtables’ events, which allows him to see a huge cross section of business models.