Active Management

Author: JT

  • What Great Gym Owners Do That Other’s Won’t

    What Great Gym Owners Do That Other’s Won’t

     

    When you’re in a leadership role—owner or manager—it’s not just about making the right decisions. It’s about making the toughest right ones.

    And those decisions? They’re usually about people. They shape your club’s culture more than any policy or promotion ever will.

    In 2022, I walked the Gettysburg battlefields with my REX Roundtable. The leadership decisions made there—some bold, some delayed—shaped history. The lesson? Not making a decision is a decision.

    Here’s a simple 3-step filter for big calls:

    1. What’s the upside if it works?
    2. What’s the downside if it bombs?
    3. Can I live with the downside—really?

    Protecting culture might cost you in the short term—but it pays dividends in loyalty and legacy.

    Jeff Bezos sums it up best:

    “If the decision is reversible, go fast. If it’s hard to reverse, pump the brakes.”

  • The Fitness Industry Is Missing Out on the Digital Health Boom

    The Fitness Industry Is Missing Out on the Digital Health Boom

    Last month I attended the Australian Digital Health Festival and it hit me — the fitness industry is being left out of the health conversation.

    In this digital world, there’s never been a better opportunity for fitness and health to connect and we’re missing in action or missing out on the action!

    Here are 3 big wake-up calls:

    • We’re not part of the data and digital health discussions around our members.
    • Exercise still isn’t recognised as preventative medicine by most.
    • Only 8% of workplace wellness budgets go to physical health — 92% goes to mental health.

    This is a huge missed opportunity.

    I chatted with the CSIRO and asked if their Wellbeing Diet was being used by any gyms – no. I met with VALD performance testing and what an amazing product and they are possibly the greatest secret weapon to you increasing your yield from your members and helping them ‘see’ their results.

    If we want to be taken seriously in health, we don’t need to wait for a national strategy from AUSActive. It starts locally. Educate your GPs, physios, and allied health pros. Show them how your gym improves lives – physically and mentally!

    Don’t get left behind, start conversations and invite medical and health professionals to your gym for them to ‘see’ you’re not a big scary place! The change in perception and building of trust will take time but with 1 in 5 Australians aged between 60 and 84 by 2030, we have to start now as these people will need to be healthy!

  • Level Up Your Team to Recruit, Develop & Retain Top Talent

    Level Up Your Team to Recruit, Develop & Retain Top Talent

    From Turnover to Take-off!

    With Kathleen Ferguson from Coach360

    In this action-packed live event, we’ll break down how to attract qualified candidates, develop your staff into future leaders, and create a culture that people want to be a part of. 

    You’ll learn how to harness niche staffing strategies, tech tools, and intentional leadership to reduce turnover and fuel long-term growth. 

    What you’ll walk away with: 

    • Proven methods to recruit and retain top talent in today’s competitive market 
    • Ways to invest in staff development that boost loyalty and performance 
    • Keys to building a purpose-driven culture that attracts the right people 
    • How to identify and empower leaders who elevate your entire club.

    This isn’t just about staffing—it’s about building the foundation for a stronger, more successful business. Let’s take your team from turnover to take-off.

    When

    Wednesday 25th June @ 2:30pm (Pacific) / Thursday 26th June @ 7:30am (AEST)

    Who Is Kathleen Ferguson?

    Kathleen Ferguson, a distinguished USC graduate and seasoned leader, boasts an impressive 14-year track record in steering business development and partnership initiatives across the health, fitness, and wellness landscape. Her expertise spans diverse realms, including B2B, Personal Trainer/Health Coach, and D2C spaces, where she consistently achieves outstanding outcomes. Notably contributing to renowned brands such as IDEA Health and Fitness Association, Oxygen Magazine, and Athletech News, Kathleen’s strategic acumen played a pivotal role in crafting solution-oriented product offerings for Athletech News.

    Secure Your FREE Online Seat Now

  • Gym Owners Are Drowning in Data & Starving for Insight

    Gym Owners Are Drowning in Data & Starving for Insight

     

    What I’m seeing right now across the fitness industry is leaders drowning in data and then starving for insight.

    Dashboards. Reports. Spreadsheets.  They all produce ‘what’ we have done but no one is asking:

    • Is that data relevant to our business goals?
    • Why did we achieve that number?
    • How do we maintain that number or improve it? What behaviour do we need to do?

    When we drive a car, the dashboard tells us the speed immediately and we maintain our behaviour to maintain the speed or we change our behaviour to speed up or slow down.

    We need data in our business to influence our behaviour similarly.

    Remember: Data doesn’t drive action: you do.

    The data is the scoreboard. The real work comes from asking better questions and then leading from insight.

    Your challenge this week:

    1. Don’t just read your numbers.
    2. Interpret them.
    3. Act on them.
    4. Lead from them.

    Because data doesn’t change your business, you do.

  • Position Vacant For A Group Fitness Instructor – Melbourne

    Position Vacant For A Group Fitness Instructor – Melbourne

    Group Fitness Instructor – Health Haven

    We’re looking for an energetic, community-minded Group Instructor to join the team at Health Haven! Casual shifts available with the opportunity for more hours. If you love movement, connection, and inspiring others—we’d love to hear from you.

    To apply email [email protected]

    Applications Close

    29/06/2025

  • What Gym Owners Can Learn from NFL Quarterbacks

    What Gym Owners Can Learn from NFL Quarterbacks

     

    From the outside, being an NFL Quarterback looks simple: call the plays, run the plays, avoid getting flattened. But behind the scenes? It’s relentless.

    After bingeing Quarterback on Netflix, I saw a powerful parallel between QB’s and gym owners. Success isn’t just about what happens on game day — it’s the hours of preparation that lead up to it.

    Here’s what we can take from the NFL to the gym floor:

    • Know your game plan – What’s your strategy for growth, retention, and team culture?
    • Practice with precision – Just like QBs drill plays until it’s muscle memory, we need to rehearse sales pitches, greetings, group class delivery, and service standards.
    • Evaluate everything – Review your performance weekly. What worked? What needs sharpening?
    • Celebrate wins – Whether it’s a new member, a great review, or a full class—acknowledge it with your team!

    Patrick Mahomes said pundits don’t realise how much goes into the role. Same goes for owners. The daily effort matters.

    Precision isn’t luck—it’s earned through sweat, reps, and review.

  • The DOSE Effect: 4 Tiny Brain Hacks That Are Changing My Life

    The DOSE Effect: 4 Tiny Brain Hacks That Are Changing My Life

     

    I’ve just read The DOSE Effect by TJ Power and it’s the best book I’ve found to naturally boost my Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphin levels—no supplements required, just science-backed habits!

    Here are just 4 of my key new actions:

    1. Dopamine: Cold water on the face. Step outside before touching the phone. Sunlight before social!

    2. Oxytocin: Daily gratitude practice—what’s the number one thing I’m grateful for right now?

    3. Serotonin: More sunlight, birdsong, better breathing, and water. Nutrition? A work in progress!

    4. Endorphins: Consistent workouts and 15-minute sauna sessions 4x a week. Simple. Doable.

    Since making these tiny shifts, I feel happier and more productive than I have in ages.

    To get your copy of The DOSE Effect – click here

  • Stop Losing New Members – Do THIS Instead!

    Stop Losing New Members – Do THIS Instead!

     

    Stop building retention strategies for people like YOU – because no one is like you!

    Most new members aren’t like us in the fitness industry.

    They don’t have the same intrinsic motivation to hit the gym 3+ times a week. They need extrinsic motivation to get started.

    So, if you want to improve retention, build your strategies with THEIR reality in mind – and watch your retention rates soar!

    Here’s a simple, proven tactic: Challenge new members to complete 4 workouts in their first 30 days to be eligible for a prize or giveaway.

    Dr. Paul Bedford’s research shows that when members hit 4+ visits in their first month, they’re FAR more likely to stay long-term.

    Extra Challenge: In month 2, raise the bar – maybe 6 visits – to keep momentum rolling.  You could even go to 8 visits in month 3!

    The key is to set them up for success early. When they feel like they’re winning, they keep coming. And when they keep coming…BOOM – your retention improves!

    Want Paul Bedford’s contact details?
    Email me with ‘Retention Guru’ in the subject line and I’ll get them to you!

  • Boost Your Gym’s Brand: Give Back to Your Community

    Boost Your Gym’s Brand: Give Back to Your Community

     

    Are you spending 90%+ of your marketing budget on Meta and Google? For most fitness businesses, that’s the norm.

    What if there was a bold move that could build deeper brand equity AND fuel long-term loyalty?

    Don’t just sponsor a local sporting team because anyone can do that! Take your marketing budget back to the grassroots and give back to your community in ways that truly matter.

    Be the gym that supports the people who keep our communities vibrant:

    • Nurses
    • Teachers
    • Frontline workers
    • Emergency responders
    • Volunteers

    Open your doors, show them the magic inside, and offer special memberships tailored just for them.

    Sure, digital marketing is easy—but algorithms change. And when they do, your budget takes a hit. Instead, re-apportion those dollars and invest in building relationships that create brand advocates for life.

  • The EQ Edge: 10 Key Takeaways for Gym Owners and Managers

    The EQ Edge: 10 Key Takeaways for Gym Owners and Managers

    Here are 10 key takeaways for gym owners and managers from Lindsay Vastola’s session on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in the fitness business:

    1. Soft Skills Have Hard Costs

    Ignoring emotional intelligence can be expensive. Lindsay used an example of “Debbie” where a lack of empathy and connection could cost a gym over $10,000 in missed revenue and referrals. Soft skills = bottom-line impact.

    1. Assume Nothing. Train Everything.

    Staff don’t automatically see what you see. They won’t notice dirty corners, missed greetings, or subtle customer cues unless you train them explicitly and repeatedly.

    1. Operationalise Emotional Intelligence

    EQ isn’t a vibe.  It’s a skillset. Leaders must embed EQ into hiring, training, team development, and performance reviews using structured tools and exercises.

    1. Use EQ to Drive Accountability

    Want staff to “own their role”? Start with clarity: define their top 3–5 responsibilities, their 1 to 3 goals, and how their role connects to your business goals. Tie everything to purpose and personal motivation.

    1. Empathy Is a Leadership Superpower

    Empathy isn’t kindness.  It’s the ability to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Great leaders meet employees where they are, especially when coaching younger or less experienced team members.

    1. Repeat Yourself 7 Times (or More)

    Key messages don’t stick the first time. Be prepared to coach, remind, and reinforce your expectations through multiple formats, for example team meetings, emails, one-on-ones.  Have no fear of “micromanaging.”

    1. Hire for EQ, Not Just IQ

    All else being equal, hire people with strong interpersonal skills, emotional regulation, and self-awareness, even over those with better resumes or more technical experience. EQ is the top predictor of success in fitness roles.

    1. Use EQ-Focused Interview Questions

    Ask questions that reveal mindset and behaviour:

    • “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a client.”
    • “Who do you admire and why?”
    • “What would you do if your car broke down before a shift?”

    These scenarios expose problem-solving, values, and emotional maturity.

    1. Beware of the Peter Principle

    Promoting high performers without upskilling them for their new role often leads to failure. A great sale person may struggle as a sales manager or fail as a GM without tailored development.

    1. Train One Soft Skill at a Time

    Choose one skill (e.g. giving feedback, handling conflict) and work on it intentionally over 30 to 90 days with role plays, coaching, and content. This builds confidence and deepens competency.  Most importantly, these are skills for life!

     

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    The Fitness Business Podcast Has Four More FREE Live Events

    • 3rd/4th June – Finance for Fitness Success with Matt Spears
    • 25th/26th June – From Turnover to Take-off: Level Up Your Team to Recruit, Develop & Retain Top Talent with Kathleen Fergusson
    • 1st/2nd July – Say Goodbye to High Cancellations in 2025 – Gamify Your Club or Studio & Keep Members Longer with Frank Smarrelli
    • 24th/25th July – Creating Careers, Taking Vacations: Management and Leadership in the Fitness Industry with Mark Fisher

    Register for the FBP Insiders Live Events

    Real Talk. Real Tactics. Real Results.

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