Shannon Fable
Shannon Fable, 2013 IDEA and 2006 ACE Instructor of the Year, is a sought after speaker, author, and thought leader in business development and strategic innovation. She has spent more than two decades helping impressive brands such as Anytime Fitness, Schwinn®, Power Systems, ACE, Silver Sneakers, FIT4MOM and BOSU®. Fable served as Chair of the ACE Board of Directors, co-founded GroupEx PRO®, and is the Director of Content & Production Strategy for Intelivideo. As a certified Book Yourself Solid® Business Coach, she helps fit pros navigate the industry to build scalable and sustainable businesses.View FitConnect Profile
Article Archive
Learn how to best weave online or virtual technology into your business plan to rebuild your fitness business in a digital-first world.
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If you’re considering becoming your own boss, you owe it to yourself to do the groundwork that will ultimately be the foundation for your success.
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As people return to some semblance of normalcy, they’re going to want your expertise and guidance. In the first installment of this two-part article, we’ll dive into three skill categories that are a must when you’re contemplating starting your own business. After you’ve identified where you’re solid and where you need a little extra support, we’ll review options for filling in the gaps.
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There are several paths to becoming an entrepreneur in the fitness industry. While most discussion is centered around opening a studio and capitalizing on what your current clients believe to be your unique skills and talents, this represents only one path forward. You can choose to have a roof over your head, or you can go to your clients. You can stick with profiting from your intellectual property, or you can “borrow” an idea from someone else. Whatever you choose, owning your own business has never been easier. You just need to figure out which route makes the most sense for you!
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Are you leaning into the rise of millennial moms? These women are part of a generation that’s expected, as of this year, to surpass baby boomers as the nation’s largest age demographic. The 83 million 17- to 36-year-old “millennial” men and women in the United States—combined with Generation Xers—account for 80% of the fitness dollars spent in clubs (Lexington Law 2019; Les Mills 2017). Already fitness consumers, millennial women are becoming mothers.
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Exceptional group fitness instructors are influential. But is their influence an outcome of great instruction or its origin? When group fitness pros apply for a job, practical teaching skills and knowledge of exercise and movement top the list of “must-haves,” so what about social media influence? Is it relevant? It’s becoming more commonplace to judge group fitness candidates on their social media presence, but should this be the case?
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The way personal trainers are taught to get clients is not only antiquated but also ineffective in today’s marketing world. Offering free sessions and trying hard to close the deal on the first try have resulted in a lack of trust from the consumer and an uphill climb to book business. It’s time we traded in this system for a newer model.
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When you understand the “why” and “how” of organizing time and tasks, you lay the foundation for stress-free productivity. In part one of this series, we touched on how to get the right work done, in the right way, with the right system. Now that you’ve dumped the data, learned the steps to control the chaos and started making strides, it’s time to discuss the tools you need to streamline the process.
Decision Time—Paper or Digital?
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Earning higher pay starts with understanding the value that fitness delivers.
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Organization seems to be at the top of every fitness business pro’s to-do list. While this is an admirable goal, there are three important steps you need to take prior to getting organized. Once you’ve moved past wearing “busy” as a badge of honor, determined the major roles you play, and learned what needs to get done, it’s time for the more practical elements of time management.
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Have you heard the saying "Begin with the ending in mind"? Over the years, this axiom has probably helped you solve complex math problems, create a science–fair project, or even write a research paper. But you may have forgotten this sage advice when it comes to planning something with even higher stakes: your career.
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If you’re like a lot of fitness professionals, your to-do list is a mile long and you never seem to have enough time in the day to get to the end of it. You’ve probably explored several options for organizing the chaos—from elaborate, leather-bound day planners with A, B, C priorities and 1, 2, 3 subtasks, to apps that promise the ultimate solution at your fingertips. And still, your workspace is covered with random sticky notes and your bags have bits of folded paper tucked inside, capturing important reminders, to-dos and ideas.
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Measure your progress with a three-pronged approach to metrics.
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The world needs leaders like you. Here’s how to stay motivated.
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While programming is typically cited as the number-one difference between a good group fitness department and a great one, the people who deliver the programs are truly the “secret sauce.” Without a talented team, even the best programs will fail to resonate with members. Even if you’re currently living the group fitness manager’s dream—a full deck of superstar instructors who teach amazing classes—it’s still important to develop a proactive plan to keep your team performing at this high level.
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By now, everyone has heard about the Hillary Clinton email scandal. (Trust me, this article is not taking a political turn.) The controversy, which essentially is about the use of a private email server versus a company-issued one (or in this case a government-issued one), made me think about how electronic communication relates to the fitness business. More specifically, it made me think about how group fitness business is conducted at most facilities and whether “best practices” may be leaving managers, instructors and health clubs vulnerable.
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An automated Keep In Touch strategy is the cornerstone of self-promotion. The KIT approach helps you build your network and establish a base of enthusiastic fans who trust you and are interested in what you have to offer. The bigger your network, the more likely you are to be booked solid.
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For successful networking:
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High school may have felt like the toughest time in your life. Navigating the social cliques was mentally draining and often confusing. After graduation, you hoped all that was behind you; however, fast-forward to modern-day group fitness studios and you may find yourself reliving some of your worst nightmares.
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Promoting yourself has never been easier. Free social media, affordable Web design and easily accessible graphic design provide ample opportunity to draw awareness to what you have to offer. But without a blueprint, you are wasting your time. Read on to uncover core self-promotion methods that can increase your business in less time than you think.
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