It’s Really so great to have so many people coming back after a pandemic break!

Members like Aaron and Jim have been part of our TJ’s family for so many years, we’ve lost track. Getting the band back together is truly a great joy for all of us! We hope to see you all soon!

MESSAGE FROM TJ

I'm part of a gym owners’ group that meets via Zoom every two weeks. We have all been in the gym game for over a decade and have lived the ups and downs of micro-gym management. Chicago, Virginia, Florida, LA etc. Doesn't matter where we are; the stories are remarkably similar.

The topic that arose last month was a situation where the owner had sold his majority stake in the gym to his manager. The manager had been an all-star employee over the past few years, and as the owner's interest in the day-to-day operations waned, this seemed like a fair deal. The sale allowed the owner to be an off-site presence and continue to monitor the business through its online platforms, making sure the Operating Procedures were being followed form a 30-thousand foot view.

The pandemic year will be a sociologist’s dream, and selfishly I can't wait to comb through the data. Human behavior and data are my two touchstones. I use them to reverse-engineer all sorts of problems to find out how we ended up where we are, and to use them to try to predict the future. Nerd City.

My friend went back to his gym after being away for nearly eight months. The data was all over the place, due to the shutdown, but things were getting back to normal. He took a field trip back to the gym to see everyone on a busy Friday night. He was appalled. The gym was a mess, members wandered in and out without checking in, coaches were out of uniform, and what disturbed him most was that all of the attention was being given to the highest performing members, while newer members were jammed into the corner without any notice whatsoever.

As my friend was retelling the story, he was standing in his home office pacing, yelling and waving his arms around in a combination of shock and exasperation. When he met with his new business partner to try to address why protocols weren't being followed, he was told: “You’re not around and you don’t get what's going on now."

"It's like he wants it to be 2012 again, which we all know is never happening again nor should it!" he yelled, as we all silently nodded in agreement.

2012 was the bomb back in the old CrossFit days. Many of you remember it. Names were written up on the boards with times and weights used in workouts. Chalk was everywhere, people were racing up and down the street or parking lot. Sideways glances were given to people whose reps were probably shaved, and ranges of motion were criticized and coached.

At the typical CrossFit gym back then, people came in for help and were given competition. For some, the pre-frontal cortex exploded, not unlike in addicts, and they jumped in with both feet. Others cringed and shrank away, appalled by the intensity. I would like to think we did a better job than most, but we can certainly be accused of buying into this hype at the time.

We slowly realized that kind of one-size-fits-all intensity was unsustainable and didn’t sync with our core value of helping people. The workouts changed, and our attention and coaching became far more individualized. We grew and succeeded, while other gyms were bought and sold, some three and four times over.

We refer to the types of facilities that never learned as "Zombie Gyms." Chasing intensity, chasing unsustainability, chasing the guy in front of you....chasing 2012.

I read something the other day that broadly and generally broke down current generations. Boomers are stuck in conspiracies, Gen Xers are all about individualism, and Millenials are embedded in the social theory that large constructs (patriarchy, corporations) control us.

I've been thinking about how this applies to human behavior and can't help but think that these aren't necessarily strictly for each generation but instead relevant to the age you are in life at the time. I was fighting and blaming "the man" in my 20's. During my middle age, I've been pretty obsessed with "getting mines" as the urban dictionary calls it—providing for me and my family. Later in life I assume I’ll be worried about my legacy and what affects it. Seems like the normal trajectory for most folks, as opposed to a strict definition for each generation. Right?

Why would you want to own a community gym? The rewards for helping people, creating a sustainable community or communities, and being part of people’s lives are incalculable. I wouldn't change a thing, good or bad. It's all been a learning experience resulting in life-changing experiences for me. But there are some parts you have to watch out for. I’ll admit that back in 2012 when the gyms were rocking and rolling with people chasing the dragon hour after hour, there was a crackling in the air.

It had its time, and when the conditions are right to this day, you can get a taste of it again. You become flooded with nostalgia, until you realize that the crackling is fleeting and you get back to concentrating on helping, coaching, and guiding, energized by the jolt and happy that you're present in the present.

In the owners’ group Zoom call, we all agreed. My friend’s new partner has to live in 2012 for a bit. He has to chase the unsustainable. He has to grow through the stages of gym ownership. The failures, the successes, the self realizations. If he's cut out for it, he will survive and concentrate on helping, and he will thrive. Otherwise, he will burn out, sell his share, and move on.

My question is for you. Does this resonate with you? Do you see yourself in these stories? Are you chasing the dragon in your life, or working towards what’s best for you? Let me know how I can help you sort this out.

See you at the gyms,

tj

“THE PLAYBOOK” WITH TJ COHORT 2 REGISTRATION IS LIVE!

The first PLAYBOOK cohort is SOLD OUT for TJ’s most comprehensive fitness, lifestyle, and wellness program ever, but he’s offering up spots now for the next cohort in September! SAVE YOUR SPOT NOW AT THIS LINK! Spaces will fill quickly, so hop on it!

The purpose of “The Playbook” is to help you level up your life by defining your goals and creating a powerful and detailed plan that works best for you in all areas of your life. Make no mistake, this program will require significant dedication, self-reflection, and effort on your part. But the rewards will be many and deep.

If you’d like to learn more before committing, please email TJ directly at tj@tjsgym.com.

EXCITING NEW SUMMER YOUTH FITNESS OFFERINGS AND REGISTRATION!

We are super excited to offer our usual youth program as well as some classes dedicated to high school athletes preparing for their sport. Please reach out to allison@tjsgym.com with any questions.