Refine/Redesign & Let Go/Be Dragged
A few days ago, I had a first-contact phone call with a boutique fitness studio founder, whom I do not know personally. They wanted to discuss with me, what they feel is their next level as a cycling brand & specifically, how I could help them achieve it, through auditing their hospitality systems, their class program manuals, next-level feedback for instructors who have taught for years who might be plateauing, etc.
It was a vibe-check. For me. For them.
An honest vibe-check to see if we are a fit before they invest their energy & money in me & I invest my energy & time into working together.
After working with many different client personalities & both big red flags & bigger green flags over the past decade+…if I feel the least bit “off” about in-person work, the answer is a polite ‘no thank you.’ 😊
What we discussed, specifically, is of course confidential. I can tell you that I am familiar with both their brand + the vibrant boutique studio movement offerings in the city where they are located. And friend, it is a market with cutthroat competitive leadership between the existing studios.
I shared my belief that while studio owners where they live don't need to “braid each other's hair at a slumber party", I do encourage supporting one another's wins, not disparaging other studios to clients & collaborating whenever possible….especially if they want to host brand-agnostic continuing educational workshops for instructors across the city to benefit in attending.
Refine. Redesign. Let's see what happens.
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As I was writing to you, from my Hong Kong airport layover today, a former collaborator texted me out of the blue, asking if we could chat ASAP.
As we'd discussed many times before over the past year+, they are thinking it is time to either try to sell or to close their studio; the P&L simply no longer adds up & their overall health has declined significantly trying to make their studio work.
I found myself saying “let go or be dragged."
I believe that we constantly decide at work & in our personal lives, whether we try harder/differently (the first example) or we let go.
And it is on us to decide which. Or one. Then the other.
As always, I love to hear whatever you're working on; let me know how you are.
I hope you have a great rest of your week!