Today I had my first real “parenting scare.” I was horsing around with my son and his wrist popped. You know when you pull on a finger and it pops out and back in ? Well his wrist made that sound and it scared him, scared me, and hurt him so bad he was hysterical for almost 3 minutes. I could barely dress him to get him to the ER. Now you have to imagine this to see the humor, so read on and try to visualize.
I’m panicking because I think I just broke his wrist from holding him by his hands when his body weight was too heavy. He’s hysterical and literally acting like his whole e right side is paralyzed. This is my first experience with an injured child of my own, so I am almost in tears because I feel totally responsible. My incredible daughter is trying her best to make my son and I feel better. I can’t touch my son’s right arm at all because of the pain, so I put the shirt over that arm but not in the sleeve. I RACE to the Er with him, jump out and get my daughter out first, then run to my sons side. I take his seat belt off and then…………HE SAYS “Daddy my shirts not on” and SLIPS HIS RIGHT ARM INTO THE SLEEVE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED!?!?!? I say “You’re arm doesn’t hurt” and he says “No, all better.” With a smile. Ummmmmmmmm WTF !?!?!
After walking him in just to double check and wait for his mom to come and check him, I loaded them back in the car (feeling like a complete idiot in front of my ex wife) and decided to cancel the hike/picnic I had planned with them. Besides, it was too cold. We happen to be near Southlands and I knew there was a pottery-painting place over there so we went. Got a great table, picked out some cool items to paint, and had one of the most memorable times the kids and I have had as a family ever!
The place was packed and oddly enough it was mostly kids with one or the other parent (meaning either the mom or the dad). Could I have possibly found where single parents take their kids? ha-ha. But there was ONE family there where both the mom and dad were with the kids. I am going to explain to you EXACTLY what I saw because it ties into my point.
The table with both parents consisted of a boy and girl (probably 8 to 10 in age) and parents around my age. The kids and the mom were painting. I only noticed this table because another man and his daughter came in and sat next to them. The single man said, “Hey dude, I never see you on this end of town.” He says “Ya, unless I am going to McCabes (The bar right next to this shop).
Now that they had my attention I noticed that the father had his nose BURIED in his F&*^%ing Phone the entire time, had nothing to paint, and looked like he probably didn’t even know where he was or who was around him because he was so wrapped up in whatever was on his phone!!
I thought to myself as I looked around at the other single parents (assuming they are divorced like me) that we all lost 50% of our time with our kids due to divorce. I never thought I would have my kids and then say, “Ok, I only want to spend HALF my time with them. I wanted and still want all 7 days of the week. But this is what I got. And this “dude” was sitting there with his kids and ignoring them. He said more to the single dad than he did to his kids the whole time we sat there. So so sad.
Now I know some of you may think to defend him and say, “well maybe he had to catch up on work emails.” I assure you it was not that. He looked like he was either reading the inquirer or watching porn. He kept laughing, smiling, and his eyes never left the phone. Plus he looked annoyed that he had to be there and never turned to face his family; rather he was faced away from the table. But I’m not trying to judge (although it sounds that way), I am trying to set up my point for the story.
Here’s a two part “aha moment” for you.
First, I may not have had a day like today if my son hadn’t scared the Bajesus out of me. Today will be a moment that is burned in my brain forever and one I will always cherish. Who knows, 20 years from now I may be at one of the kids weddings and they’ll say “Remember when we painted that pottery after Brady hurt his wrist?” And that is what one might call a “CAPTURED” opportunity right? Meanwhile the table next to us, another father is MISSING an opportunity!!! Hopefully he won’t the next time he’s there, possibly now a single dad like me because maybe his wife decides that if she’s not more important than his phone than what’s the sense.
In class we have an opportunity to check up on so many people in their quest for fitness goals, but what about things outside of fitness? Or maybe fitness related goals that if obtained would be life changing but if missed would be life CRUSHING? Today I am making a promise to myself and it’s as good as the promise I made to you all 2 months ago to stop drinking diet soda (Haven’t touched a soda since, cold friggin turkey), and that promise is to be more aware. If I see someone working hard, and losing weight, I am going to tell them. Maybe it’s those words of encouragement that they needed in that moment to keep going. Maybe they were ready to give up because they thought no one noticed. And if I see someone avoiding eye contact but looking like they need a friend, I am going to go start a conversation. My gym lost a great lady recently because she didn’t feel she could talk to anyone and I can promise you my whole team is more aware now of people who may need that hug.
Here’s the point folk. ALL around us people are having opportunities thrown at them whether they know it or not. And sometimes those opportunities can make or break the amount of LOVE, JOY, or SUCCESS we are going to have. If you ever see me missing an opportunity PLEASE come over and smack me. I was tempted to do that to the “Dude” at the table because believe it or not I want great things for pretty much everyone. And more so for his kids than him, but even some for him. Don’t be wasteful of your time, don’t under-estimate the power you have to change a life, and most of all don’t ever suffer the regret of a “Missed Opportunity.”
Thanks for reading and I stole a word from a friend, which I am going to use now in my closing line.
I'm always searching for new music and videos. While on a recent YouTube bender I came across this mashup and video. This is some amazing stuff!
Check it out.
Below, Premium Members can download the audio and/or video to this amazing mashup.
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
Attached to this post is a harmonically mixed indoor cycling music set, of the best remixes of 2015 that I found on YouTube.
All you need to do is “Play It and Forget It.”
Premium Members, follow the link below to download this new mix.
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Download Linked File As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library
To download the above media on a PC:
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Save Link As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library Click here to watch a video on how to download media files from ICI/Pro.
Premium Members listen and download this mix for free by following the links below:
[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge']
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Download Linked File As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library
To download the above media on a PC:
Right Click on the blue underlined link
Select “Save Link As”
Select a download location
Once file is completely downloaded, find it in the location you selected
Drag the file into your iTunes or Spotify library OR
Right Click on the file and Select “Open With”
From the drop down menu select “iTunes” or “Spotify”
File should begin playing and is now part of your iTunes or Spotify library Click here to watch a video on how to download media files from ICI/Pro.
Most weeks I teach around 12 indoor cycling classes between 4 different clubs. I enjoy the variety of facilities, locations and different types of membership bases. I also like to see how different group exercise programs are run and administered. There is one trend I'm seeing that is starting to really bother me.
My job title in most facilities is Indoor Cycling Instructor and as you would expect my my job description includes all the various points of providing members with the best indoor cycling experience possible. The trend that is disturbing is the addition of excessive cleaning and bike maintenance that has been added to my teaching duties. In some facilities this extra cleaning is optional and, if done, is reimbursed. The cleaning/maintenance rate may be lower than my instructor rate but I appreciate the fact that the administrators at these clubs value my time. In other gyms the extra time spent cleaning is not optional, it's expected, and it's not reimbursed. This is not simply picking up and tidying the room after class it's sweeping the floor, cleaning all the mirrors, taking out the trash or wiping down 10 or more bikes. In most cases it's 15-30 minutes of extra, unreimbursed, work. I know this doesn't sound like much but I don't believe anyone should be asked to work for free and if I was required to do an extra 30 minutes of unreimbursed work after all my classes it could quickly add up to 6 hours of unpaid time per week.
Have you ever done the math? Below is a the breakdown of how all these little tasks can cut into your instructor rate.
I assumed a rate of $30 per class. If you get paid more, these extra tasks are actually more costly to you.
I assumed 30 minutes of prep time. If you spend more time preparing class your actually hourly rate will be even less.
Most facilities and certifications recommend arriving to class 15 minutes early.
Most facilities and certifications recommend being available after class to answer any questions or converse with participants for 15 minutes.
If cleaning is required it takes at least 15 minutes to be done properly, sometimes longer.
Some facilities are requiring a social media presence and want instructors to promote their classes on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. I assume this takes an average of 5 minutes per post.
As you can plainly see, your hourly rate can quickly be whittled away when all these uncompensated tasked are added to your job duties.
I often hear, from owners, managers or in customer service training workshops the importance cleanliness. Administrators will say that cleanliness is their top priority and often their top complaint. E-mail after e-mail will address that member complaints about lack of cleanliness are up and that “We all have to work together to keep the facility cleaner. Take just a few more minutes after each class to make sure the room is spotless.” When something in my life takes top priority I'm willing to invest in it, whether it be money or time. If a facility says that cleanliness is it's TOP PRIORITY then it should also be willing to invest in it and hire more maintenance staff or at the very least pay it's instructors for the time they spend making the room spotless after each class.
