by John | Jul 18, 2021 | Best Practices, Instructor Tech Help
Our family has nick-names for just about everything; Ruby, Jade, Baby Rocket and Scootie are in actuality; my red Mazda 3, Abby's green Mazda 3, Amy's black Acura TL and Carly's Honda Scooter. No, you don't want my car insurance bill 🙁
But when one of them (or some other mechanical / electronic device) has failed in some fashion, its name changes to a less endearing term, typically – Pig. So when I saw this text from Amy on Monday, after she had taught her noon class at Cycle Quest, my first thought was; “well, bring the Pig home and I'll see if I can help you figure it out.
Once I had the Pig her Android Razor in my hands, Amy showed me that there were in fact a bunch of her Spotify playlists that wouldn't play. They appeared to be correctly downloaded (Spotify describes making tracks available off-line as Downloaded on a Droid vs. Make Available Off-Line on an iPhone… go figure) and when you clicked a song it showed it as playing, but no sound came out.
I'm not an Apple computer user, so I don't know if the below applies to you – but it probably does.
My brother Dan taught me a number of years ago that the first step in diagnosing any PC computer problem is to Re-Boot (shut down everything) and see if that will fix the problem. Many times that's all that's required.
Dan explained how device software and the hardware they run on are not 100% perfect – resulting in small errors that occur each time you load or run a program. The operating software system can deal with these small errors (which build up over time) until they become unmanageable, resulting in your computer/device changing into a Pig.
So after poking around unsuccessfully, I asked Amy when was the last time she re-booted her phone. She couldn't think of a time, but she did remember seeing a notice that Spotify had updated. This appears to be another difference between Android and Apple. Droid Apps update on their own. Apple device Apps display a little red arrow indicating an update is available & you manually approve each. Hearing Dan's voice in the back of my head saying; “you need to re-boot the Pig”, which we did and problem solved 🙂
Side note Over the past 4 1/2 years I've answered hundreds of tech related questions from ICI/PRO members. A common theme that runs through these requests is; I'm not very Techie, I must be doing something wrong or similar self-defamatory statements where the questioner takes personal responsibility for the problems/issues they are experiencing. THIS IS ALMOST ALWAYS NOT TRUE!
A lot of the technology we use as Instructors IS confusing, frustrating, problematic or just plain doesn't work like you think it should. In nearly every instance I can think of, what was preventing the person asking me the question from solving it themselves, was a reluctance to take the next step.
The next time you run into something confusing, frustrating, problematic or just plain doesn't work like you think it should – give yourself permission to try something else; start clicking buttons… every one you can find. If that doesn't work close the program, walk away, and then return with a fresh perspective.
My brother Dan is really sharp with computers – a real Techie. I've watched him work trying to solve a problem for me and he'll be zooming around my laptop, opening and closing stuff faster than my eyes can follow. I'll ask him; “what are you doing?” and he'll say; “I have no idea… I'm just trying different things, hoping one will work.”
And of course, if all else fails, please know that we're here to help 🙂
Originally posted 2013-03-06 04:52:19.
by John | Jul 15, 2021 | Best Practices, Engage Your Students
I spent the morning volunteering at the Life Time Fitness Commitment Day 5K run in downtown Minneapolis. It was the perfect morning to prove your commitment to fitness; sunny and 10° below zero… that's -10° Fahrenheit = painfully cold.
That's why the smart people like me volunteered, so we could stay inside where it was warm 🙂
I came home to a nice note from long time ICI/PRO member Charles (Spook) Hilgartner.
Hey John,
Good morning and Happy New Year.
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed and how educational your recent Podcasts with Tom, Jay and Gene. Jay's idea of observations that would carry to real usage was really good. I never heard it approached like that. Or maybe it was in a previous one that missed. After Tom's session on new riders, I changed the name of my beginners to “Foundations” and reshaped it a bit.. Thanks for that! Finally, Gene's session on new riders. It too was really good. I was also pleased that I really was doing some of his ideas.
As a note I never ask new riders especially “How did you like the class”. It puts them on the spot too much.
Stay well,
Spook
I couldn't agree more Spook – people (especially new students) aren't comfortable responding when asked a direct question that requires them to offer a judgement or critique someone. Those who do will probably tell you what they think you want to hear.
But as Instructors we benefit from valid feed back. So what or how should we be asking for it?
Circling back to Life Time, they're big on using the Net Promoter Score system:
Know the score.
The Net Promoter Score, or NPS®, is based on the fundamental perspective that every company’s customers can be divided into three categories: Promoters, Passives, and Detractors.
By asking one simple question – How likely is it that you would recommend [your company] to a friend or colleague? – you can track these groups and get a clear measure of your company’s performance through your customers’ eyes. Customers respond on a 0-to-10 point rating scale and are categorized as follows:
- Promoters (score 9-10) are loyal enthusiasts who will keep buying and refer others, fueling growth.
- Passives (score 7-8) are satisfied but unenthusiastic customers who are vulnerable to competitive offerings.
- Detractors (score 0-6) are unhappy customers who can damage your brand and impede growth through negative word-of-mouth.
To calculate your company’s NPS, take the percentage of customers who are Promoters and subtract the percentage who are Detractors.
Rather than asking the question in person, you may get a more accurate response from handing out cards with this question, at the end of class.
Are you doing anything like this in your studio [wlm_firstname]?
Originally posted 2013-01-01 17:58:56.
by Joey Stabile | Jul 9, 2021 | Audio PROfiles, Best Practices, Class Work-Sets, Creativity Indoor Classes, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Master Instructor Blog, PRO Podcasts, PRO/Playlists, Training With Power
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion
Ok, this is the week that I have been working towards, this is our new era of The Weekly Ride. This week and moving forward you will get:
- Full Ride PDF
- Apple Music Playlist
- Spotify Playlist
- File to Download the Ride directly into My Fitness DJ (Yes, no Programming)
- The Ride will be available for purchase in the iClass Builder Store (No Programming)
- A Podcast of the ride being delivered by a master instructor.
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Originally posted 2018-07-13 07:50:10.
by Joey Stabile | Jun 27, 2021 | Best Practices, Class Work-Sets, Creativity Indoor Classes, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Master Instructor Blog, Training With Power
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion:
No more hunting for new music or counting out cues. Here is your ready to ride document, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to make your life as easy as possible!
(more…)
Originally posted 2018-02-27 15:16:59.
by John | May 31, 2021 | Best Practices, Big Box Instructor, Instructor Training, Master Instructor Blog
That sucks!
You thought you are doing everything right. You feel you've been a model employee for over 8 years. You're always punctual and prepared to teach a great class. The members seem to enjoy you and you've had consistently good attendance numbers. Other Instructors appreciate your willingness to sub for them and you (maybe mistakenly) thought your GF Dept Head liked having you on her team and would have your back in a situation like this.
But then you get an email saying simply; Dear [wlm_firstname], we're sorry to inform you that based on the fact you only have one scheduled class, your employment with us will end 14 days from the date of this email…
This didn't happen to me – but it did happen to a committed Instructor who posted at pedal-on.com about being fired from LA Fitness for only having one scheduled class a week – their minimum number of classes is two per week* to maintain employment.
You're just a number
You maybe on a first name basis with many of the managers and other employees at your Big Box club, but you're still just a number to some faceless person at corporate HR. If you teach for a Big Box you probably clock in using your employee number. Mine is 538**. I'll posit that there was an annual review of all the Instructors at LA Fitness and those not meeting the minimum hours of classes were flagged for termination. HR then contacted each GFDH of the flagged Instructors, requesting that they either find another class for the Instructor – or thank them for their service as they're shown the door 🙁
Who's at fault here?
Or maybe the question is; “why did this happen?” I'm inclined to hold the GFDH responsible here. She should have known the rules about the minimum classes and appears to have ignored them – which obviously worked for a number of years. I was in a similar situation at LTF. During the summer months I was down to only one class, having cancelled my Sunday endurance classes from May to November. Our GFDH had my back until she too was informed of an audit from HR – except she was able to show that I was also subbing one or more classes a week – so I wasn't fired. I did need to pick up a second class and thankfully another Instructor retired, opening a spot for me.
What's a good strategy to prevent this?[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']
First I'd be sure I knew the rules and get cracking on adding another class or two if possible. The Instructor who wrote the post says she didn't know that there was a two class minimum – a quick question to your GFDH should tell you everything you need to know.
Second I would honestly assess; how secure is my position here at XYZ Fitness? Don't BS yourself into thinking you're so special that they would never consider replacing you. Businesses close, management changes and the people who will decide your future with the company maybe a thousand miles away, throwing darts at a list of numbers 🙁
Thirdly I would diversify – starting today. That old saying that you need a job, to get a new job, is totally true.
Contrast a position of confidence –
Hi there! I teach at XYZ Fitness and I'd love to learn more about you and your studio.
With one of desperation –
Are you hiring Instructors? I just lost my job at XYZ Fitness… Oh no, it's wasn't anything I did…
When was the last time you visited the other studios near you? Taken a class? Have you met the owner or manager? Asked if they need subs? Or requested an audition? I personally know that I could slot in at two different studios, if LTF ever sent me one of those; “Dear John” emails.
Do you have an alternate place where you could teach?
*Holding a minimum of two weekly scheduled classes seems to be common amongst many of the Big Box clubs including Life Time Fitness. This makes sense from an employer's perspective… there is an administrative cost to each person on the payroll; taxes, insurance, w-2's and other mailed notifications = a company needs to set some minimum threshold for classes and/or hours worked. No, I don't feel a club realizes any measurable cost for your free membership. [/wlm_private]
Originally posted 2014-05-01 10:12:15.
by Joey Stabile | May 19, 2021 | Best Practices, Class Work-Sets, Creativity Indoor Classes, Instructor Training, KEEPING IT FUN, Master Instructor Blog, Training With Power
Welcome to the The Weekly Ride by Cycling Fusion
No more hunting for new music or counting out cues to develop your ride profile. Here is your ready to ride profile for a fully choreographed ride, that can be displayed from your phone, or printed out onto cue cards for your class. This ride is timed out, down to the second, to make your life as easy as possible!
(more…)
Originally posted 2018-04-25 08:00:03.
