All I can say is “WOW!”
We have received a bunch of very well designed class profiles, from some very talented Indoor Cycling Instructors.
Now the hard part as we review each and try to decide which one is the Ultimate Instructor Class Profile.
Thank you to everyone who entered and we hope to have some winners for you this weekend 🙂
Photo courtesy E Entertainment
“So Joel, how do you know who to listen to and who to shut out?”
“I try to only listen to those whom I’m confident are on my crew…”
My question came during a conversation I was having during coffee with Joel Johnson, the pastor of my church. Joel had recently officiated the wedding between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries- the Humphries family are long time members of the church and his parents were at one time frequent participants in my Indoor Cycling Classes, until switching locations.
If you follow the tabloid’s you know that the marriage was dissolved, almost before Kim’s bouquet of flowers had wilted, with Kim profiting to the tune of $17.9 million. As you can imagine, the drama surrounding the whole event within our church was immense and the criticisms of Joel were brutal. Lots of “I told you so”, “you should have never done the wedding” plus no shortage of destructive gossip going on between church members.
“We were getting so many calls and emails that I had to seclude myself and only engage with the people who continued to demonstrate that they were on my crew.”
“I’m not sure exactly what you mean by; on my crew?” I told him.
“Let me show you…”
Joel grabbed a napkin and drew this simple diagram.
And then he explained to me that you can assign the people in your life/church/business/community/etc… into one of the four quadrants, each being similar to the roles of the people you would find on a seagoing ship.
Joel then described his drawing (which he told me he learned from someone else, but I can’t remember who) and how it identifies:
Placed in the context of your Fitness Business:
Your Crew – Involved and believe in your Vision. The loyal Instructors, employees and vendors who work for you. Ever faithful, the people on your Crew are actively (and selflessly) involved in helping you create and maintain a successful business. As the term “Crew” conveys, these people are Team Players, the “life blood” of your business, embracing your Vision and demonstrating it toward your customers and the other members of your Crew. They are the people you can count on. The person who jumps in when something needs to be done or when an emergency sub is needed. Crew members put the needs of the team ahead of their own, working continuously to promote the studio and other Instructor's classes.
Your Passengers — Not Involved, but believe in your Vision. Satisfied, regular customers who believe in your Vision and participate in fair exchange with your business*. They bring their friends and speak positively about you to others — while communicating concerns directly to you. Passengers add value to your business both financially and through the positive energy they bring to class. *Fair Exchange is a concept I learned from Dr Shannon years ago, where two people exchange value for something. As long as each feels the exchange is “Fair” then it's all good 🙂
Pirates — Involved, but don't believe in your Vision. Trouble makers who use the word “ME”, instead of “WE”, demonstrating a belief that it’s “all about them”, instead of your Team. Pirates can be Involved in your business as Instructors or employees. They contribute to your business, while promoting their own agendas, instead of (or at the expense of) your Vision. They may try to encourage your customer's to attend classes they teach at other locations and may be heard cutting down another Instructor's class. They may be so bold as to sell merchandise out of the trunk of their car. Pirates think nothing of showing up late, being unprepared or calling in sick on short notice. Pirates are very selective of which classes they would consider subbing and will use the opportunity to promote themselves.
Stow Aways — Not Involved nor believe in your Vision. The customers who take advantage of your good will. They insist on free/discounted classes and complain frequently. Stow Aways are the participants who show up late, do their own thing (complete with iPod/earbuds), disrupt class or may even be disrespectful to your Instructors.
“Joel, what do you do with the Pirates and Stow Aways once you identify them?”
“You need to decide if they are worth keeping around. And if not, I bless them, thank them and say good bye.”
He is after all a Pastor.
____________________________________
What prompted me to write this post was an episode of Kitchen Nightmares , a show I love and feel teaches some valuable lessons that you can apply to your Indoor Cycling Class and/or Fitness Business. The story line had the head chef (a Pirate) ruining the restaurant's reputation and yet the owners felt powerless to fire him, because they didn't think they could survive without him. I've seen (and heard of) similar situations at studios with a prima donna Instructor. Very popular with clients, the Pirate's destructive behavior may have you questioning whether or not you should keep them on your Instructor team.
Have you experienced Pirates or Stow Aways at your studio?
This article is also posted over at cyclingstudio.org
Amy makes her TV Debut this afternoon on ShopNBC! She starts her new role as the product spokesperson for Bay Area facial cosmetic surgeon, Stanley Jacobs M.D.
And get this… Dr. Jacobs offered her the position after first meeting Amy and taking her Indoor Cycling Class at CycleQuest Studio, which is just a few blocks away from the ShopNBC production studios 🙂
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I'll let her tell the whole story, but what happened is this. Dr. Jacobs was here in Minneapolis to promote his Visco-Elastic Transforming Serum, appearing on a number of live segments shown on ShopNBC throughout the day. With a number of hours in between segments, he came to my Monday noon class at CycleQuest – except I wasn't there. Amy was subbing for me that day.
I can easily imagine what happened next…
Amy did, what Amy normally does, which leads to a whole lot of people leaving her class feeling celebrated and valued.
This really ties into Dr. Shannon's article about being grateful:
They may be miles away, and not even know that you are there. They may find their way to your class, or maybe they will not. Regardless, YOU will be there with your best performance when they do! They need YOU to show up! Why?
Because you are one who is celebrated. You are the one they have literally been dying to meet because you celebrate people (this includes YOU). And they know that if they can just get near you, they too will feel significant.
So you may be thinking, “Yeah, right…if I were a celebrity…it would be easy to have a packed class every week, but I am NOT!”
If you go back to the definition of celebrity, you will see that in fact, you can be. Celebrate you and you will be celebrated. Celebrate others and they will celebrate you!
So go out and teach some great classes this week… you never know who'll be there 🙂
And if you're one of the approximately 75 million cable and satellite households that have ShopNBC, Amy is scheduled to appear in the 5:00 and 6:00 hours – Central Time.
There's nothing I enjoy more, than giving voice to up-and-coming stars in our industry.
I love giving others the chance to shine!
Since August of 2008, The Indoor Cycle Instructor Podcast has introduced dozens of talented people to thousands of Instructors, club/studio owners/managers and industry leaders around the world.
Many of them have leveraged their exposure to grow/develop successful businesses or advance their personal fitness careers.
I felt it was time to find a few more 🙂
With the help and support of some wonderful sponsors, we've created a fun competition to find and (and then promote) some very special Instructors, The Ultimate Instructor Class Profile Contest!
Can you answer YES, to these questions?
If you can then we're looking for you!
The top five Instructors will share in over $4,000 in cash and prizes and the top three will be recorded and published for thousands of other Instructors to enjoy 🙂
Prize Sponsors include; Performance IQ, ICG ® Indoor Cycling Group, Zoning Fitnessâ„¢, EpicPlanet.tv, Cycli
View the complete list of prizes!
Please check it out and consider entering your favorite profile between now and May 14th.
Let me know if you have any questions.
John
P.S. This contest isn't open to Master Instructors or other industry educators – only rank and file Indoor Cycling Instructors who go above and beyond the average and are either ICI/PRO members or active, registered members at Pedal-On.com
Thanksgiving is not just a holiday that comes once a year. Thanks giving can make every day of your life a holiday and you a celebrity!
I will show you how.
The most powerful thing that you can do to make your life (no matter what you are experiencing) the best that it can be, is to be a giver of thanks. The more you give the more you will receive!
Every year celebrities from all over the globe walk the red carpet to receive their rewards. The lights, action, glitz and glamour are all a part of the celebration. Can you imagine what it would be like to put on your best…and have all eyes on you as you are celebrated for being you?
A celebrity is quite simply, “1. the state of being celebrated: RENOWN 2. a celebrated person” (Thank you Merriam-Webster J)
Can you imagine being a celebrity? Then imagine this.
People are lined up outside of your gym as far as your eye can see. There is standing room only in the parking lot! You have to park almost a mile away. You quickly move through the crowd as you head to the front of the line. The cameras are flashing and the people are going wild. The energy is palpable.
Your manager meets you at the door and welcomes you in. “Wow, what is going on?” you ask. He responds, “Your class is about to start. We’ll talk later.”
The entire gym is packed with people. Some you recognize, some you do not. Everyone is looking at you as if they know you. Who are all these people? Where did they come from? Why are all these people here? These are just a few of the questions that are flying through your mind as you are flying through the crowd, desperately trying to get to the studio.
The studio is packed! Every bike is full and people are standing everywhere! “What is going on”, you ask?
The crowd roars, “YOU are going on! We wanted to show up and tell you how awesome you are, how much we love and appreciate you, and we can’t wait to watch you do what you do!”
Can you imagine what that would feel like? Would you prepare for class differently if you knew everyone was going to show up expecting your best class? Of course you would!
But what if you don’t have hundreds of students fighting to get into your class? Well, guess what; YOU DO! They are fighting crowds of depression, obesity, and complacency. They are overwhelmed and under…inspired; under…recognized; under…appreciated. They have lived their life under the radar and they are desperate to SHOW UP!
They may be miles away, and not even know that you are there. They may find their way to your class, or maybe they will not. Regardless, YOU will be there with your best performance when they do! They need YOU to show up! Why?
Because you are one who is celebrated. You are the one they have literally been dying to meet because you celebrate people (this includes YOU). And they know that if they can just get near you, they too will feel significant.
So you may be thinking, “Yeah, right…if I were a celebrity…it would be easy to have a packed class every week, but I am NOT!”
If you go back to the definition of celebrity, you will see that in fact, you can be. Celebrate you and you will be celebrated. Celebrate others and they will celebrate you!
It’s time to see yourself and others as a gift. If you love to instruct, then do it with all your heart. Pour your heart into your class, even if only one or two people show up. Thank them for showing up so you can do what you love to do. A leader needs followers to lead, an instructor needs students to teach, and a celebrity needs to be celebrated to be a celebrity. So are you celebrating YOU, and those around you?
No matter what you or your students are experiencing, there is always something to recognize and celebrate. The more you are grateful for, the more you will have to be grateful for!
Often people will wait until they lose weight to give thanks, or their situation to change before they celebrate. But sadly, this day seems to elude them.
Does losing weight promise great health or is it the expression of the great health that’s within you (or your students)? When you stop trying to get something that you think you do not have, and begin to give thanks for that which you do…everything transforms! Change takes time, but transformation happens the moment we give thanks!
Give thanks!
People think that eating well and exercise are a guarantee of great health. The reality is that they are merely an expression of the great health that lies within them.
You may think that if you do “this” or “that” then you will be the instructor that everyone can’t wait to see. Your reality is merely an expression of the gratitude that lies within you. When was the last time you told how a student how grateful you are to have them in class? When was the last time you sent a hand-written note to someone thanking him or her for being who they are?
Do you remember what it feels like to be in love? Everything seems so perfect. You only see the good (or great) in the person you love. You have so much energy. You feel inspired. And that excess weight just seems to melt away. Why is that? Because when we are in love, we are at our best. Not the other way around.
If you are waiting to love yourself until you lose that extra weight or get that promotion, you may never experience it. If you are waiting to be a celebrity only when your class is full and the line is out the front door, you will miss your moment!
One day I told one of my coaching clients that she looked as though she was in love. She was literally glowing! She looked so radiant and so happy! She quickly responded, “I am! I am in love with me!” For the first time in her life, she had fallen in love with herself. Not because she had lost weight, but because she had gained herself. She had discovered who she really was, and just how loveable she is. That has led to her becoming her natural, healthy weight, and she is now in the best shape of her life! Oh, and let me tell you, just recently she has attracted a wonderful man into her life too. Those who are celebrated are “celebrities”. And people want to be around a celebrity. Love attracts love!
I absolutely love it! This is why I do what I do!
Why do you do what you do? Tap into your passion again! (Look for my next post, Be The Instructor (Inspirer) Your Students Can’t Wait To See Again…A Lesson On Being Passionate coming next week.
Have you ever written yourself a love letter? Why not? Why wait for someone else to write you one? Then if you really want to be a celebrity, stand in front of the mirror and read it out loud! Why should we wait for our funeral to hear our eulogy?
Grateful leads to great-full! That’s right, being full of great! Your classes will be full because you celebrate the great in each and every one of those in the room (you and your students).
If you desire to be the Instructor (Inspirer) your students can’t wait to see again, give thanks for the instructor and be inspired! Can I have your autograph?
Great-fully yours,
Dr. Shannon
chiropractor | coach | speaker | author
Question from a PRO member;
Hi John,
I'm having some printing format problems with some of the recent postings, including today's topic. When I go to print the document there is only an all black color sheet shown and printed. I thought something must be awry with my printer settings but it is not happening at various other sites that I am printing from.
Never having tried to print one of our posts, I wasn't aware that when you try to print a post or page it looks crappy and much of the printed page is in fact all black. Not good, considering how expensive printer ink is these days 🙁
The problem, it turned out, is the software that runs our site does a terrible job rendering the page so it can be printed.
Not anymore.
At the bottom of every post you will now find a little “Print Friendly” button. Give it a try and see how it displays a nicely formatted document that can print, create a PDF or email a copy to yourself or a friend. There's also a box you can tick to remove any images, saving your color cartridge from unnecessary use.