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Fitness + Technology

Welcome to the Fitness + Technology Podcast for club owners, operators, and fitness professionals! This show is your #1 trusted resource for the accelerating world of fitness technology. We regularly bring you an expert interview with a global influencer at the crossroads of fitness and technology. You’ll get the insights, tools, and inspiration you need to stay connected to the pulse of what matters most for your fitness business in the age of exponential technologies. This podcast is brought to you by the Fitness Industry Technology Council, who is mobilizing resources to drive the fitness industry forward, and representing leading companies and organizations to success through collaboration. This show is supported by Bryan O'Rourke and his family of companies including Vedere Ventures, a boutique investment and advisory firm helping early mature and late stage enterprises, moon mission media a digital marketing firm dedicated to the fitness space, and Integerus Advisors. To learn more visit bryankorourke.com
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Now displaying: March, 2020
Mar 25, 2020

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke continues his second series of interviews with guests on the ongoing crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. Listeners will hear their insight into how their handling the situation from licensed franchise operations to communication strategies for crisis management. We hope these conversations continue to be of value and interest to you as the situation continues. If there is anything we can do for you, again please reach out @bryankorourke or at bryankorourke@gmail.com.

  • Interview 1: Bryan is with Rick Mayo, Leading Franchisor of Alloy Personal Training in Roswell, Georgia. Rick and his team conduct over 60,000 personal training sessions a year with over 1000 clubs licensed worldwide.

One Powerful Quote: 
15:38: “Stay focus on the things you can do. There are so many things right now that are outside of our control…But there are a lot of things that we can control. Just focus on what’s right in front of you right now.”

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
3:28: Bryan asks Rick how he and his team have handled their operations. Rick says their personal training facilities have remained open and describes how this is possible and what they have done.


5:38: Bryan adds that Alloy also offers digital training options for their platform, and Rick describes how Alloy has pivoted that platform for marketing engagement.


8:51: Bryan and Rick discuss how this shift has become a convenience for clients. Rick admits that taking their digital offerings to market will continue to be a part of their strategy.


9:45: Bryan comments on Alloy’s community support, and Rick describes how their organic engagement is relevant and benefits their members.


11:53: Bryan inquires with Rick on what he thinks is the biggest concern for others. Rick admits he does not know the right answer, but he shares similar pain points including public perception for business owners if they should stay open.


15:38: Rick offers his final thoughts and advises listeners to take control of the situation. He mentions how the availability of technology should motivate owners to engage with their members and the community.


Guest Contact Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/teamalloy/
https://twitter.com/CoachRMayo
https://www.facebook.com/rick.mayo.395
https://www.rickmayo.com/
https://alloypersonaltraining.com/

  • Interview 2: Bryan is with Brandi Bergeron, Digital Brand Strategist & Brand Developer of Moon Mission Media, a boutique marketing firm that has helped significant group of operators, suppliers, and industry groups and are deeply familiar with trends, opportunities, and challenges facing both the industry as a whole as well as specific technology providers among others. 


One Powerful Quote: 
20:00: “If we play the long game, as we set out what we do, all the efforts and tasks that we choose to work on that will connect us to the long term goal puts us in more in-touch in the overall big picture. You know we can reframe our potential past mistakes or business omissions as opportunities for deeper learning and growth.”

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
18:30: Bryan asks Brandi about her marketing philosophy as they discuss short and long-term planning. Brandi says this is a perfect opportunity for businesses to outline their communication strategy with their overall brand. She also mentions that, if owners align their goals and future success, it will allow them to recognize potential mistakes or omissions as a time for learning and growth.


20:45: Bryan inquires with Brandi about deeper learning for users and the community. Brandi explains how the fitness industry has quickly adapted, and the goal of the business is still executing.


21:34: Bryan and Brandi discuss crisis management strategies, and Brandi offers her five tips on how to the situation.


23:07: Bryan and Brandi speak on the benefits of having a protocol in place. Brandi illustrates that a sound plan aligns a business’s values and mission in a cadence that members/users will acknowledge and trust.


26:21: Bryan and Brandi delve into transparency and honesty and how the perception of truth is shared.


28:19: Brandi explains how progressive values and doing good work is key for owners/operators to run their business and serve the community.


29:43: Brandi highlights how evolving in times of uncertainty/duress will force us to re-evaluate the way we interact and conduct business.


30:25: Brandi offers her final remarks and encourages listeners to remain calm as there will be a better tomorrow for everyone in the end.


Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandijbergeron/
https://twitter.com/brandijude
https://www.facebook.com/brandi.bergeron.96
https://www.moonmissionmedia.com/

 

Mar 18, 2020

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes special guests from across the industry in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. As leading thinkers and experts in fitness and club operations, listeners will hear their foresight into the future and how you can stay prepared in this time of uncertainty. The upcoming podcasts will be a series of interviews we hope will be of value to you as this situation unfolds. If there is anything we can do for you, please reach out @bryankorourke or at bryankorourke@gmail.com.


Please know, we will get through this. We wish everyone the best.


Interview 1: Bryan is with Garrett Marshall, Leading Business Developer, Strategist, & Innovator of Xponential Fitness in Irvine, California. This chain has over 1,800 facility locations and an 8 brand network.


One Powerful Quote: 
8:47: “We did make a deliberate decision to not over communicate and stick to a 48-hour schedule, so that we could be more formally prepared, and you know, not having the team speaking from a unified place.”


Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
4:40: Bryan asks Garrett about his current situation and how he’s dealing with the impact. Garrett illustrates how transparent his executive team communicates and how they prepared for probable scenarios with staff/members being exposed and closing locations. He says they have taken the simplistic approach and are trying to meet members halfway.


8:05: Bryan inquires with Garrett as to when his management knew they had to prepare a communication plan around the coronavirus. Garrett says they had an internal discussion and monitored the scope of the situation to see its severity. He says, with the constant stream of new information, he and his team decided to implement 48-hour updated talks to keep their teams unified.


11:10: Garrett mentions how this issue could be a lynchpin for some brands. He describes how they can differentiate themselves from the rest such as offering free streaming service for members.


Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettmarshall/
https://www.facebook.com/garrett.marshall.56679

Interview 2: Bryan is with Dr. Paul Bedford, Researcher, Presenter & Fitness Industry Expert on Retention, Attrition, & Customer Experience. He has helped numerous operators worldwide retain customers & increase revenue.


One Powerful Quote: 
22:18: “I actually think the small organizations are going to be the ones that get the biggest hit, but I also think they’re probably the ones who customers are going to stay loyal to. And if you haven’t created the loyalty already, if you’re just providing a transactional situation,… then there’s no loyalty there.”


Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
15:25: Paul gives listeners some practical advice on how operators can keep their customers. You can watch the video he’s created for his followers here: https://www.retentionguru.com/blog


17:19: Paul gives his summary of the three phases that will impact membership attendance and retention for health club facilities. He lists what these brands should do.


20:20: Bryan asks about Paul’s personal experience in the UK. He says he is concerned but surmises the opportunity for small operators to build their value and foster a sense of community.


Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaulbedford/
https://twitter.com/guru_paul
https://www.retentionguru.com/
https://www.facebook.com/paul.bedford.378

Interview 3: Bryan is with Mike Leveque, Chief Operating Officer of MYZONE. MYZONE is the industry’s leading wearable technology solution and is in over 6,000 facilities in 65 countries.


One Powerful Quote: 
25:32: “The businesses that will win during this crisis and coming out of the crisis are the ones that do the social connectivity…It’s social connection, social cohesion, social connectivity that’s needed and to the extent that you can leverage technology to continue to build relationships with your clients that’s really important.”


Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
25:00: Bryan and Mike discuss how brands are approaching solutions to the situation for members. Mike says that the ingenuity of technology and social connectivity will leverage successful businesses.


26:40: Mike continues with examples of social campaigns and the impact for users in continuing their fitness journey.


28:52: Bryan agrees with Mike, and they mention how keeping gamification as a core aspect to keeping users engaged.


30:30: Mike offers his finals words of wisdom and reminds listeners that these hardships are temporary.


Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-leveque-29672b1/

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