Here's some recommended reading (and listening) to either wrap up your week, or kick off your weekend.
Let's kick things off with a guest blog I published this week on my own website, and a podcast I had the pleasure of recording with Mike Robertson:
- I Failed to Open My Dream Gym - Here's Why - My buddy Casey Lee made it all the way to the threshold of dumping his life savings into a gym before pivoting and going in an entirely different direction. This post touches on three of the biggest lessons he learned during that journey.
- Physical Preparation Podcast - Mike and I touched on the origins of CSP, thoughts on traditional marketing strategy, and so much more in this conversation.
My Friday FOUR:
Four pieces of content I've consumed this past week that will influence my future blog material and challenge me to think differently about how I manage Cressey Sports Performance - as always, I'm looking to bring you some business-specific information from outside of the world of fitness. Enjoy:
- The Best Employees Have Side Hustles -- Here's Why - I loved this author's suggestion of embracing employees with a "limitless capacity of thinking big." The best employees we've had over the years at CSP have been the entreprenuerial-minded ones. Coaches who approach me with ideas that will increase awareness and foot traffic in
our business are typically the ones who are also consistently working to expand their skill-sets and build personal brands outside of their time on our training floor.
- The color gold can change the way you spend money - How much thought have you put into the colors built into your branding strategy? Did you know that certain colors on the walls of a retail environment will either accelerate or slow down the
lingering and buying processes of clients? This article will make you wonder if it is time begin packaging the supplements you sell in gold, and overhaul the color scheme of every piece of branded apparel you have for sale in your gym.
- How to Debate Ideas Productively at Work - Do you and your teammates fundamentally agree on all things fitness? If so, you're on the wrong team. The gyms employing teams of yes-men are never going to innovate, and you should aspire to encounter healthy and productive debate in your work setting on a regular basis.
The key, however, is establishing an environment where these arguments are meant to find solutions as opposed to demonstrate your intelligence and "win." This HBR article shares some good ideas on how to do just that.
- What Small Businesses Can Learn from Apple's iPhone Woes - I have a hard time feeling bad for the first American company to ever be worth more than a trillion dollars. This being said, there is no denying that Apple's trendy status is slipping a little bit at the moment, and there are some interesting
lessons to be learned as a result. I especially appreciated this author's reminder of how important it is to look beyond our raving fans for insights and instead gather feedback from the people who actively choose not to do business with you. I've been guilty of overlooking this strategy to date.
Make sure to let me know if you come across any material that you think I'd enjoy. More importantly, have a great weekend!
- Pete
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