I’m sorry I have to do this. Anybody who has ever owned a business knows that being the boss isn’t always the best thing. In fact I like to joke I started my own company so that I, and only I, could decide which 100 hours a week I want to work. But I’m not complaining. I love what I do. I love that what I do helps so many of you. I love that what I do, in a small way, helps people get healthier. But you know what I don’t love? …Are you kidding me?!!! You gotta click to find out but it’s worth it…

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I bet when you decided to work in the health and wellness industry, you only looked at the positives. That’s normal. The Stewardess on the plane looked at all the travel, not thinking about the rude passengers. And I’m sure the person who decided to run for City Council believed he could make the his corner of the world a better place, never once considering that his primary job would eventually become Chief Money Raiser. So what is it about our industry that we hate?

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Make this year the year you fulfilled your New Year’s Resolution! Come in to get beach body fit for the summer! Back to school, back to the gym, join today! Eat too much turkey, we have just the thing, join the gym today! You probably at some point or another have run a similar promotion. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But if you are wondering why you constantly having downward pressure on your prices…

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This time I mean it. Really mean it. If you keep reading you will learn something. And the reason is we are going to start doing something completely new with the blog. It’s time. It needs to be done. And quite frankly I think it’s long overdue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always good for a few giggles, and we won’t be getting rid of those but…

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The better question is do smart gym owners understand how smartphones have effected their business? With all this talk about Facebook and Twitter, and whether or not hipsters should have sideburns, we seem to have forgotten one constant – that’s 60% of the US population has a smartphone and that number is growing every day. So what are you doing about that? If you still think that having a mobile strategy is for the birds then you better be ready to pack up and fly south so you can join all the other gym owners who will have time on their hands. But there is hope , right?

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Retention is a problem. Broken equipment is a problem. Dirty locker rooms are a problem. Poorly laid flooring is a problem.Angry Hossein is a problem (and when that happens, you, my friend, have a problem). Perhaps in my advanced age, I’ve just become less tolerant. Expired member credit cards SHOULD NOT BE a problem. And if you don’t know why, and you are using old methods to collect your money, that’s a problem.

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We often overlook the actual process of checking in members and moving them throughout your facility. So how can technology, Motionsoft or any other, make that flow better?

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I guess the better question is, if you had to make a-made-for-TV movie about our industry would you want it to be an after-school special on ABC, or a tear jerker on Lifetime? But that’s not really a better question, just a deeper one. The better question actually is, is there room in our market for the one-size fits all gym? And the answer is…

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So why am I showing you this picture? Well, for starters, I created it and it’s clearly “hi-lar-ious!” But there are actually two reasons. 1) To prove the power of Facebook and how Motionsoft can actually help you generate revenue through it (See more at IHRSA booth 940!). And 2)? To give the cliff notes on why these pictures, called Memes, are even more important than you realize.

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It’s hard to notice change. How hard you ask? Harder than getting into Harvard. Harder than a diamond (and that’s forever). Even harder than noticing ourselves age. As far as I can tell, I still look like the devilishly handsome 22 year-old with the charm and charisma of George Clooney. So this year while you are at IHRSA, you should be aware of some changes that have taken place.

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