How To Prepare For The Future With John Sanei

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes esteemed colleague Blair McHaney to the show. Blair is currently the President and CEO of MXMetrics, the customer experience system developed by Medallia exclusively for fitness centers. As an educator, practitioner, and student of customer experience management, listeners will hear Blair's practical thinking on the current state of the industry as it continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19. 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. If you interested in learning more about MXM and their free access to the Membership Shutdown Survey, visit https://mxmetrics.com/fitness-industry-shutdown-survey/ to sign up. If you would like to learn more about MXM's Idea Generation System, Crowdicity, register at https://mxmetrics.com/crowdicity/. One Powerful Quote: 34:30: "In a crisis, the starkness becomes more clear between the really good companies and the mediocre. It's going to become crystal clear coming out of this." Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:57: Bryan asks Blair what he has learned from this ordeal, including the decision to reduce subscription fees and the value in gaining more insight into club operations from membership shutdown. 7:20: Blair explains MXM's Membership Survey as a structured tool designed to capture feedback in understanding member's attitudes, fears, and what they care about most. 18:53: Blair highlights MXM's Idea Management Platform, Crowdicity, and its application for communication and support for employees. 23:10: Bryan and Blair discuss what will happen to the future state of the industry and how operators will have to change their business model. 35:28: Blair offers his final thoughts and advises listeners to optimize the necessary tools needed to survive while preparing a plan to excel out of their situation. Bullet List of Resources: https://mxmetrics.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-mchaney-1b086a2a/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-mchaney-1b086a2a/ https://www.facebook.com/blair.mchaney https://twitter.com/BlairMcHaney https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

2 Apr 202039min

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/

25 Mars 202032min

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/

18 Mars 202033min

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes brand and content strategist, Keri Roberts. Keri serves in a variety of roles, most notably as the podcast host for Inside VOICE and program director for VOICE Summit, one of the largest international conferences for chat and intelligence agents. As one of the leading marketers in the voice automation industry, listeners will enjoy hearing Keri's thoughts as she and Bryan discuss the importance of implementing voice interface in your brand's strategy. If you are interested in hearing Keri Robert's Inside VOICE interview with Bryan on "Voice in the Fitness Industry", you can listen to it here: https://anchor.fm/insidevoice/episodes/Voice-in-the-Fitness-Industry-with-Bryan-K-ORourke-e816j1 One Powerful Quote: 19:13: "I think voice is something that it's not just a gimmick. It's not just something that's here for a bit and going to go away. It reminds me very much of when social media came out… Voice is and continue to be the same way... I encourage to get educated on it and really think about how you can utilize it for your business, whether it's internally or externally, with your potential customers." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 2:58: Keri shares with Bryan how voice was an early adopter for younger users and the statistics behind leading brands using voice in their industries. 6:00: Bryan and Keri discuss how voice integration is a seamless interface for people to adopt technology into their lives. Keri adds how A.I. is a continuous learner through emotional intelligence and voice patterns to create trust and empathy. 9:46: Bryan asks Keri about her background and how she transitioned into her current role. 12:13: Keri discusses specific voice skills and voice role examples evident in the fitness/health club industry can create efficiency for users. Bryan agrees and notes that these and other functional tools will integrate into our daily routine. 16:54: Bryan inquires with Keri on how listeners can involve themselves in the voice industry. 19:13: Keri offers the listeners her advice on why they should consider adopting voice for their business and how to learn from it. She says that it is an invaluable tool that continues to grow and will eventually be omnipresent. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerinroberts/ https://www.voicesummit.ai/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerinroberts/ https://www.facebook.com/kerinicoleroberts https://twitter.com/kerinroberts https://www.bryankorourke.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/ http://www.fittechcouncil.org/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163

7 Feb 202021min

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes back Matthew Januszek from CES 2020 in Las Vegas. CES, the Consumer Electronic Show, is one of the largest exhibitions in the world attracting business leaders and pioneering thinkers to a forum where many industry's most relevant issues are addressed. Listeners will enjoy hearing Matthew's deeper insights from this experience and the great impact it had on his view from their previous interviews. One Powerful Quote: 7:07: "I think in the world of fitness just that the ability to kind of tailor information, support, guidance to you in a way that just never been possible in the history of the universe that was really, really powerful…Technology is a good thing because it allows us to do things that were never available before." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:30: Matthew confesses that he felt uninformed on the impact of technology with the fitness/health industry before attending CES 2020. 5:22: Bryan asks Matthew his first impressions on attending the conference. Matthew mentions that the power of information is unprecedented and how the accessibility will greatly benefit users. Bryan agrees and adds how the early stages of implementation will be challenging for legacy operators with fragmented systems of data. 11:40: Matthew and Bryan discuss key features like voice and sensory data as examples of integration into lifestyle habits. Matthew addresses he didn't quite understand this until he saw at CES exhibitors showcasing the convergence of data management and content creation. Bryan agrees but notes that this is only the beginning as the greatest business models haven't been invented yet. 18:58: Matthew remarks that going to CES gave him a new perspective on the expectation of the consumer. Bryan agrees and offers how the physical and digital realms will coalesce together. 23:30: Bryan and Matthew talk about the data strategy of business operators. With the proliferation of data, they agree that it can be difficult to decipher what is resourceful to use. 29:30: With a decrease in innovation, Bryan warns how large companies are going unregulated with monopolized control of data. Matthew suggests that there will be innovators servicing niche markets, and Bryan adds on about the importance of branding. 36:45: Matthew and Bryan share their thoughts on business partnerships and the value of strategy. Bryan advises that there needs to be a shift in the traditional business mindset, particularly in relevancy. Matthew says that niche business innovators will have the advantage in servicing communities through personal and frictionless experiences. 42:00: Bryan and Matthew sign off as regarding that trust is the most essential factor in branding a business. Matthew remarks that, unlike technology, trust is an instinctive human trait that we can either accept or reject. Bryan agrees and comments that trust will be in completely digital or human interfaces so long as the audience embraces its authenticity. Bullet List of Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjanuszekescape/ https://ces.tech https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bryankorourke_software-eats-everything-activity-6621445768387657728-b2Va/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjanuszekescape/ https://twitter.com/MatthewJanuszek https://www.facebook.com/matthew.januszek

17 Jan 202048min

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes business owner and fellow podcaster, Matthew Januszek. Matthew is the co-founder of Escape Fitness, which specializes in functional training experiences, and leads his own podcast Escape Your Limits. His show along with the success of his business have made Matthew a highly regarded figure in the space. Listeners will enjoy Matthew's insights as he and Bryan discuss his background, technology adoption, and their overall thoughts on the industry. If you interested in hearing Matthew Januszek's podcast interview with Bryan on "Building Trust For the Future of Fitness", you can watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b0kE524uYY&t=15s or download: https://escapefitness.com/us/podcast One Powerful Quote: 32:20: "I think with the world as it is and technology, you've got to find some way to just staying open and connected to all different parts of what goes on and sort of work out what information to pay attention to and what not to, so you can make sure you're still going to be relevant." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:30: Matthew shares his background and the story of Escape Fitness to listeners. 6:26: Bryan asks Matthew his intent on creating content and the impact for the industry. Matthew says he was always interested in producing it and wanted to bridge the gap on educating users. 8:47: Bryan complements Matthew on the quality of his production, and Matthew shares that his series was meant to be an inspiration to his younger self before starting a business. He wants his platform to be a guide for those to see what it takes to be an owner. 11:49: Matthew offers his perspective on technology and what that means. He suggests the right channel with the right information will help people implement a better wellbeing and lifestyle. 15:55: Bryan and Matthew discuss the challenges in simplifying data and quantifying the best metrics. They both agree that this is difficult, and many operators do not account for long-term implications. 23:56: Matthew predicts that the future of the industry will see a convergence between corporate and home gym experiences with trackable data of exercise, nutrition, and wellbeing. This will provide a greater context to the user and better optimize their health. 31:21: Matthew advises his listeners to keep an open mind and embrace change. He suggests that people need to continuously innovate and understand their position in order to stay relevant. Bullet List of Resources: https://escapefitness.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjanuszekescape/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjanuszekescape/ https://twitter.com/MatthewJanuszek https://www.facebook.com/matthew.januszek

10 Jan 202034min

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes friend and long-time supporter, Chris Stevenson. Chris has lead key roles in the space such as serving as an IHRSA Board Member, owner of Stevenson Fitness, and as the founder of Stevenson Consulting. As an international speaker and strategic business advisor, Chris is considered one of the leading thinkers in all aspects of the health club industry. Listeners will enjoy Chris's view on the future as he and Bryan discuss the value of automation, the relevance in adopting technology, and keeping the human experience core to any operation. One Powerful Quote: 16:23: "If at each point, each touch point in the customer journey, you're able to create an awesome human element and a seamless technology element, you're going to be successful. You're going to make people happy." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:32: Chris shares his thoughts on the latest adoption trends in the health club space and the value of automation. He says these insights can be impactful for both physical and digital aspects in order to focus on delivering frictionless experiences for customers. 8:40: Bryan asks Chris his opinion on the challenges in finding what is relevant in adopting technology. Chris agrees that this is the single biggest problem facing adopters, and the answer will be to integrate all of the applications into one solution. 12:23: Chris and Bryan discuss the human experience as the most important fundamental in any operation. Chris advises implementing technology in simple adoptions and to commit to its full usage. Bryan and Chris both agree that this integration will benefit both consumers and businesses. 21:24: Chris expresses his thoughts on the bifurcation of the industry. He suggest owners need to be aware of their position in the market and adjust accordingly based on their innovations, pricing, and customer expectations. Bullet List of Resources: https://stevensonempowers.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisstevensonfitness/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisstevensonfitness/ https://www.facebook.com/chris.stevenson.1232 https://twitter.com/StevensonStrong

30 Dec 201924min

This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O'Rourke welcomes friend and advocate, Emma Barry. Emma has lead key senior roles including Director of Group Fitness for Equinox and as a founder for group fitness exercise for Les Mills International. As an author, speaker, and advisor, Emma is considered one of the leading thinkers in the personal betterment sector. Listeners will enjoy Emma's views on the space as she and Bryan discuss implementation, user experience, and the business model behind boutique studios. If you are interested in Emma Barry's article publication "Customer Engagement in Boutique Studios" featured in EuropeActive's Retention Report, you can purchase it here: https://blackboxpublishers.com/en/publications/customer-engagement-in-boutique-studios/ One Powerful Quote: 4:31: "I think the surge definitely is going to continue and increase because we are living in times of convenience with technology and able to take experiences with us… some of these experiences aren't the same in person, and it doesn't matter." 4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed: 3:00: Emma shares her insights on the boutique studio phenomenon and the impact use of technology. She says these facilities have an advantage in marrying technology with their customers because it delivers high touch, personalized experiences. 6:26: Bryan asks Emma her opinion on the augmentation of at home streaming from boutique facilities. Emma agrees that this is a great option for those who want convenience in their lives, but there still may be those who attend in person events for unparalleled experiences. 9:21: Emma discusses the gap in understanding the millennial generation and the boutique craze phenomenon. She says that operators should adjust their offerings accordingly to the market, particularly for boomers who may participate in small group activities. She and Bryan also discuss how this is a competitive advantage and the opportunity it gives owners for scalability and value to their customers. 11:58: Emma and Bryan discuss innovation and noticeable trends in the space. Emma mentions the proliferation of offerings in the boutique sector including "hybrid" clubs and how their options have changed into a more specialized service. 15:00: Emma offers some pearls of wisdom and advises listeners to know their "why" and purpose for wanting to be in the boutique fitness space. She mentions that new owners should due their due diligence and understand all of the factors before committing to enter into the market. Bullet List of Resources: http://emmabarry.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-barry-51ba6a3/ Guest Contact Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-barry-51ba6a3/ https://www.facebook.com/emma.barry.33 https://twitter.com/emzboobarry

4 Nov 201930min