We're All In This Together [#InTheTrenches ft. Caleb Homer]

#InTheTrenches catches up with Caleb Homer, owner of NarroWay Fitness to discuss leadership, principles, values, planning, staff development, and a "before, during, and after" look at "readiness and resiliency" through this crisis.

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Transcript

spk_1:   0:04
Welcome to in the trenches, a weekly podcast series dedicated to entrepreneurial leadership the principles and values that define and develop it as well as actionable steps that you can take to immediately lead your team to victory. Good afternoon, guys. This is Eric Quick, Claire over and push Press. And I am honored to have Caleb here today. We got a chance to meet through our event X program. And I was, of course, impressed with Caleb Peterson and his organizational structure and his creativity and initiative. And so I wanted to reach out and grab a bit of his time to share some things about his personality and his leadership. Dial on. So, Caleb, if you don't mind, go ahead and give us a little background for the folks that are watching. Where you from? Talk to us about your affiliate and maybe your background of your gym.

spk_0:   1:02
Yeah, I love to Eric. Thank you, guys. They got for having me on. I'm honored to be to be on this thing. So we're in Texas for an Eastern rural Texas. Um, our affiliate offers specifically rowing a growing studio. Um, obviously CrossFit classes. Um, you know, your standard morning. Afternoon in mid morning class. And then Ah, and then we do nutrition coaching as well. So we have a registered dietitian on staff to toe walk people

spk_1:   1:31
through

spk_0:   1:32
nutrition. Coaching as well. We opened were brand new. We opened this past December. So we're just a few months into this.

spk_1:   1:43
Talk about first year challenge it, huh?

spk_0:   1:46
Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.

spk_1:   1:48
Childs, wild man. So, um, from an organizational standpoint, you're the owner, correct?

spk_0:   1:56
That's your yet

spk_1:   1:57
box about any staff coaches. You do have a r d, right? So they work for you as well,

spk_0:   2:02
right? Right. And then we've got three. L one. Um, we've got a morning on early morning, mid morning and in the late afternoon as well with myself. So I coached a rolling studio to row in studio classes across the kids on and then their coaching CrossFit. Um, and I could CrossFit classes in the morning and afternoon as well. So we've got about six or seven classes today.

spk_1:   2:27
Wow. Okay, so we got a chance to see this. From a national standpoint, we've watched almost like certain states start closing down before other states. And so meeting up to this. Do you have a model or ah, leadership model that you have been developing your coaches on when you opened? I know. Is this very brief? But from when you opened and certainly stuff here about what's going on, were you working on there or facial construction, girl, their sales pipeline. Walk me through like how you're developing your coaches.

spk_0:   3:06
Sure. So, um, Man, my approach in terms of leadership with our coaches is one just remain authentic to know your story. Uh, and in three, um, just ask for feedback and drive and keep back. And, Joe, um, whether you're faced with the challenge of Tobin 19 or a loss in the family or a ton of success, um, or really anything if you know who that who you are. All right. You know your identity. Um, and you're always asking for feedback, trying to be sharpened. It doesn't matter. On what, into the spectrum you're at, you're always going to be one chipping away at becoming a better person so that you can conserve as a coach Better. Uh, and then second, you're not gonna get lost, right? You're not gonna get Boston. The in the you know the madness of of depravity. And you're also not going to get lost in the madness of uber success. So, yeah, trying Teoh trying to lead in that way, you know,

spk_1:   4:17
how did how did you find your coaches? Did you develop them out of older clientele that you knew, or did you solicit from across the community?

spk_0:   4:26
Yeah, definitely. Personal relationships. Um, you know, people that that I knew outside of of owning an affiliate, because again, we're brand new. So, yeah, just going to the people that I do. One that would be great people toe have around. Um, you know that that's really the number one thing. Culture, I mean, is key. So making sure that that that character check box is is always checked first and

spk_1:   4:55
then, Yeah.

spk_0:   4:56
Are they capable of of coaching a class? Um, you know, Kim may lead people safely. Do they understand the direction that we're going on? And they are they on board for, you know, but the future, what the future could look like in what we wanted to look like,

spk_1:   5:12
dig it. Totally dig. It s oh, we recognize it. Obviously. In time of strife or struggle obviously now a time of crisis. People look to leaders both for morale or for purpose or for direction. And you have to fill those shoes not only for your staff, for your clients. So if you are too become rial. How did you personally reflect on your willingness readiness? Take this on as now, the infant affiliate owner, but yet in charge of all these people?

spk_0:   5:47
Sure. Yeah. I mean, that's a great question and a great point. Um, to make some glad that you asked that, um, I think it's leaders. Uh, we have to remember to take that time to step back and reflect before we move forward. Like in order to be successful as we can be in this next phase. If we're not taking time for ourselves to to process how I'm gonna take this on as the leader, we won't be as successful as we could be. How do we take in that time? Um so for some, maybe it's 30 minutes. Step back. You know, I'm gonna write something down. I'm in the process of thought for others. It might be a full weekend out of the lake. For others, it might be man. I just need to have an evening where I sit and process this with my wife. But if we're not taking that time t to take a step back and process that again, I don't think we will be successful for me personally. Um, it was one of those, you know, day, day and 1/2 things over the weekend. Um, where I was kind of afforded some time the way that things laid out with our executive order in our government. You know, our governor came out and said on a honey Thursday, Hey, effective Friday at midnight, Everything is shut down. Um, you're done until April 3rd, which is today. And then write. It got extended to the 30th right? Um so for me, it was yeah. Yeah, taking that we didn't have. Yeah, exactly. And, you know, I think I think this is a good time to kind of entered a quote that that I have found on incredibly helpful from earlier, that I highly value. He said There's people that make things happen. There's people that let things happen. And there's people that asked what happened.

spk_1:   7:58
Do

spk_0:   7:58
and I think we have to choose to be the leaders that they hate. I got punched in the mouth and I'm gonna get up and I'm gonna make something happen. You know, I'm not gonna let the stream get me down.

spk_1:   8:12
I dig it, man. I dig it. I'm so impressed that that is some the quality piece to really put in front of owners high right now and say, you've got to make this choice. You have to do something. You know, sadly, we're looking at some of feel ticket owners and micro gym owners that are struggling, and you want to be able to let and whether it's academic hand or support hand or something. It's exceptional that you can see that and understand that as the leader of your community that you've got to take action immediately. How did you communicate to your staff? Hey, we've got a pivot. We've got to get something moving here by then. Let's say that next Monday. June meeting with an order.

spk_0:   8:54
Yeah. Yeah, So I mean, uh, I called a staff meeting that, you know, immediate Friday. Um, so within a day it was Hey, we need to get together when you talk about a water the next steps. From what are we gonna roll out to our members, Um, at auction to continue providing value for them? Um, because this is, you know, for a lot of people, you know, your second home, and so that's under deteriorating. You don't want this to be one of those things. So that was, you know, a lot of the same things that people are doing online. June classes, morning afternoon, nutrition, nutrition challenges, getting together with our nutrition team, putting together a series of nutrition challenges that people can get engaged with daily at at home workout that open up our doors to the greater community saying, Hey, you don't even need a membership t be on this fitness journey. And, hey, there's an introduction to some of the things that we do allowing people to invite friends and family in, um, during a hard time in, Like, that's what we're all about, right? Move your body. Uh, be healthier. Um, you don't have a membership, Teoh, be healthier, you know.

spk_1:   10:12
Awesome. Now, did you happen to go down the direction of offering any kids programs? Are you doing anything for those kids that are now stuck at home at school.

spk_0:   10:20
That's a great question. It's on the radar for sure. Um, and actually, I'm a I'm a p e teacher on the side as well at a private school here in town.

spk_1:   10:29
And

spk_0:   10:29
so yeah, kicking around some ideas with, uh, with our leadership staff on how can we engage kids to keep them moving to right

spk_1:   10:38
excellence. So now we're in a spot where there's, like, constantly shifting global posts on how long folks are going to stay closed for obviously you return with third knife all the 30th. What kind of conversations are you having with your staff or even with some of your close clients that might go May June, July. Something if you guys talk down that road at all,

spk_0:   11:03
man is impossible to, right? I mean, it's hard, Teoh. Try to hit a moving target. And so, um, you know, right now, I feel like, um, we're treating it as if we're on a were on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean, and we know that way is north. We don't

spk_1:   11:22
need any

spk_0:   11:23
dry land. Really. We're looking for it. We know that it's that direction. Um, but where but we're all in it together, um,

spk_1:   11:33
to get I dig it. How did your community received that message early on? That this was you got this with your pivot. You were going to go online. They were happy with it. Anybody struggling with it?

spk_0:   11:47
Man, I cannot. I can not say enough about our people. Um, our community, our folks, they have been incredibly supportive. Um, of what we're going through right now,

spk_1:   12:01
E.

spk_0:   12:01
And I think that yeah, I think that, um a lot of that hinges on, you know, just the way things that presented whether or not you're authentic with your people on. And I think at the end of the day, it boils down to, um this is the pressure cooker for your gems culture, period in the story by as affiliates, this is putting downward pressure on your culture. And if things are fracturing, just take it as an opportunity to learn and grow from from what you're culture is like, I again like to see the way that our our people in our community have stepped up and supported us. And, man just engagement with our at home workouts and email supportive emails that I've gotten. It's just it's just a testament to the authenticity of the fact that man, we're in this together like they are supporting me and they see man, you're doing everything you can t keep us

spk_1:   13:14
provide them yet I dig it. Yeah.

spk_0:   13:18
Yeah. And so, um, I don't say that to a Philly owners to be like, Hey, if things were falling apart, you're no good. That's not one thing. All I'm saying is allow this to be a teachable moment. So where if things aren't where you thought that they were Hey, it's just an opportunity that that's why we're talking, right? It's an opportunity to step up and and Teoh in person stuff

spk_1:   13:47
digging men are there on that.

spk_0:   13:49
We're where we're in a place that that I'm proud of. It doesn't mean we don't have things that we need to improve on for

spk_1:   13:55
sure. I guarantee every affiliate owner is got a list, and they're walking down each day trying to look at items that they can improve upon. I mean, obviously no one is a gym right now. And so there are some affiliate owners that are overhauling your facility. No, I'm not just cleaning the rowers, cleaning the assault bites. But they are. They're painting. They're improving there bathrooms and improving their office space. They're getting new logo's on the door. But, I mean, some people are going in town.

spk_0:   14:19
Well, that's the point. I wanted to make it. You know, um, this is an opportunity for you to catch up. Sure, it sucks. It sucks. Your doors are open, Okay, but this is an opportunity for you to do that project you've been putting off because you haven't had time. It's an opportunity to like that Deep Queen. It's an opportunity to dig into your financial than know your numbers. It's an opportunity to increase your Web presence and improve your website. It's an opportunity like it is an opportunity that you can control versus downfall. That is,

spk_1:   14:51
Ali out

spk_0:   14:51
of your control, you know, and and after yourself, it's if they got on the TV tomorrow and that you can open your doors in 12 hours. Would your business be better or worse then, when your doors closed? Yeah, and I think the answer is not better than what are you doing

spk_1:   15:13
right that this isn't a vacation time for affiliate owners right now?

spk_0:   15:17
Sure, sure. Yeah, Exactly.

spk_1:   15:19
So to that point because we recognize we exist. All gym owners air existing on this spectrum, those that are thriving and those that are learning. But then we've got a trunk of a 50 donors that are falling apart. If you had a chance to deliver a message through this opportunity, what would you encourage them to do? Or to, um, what would you say to them? The founder of the non thriving ones?

spk_0:   15:46
Sure, sure. I mean, I think the first thing you have to do is like a triage situation and figure out where's the bleeding? And it's probably something along the lines of non renewals or people putting their accounts on pods or something to that effect. You know, they're defining there, there, uh,

spk_1:   16:04
the worst. Or they're

spk_0:   16:05
just Yeah, they're like they're defining it at. Okay, I'm failing because everyone's pausing their account. Okay, then I need to address I want one. How do I keep people from pausing like, come up with some sort of strategy for keeping people from pausing their accounts, communicating value of the pause, but then also offer alternative solutions? Um, get created around. You know what? What can you do? Right? What can you control? Um, man, it's been called to see some of the ideas people have come up with, you know, around how they can keep some revenue streams going. I mean, um,

spk_1:   16:49
new person alone used to be a pretty powerful one.

spk_0:   16:52
Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And I mean, the nutrition side of things you know, is a great example of, like, the value of those personal relationships. Because there's there's so many at me. No, go spin, you know, $60 a month and get this template id personalized nutrition plan. That's not personal. It all. And yeah, maybe you contest the human being whenever you want or whatever, but it's not a person that is

spk_1:   17:25
qualified

spk_0:   17:26
that lives in the town. Yeah, and I know that that's a resource on, and it may be not may not be a viable option for some people. They're just they don't have that in place. But, hey, let's let's work towards getting that employees

spk_1:   17:40
awesome. You know, that's really dig it. I'm really I'm really impressed with the ability for you to communicate to your staff like we've gotta have flexibility. We've got a drive innovation you gotta think about, you know, facing forward community for and the fact that you said authentic human human relationships of first you're set up like you're so you're set up for long term success that way guaranteed, guaranteed. Thank you. Anything you want to leave with, any questions or any reflections? Kind of. Now, on this, this first journey into owning a gym?

spk_0:   18:17
Sure. Yeah. I mean, I was been part across it for for a long time now. I mean, I think 14 would like my first intro to, like the open and the games and all that. So, um I mean, not as long as a lot of people, but, um, saying this community go through this together, it is really, really kind of neat. I think that, you know, we put, um, the big names in the big people up on a pedestal sometimes, um, the runnings and the, you know, the winners of the games and the,

spk_1:   18:56
you

spk_0:   18:56
know, talking a week fitness guys. And one thing that's like been really kind of eye opening was like I heard, uh, thrown and giving up, giving his podcast the other day and he was like, Yeah, man, like we're wondering some of the same being bike. You know, people can't playing and and we're trying to support staff. And, you know, we're trying to figure, you know, figures getting down and

spk_1:   19:18
real human.

spk_0:   19:19
Yeah, like he's a guy face, too. But it's the real deal. I mean, you're watching like Elijah Mohammed, like lead a zoom class, you know, And you're like, Man, this guy's going through like

spk_1:   19:31
this. He's doing the same

spk_0:   19:32
thing that I'm doing it. Six oclock in the morning at 5 30 He's a multi time games athlete, and we're all in this boat together, you know, go to see like it's not the, you know, guy that worked at the factory and George Clooney, you know, or Tom Cruise and the person checking out at the grocery so you might have seen them on TV. But they can relate, and, uh, that it's really cool. It's really cool, and you never know me, like reach out to the people that you think won't answer your messages like Reach out to Dan, you know, just cause he's the CEO of Push breast Man. That doesn't mean he wanted to Your questions, you know, reach out. Yeah. I mean, reach out to reach out to the big name people that you think won't give you the time of day. You'll

spk_1:   20:23
be from it. Yeah, I agree. Totally, Totally agree, man. Well, I appreciate your time. I know is a gym owner. It is stretched thin right now. So from all of us and push us myself. Getting to know you has been a great honor. Know that you're gonna lead your team through this.