The Club Insider Archives: November 2023
NORM CATES
50 Years Ago, a Fork in the Road
By: Anthony Dominic
Anthony DominicPublisher's Note: Imagine for a moment... Your life is going full speed ahead. You are where you are supposed to be, doing what you were meant to do. Life is good. BAM!!! A brick wall stops you dead in your tracks. Your path is no longer clear. Everything is up in the air. In the 1970s, this was the experience of my Dad, Norm Cates. Having graduated from N.C. State University, then serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Jet Instructor Pilot, he moved on to become an Airline Pilot. He was where he was supposed to be, doing what he was meant to do. BAM!!! The Oil Embargo of 1973 stopped him and the world dead in its tracks. As a junior pilot, he was furloughed until further notice. His path was no longer clear, and in his case, he was no longer in the air.
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Exercise IS Medicine
By: Mike Alpert
Mike AlpertFor those of you who are familiar with Jim Collins' book Good to Great, you are familiar with the Fly Wheel Concept. Specifically, it takes time and patience to create meaningful change (I refer to Improvements vs. Change), but once it begins to be incorporated, it is like a Fly Wheel. It begins slowly, and then, as it gains more recognition and acceptance, it picks up speed and accelerates. It is my opinion that this is what is happening in healthcare today as it applies to exercise being accepted as part of the adjunctive standard of care for people affected by cancer and other chronic illnesses. And, this will mandate insurance reimbursement for exercise and nutrition programs offered at health and fitness clubs nationwide.
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Effective Hiring
By: Herb Lipsman
Herb LipsmanAfter decades of leading teams in the health club and country club industries, I keep being reminded of how important it is to hire well. Nothing contributes to the success of the organization more than a good or great hire. Conversely, nothing can be more damaging to the enterprise than a bad hire. Why, then, do so many of us mess up this critical leadership responsibility? How do we keep allowing ourselves to make rushed or desperate decisions that come back to haunt us? If you are like most leaders facing various hiring decisions in your organization, here is a quick recipe for success that will result in a better batting average than your prior hiring results...
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Is Your Culture By Accident or Is It By Design?
By: Chris Stevenson
Chris StevensonWhen it comes to organizational success, few elements are as influential as culture. I've have presented a lot on this topic, and it is one of my favorites because it has such a big impact on an organization's success. I am always excited to learn more, which is why I decided to read David Friedman's "Culture by Design." In his book, Friedman presents a compelling argument for actively designing and nurturing culture within an organization. As an avid reader, I found this book to be a valuable resource, although it didn't necessarily unveil groundbreaking concepts. Instead, it offers solid takeaways and practical examples that can significantly impact how leaders approach culture within their organizations. Here are Five Key Takeaways...
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Foam Rolling and Myofascial Release for Recovery
By: Sara Kooperman, JD
Sara Kooperman, JDFoam rolling, also known as self-myofascial release, is a method that has transformed from a once mysterious performance technique used only by professional athletes, coaches and therapists, to a familiar practice used daily in gyms for many types of training and performance enhancement. Self-myofascial release (SMR) is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle, sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissue to help eliminate muscle and soft tissue restrictions, support recovery, eliminate pain and restore range of motion.
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Solving the Retention Riddle
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonThe more social interactions your members have in your facility, the more likely they are to stay. Most operators agree, and every bit of research confirms it. Interactions not only create a more social culture at your club, but in addition to retention, it massively affects your reputation. But, are all interactions equal? Of course not. Just like all experiences are not equal, i.e. working out on machines alone is a totally different experience than working out together in a group. And, even in a group, one experience may vary drastically from another depending on your instructor team, training protocols and delivery standards. So, how do you solve the retention riddle?
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IHRSA Named Top-Performing Association
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA --the Health & Fitness Association, a global community of health and fitness industry leaders-- was named a top-performing trade group as ranked by key policymakers, staff, media, influencers, lobbyists and communications professionals working in the nation's capital, according to an annual TradeMarks Survey by APCO, an independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy.
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Gainesville Health & Fitness Builds a Stronger Future
GHF Announces Expansion To Elevate Member Experience
GAINESVILLE, FL - Gainesville Health & Fitness (GHF), a cornerstone of the Gainesville community over the past 45 years, announces its latest chapter in growth and innovation. GHF, founded by Joe Cirulli, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the local community in Gainesville by expanding the already impressive 122,000 square-foot campus by an additional 11,000 square feet.
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John W. Brick Foundation Launches the Mental Wellbeing Association, the World's First Certification Organization Focused on Mental Well-Being
TIMONIUM, MD - The John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation (JWB) has established the first certification organization focused on mental well-being: The Mental Wellbeing Association (MWA). For the first time ever, education, training and certifications will be offered in mental well-being to professionals globally. This highly anticipated initiative of the JWB Foundation coincided perfectly with World Mental Health Day and has the potential to improve the health and welfare of so many.
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Norm's Notes for November 2023
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 359th monthly edition of this 30+ year running club business publication I refer to as: A Labor of Love! I'm very thankful that you've tuned in again for this iteration of Norm's Notes, as I proceed on my keyboard with my longtime habit of "Telling-It-Like-It-Is!" I'm really happy that you're reading this edition, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for sticking with us every month! As usual, we have a bunch of health and fitness club industry news, so please read on!
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