There’s less overlap than you think.
What comes to mind when you think of a great coach?
You likely think of someone knowledgeable, approachable, who holds their clients accountable, and who does everything possible to ensure they achieve their goals.
Those are all admirable qualities, but are they the same ones gym owners need to be successful?
As a whole, no.
Gym owners and coaches work in totally different worlds, even though they’re often in the same building.
Coaches work in the business.
Gym owners work on the business.
Coaches take care of their clients.
Gym owners take care of their teams, and their needs aren’t the same.
Teams need leadership, opportunities for growth, and boundaries to ensure quality service is consistently delivered.
Maintaining that team requires being able to hire and fire with skill and empathy.
The team is indispensable, but it’s only one facet of the business.
Great gym owners know their business depends just as much on relationships built outside the gym as those built inside it.
They reach out to other businesses in the community to collaborate and network. They reach out to the community itself to provide value and be an asset to everyone.
They collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure those transitioning from medical care back to everyday living don’t fall through the cracks.
So, does that mean you can’t be both?
No!
It simply means coaching and owning a gym aren’t the same, and assuming otherwise is a mistake.
