The Livewell Collective - June 2019

The Livewell Collective - June 2019

THE

JUNE 2019

A TRIP WORTH TAKING

When you run your own company, it’s hard to remind yourself to take a break. I’m sure many box owners new and old struggle with this like I do. How can we even think of a summer vacation? We need to be on that daily grind, putting all our energy into our business. But that’s not how we approach fitness — rest and recovery are just as important to our health as crushing a workout. The same is true for your business. I owe this lesson to my mother. She’s run her own therapy practice for the past 40 years and she taught me a lot about the hustle it takes to be an entrepreneur. But even though she put tons of energy into her business, it didn’t stop her from taking a vacation with her kids every summer. Yes, it meant missing out on a few weeks’ worth of income, but she made it more than worth it.

ended up having a great time. To this day, some of my fondest memories come from those family vacations.

Thanks to the time my mother set aside for my brother and me, we got to see every state except Alaska by the time I graduated. We took Route 66 from coast to coast, visited Mount Rushmore, and walked through the Gettysburg Battlefield memorial. And, of course, we had plenty of oddball stops along the way, from the “Artichoke Capital of the World” to Will Rogers’ home (Mom’s a big fan). These are sights and memories you just don’t get when you fly. My fondest memories of all don’t have anything to do with a destination. What I miss most about these road trips is just being in that van with my family, talking, and watching the Rocky Mountains roll by. Looking back, my mom wasn’t “losing” income to make these vacations happen; she was investing in experiences that will last a lifetime. In 2017, I took my first vacation since founding O2. Looking to go even further afield than where our mother had taken us, my brother and I backpacked across Southeast Asia. We’d learned the value of taking things slow and enjoying the scenery. I’m fortunate to have the support of such a great team. I never could have made time to unwind without their support. It took me a long time to feel comfortable taking time off, even with my mother’s example. As someone who makes recovery drinks, you’d think I’d see the value of resting and recharging. So, if you’ve been grinding away at your box these last few years, take a little you time. Trust me, you’ll come back fired up and ready to take your business to the next level.

From the time I was 12 until I graduated high school, my breaks were largely spent looking at our country through a car window. My mother was a

huge fan of road trips, from short weekend excursions to full-blown cross-country experiences. She even got a giant conversion van to

make these journeys a reality. That beast came with a TV and fold-down twin bed. It became something of a family heirloom. Believe it or not, when I was 16, I took my driver’s ed test in that thing.

I’ll be honest — I was never excited about these vacations. Being in my rebellious teen years, I wanted to spend my time with

Happy trails,

friends, not packed into a van with my little brother. But as much as I protested and sulked in the lead-up to these trips, I always

–Dave Colina Founder, O2

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3 STRATEGIES FOR GENUIN

Even if most of your clients are located in other parts of the globe, the place your business calls home is a huge part of your identity. When a company makes a point to get involved locally, it’s doing more than making new connections and getting its brand out there — it’s also making a positive impact on the place it calls home. Most companies experience a slowdown in the summer. Here are some strategies to take advantage of that lull and create a plan for your business to get involved in the community and be a good neighbor. SUPPORT A LOCAL CHARITY Every town boasts its share of charities and nonprofits looking to make a difference. Find a cause you believe in, then help out. This could mean donating a portion of your revenue to a local women’s shelter, volunteering as a company at the soup kitchen, or sponsoring a gala that raises money for a children’s hospital. Supporting charities demonstrates your values and attracts the kinds of customers who share them. JOIN A PARADE This sounds unconventional, but sometimes it pays to think outside the box. Most towns put on a Fourth of July parade in the summer, so why not join in? Building a float

MAKE RETAIL EFFICIENT FOR YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS GREAT FORM

Here at O2, we’re big fans of smart, money saving solutions. So when CrossFit High Gear shared their strategy for minimizing credit card processing fees and making retail a smoother experience for their members, you can bet we took notice. Using nothing but a computer, this Ohio box was able to save themselves thousands of dollars. Here’s the system they implemented. SELF CHECKOUT We’ve frequently sung the praises of implementing a self- checkout system for retail, but it’s an idea that bears repeating. Not only are you freeing up your staff to focus on what they do best, you’re also encouraging members to become recurrent buyers. The fewer barriers between them and their favorite products, the more often they’ll buy. It’s no accident CF High Gear does $5000 a month in retail alone. BATCHING As impressive as $5000 sounds, credit card processing fees can take a hefty portion of those profits. Processing each purchase individually adds up; you may be out hundreds of dollars by the end of the month. That’s why boxes like CF High Gear have begun logging purchases, and then running them in large batches twice a month. This means your gym doesn’t have to invest in

a card reader and can minimize the cost of these fees. However, the way you log purchases will make all the difference. G FORMS To maximize success, a retail operation needs a seamless checkout process and an accurate log of members’ purchases. CF High Gear was able to make this work just a desktop computer with Forms open. Members input their name and purchase, and they’re good to go. Meanwhile, Forms keeps an organized log of this information, making for easy batching. Any device that can run this simple, free app is all you need for an efficient, user-friendly retail space. Now that’s a refreshing solution. thanks to Google Forms. Their checkout counter is

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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT could be a great team-building exercise, and a lot of people will turn up and see your mobile advertisement in the parade. Being in the parade shows that you’re part of the community, and when you top it all off by tossing candy to the kids, you’ll really make an impact. WORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS Your company could donate school supplies or even sponsor a program. Art and music programs are often the first to suffer from budget cuts, so support from a local business could make a huge difference. Donate art supplies to the classroom, sponsor high school theater productions, or offer scholarships to help young musicians pay for new instruments. Keep the arts alive by helping the kids in your community do what they love. These suggestions require time and resources to pull off, but making the effort can transform your company from just another business in a sea of many to a pillar in your community. GRILLED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH PINEAPPLE, CORN, AND BELL PEPPER RELISH 4 servings (serving size: 2 thighs and 3/4 cup relish)

KELLY MULLINS GETS MEMBERS TALKING THE KEY TO CROSSFIT NE GEORGIA’S HYPE Starting as a member and then eventually becoming co-owner of the second CrossFit gym to be affiliated in Georgia, Kelly Mullins knows what it takes to run a successful box. When she and her husband Ray took ownership of CF NE Georgia in 2013, membership at the gym doubled. We reached out to Kelly to learn how she’s set her box up for success. Her approach ties in to how she found CrossFit in the first place. “I was working as a physical therapy assistant,” Kelly recalls. “My boss was really into this thing called CrossFit and kept asking me to try it.” Eventually, Kelly’s boss showed her the infamous “Nasty Girls” video, and sure enough, she signed up for her first class. “My very first workout was Fight Gone Bad,” Kelly remembers with a laugh. “I hated every minute of it. So naturally, I was hooked.” Now, as an affiliate owner, Kelly’s a big believer in the same marketing that brought her in the first day — word of mouth. “We barely spend any money on advertising,” Kelly explains. “Members are what made our growth happen,” she says. “We always put them first.” And when it comes to treating members right, Kelly definitely puts her money where her mouth is. “We’re big on pushing competitions,” she tells us. “We want people to represent our gym. If they do, we give them custom T-shirts for free.” And the free swag doesn’t stop there. Kelly and her staff make a point of handing out plenty of free decals for members to deck out their cars. “I have friends in Atlanta who have seen cars with our logo,” the Gainesville box owner proudly declares. It’s clear Kelly’s more than effective at getting the word out. Reflecting on six years of being an affiliate, Kelly finds that a gym’s flexibility is what’s most important. “The biggest thing with CrossFit in general is how you’re allowed to run your own box,” she says. “Each of them is different — they have their own communities,” Kelly continues. “Don’t give up on CrossFit, and it won’t give up on you.”

INGREDIENTS

• Cooking spray • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 tsp ground cumin • 3/4 tsp salt, divided • 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground • 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 1/4 lbs.) • 2 cups fresh pineapple, cubed (about 1/2 pineapple)

• 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels (about 1 ear) • 1/3 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped • 1/4 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced • 3 tbsp red onion, finely chopped • 1 tbsp cider vinegar • 1 tsp sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a pan over medium-high heat and lightly coat with cooking spray. 2. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper; sprinkle over chicken. 3. Add chicken to pan and cook 10 minutes on each side or until done. 4. While chicken is cooking, make the relish. In a medium bowl, combine remaining 1/4 tsp salt, pineapple, and remaining ingredients. 5. Serve relish over chicken.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Calories

242 6.1g 1.5g 1.8g 1.5g

Carbohydrate

17.4g

Fat

Fiber

1.3g

Satfat

Cholesterol

118mg 2.2mg 571mg 38mg

Monofat Polyfat Protein

Iron

Sodium Calcium

Thanks, Kelly!

29.6g

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1481 Showcase Dr. Columbus, OH 43212 614-321-9TLC [email protected]

A Trip Worth Taking Page 1 Become a Pillar in Your Community One App That Will Boost Your Retail Profits Page 2 Grilled Chicken Thighs Why Kelly Mullins Doesn’t Need Advertising Page 3 Fierce Conversations Page 4

‘FIERCE CONVERSATIONS’ So often, we talk to our friends, coworkers, and loved ones without actually saying anything. We’ll beat around the bush on important subjects or hesitate to bring up sensitive matters. Global business coach and best-selling author Susan Scott has set out to change that. In her life affirming book “Fierce Conversations,” Scott argues that the key to get more out of our personal and professional relationships is to learn to lower our barriers and convey our message honestly. “Fierce Conversations” is one of those works born out of a simple idea with big implications. As the author explains it, “While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a company, a relationship, or a life, any single conversation can.” By having the communication skills necessary to create lasting bonds, handle strong emotions, and overcome barriers, you’ll be prepared when crucial conversations present themselves. Those who tend to judge a book by its cover may make the mistake of associating the word “fierce” with “aggressive.” However, as a master of meaningful communication, Scott has found that it’s important not to force emotions one way or the other. As she observes, “If your behavior contradicts your values, your body knows.” Instead of relying on fake bravado or false modesty, the author argues it’s better that the bravery be genuine. Breaking

LEARN HOW TO GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS

down those social barriers to be authentic in our conversations takes true ferocity. Scott does more than simply explain why frank and honest communication is important; she gives readers the tools to get there. Having spent years as a business coach, and now as the head of a firm that trains CEOs around the globe, Scott is well-versed in the art of teaching exercises. “Fierce Conversations” is brimming with action items, tactics, and tailor-made examples of how to communicate

in every situation, from board meetings to parenting. If you’re someone who likes concrete guides over vague concepts, this book will pleasantly surprise you.

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