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If you’re a gInside the MotUS Business Expo: Why Gym Owners Are Marking Their Calendars for Nashville If you’re a gym owner who’s serious about growth, culture, and community, then you might want to clear your schedule for September 29–30. The MotUS Business Expo in Nashville isn’t your typical business event. It’s more like a two-day power-up for your mind, your mission, and your momentum—with a little red carpet magic thrown in. So what makes this event more than just another “conference”? Let’s break it down. Connection It all kicks off Sunday night with a relaxed rooftop gathering at the AC Hotel. No name tags. No pressure. Just real conversations, new friendships, and maybe even a few future collaborations. By Monday morning, you're caffeinated and connected—ready to dive into Brew & Build and a lineup of classes designed for gym owners, by gym owners and experts who get it. Sessions That Actually Matter We’re talking… Unlocking your “Why” with Aaron Flaker—get ready to rethink your purpose and find fresh clarity. Crafting your gym’s brand or implementing EOS planning—choose your growth strategy with Austin Bayles or Kari Pickering. Making your gym more fun (and profitable!) with Gean Carilmons Exploring everyday ownership realities—from team selection drama to the best air fresheners (yes, really). These aren’t vague motivational talks. These are strategic, specific, and tailored to the unique world of all-star and youth sports business. Round Tables that Get Real Let’s be honest—some of the best insights come from other owners who’ve been in the trenches. That’s why the round tables are a highlight. You’ll rotate through three raw, honest sessions covering: How others reveal team placements (and what actually works) Creative ways to streamline day-to-day operations What MotUS can do to support your gym’s future Bring your questions. Bring your quirks. Bring your favorite vacuum recs. Legendary Leadership & Financial Gameplans Tuesday’s lineup includes a deep dive into building a legendary gym culture with Justin Carrier, mastering finances with Marc Pancratz, and designing smart gym layouts with Justin Stricklin. You’ll walk away with notes, ideas, and probably a to-do list you’re actually excited about. And if you’ve ever felt the weight of leadership—Sierra Garvin’s “How Full Is Your Bucket?” will remind you why it’s worth it. Monday Night = Red Carpet Vibes What happens when you blend industry celebration with Nashville charm? You get the launch party for The Pioneers of All Star Cheer, hosted at the Musicians Hall of Fame. With red carpet photos, cocktails, live music, and book signings, this event is more than a party—it’s a tribute to where we’ve been and where we’re going. Come dressed to celebrate the sport that built your business. Bonus Reason: The Prizes. Let’s just say… you’ll want to stay until the end. The MotUS team is known for going big with giveaways. Rumor has it something unforgettable may be up for grabs. Don’t Miss It. The MotUS Business Expo is where ideas spark, businesses evolve, and lifelong connections are made. If you’re looking for a weekend that’s equal parts strategy, support, and celebration—Nashville is calling. You can check out the full schedule and sign up here: https://www.joinmotus.com/business-expo Your future self (and your gym) will thank you.

"You're either on top of the world... or questioning everything." That quote from Casey Jones captures what competition weekends really feel like for gym owners and coaches. In this MotUS Edge podcast episode, the team dives into the emotional roller coaster that comes with competition season: the thrill of a perfect routine, the sting of a narrow loss, and the leadership it takes to navigate everything in between. As the season builds to its peak, this conversation is a timely reminder that strong leadership doesn’t just show up on the mat—it shows up in how you lead your people through every high and low. 1. The Reality of Competition From the outside, competition weekends look like celebration and sparkle. But inside the arena, gym leaders know the truth: it's long days, emotional swings, and enormous pressure. Athletes and coaches invest months for moments that unfold in minutes. And the aftermath can feel brutal. As Casey shares, a coach whose teams earned second place—after battling last-minute injuries—walked away feeling like a failure. That Monday slump is real. This isn’t about being dramatic. It’s about being honest: competition weekends take a toll. 2. Leadership Isn’t Just Strategy—It’s Emotional Management At the heart of this episode is a call to lead with presence and perspective. When one coach is riding the high of a win and another is quietly questioning their place in the program, leadership is knowing how to show up for both. “Your staff is like your kids,” says Stacy. “You’ve got to celebrate one and lift up another—all in the same dinner.” Leading through events means managing energy, emotion, and expectation—not just strategy and score sheets. 3. How to Ground Your Program During Big Events 1. Normalize the Ups and Downs Wins and losses aren’t always a reflection of effort. Remind your staff: they’re great coaches even on hard days. Create space for them to decompress and reset. 2. Frame the Weekend Before It Starts As Cole shared, unrealistic expectations lead to unnecessary disappointment. Whether you're a seasoned program or first-time finalist, set clear definitions of success before you walk in. 3. Coach Your Coaches Don’t assume your staff knows how to handle feedback, parent questions, or emotional fallout. Equip them with scripts, support, and perspective. “Feedback is a gift,” says Stacy. “And if we treat it that way, we all get better.” 4. What About the Parents? Competition weekends amplify parent stress too. Hair, travel, money, food, emotions—it all collides in high-pressure environments. And when expectations aren’t managed, small things become big conflicts. Kevin reminds us: “Your parents reflect your attitude. If you're calm and focused, they’ll follow your lead.” 5. Redefine Success Too often, we tie the quality of a season to one event. But as Casey shared, some of his teams won all season, placed second at NCA, and still saw it as a failure. Meanwhile, others won their final event and called the season a win—despite early losses. It's time to redefine what success looks like: Did your athletes grow? Did your staff stay healthy and connected? Did your program culture stay strong? Did you model resilience and professionalism? If yes—you’re winning in all the ways that matter. For the Gym Owner: Practical Actions to Take Now Hold a staff huddle post-event – Let emotions settle, then debrief together. Reset goals for the final leg of season – Refocus your coaches and teams. Coach your parents – Communicate clear expectations and support protocols. Reinforce shared success – Celebrate the behind-the-scenes effort, not just the outcome. Build rituals for bounce-back – Give your coaches and kids emotional tools to recover and refocus. Why This Matters Now In an industry obsessed with the win, this episode is a rally cry for perspective. Great programs aren’t just built on banners—they’re built on emotional intelligence, cultural clarity, and consistent leadership. "Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first." – Simon Sinek Make your coaches feel seen, supported, and valued—and they’ll show up better for your kids. Listen, Learn & Lead Forward Catch the full conversation here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Then join us at the MotUS Business Expo, Sept 28–30 in Nashville. The leadership, community, and coaching support you’ve been craving—all in one place.

No one opens a gym because they love confrontation. But if you lead people, conflict is part of the job . From frustrated parents to underperforming staff, hard conversations are inevitable. What separates great leaders is how they handle them. 1. Get Clear on the Goal Before you say a word, ask yourself: What outcome am I hoping for? If the goal is to "prove a point," you're setting the conversation up for failure. If the goal is "alignment, understanding, and improvement," you're already ahead. Pro Tip: Write down your objective before the talk. Keep it simple and specific. 2. Embrace Radical Candor Kim Scott’s "Radical Candor" model offers a powerful mindset: Care personally, challenge directly. You don’t have to choose between being kind and being honest. You can (and should) be both. Say it like: "I care about your growth, and I need to give you some feedback that might be hard to hear." 3. Use the Facts, Not Feelings Avoid vague accusations or emotionally charged statements. Stick to observable behavior: ❌ "You’re always late and unmotivated." ✅ "You’ve been late three times this week, and I noticed low energy during practice." This removes defensiveness and makes the conversation feel fair. 4. Listen Like a Leader This is not a monologue. Make space for the other person to speak. Reflect back what you hear. Ask clarifying questions. Listening builds trust. Example: "Help me understand what happened from your perspective." 5. Follow Up With a Plan A conversation is just the beginning. What happens next is what counts. Set clear expectations and timelines. Schedule a follow-up. Structure it: What needs to change? By when? How will we measure it?  Real Scenarios, Real Tactics Underperforming Coach: Schedule a 1-on-1. Give specific feedback. Offer support or mentorship options. Outline next steps. Disruptive Parent: Stay calm. Restate gym policies. Bring in a third party if needed. Document everything. Tense Staff Dynamics: Facilitate a group conversation. Define roles. Realign on shared goals. Final Word: Courage is a Leadership Skill If you're having the same complaints over and over, it's a sign: a conversation is overdue . Conflict doesn't go away by avoiding it—it multiplies. Lead with compassion, but lead with strength. Because the best leaders don’t shy away from hard talks. They lean in and make them count.

Owning a gym can feel like a never-ending grind. But it doesn’t have to. The key to freedom isn’t working harder—it’s working smarter . And that starts with systems. Let’s talk about the top systems you need to get out of the weeds and into the visionary role your gym deserves. 1. Scheduling: Automate Your Calendar Use tools like Calendly, Google Calendar, or class management software to eliminate the back-and-forth. Set recurring team meetings Automate trial class sign-ups Create time blocks for admin vs. creative work Bonus: Protect your "off time" like it’s sacred. Because it is. 2. Onboarding: New Hires Done Right Create a step-by-step onboarding system that includes: Orientation checklist Video trainings Culture manual Weekly check-ins Why it matters: The faster your team is up to speed, the faster you can delegate. 3. Delegation: Build a Leadership Ladder Stop trying to do it all. Identify tasks you can train, trust, and transfer. Admin? Delegate. Social media? Delegate. Warm-ups? Delegate. Your job is vision, not micromanagement. 4. Communication: Say It Once Use a central platform (Slack, Band, Trello) to communicate consistently. Create channels or boards for: Team updates Weekly goals Parent communication templates Stop repeating yourself. Start systemizing. 5. Billing + Admin: Automate the Back End Use platforms like Jackrabbit, iClassPro, or Studio Director to: Auto-bill tuition Track attendance Send reminders Less time chasing payments = more time leading. Bonus: Weekly CEO Time Block 1-2 hours a week for high-level strategy. No interruptions. No "quick questions." Use it to: Review metrics Brainstorm growth strategies Plan your next move  Final Word: Freedom Comes From Systems The goal isn’t to do less work—it’s to do your best work . The kind of work that grows your gym, inspires your team, and energizes you. Start small. Pick one system to build this week. Because when your business runs on systems, you don’t have to run on empty.

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