Pay attention to the segment on The Scientific Method. Do you agree with this? Can one bad week, one macious comment in the community or tweet against your brand un-do hours, weeks, or even years invested in your brand?

CrossFit Central Co-Founder Jeremy Thiel sat down to meet with one of his CrossFit coaches, Travis Holley to discuss ways he could take his coaching skills to the next level and increase his income as a trainer. Jeremy gave him a few simple tips:

1. Clean up your blog & utilize it as your personal training business website
-Blog regularly, Put out interesting content, Add Pictures to the Posts, Add Success Stories & Testimonies

2. Create a Dynamic Small Group Training Program
-Use your training skill set and set up small group training sessions that clients can add on to their current training (gymnastics, olympic weightlifting, mobility, etc)

3. Create Desire for the Program
-What does the registration Include? How many spots is the program limited to?

4. Deliver Results

What transpired from this meeting: Travis re-designed his blog to look like a professional website. He wrote an article on why clients would benefit from this program. Travis created a sign up page dedicated to his Strictly Strength Program, highlighted the desire and need for the program and updated the number of spots available until it was Sold Out. He was also featured on the front page of CrossFitCentral.Com. The program Sold Out in 4 Days and he doubled his income.

“If we’re not publishing success stories, we’re failing”

Your website visitors can identify with the people in your stories. Looking at the pictures, statistics, and stories people will often associate themselves with their body type, background, or experience and think if they can do it – I can to! CrossFit Central recently published their 2010 Empowerment Stories – check them out here

Some Tips on Creating Success Stories:
1. Personality is Key
Choose various personality types – Stay at home mom, entrepreneur, athlete. Also choose a variety of age ranges and balance the male and female stories
2. Numbers are great but a story is better
Yes, you want someone who has seen great physical success and you should post their changes in weight, body fat, and inches, but you also want to know how it changed their life outside of the gym (work, relationships, family life, etc)
3. You must have a before & after picture
4. Break the story into 3 parts
Where they were before your program, where they are now, and where they’re headed

Check out Web Smith’s post on How Twitter Can Help Your Business

Dave King, of Dave King Fitness, recently talked to the CrossFit Central coaches about goals, passion, and what it means to be an Elite Coach – outside of training. He talked about vision boards, discipline and focus and at the conclusion of the meeting Dave challenged the group to define your purpose.

Goals, vision & discipline are topics CrossFit Central coaches consistently discuss in our meetings. We have laid out our 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month goals and have even pinpointed a mantra, but we’ve never been asked to define our purpose. It sounds like an ambiguous all-consuming question. But when you clearly define your purpose, your days, your goals, and your achievements almost seem effortless – you truly begin to live a life of intention.

What is your purpose?

Meredith Lewes, owner & founder of CrossFit Lewes, came to The Blueprint Training in May 2009. Since that time she has grown her community, hired full time trainers, and is now opening a 2nd location! Congratulations Meredith! “Hey CrossFit Central, just wanted you to know I’m now opening my 2nd CrossFit…and it all started with you all helping me along the way last May! CrossFit Lewes and CrossFit Riverfront. Is this a dream ”

Many new CrossFit affiliates get stuck in the beginning stages of getting their box up and running with one simple question – What do I call it? Check out Inc Magazine’s tips on How to Choose the Best Name For Your Business.

“Interested? You should be. Come for the workout and stay for so much more” the About Us section reads on Bayou City CrossFit’s Website. These sentences embody the spirit of Bayou City CrossFit: subtly confident, empowering, witty and fun. In most businesses, the culture, brand and community is cultivated by its leaders and the spirit of Bayou City CrossFit unquestionably vibrates from Vic Zachary, owner of Bayou City CrossFit, and his trainers in Houston, Texas.

If you’ve had the opportunity to meet Vic you were probably greeted with a firm handshake, a hug, and a giant smile. He has an undeniable style, complete with a mohawk and vivid tattoos blazing across his shoulders back, thighs, and calves. Vic is serious about getting people results and he’s confident that CrossFit is the way. He is also equally serious about having fun and maintaining the laid back humble atmosphere in his box.

Not only is Vic Zachary an entrepreneur, fierce competitor, and SICFIT sponsored athlete but he has experienced significant events that few can relate to. At only 28 years old Vic’s list of achievements include (deep breath) joining the Army, graduating Airborne & Ranger school, completing a tour of Iraq in 2003, working on the Special Response Team for Wackenhut Security Service in Tennessee, working as a Federal agent for the D.O.E. on the Special Response Force, Firearms  Instructor for the agency, competing in the Security Protection Officer Training Competition in 2005 & 2006, competing in the World SWAT Challenge in 2006, taking 3rd place in the 2009 CrossFit Regionals, Placing 32nd in the 2009 CrossFit Games, winning 1st place in the 2010 CrossFit Regionals, and taking 36th place in the 2010 CrossFit Games. Two years ago Vic added business owner to this list when he opened a CrossFit affiliate.“I wanted to help the community, there are too many unhealthy people in Houston.”

The box was successful, they had reached 150 clients, hired a handful of coaches and people were getting fit. But there came a point when things seemed to be getting too big, the growth wasn’t controlled, tight systems weren’t in place, and Vic and his team were working non-stop. It was at this tipping point that Bayou City CrossFit decided to sign up for the Garage Gym Blueprint. “I know the great things that Central has done, and wanted to see if it could work with us as well.”

Everyone has their own definition of success. To Vic, Bayou City CrossFit’s success meant the clients were happy, people were reaching their goals, and his trainers were making good money. Before attending the training Vic wrote “I’m not all about the money, I didn’t start this to be rich, but I want my coaches to make good money I want them to be able to do this full time. Businesses is not my thing its been a up and down battle for me, I love to coach, I love to talk to my clients and new clients but I need to improve the business of Bayou City CrossFit”

In May Vic & Katie Russel made the trip to Austin and spent 3 days learning the Blueprint to Central’s success. After the training Vic had a list of things he wanted to improve and implement including systems, implementing Mind Body Online, setting up auto payment, and improving media and marketing. One of the first changes was also a challenge. Bayou City raised its prices and switched to the closed class model after running programs on an open model for two years. They lost 10 clients.

This might seem like a disadvantageous decision; however, in 4 months Bayou City CrossFit has added 55 new clients (going from 150 clients to 215 clients), added 3 full time coaches, moved into a new gym, launched a new website, added coach blogs and twitter to their marketing plan, and held an event with over 270 athletes and spectators. Their classes are filling up and free workouts always operate at full capacity.

Vic has an intense passion for CrossFit, people, life, and creating excellence in the fitness industry. The title of his blog boasts “For the Love Of It” in many posts Vic writes “I love this”, picture albums on Bayou City CrossFit are titled “Love It”, “Love It/Hate It” and when flipping through pictures of Bayou City’s members, everyone is smiling. Aside from implementing tighter structure and systems Bayou City still keeps the energetic atmosphere alive through their camaraderie, family-like environment…and there’s always “spread eagle burpees, that’s always fun”

Since attending The Blueprint, Vic and his team have reached their 3 month goals for Bayou City CrossFit and are well on their way to achieving their 12 month goals. New goals for the box? “To grow our high school program for young athletes, to be able to reach more people in Houston, to have some of the best CF coaches, to always make it fun”

Over 50 CrossFit Affiliates came out to the Regional CrossFit Affiliate Gathering on Sunday, hosted by CrossFit Central, Alamo CrossFit, CrossFit Dallas Central & CrossFit Bayou City! They shared their challenges, successes and ideas on how to improve and grow the CrossFit community.

Check out the Regional Affiliate Gathering Pictures

There was a lot of great information given out at the gathering – new websites & upcoming events mentioned are below

Alamo CrossFit’s PinkDoughnut.Com
Alamo CrossFit’s Alamo Endurance
CrossFit Austin & G7 Athletics OlyAthlete.Com
CrossFit Central’s GarageGymBlueprint.Com
Youth in Motion Foundation

Oly Athlete Open – August 28th More Info
Bayou City CrossFit’s Barbells for Boobs – October 23rd More Info
CrossFit Dallas Central All Cities Open – December 10th – 12th More Info

September Training – 3 Spots Left
November Training – 4 Spots Left
More Information & Register

Check out Web Smith’s latest post on Vision Boards and why they work

The very first Garage Gym Blueprint Newsletter is in the works! We will feature a Garage Gym Success Story, advice, featured video on the garage gym business and more. Join the community & sign up for The Blueprint Newsletter here.