Note: I originally wrote this in July/2017, shedding some light on the emotions of being an entrepreneur in the service business. We have been at this “gym business” thing for 5 years now. And I used to feel really crappy when folks decided to move on…….leave……..quit. It was like someone breaking up with you. Really. It didn’t feel much different. But, then, I realized something………I will get to it in a minute. From time to time, I like to reflect back on where we started and where we are now. Much of that also involves remembering what I thought it was going to be like to run a business and what it really is like. What I thought patience, empathy, love, honesty, forgiveness, mental health, and hard work meant BEFORE opening up our CrossFit gym……and what it means now. Some things really haven’t changed, and some things have changed a lot. Like, when we first opened our doors, I knew we wanted to be a place that families felt welcome. That you could bring your kids to either workout or to watch their parents workout. There would be space for them and the environment would be one that you didn’t necessarily have to worry about them hearing or seeing some of the crappier stuff that may go on in a gym. (ie: cursing, half naked men, gross conversations, etc) I’m not saying none of that goes on here…
I’m asking, because the other day someone, actually a mentor of mine called me very undisciplined. This same person months ago, asked if I was disciplined in something, one aspect of my life in particular. I said yes, but not in another. He said, there is no yes and no. You either are, or you aren’t. It’s all or nothing. I’m literally still thinking about that. And if I agree with it or not. I think it’s right. He hasn’t steered me wrong yet. But, it had me thinking about the word discipline. I actually think, without looking it up, it’s another word for lazy. And, I could be wrong, because my vocabulary sucks, even though I read a lot of books. (I heard that helps) And L-A-Z-Y is a 4 letter word in my mind. Who the hell wants to be called lazy? Not me. Are we just being nice to ourselves and each other by using the word “un disciplined”?? So, fast forward to now. I talk to a lot of people on a daily basis. Some members –some not, some alumni, some friends…….and I hear a lot of reason why they aren’t coming to classes, or they stopped coming to classes, or why they can’t sign up for classes. And doesn’t it just come down to not being disciplined? I think about the crew of 7-10 people who wake up and…