By Alan Shaw, Co-Founder and Head Coach of Rhapsody Fitness in Charleston, SC
Welcome to Box Building! Follow Rhapsody Fitness Co-Founders Alan Shaw and Trinity Wheeler as they continue to build one of the fastest growing gyms in South Carolina. Answer the hard questions, explore various approaches, dive into strategy and share lessons learned that go far beyond fitness to be universal across entrepreneurship and startups.
We’ve covered serious ground since starting our Box Building – The Business Of Fitness series.
Chipping away one topic at a time, we answered hard questions, explored various approaches, dove into strategy and shared lessons learned that went far beyond fitness to be universal across entrepreneurship and startups.
Let’s regroup on the 10 topics our Box Building series has covered so far:
MISSION CONTROL – THE MAKINGS OF A MISSION STATEMENT
Often seen as a perfunctory box to check, we believe the mission statement, a short summary of your values and objectives, is a critical component that needs to be at the core of every business. Here are the three reasons why.
CORE VALUES DEFINED – WHAT THEY ARE, WHY THEY MATTER + HOW TO CHOOSE YOURS
Before Rhapsody Fitness was even a sparkle in our eye, Trinity and I dropped into 100+ CrossFit affiliates across North America while on tour for several years with the Broadway show Les Misérables. It was immediately clear what separated the best of the best in the industry – elite coaching, a well-maintained facility and a strong set of core values.
Rhapsody Fitness in Charleston, SC.
KNOW YOUR ROLE – DEFINE IT FIRST, DON’T BUDGE + DELEGATE
As humans, it’s critical for us to know our role – whether it be as a leader or team member – so we understand expectations and can act accordingly in the context of different situations. Business is no exception. The first rule, especially as an owner, is to define and own your role.
BUILD THE A-TEAM – SET EXPECTATIONS, HIRE CHARACTER + ASK HARD QUESTIONS
Your greatest assets will always be your people. From the community and collaborators surrounding your business to those working within the four walls, success hinges on the humans involved. Here are the three fundamental truths we’ve learned when it comes to building your A-Team.
SPEAK THE HARD TRUTH – COMMUNICATE YOUR WAY TO TRANSPARENCY
Creating a culture that thrives off honesty, clarity and trust comes from the top down. For this environment to exist, you need to set the standard from the start and continue health checks as your organization grows. Here are 5 lessons we learned and continue to practice when it comes to creating a transparent team culture.
Rhapsody Fitness in Charleston, SC.
TEST THE SYSTEM – SIX STEPS TO CREATE, TEST + TRUST YOUR PROCESS
Regardless of size, stage or age, we’ve come to appreciate that systems and processes are the backbone of a business. Rarely given the credit due, having them in place is the only way to grow your team and scale your operation. Whether you’ve just signed on the dotted line for your LLC or have been in business for years, here are six steps to start creating systems and processes to suit your unique venture.
KEYS TO THE KINGDOM – FIVE WAYS TO DELIVER A LEGENDARY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Want to raise the bar on your brand? Tie it into a magical, memorable customer service experience. Every successful brand has a signature experience that blends into each client interaction. We follow suit here at Rhapsody Fitness, and find there are five ways to go about creating a unique and legendary customer experience for your business.
MAKE IT SHINE – WHY PRISTINE SPACE MATTERS + THREE WAYS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
The work itself may not be sexy (although oiling a barbell has its moments), but the result sure is, because keeping a flawless facility your members and visitors can count on will set you apart. Here are three ways we make it happen at Rhapsody.
Rhapsody Fitness in Charleston, SC.
THE RIGHT CUSTOMER – 4 REASONS TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE + STICK TO THEM
We know who we are, we know who we want to attract, and we know what we want to accomplish together. I am certain that focusing on the right customer from the start helped us become one of the fastest growing gyms in South Carolina. If this doesn’t motivate you to be selective about who you draw to your business, then here are 4 reasons to stay the course on your clientele.
ADAPTOVATE – INNOVATE SO YOU CAN ADAPT
Adapting is what we do in response to the unknown or unanticipated – it’s a fast reaction to seize opportunity or avoid disaster. Innovation, conversely, is a proactive slow burn to stay one step ahead of the curve and set our business up for success in an ever-evolving landscape. Bring these two together and …drum roll, please.. we adaptovate, using innovation to empower and enable critical adaptation when faced with the unknowable.
Continue this conversation on Rhapsody Radio where we host in-depth discussions on each Box Building topic, or reach out to us at [email protected] if you’d like help building your box.
