Author: Lisé Kuecker

It may have taken us a little over 200 episodes, but she’s finally here, the first incredible woman to introduce gyrotonics to the Ready. Aim. Empire. podcast!

I’ve been doing gyrotonics for years and have found it to be one of the most beneficial (and enjoyable) movement modalities I’ve ever encountered. But beyond being in love with Emily’s paradigm, I’m also in love with her story because she’s living proof that growing your studio doesn’t have to be a drawn-out, painful experience filled with breaking points.

See, there’s this common misconception that growing pains are inevitable when building a business and that you have to struggle to experience the Cinderella story ending.

Of course, there’s still a “no guts no glory” element… we all have to be a little crazy and daring to dive into studio ownership, don’t we?

However, if approached with the right mindset and process, growth can feel like how we anticipate any growth in life, a little uncomfortable and scary, but by no means so painful and angst-filled it’s going to cause us to throw up our hands in defeat.

And the key to that kind of growth? It’s all about starting small.

That’s what Emily did, and that’s the same advice she gives to any other person looking to start their business.

Start small, start scrappy, and focus on the half of the work that’s going to allow you to make the greatest impact now.

For Emily, that first area of her focus when growing InJoy Movement Studio, was becoming the best instructor she could be so she could help produce the most transformative experience for her clients possible.

Then, after she felt she had mastered her instruction, it was time to move on to focusing more on the business side of the studio, and it was there she realized she needed help, which she found in The Client Cure.

And while within the program she moved to an exponentially larger studio, transitioned all her clients to a recurring revenue model seamlessly, ditched the class pass model for good and began building her rockstar team.

There’s a lot of the story in the middle you need to hear, but I think it’s best told by Emily, so plug in your earbuds to listen in on the story of her journey, it’s an inspiring one.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The definition and difference between Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis

• The gap in the industry Emily identified as the opportunity to stand out in an otherwise saturated Pilates town

• One of the greatest lessons I’ve personally learned from Emily and her journey

• Why starting small was crucial to Emily as both a teacher and a business owner and why Emily wanted to focus on being a great teacher first

• How to introduce big changes to your studio without triggering mass hysteria among your clients

• Where she believes the boutique fitness industry is headed in the years to come and the shifts studio owners need to make now to become or remain successful

To connect with Emily on social media, follow her on Facebook.

With Grit & Gratitude,

Lisé

You’ve made it!

It might feel like it’s taken eons, or maybe it feels like it was all a flash, and you can’t believe it’s happening, but…

You’re at the Freedom Stage!

You’ve built your studio to the point where you can confidently step back and let your team lead at the front while you maintain your role as visionary and CEO of the business.

{ Psst… if you haven’t listened to the other 3-parts to this series, head here to listen to Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, those pieces are crucial to arriving at this Freedom Stage.}  

It’s a beautiful place to be, but as you can expect (because this is business, after all), the buck doesn’t stop here…

You might be in the season of scaling back your time in the studio, but there are still decisions to be made and opportunities to be grasped, they’re just ones that uniquely present themselves in the Freedom Stage.

For example, have you thought about dabbling in other areas of investment to diversify your portfolio of assets?

Have you considered taking the framework, methodology or movement you’ve created and taking it to a new market on a new scale?

How about getting your processes in order in the case that you decide to sell?

I know these are BIG questions and ones that can bubble up a whole new host of doubt, but you’re equipped to handle it, and you’re going to want to if you’re going to continue to build your legacy assets.

One of the most significant takeaways I think you’ll have when listening to this episode about the Freedom phase is that this isn’t a stage for stopping, rather sustaining, savoring, and spreading your wings to soar toward new opportunities that are now yours for the taking.

So, let’s go after them!

Here’s what else you’ll learn in this episode:

• How your role and your manager’s roles will evolve in this new phase of your studio growth
• Why you need to be aware of the “pheasants” that present themselves at this stage, keep your eyes on the prize, and protect the asset you’ve built
• What pieces of your infrastructure you’ll need to have in place before drastically stepping back from your studio
• The 4-pronged approach to continued asset development and acquisition that you’ll encounter in the Freedom stage and the initial steps to navigating the next path that’s best for you

With Grit & Gratitude,

Lisé

One of my favorite things about being able to talk with entrepreneurs and experts on this show is hearing their “start stories…”

The stories that detail the initial spark and turn of events that have led these folks on to a new path and journey that has brought them to where they are today.

I can’t say I have a favorite “start story” because I think they’re all beautiful in their own unique way, even the stories that start with tragedy instead of triumph, or slumps instead of sales.

However, I can say that I think all the best start stories and the ones that “end” in the most fabulous successes are the ones that begin organically.

Such is the case with my guests on today’s episode, Jodh Dyson and Savitree Doppelt, the Co-Founders of Urban Yoga Chicago who have followed an organic growth pattern that has taken on a movement of its own.

In fact, their movement was so organic, and their “smart small” attitude so mighty, that Urban Yoga Chicago and their community didn’t even have it’s own brick-and-mortar studio until a couple of years in.

Of course, like any story worth telling, they’ve encountered bumps and roadblocks along the way. But with tenacity and my program, The Client Cure, Jodh and Savitree have made it possible to continue cultivating a thriving community of students and teachers hosted in a beautiful space that fits their unique tastes and offerings all while growing into a profitable powerhouse.

If you’re someone who likes to flip the norm on it’s head, think outside of the box, and approach navigating the road to your definition of success a little different than most, I think you’ll find Jodh and Savitree kindred spirits and love hearing their story.

Things you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Jodh and Savitree met and built Urban Yoga Chicago from the ground up

• Why they introduced kundalini yoga to the public and the strategies they used in starting their teacher training without having a brick and mortar

• What challenges and “crash and learn” lessons they went through that ultimately made them feel like they had to start over

• Why they believe there are no rules when building your business and that culture and community start from the top down

• How the Intentional Intake process and other strategies learned in The Client Cure changed the profitable success of Urban Yoga Chicago

Find Urban Yoga Chicago on Social

Facebook

Instagram

With Grit & Gratitude,

Lisé

We’re over the hump of the studio growth stages, out of the quicksand, and on to the stage that for me, is the stage I always look back on most fondly when reflecting on my path of building up my various studios to multiple 7-figures.

After what can sometimes be a long slog through the Build Stage, this third part, The Grow Stage, just feels so sweet…

Like you’re finally in your groove, and you’ve hit your stride. New clients are consistently coming in, and you’re regularly paying yourself. (Hallelujah!)

Now before we dig into this stage, first I want you to go back and listen to the episode on Part 1 and Part 2 of The Four Stages Every Studio Must Pass Through, if you haven’t already.

These are all foundational layers that build upon one another, so if you jump head first into Part 3 after only listening to Part 2… you still need that first layer.

Trust me, business is baby steps, and these stages will all add up in due time.

Speaking of baby steps, that is also the best way to approach Part 3, The Grow Stage.

Because as sweet as this stage may be, it also comes with its own challenges, most notably being the belief that “my clients don’t want anyone but me.”

The Grow Stage is all about leveraging your offers, leveraging not just your time, but the time of your team members, and how you’re going to build beyond yourself.

Since this stage naturally involves less of you in the day-to-day operations and more in the role of CEO, it’s natural to feel that nagging pull and voice in your head that wants to keep you “safe” in that space of being in the minutia of your studio operations.

However, after listening to this episode, we’re going to quiet that voice and get you steamrolling ahead with your systems so you can move on to that final stage of studio growth.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How to navigate understanding and stepping into your evolving role as the CEO of your studio
• What areas of your studio your focus will shift to as you continue to leverage your team members’ time
• Critical evaluation points for finding the best fit team members who will help lead alongside you as you continue to grow your business
• Tactical steps you can take to prepare both you and the business for your biggest managerial hires yet
• How to ensure your clients are happy and well-taken care of throughout the various shifts you’ll make in the Grow Stage

With Grit & Gratitude,

Lisé