

Run a Profitable Gym
Chris Cooper
Run a Profitable Gym is packed with business tools for gym owners and CrossFit affiliates. This is actionable, data-backed business advice for all gym owners, including those who own personal training studios, fitness franchises, and strength and conditioning gyms. Broke gym owner Chris Cooper turned a struggling gym into an asset, then built a multi-million-dollar mentoring company to help other fitness entrepreneurs do the same thing. Every week, Chris presents the top tactics for building a profitable gym, as well as real success stories from gym owners who have found incredible success through Two-Brain Business mentorship. Chris’s goal is to create millionaire gym owners. Subscribe to Run a Profitable Gym and you could be one of them.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 14, 2019 • 41min
Two-Brain Coaching: The Second-Degree Course With Josh Martin
Two-Brain Coaching: The Second-Degree Course With Josh MartinJosh Martin is a Two-Brain Business mentor and the creator of Two-Brain Coaching, an international company dedicated to the development of fitness coaches.Two-Brain Coaching is method agnostic; that is, it teaches the principles of great coaching that can be applied to any methodology. In this episode of Two-Brain Radio, Josh explains the five principles of Two-Brain Coaching, the difference between fixed and variable lesson plans and how Two-Brain Coaching develops coaches by layering on complexity over time.You'll also learn all about the First and Second-Degree Courses, how owners can implement them in either a hands-on or hands-off capacity and the courses' ROI for both owners and coaches.Links:Two-Brain CoachingTwo-Brain Coaching Course RegistrationFor Time DesignContact: josh@twobrainbusiness.comTimeline:4:43 – Methods vs. principles of coaching.7:26 – Two-Brain Coaching principle No. 1: Focus, effort and time.8:19 – Principle No. 2: Learn, design, deliver and refine.9:10 – Principle No. 3: Sleep, eat, move and manage.9:59 – Principle No. 4: Power through education.10:02 – Principle No. 5: Everything is everything.12:53 – The two variables a coach has to manage: Lesson and audience.13:52 – Fixed vs. variable lesson plans.16:15 – Greg’s moment of truth.17:59 – Set your coaches up for success by adding complexity over time—just like your clients.22:30 – Free master class for Two-Brain Growth Stage clients.23:56 – No time? Done-for-you courses provide all the training with no micromanaging from you.24:47 – The free owner’s handbook.27:52 – Covering Two-Brain Coaching trainers with Affiliate Guard for just $150 a year.30:47 – The coach’s ROI.34:04 – The owner’s ROI.37:11 – Why you have to take the Two-Brain Coaching courses in order. 39:06 – How to learn more about the courses for free.

Nov 13, 2019 • 40min
Two-Brain Radio: The Morning Chalk Up With Justin LoFranco
Two-Brain Radio: The Morning Chalk Up With Justin LoFrancoIn this episode of Two-Brain Radio, Sean speaks with the founder of The Morning Chalk Up, Justin LoFranco.Justin started the daily newsletter in 2016, and over the last four years it has become part of every CrossFitter’s morning ritual—the newsletter now boasts 85 thousand subscribers worldwide. Sean and Justin talk about how his life working in the government helped prepare him for his current endeavor, how he was able to build the Morning Chalk Up into its current state and what the future of the site looks like as we get deeper into the 2020 CrossFit Games season.Links: Morning Chalk Up"Founder, Farmer, Tinker, Thief""Two-Brain Business""Two-Brain Business 2.0""Help First"Free ToolsTimeline:1:13 – Introduction to Justin LoFranco.3:58 – Before the Morning Chalk-Up: A career in politics.6:06 – Why Justin left politics.7:51 – Finding, forgetting and rediscovering CrossFit.6:55 – Training in the basement of the U.S. House of Representatives.10:13 – How a daily political newsletter inspired the Morning Chalk Up.12:40 – Launching the Morning Chalk Up with no money or staff.15:57 – Determining the newsletter’s direction and audience.20:29 – Hitting “go” and building a subscriber base.22:59 – How Facebook advertising helped get subscribers.25:13 – Filling the vacuum left by CrossFit Inc. media.27:52 – How years of due diligence prepared LoFranco and staff to take on new opportunities.29:32 – From a one-man-band to a growing staff.32:48 – Just because you can do something yourself doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hire someone else to do it.33:45 – Dominating the written market and slowly expanding into other mediums.35:37 – The future of the Morning Chalk Up.

Nov 11, 2019 • 33min
Two-Brain Radio: From $260 in Ads to $5,000 in Front-End Sales With Rachael O'Donnell
Two-Brain Radio: From $260 in Ads to $5,000 in Front-End Sales With Rachael O'DonnellIn September 2017, Rachael O'Donnell took the leap: She quit her job as a clinical social worker and closed her private practice to open Grit and Grace CrossFit in Gorham, Maine. Her social-work experience added tremendous value to what she had to offer as a coach, employer and leader, but she lacked the business skills she needed for her business to truly thrive. She was also uncomfortable with sales and marketing.After joining the Two-Brain family, Rachael learned how to offload low-value tasks so she could focus on the business—and she gained a new perspective on marketing: It's just helping people who need it.Links:https://fortimedesign.com/https://gritandgracecrossfit.com/Contact:https://gritandgracecrossfit.com/Instagram: @gritandgracecrossfitTimeline:3:35 – Using CrossFit to quit smoking.4:25 – From clinical social work to coaching CrossFit.6:13 – How Rachael’s social-work background helps her as a coach and leader.7:49 – Why “Grit and Grace”?8:51 – Turning to Two-Brain after working 90-plus-hour weeks.12:13 – The first payoff: getting time back and getting closer to Perfect Day.14:52 – On hiring coaches.18:28 – When evaluating new or potential staff, watch what they do, not what they say.20:13 – Grit and Grace core values.22:11 – Implementing core values into if-then scenario practice.25:23 – Turning $260 in ad spend into $5,000 in front-end revenue.26:53 – Leads are just people who need help.28:24 – Overcoming discomfort with the sales process.30:55 – The key to success: knowing when you need help.

Nov 8, 2019 • 3min
Food for Thought Friday - What Nutrition Program Are You Running?
Food for Thought Friday - What Nutrition Program Are You Running?Confused about the difference between Precision Nutrition and Healthy Steps Nutrition?Think of it like the CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course and Two-Brain Business: One teaches you the foundations of the program and the other teaches you how to run a business.

Nov 7, 2019 • 16min
Two-Brain Radio: When You Have to Let a Staff Member Go
Two-Brain Radio: When You Have to Let a Staff Member GoToday we've got a short—but important—episode for you that addresses one of the most daunting tasks a gym owner can face: letting a staff member go.It's never fun or easy, but there are steps you can take to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible for all parties. Here, Greg Strauch shares what to tell your staff and clients as well as a checklist of important tasks to ensure a clean break.Links: https://foreverfierce.com/Contact: greg@twobrainbusiness.comTimeline:2:47 – When letting a staff member go, what should you tell your members? 4:35 – What if the staff member still wants to be a member of your gym?5:24 – What to talk about in the exit interview. 6:48 – Remove access to all business software and communication platforms.9:56 – Protect your intellectual property.10:49 – Let them say goodbye, but only through an email that you approve and send.11:57 – Resources for the situation: client-letter templates and the fire escape plan.13:21 – Stay neutral with your remaining staff: Don’t bash the former employee.15:22 – Have more questions? We’re here to help.

Nov 6, 2019 • 44min
Two-Brain Radio: Incorporating Strongman Movements Into CrossFit With Rob Orlando
Two-Brain Radio: Incorporating Strongman Movements Into CrossFit With Rob OrlandoIn this episode, Sean talks with four-time CrossFit Games competitor and strongman subject-matter expert Rob Orlando. Rob has competed at the CrossFit Games three times as an individual and once as a master. He also runs the Hybrid Athletics Strongman Course.Rob talks about his days as a competitor, why he decided to incorporate strongman movements into CrossFit workouts and what possessed him to do the benchmark workout Grace with a 300-pound barbell.Links:https://www.hybridathletics.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Founder-Farmer-Tinker-Thief-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B07QH85HSXContact: Instagram:@crossfitrobo@hybridathletics@hybridwodsTimeline:1:37 – From toy weight set to bodybuilder to strongman to CrossFitter.4:15 – Finding CrossFit halfway through a tub of ice cream.5:01 – Rob’s first CrossFit workout: Fran at 135 lb. with strict pull-ups.6:47 – Morphing from big and strong to all-around fit.7:42 – Rob’s first CrossFit competition: The 2009 Regional. 9:41 – Remembering the 2009 CrossFit Games at the Ranch in Aromas. 13:24 – Watching the sport evolve into the Reebok era.16:33 – Sharing video content with CrossFit Inc.18:55 – Grace at 300 lb.23:17 – How adding strongman movements to CrossFit workouts gets people fit faster.25:42 – Scaling strongman for the average athlete.26:57 – Presenting his strongman seminar to Dave Castro: an exercise in “Drive-by Braille.”30:09 – How to add strongman movements into your regular CrossFit programming.32:55 – Resources for programming strongman/CrossFit hybrid workouts.34:03 – Deadlifting 550 lb. as a masters athlete: “No finish line to the strength game.”37:36 – Prioritizing long-term fitness over day-to-day results.38:20 – Wearing the broadcaster’s headset.39:32 – Looking to the future: Blinders on at the box, inventing new toys and refreshing the seminar.

Nov 4, 2019 • 51min
Two-Brain Radio: From Backyard Boot Camp to Profitable Multi-Gym Business
Two-Brain Radio: From Backyard Boot Camp to Profitable Multi-Gym Business James Mawson, owner of Tribe Mvmnt in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia, began in 2010 by training one person in his backyard, his only piece of equipment a large rock. But he got results, and one client turned into five—which soon turned into more than 50. Six months after opening a brick-and-mortar gym, he had nearly 100 clients.But growth eventually stagnated, and James knew he needed to make a change. So he joined Two-Brain Business. Though he was skeptical at first, the investment paid off. After implementing the practices he learned in the Incubator and taking the time to curate high-quality digital ads, James recently raked in $21,000 in front-end sales after spending $1,100 on ads. In this episode of Two-Brain Radio, you'll learn all about what it was like to grow a gym from a backyard side hustle to a thriving business and how patience pays off when it comes to the Two-Brain Marketing plan.Links:https://www.tribemvmnt.com.au/?fbclid=IwAR0M7sUU6cVZ6cMLkWjS5zAcrVMAf_nlE40iJ-wi7B3kYKnzhodxfjl_RaAhttps://foreverfierce.com/Contact:Instagram: @tribemvmntTimeline:3:05 – A brief history of Tribe Mvmnt.6:38 – Starting a personal-training business in the backyard.8:49 – Growing the backyard gym: Kettlebells, tractor tires and kegs from the local pub.10:31 – Moving into an actual gym.11:10 – Words of wisdom: Don’t borrow money for equipment.14:34 – 6:30 p.m.: Train a client. 8:30 p.m.: Have a baby. 17:00 – Why you should always hire from within. 19:09 – Pre-Two-Brain: No job descriptions and no contracts.23:09 – When the growth stops: “It’s time to make a change.”24:42 – Skeptical at first: “Flat-out resistance” to Two-Brain Incubator lessons.27:57 – Putting in the work … 31:17 – … and watching it pay off.34:15 – During No-Sweat Intros: “Shut up and listen,” and sell clients what they want.36:48 – Dealing with objections to price.39:49 – The importance of putting the right person in the sales seat.43:19 – The results of the ad campaign: 70 leads, 31 No-Sweats and $21,000 in front-end revenue ($14,000 profit).46:31 – Don’t be afraid when the leads dry up.48:35 – And don’t be afraid to invest.

Nov 1, 2019 • 3min
Food for Thought Friday - What to Do When a Staff Member Messes Up
Food for Thought Friday - What to Do When a Staff Member Messes UpEveryone makes mistakes. But how should you handle it if an employee makes the same mistake over and over? The answer: Have a plan in place. Here, Greg Strauch shares his.

Oct 31, 2019 • 38min
Why Two Croatian Gym Owners Invested a Year's Salary in the Incubator
Why Two Croatian Gym Owners Invested a Year's Salary in the IncubatorIgor Jelcic and Dino Molnar both own CrossFit gyms in Croatia, where the cost of the Incubator translates to roughly an entire year's salary for the average Croatian. Both Igor and Dino experienced some tough times in the early days of their businesses. Igor's gym, 20350 Athletics, was on the brink of total failure, and while Dino had new members joining CrossFit Rijeka each month, he had trouble keeping them around. Each of the gym owners had been longtime fans and followers of Two-Brain Business but hesitated to buy in because of the price. But after taking the leap, both said the investment was totally worth it—and both ended up more than doubling their monthly revenues.Links:https://crossfit20350.com/https://www.facebook.com/crossfitrijeka/https://growyournutritionbusiness.comTimeline:3:23 – Finding CrossFit on YouTube, opening a gym and losing a partner.5:24 – Reaching an ultimatum: Join Two-Brain for a year’s salary or close the doors.7:30 – “I would pay even 10k now for the things that I know now.”9:03 – Using ads for personal training to increase revenue by 300%.12:35 – The reward for trying something new: more than doubling your revenue.15:37 – The future of 20350 Athletics.20:33 – Bringing CrossFit to a regular gym, getting fired and starting CrossFit Reijka.23:15 – Opening with 50 members and 12-hour workdays.24:20 – Stuck at the 100-member mark: A problem of retention.25:34 – Finding answers within Two-Brain content.27:53 – Taking the plunge into Incubation.30:03 – Signing on 15-17 new members with a $20 ad.31:38 – How those 15-17 members turned into 45.34:28 – The key to retention: providing a great experience.

Oct 30, 2019 • 36min
Two-Brain Radio: Bridging Functional and Aesthetic Fitness With Dave Lipson
Two-Brain Radio: Bridging Functional and Aesthetic Fitness With Dave LipsonIn this episode, Sean Woodland speaks with the co-founder of Thundrbro, Dave Lipson. Dave is a former CrossFit Seminar Staff member and CrossFit Games competitor. He's also husband to 2014 Fittest Woman on Earth, Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, and the co-founder of Thundrbro: A training and lifestyle brand whose mission is to make the world a better place through physical training, mental toughness with a winning mindset, and elevating those around you. Sean speaks with Dave about how he is bringing together the functional and aesthetic fitness worlds, what motivated him to do that and how hypertrophy training can help CrossFit athletes of all levels.Links: https://thundrbro.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Founder-Farmer-Tinker-Thief-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B07QH85HSXContact:Instagram: @davefreakinglipsonhttps://www.amazon.com/Founder-Farmer-Tinker-Thief-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B07QH85HSXTimeline:2:03 – Finding CrossFit: Is that a gym or a crack house?4:50 – Life on the Seminar Staff: Educate, inspire and entertain.7:25 – On loving CrossFit but learning other methodologies, too.10:01 – The dichotomy between CrossFit and bodybuilding: Why?11:02 – What the two fitness worlds can learn from each other.12:32 – Defining hypertrophy training.14:54 – How hypertrophy training can help CrossFitters. 17:55 – What does a Thundrbro workout look like?19:07 – The 90-Day Get Huge program.21:18 – The scalability and accessibility of the program.24:36 – Getting turned down by CrossFit and launching a business of his own.26:52 – Thundrbro in overview: Fitness plus bodybuilding and a worldwide online challenge.30:17 – The response from the bodybuilding community.32:24 – How to join Thundrbro.


