10 Lessons Learned From 10 Years of Running a Gym
The gym is a great teacher.
My 10 years as a gym owner have taught me many lessons, most of which extend beyond the confines of the gym and can be applied to everyday life. These pearls of wisdom were forged from thousands of hours working with hundreds of people from all walks of life. When you commit to a craft for a decade, you begin to see some common themes that ring true for everyone.
So, being the generous person that I am, I thought I’d save you some time and share my 10 Lessons Learned from 10 Years of Running a Gym.
People are capable of far more than they realize.
One of my favorite things about running a gym is when I am able to change someone’s belief about what they’re capable of. The most prevalent example of this comes from the band-assisted pull-up. For a lot of people, the pull-up has been this fitness milestone held over them since grade school. However, with a little band assistance, the movement goes from unattainable to surprisingly doable. And the look on their face when their chin rises above the bar is priceless.
Suffering becomes easier in the presence of friends.
There is strength in numbers. It is easier to work hard when you’re in the presence of positive, like-minded individuals. As a result, you push yourself further than you would if you were alone. On top of that, there’s a special bond that is formed from shared suffering. The result is a positive cycle of putting in hard work, building close ties, and enjoying the process.
There will never be a perfect time, so start now.
Even if this hypothetical perfect time did exist, you will always be better served by starting now. Life is rarely calm and without obstacles. So by starting under imperfect conditions, you will build the skills necessary to overcome said obstacles and keep you on the path to your fitness goals.
Struggle creates change. Don’t hide from it.
In order to get something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done. This requires pushing just outside of your comfort zone, which can be uncomfortable at times. However, it’s this very struggle that signals your body and mind to to grow and adapt. To avoid struggle is to avoid change.
No one cares how much you lift.
I’m sorry to break it to you, but it’s true. No one is going to care about that five pound PR as much as you do, and that’s okay. Do it for yourself.
Constraints lead to freedom.
A structured fitness program leads to the freedom to do what you want physically. Tracking your food intake leads to freedom from obesity and disease. A consistent sleep schedule leads to freedom from fatigue. There is freedom to be found within constraints.
Pain reveals who you are.
The voice in your head will never be louder than when you’re in the middle of a difficult workout. But our thoughts don’t define us. Our actions do. By acting in spite of the pain, you reinforce the identity of someone who is capable of doing hard things.
Strength is never a weakness.
This may seem to run counter to my earlier point that no one cares how much you lift. However, that was centered around the need for external validation. Building strength is one of the best things you can do to maintain a high quality of life as you age. It’s also the foundation for many other components of fitness. Because of this, some form of resistance training should always be present in your program.
Gym time is quality time.
Looking for a consistent way to increase your feelings of well-being? Grab a friend or loved one and head to the gym. The one-two punch of physical activity with people you care about is guaranteed to have you leaving in a better mood than when you came in.
Everyone want a nice butt.
No explanation necessary.