Hey all! As most of you know I was traveling last week. I decided to drop-in at a few CrossFit Boxes while out and about and I’d like to share one little piece of my experience with you all. A smile. Trust me, it goes a long way. I’ve been doing CrossFit for almost a decade now. I am confident in my abilities and my mastery of CrossFit skills, so much that we decided to open a gym to help others. Yet I’d be lying to you if I said that dropping-in at a new gym does not give me a little bit of social anxiety. I mean come on now. Think about it. A gym owner who gets nervous about going to a gym… weird. Right?
When I showed up at the first gym I was left standing at the front door for several minutes, gear in hand, obviously there to workout. No one said hi. No one smiled. When people looked in my direction they would quickly look away in an attempt to avoid eye contact and that awkward ‘I acknowledge your presence moment’. Worse of all, I had sent a message in advance announcing my intention to come in that day. When I joined class I was the person who had to walk up to individuals and introduce myself. I got a few smiles here but mostly an awkward look like ‘why are you introducing yourself to me…’? They were there to workout and did not need me to do it. This was not a good experience. It left me on the fence about even coming back.
When I went to the second gym I was greeted by the coach immediately when I walked through the door with a smile on their face. Members introduced themselves with a smile and asked if I needed help. They helped gather equipment and gave little tips and tricks from there experiences all while holding a smile and a kind demeanor. This gym was a great experience! It made me feel welcome and included.
I share this story with you all in hopes that you’ll realize that what you do in your daily lives have far reaching effects. We all were once beginners. We all were once the outsider whether at work, the group outing, or when trying out that new gym. When meeting someone new, give them a smile. Go the extra mile to introduce yourself, make them feel welcome, and help them. You all have so much to offer. Helping is a great feeling and may just change someone’s life more than you know. Image that person who has been nervous to try out the gym. They need to make serious changes due to early signs of health risks. They have finally worked up the courage to step foot in a gym. Imagine the impact making them feel welcome and greeting them with a smile can make. Ok, what can I say… long flights and to much time to think… I digress. Keep being great CFD and keep smiling. Let’s get after this week!
Announcements:
Gear sale is coming… watch for more details…
Women, wine, and WOD this week Friday starting at 7:00pm!
Summer Camp – CFD will be offering a summer camp specifically tailored to the needs of athletes. The program will run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (off July 5th) from 3:30 to 4:45pm, June 17th till August 2nd. Cost is $200 and ages are 13 to Highschool Seniors. Contact Chris to sign up or follow the link here.
Here are the lifts of the week:
Monday – Deadlift
Tuesday – Snatch
Wednesday – Clean
Thursday – Bench Press
Friday – FSQT
Saturday – WOD
Sunday – Open Gym
