"The more you free your people to think for themselves, the more they can help you. You don’t have to do this all on your own.” Richard BransonTwo weeks ago, I had the pleasure of flying on Virgin America to Toronto. Ironically, I was also reading Richard Branson’s book called "Business Stripped Bare" about his incredible success in building the Virgin brand. It was fun to read about the 13 different companies under the Virgin brand, all in different categories and then be able to experience the difference first hand.The bottom line is that there is indeed a big difference between Virgin America and the other carriers that I have flown. From the moment Mike Bannan, IDEA Business Development Director and I approached the ticket counter, we were greeted by the Virgin representative with a welcoming smiling and can-do attitude. As we entered the plane it felt more like a beautiful nightclub (music, lighting, etc.) than an airplane. Before batting an eye, the flight attendant was by our side making sure that we were comfortable and offering us food, drinks and a blanket. They also took care of all our entertainment needs with a media center equipped with several on-demand options at no extra charge. With the experience being so rich and enjoyable, you might think that it cost an arm and a leg to fly on Virgin America, but it was actually cheaper than other carriers! The two things that really stand out about Richard and all his companies is that they focus on the experience and the empowerment of the staff. He gives his employees the authority to take ownership of their area and ensures that the customer is well taken care of. He also emphasizes the importance of trusting your people to deliver the level of excellence that the Virgin brand stands for.Think about your business and if you have empowered your staff. Challenge yourself in making each contact with your customer an experience. If you do create that unique and special experience, your clients or members will be spread the word about how they feel about you.Keep inspiring
This is my first blog and I’m excited to start communicating
with all the IDEA members, IDEA FitnessConnect professionals and other
individuals in the fitness and wellness field.As we enter into our 29th year of helping the
fitness industry grow, I thought I’d use this space to share what I’ve learned
along the way and provide some insight into what IDEA will be focused on in the
future, as we continue our quest to “inspire the world to fitness”.IDEA’s main objective is to help fitness professionals and
businesses grow and prosper. Everything that IDEA develops always has that objective
and purpose in mind. With the recent launch of IDEA FitnessConnect, this free
tool only reinforces that goal and I hope that everyone in the fitness industry
will become a part of this very important initiative. The biggest thing that I’ve learned during the past three
decades is that to be successful you need to “be the change you’d like to see
in the world”. The more you learn
and evolve yourself, the more you can contribute and be of service to your
clients, students and community.I will be focused on sharing ways to improve your leadership
(we are all leaders) and to advance your career with an emphasis of enhancing
your personal growth.Thank you all for all your service and efforts in making the
world a healthier and better place“.. Keep Inspiring!
