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Fitness Together - 1 year old
Fitness Together Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary in Gwinnett County!
By Margie Kersey
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Russ Yeager with a successful client
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One Client, One Trainer, One Goal Approach Catching On Fast!
NORCROSS – Just a little over a year ago, Russ Yeager left his corporate job as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) to pursue his life long dream of opening a personal training studio. This time last year Yeager had one employee, in addition to himself, and 10 clients training in his Fitness Together in Norcross.
Today, just one year later, Yeager has 15 employees and over 175 clients being trained in three Fitness Together facilities; Norcross, Dunwoody, and Alpharetta. Russ was thrilled when I told him I wanted to feature his business on the front page of the Gwinnett Citizen.
MK: Hi Russ. Thanks for taking the time to sit down and talk with me.
Russ Yeager: Hello Margie. Thank you. The pleasure is all mine.
MK: So, there has been quite a bit of change over the past year for you and your fitness studio? Tell me a little bit about how things are different now compared to one year ago?
Russ Yeager: Yeah, sometimes when I slow down and realize where we were just one year ago, it blows my mind. In the beginning it was just myself and my first employee, Bill, who now manages my Norcross studio. We did EVERYTHING! We had to! We are a much different company now with different challenges. I’m sure that’s normal with growth for any type of business. With three locations my role has changed dramatically from doing the majority of the training into a leadership/management position.
MK: Was it a difficult transition when you stopped doing the training? Did you get pushback from your clients?
Russ Yeager: That’s a great question Margie, and definitely was something I considered as we grew. Two keys to avoiding any issues with this are 1) having superior systems that provide results for clients because results are why people come to us and 2) hiring fantastic people! If they are not both great fitness trainers AND great employees then I don’t hire them! Our job goes beyond program design, instructing proper form, and counting reps. So much of what we do is relating to people. Being able to key in on what motivates different individuals is huge.
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Left to Right: Bill Bennett, Head Fitness Counselor, Chad Smith, Fitness Counselor, Rich Green, client, Reggie Cason, Fitness Counselor, Stephanie Georgiev, Fitness Counselor, Russ Yeager, President
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MK: That makes sense. I hear the same thing from other business owners; that you must have great people in order to be successful. So, just how have you been able to expand so fast? I mean, three locations in one year seems like a lot and I’m sure there is some risk involved. Are you ever worried that you are expanding too fast?
Russ Yeager: When I decided to quit my job and go out on my own doing what I love, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to own three Fitness Together studios. I’ll admit I never imagined it would happened this fast, but I think having a plan of exactly where I wanted to be from the beginning, as well as the confidence and certainty that I would get there was critical. As far as being worried or scared I’ll say this; when I quit my corporate job so many people told me I was crazy and asked if I was scared. Any time you go out on your own as an entrepreneur there is risk involved. That’s just part of it. I’m much more scared of waking up at 80 years old and wondering “what if.”
MK: I see different types of fitness studios and gyms all over. How do you manage to do so well with so much competition?
Russ Yeager: Yes, I see them too. I don’t focus on other businesses. There is always going to be competition in any industry, which is what makes our country great. I love to study successful businesses and had the opportunity to talk with the CEO of a particularly successful company. He told me, Russ, there is ALWAYS a market for the best. This is why I chose to open Fitness Togethers. I truly believe they are the best in the business. If we just continually focus on providing incredible workouts, genuinely caring about our clients, and helping them change their lives, then there is nothing to worry about. I believe there will always be people who want and need those three things.
MK: Wow, I never thought of it like that. OK, we are just about out of time, but I do have to ask just one more question.
Russ Yeager: Sure. Fire Away.
MK: I have not had the opportunity to visit your Alpharetta or Dunwoody studios yet, but everytime I come to your Norcross studio it looks like a showroom instead of a workout facility. How do you keep it so clean?
Russ Yeager: Thank you. That’s just one more thing we try to do to make the environment enjoyable for our clients. Working out can be hard and even intimidating for people. A nice clean, friendly environment helps make things more enjoyable for everyone. It’s funny, because I have tried professional cleaning services, but they did not do near as good a job as my staff. This just shows how much pride they have in their studio and that makes me proud. I can’t say enough great things about my team.
MK: Thanks again, Russ. It was great talking with you.
Russ Yeager: Any time Margie!
For more information on Fitness Together programs and client success stories visit www.atlantafitness.net or call the location closest to you.
Norcross/Duluth, Alpharetta, Dunwoody (770) 409-0553 (678) 867-0101 (770) 351-9111
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Copyright © 2008 Gwinnett Citizen • Lawrenceville, Georgia • All Rights Reserved
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