Can you believe it's the second last day of July already?! No, I definitely can't. It's been about 7 months since I stepped away from UP Boxing Club and though I miss it every single day I am too happy and too proud of my own club and our members to have any regrets. I have absolutely no regret. We launched our soft opening on Mother's Day in respect to my own mother and the role she played in encouraging me but our official opening to the public didn't happen until June 2nd. This Friday will mark our second month anniversary and I couldn't be happier. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very much nervous about having to pay off our sponsor and am always trying to pick my brain and the brains of others with regard to keeping our members happy. Getting new members is surprisingly easy but our concern is with keeping our now members happy. I think it says a lot when a company has long standing members who are loyal and committed to staying with the business.
One of the shop keepers across the street from our boxing club tried to "help" us out with getting a new member. I used quotes here because her so-called help ended up being anything but help and it resulted in Snickers getting mad and me making some girl cry. For the past couple of days this particular shop keeper has sent this one high school girl to our club to train, telling us that "she just wants to try it out". I was ok with letting her come the first day for free but when she came a second day and expected the same personal training, one-to-one attention as the day before AND word had it she was going to continue for a week, I spoke up. You best believe I spoke up (and you know for me to not speak up would just not be in my nature). Anyways, so there she was, being trained by Snickers when I called Snickers over to ask him if she was signing up or not. Well, one thing lead to another and I was suddenly stuck with this girl standing looking at me like a deer caught in the headlights. I should admit here, in addition to being the kind of person to speak up in an uncomfortable situation, I am also not the kind of coach to go soft with training or think it's cute when someone stops because they don't like to sweat. Sweat is the cologne of success -- learn to love it!!! So ya, I told her to continue skipping and then I pulled her over to show her a simple weight training routine.
... ah, this story is already rambling on too much, sorry...
... so the short of the already long story is that at the sight of sweat on her forehead she decided she wanted to go home. "Ok, then go" I told her and with that she walked over to change her shoes and a tear fell down her cheek.
Great, I made someone cry... like that's a great confident booster for me as a coach. just add that to my list of "beware of Coach Amy" ideas random people who have never trained with me have created. Speaking of which, the other day a lady I know told one of my friends that she's nervous, almost scared, of training with me... oh gosh. I'm not THAT hardcore but while others may be insulted by such a comment, I'm rather flattered.
If making someone puke is one point than what is crying... two points?!
Yes, I am the coach that will yell at you, tell you to give one more rep but I am also that coach that WILL get that one more rep out of you when my yelling makes you believe that yes, you CAN do it. I believe in my members and I believe that tough love is what I show at training. Everyone needs a cheerleader and that's me. My "cheering" involves a bit of yelling and the occasional pep talk but it also follows through with high fives, perhaps also a random hug or slap to the back and I always accompany it with me bragging about you to others or telling you words of praise. You'd be surprised what a little extra push will get you at training and I'm always surprised and encouraged when I see just how far members take that extra push.
It's simply amazing what people can do when they believe they can do it, I see it every single day -- small miracles.
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