I guess it is ironic to say this note is personal since it is being broadcast to the world, and frankly I would rather share my heart with each of our clients in person, but it is just not possible, so this will have to do.
First and foremost let me say that I love coaching, it has been and remains my passion. The hours on the floor coaching you all are the highlights of my working day. In the beginning I could have never imagined a day when I wouldn’t be coaching every session. But as this adventure called Get Fit NH has grown that has not been possible.
At one time I coached every session in Epsom along with Nancy. When we expanded into Concord Nancy took over the morning in Epsom and I coached mornings in Concord. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, because it meant I didn’t get to spend time with all the fantastic clients that helped us get this thing off the ground. And then came the inevitable expansion into afternoons in Concord, which meant turning those sessions over to the more than capable hands of Coach Nancy as well. Another really hard step, but Nancy has not been 3-time “Best of the Best” coach in NH for no reason. She embodies what a coach should be.
As Concord grew we needed to add more coaches there as well. I am proud of our coaching team in Concord. Coaches Erin and Meagan are tremendous coaches who care deeply about our clients and strive to live the principles we embody here – getting better every day. As opportunities for Get Fit NH opened up into other arenas such as coaching our corporate clients at New Hampshire Motor Speedway it took me out of the afternoon classes a couple days a week as well. Which kind of brings us where we are now, and the reason for the note.
I have reluctantly come to accept that my role has and is changing. The afternoon sessions in Concord know that I am rarely on the floor anymore when I am there. That reflects a few things, not the least of which is that you have two world class coaches on the floor with you during that session, and I have the utmost confidence in them. One of my roles that has gotten larger and broader in scope is being a “coach of coaches”, both here and when I travel. Our coaching staff is a reflection of the many hours they put in and we put in to us all being better.
Here comes the “from the heart” part. At Get Fit NH we are a family. Training is what we do, and I know I am biased but we have proven in the marketplace we are among the best at training and coaching our clients. But I always wanted it to be deeper than that. I want Get Fit NH to be a place that is the best part of your day every time you walk through the door. I want it to be a place where you want to come to train, not “have to go to workout”. I want you to train hard, but laugh harder. I want you to feel joy, not drudgery. And for the most part I believe we are accomplishing that, which makes me very happy.
But these things don’t happen in a vacuum. The whole team puts in a lot of effort to make it happen. The time Nancy and I spend on the coaching floor is less than half the hours we put in on any given week, and I assure you we love it and are not complaining. We have many exciting things coming down the road, including our “Performance Project”, “My Lean University”, both home study and live versions and much more to help our clients reach their goals. It’s gonna be cool!
But the reality is that in developing these things it has taken a bit of a toll on my family and my kids. I was reminded this weekend once again how short life is as a bus crash in Indiana claimed the life of a three people, including a young man my son Jeff graduated from high school with and was friends with, his wife and unborn baby. Events like that tend to narrow one’s focus, don’t they?
We are currently looking for another coach to hire and develop, so we can continue to expand our offerings and shift some of the load when appropriate. When one of us steps out of a coaching session it doesn’t mean we don’t want to be there, it just means that someone else is equipped to do a better job than we can. It doesn’t do you any good to have a tired and burned out coach on the floor, now does it? 🙂
I just want you to know that I care very much about all our clients, even y’all out in Epsom who I don’t know well or sometimes don’t get to meet for awhile. In staff meeting we all sit around and gossip about every one of you. 🙂
Ok, not really, but we do talk about your progress, injury updates, how to get you back in here when life gets in your way – the important stuff that helps us help you.
I hope this makes sense. None of our staff is going anywhere (that I know of). This note is just an attempt to let you know what is going on in our efforts to provide you with the tools you need to keep Making It Happen.
With Deepest Respect and Affection.
Coach Dean
Relentless is a baby crying in the middle of the night in need of a pacifier that is lost in her crib.
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