Everyone Brings Joy; Some When They Arrive, Others When They Leave

I've truly missed you the past few Wednesdays as I've been navigating moving both of my parents to senior living & memory care; one in one week…then the other the following week…and all the settling-in.

To keep this week's note as brief & meaningful as possible, I wanted to remind you of something I've thought about a lot lately:

Not everyone who can afford to buy the product you sell…is right for your studio.

[Want to consider that for a moment…and then read it again?]

At one of my first restaurant jobs 20+ years ago, there was a sign in the staff-only areas which said: “everyone brings joy; some when they arrive, others when they leave.”

My Mother's memory care director shared with me that the family of the person who previously lived in her room were very difficult to manage & please. 

They didn't believe their loved one belonged there, no matter what was said by doctors and assessments. 

They didn't want to interact “with that kind of people.” (also… WHAT?!)

Just as you are running a fitness business to profitability, N of course corporate-owned Senior living are also making business decisions by scrutinizing their P&L & deciding where to place their energy.

I began touring residences back in May, needing a unicorn dancing on a rainbow: 2 separate rooms for 2 parents with very different care needs, including a private room in memory care which is often very hard to come by as the Baby Boomer generation is aging into medical woes.

The home's management staff had previously identified the room's family as being deeply unsatisfied…and called a meeting to share that if they wanted to move out, they could. And they didn't need to give the requisite notice. Because someone else wanted the room & care. 

And that…is how I gained exactly what my mother deserves & needs.

Someone new will try your classes. And they will bring joy when they enter your space rather than when they exit. 

I hope you'll do everything you can to retain the ones right for you. And may the others find the right space for themselves, too.

Have a great rest of your week!

Noël

P.S. Purchase our customizable Employee Handbook Template HERE. Remote ways to work together are here.