"If You Liked Working For Her, You May Not Be For Me"
“If you liked working for her, you may not be for me”
Years ago when I was in undergrad at Fordham University & had been working part-time as a nanny on the Upper West Side of NYC, I stopped by the home of a family with 3 daughters to see if we'd be a mutual fit for weekly babysitting.
The mom was a part of a loose-network of friends who grew up together, (or tangentially knew each other), from the NJ/NYC suburbs. All had children around the same age, attending the same schools in the same part of Manhattan.
My class schedule & theater rehearsals no longer worked for me to nanny consistently for the family requiring more consistency & the mom-group recommended me to Stacey. When she asked me whose kids I'd been caring for, Stacey's response: “If you liked working for her, you may not be for me”
I mentioned in a recent Wednesday email, I'd joined a group fitness class in Bali with the client's (Bambu) cycle studio manager, and the class was absolutely NOT for me…but was for other people.
There is a studio & a teacher for everyone the words echoing throughout my 2011 SoulCycle instructor training, (9 months long) spoken by Janet, the former training manager.
(Janet's long-since-shuttered studio in West Hollywood provided the Soul founders' with the class experience they wanted to re-create in NYC)
I agree with this statement, 100%.
But Stacey's statement? A new level…but hear me out:
I truly believe your studio will attract the people who belong in your classes.
It will repel the people who wish to constantly insult a small premium business and ask for a discount.
If there is a fitness studio in your community whose hospitality & product execution gives you the “ick,"…your clients probably are not going to spend their money at that studio if they are fully 'bought-in' on what it is you do at yours.
The good news for everyone I didn't actually like working for the previous NYC family…and am still in touch years later with Stacey & one of her daughters.
As always, reply with your impressions as I love hearing from you.
I hope you have a great rest of your week!
I am cheering you on, always --
Noël
P.S. Purchase our customizable Employee Handbook Template HERE. Remote ways to work together are here.