Something about Austin, Unicorns, and How We Got Here
In this world of TikTok and Reels, I have thought for some time that long-form media was dead, that no one had the attention span to watch YouTube videos or read blogs anymore. This kept me from diving into writing, even though I’ve loved both reading and writing since I was a little kid (what a silly thing to hold me back, by the way). I love telling stories, sharing knowledge, and stringing together sentences that present nuanced opinions. This past weekend I met someone who vehemently argued to the contrary, that writing wasn’t dead and that people still read blogs. So here we are, blog post #1 of what I hope to be many.
The person I heard speak this weekend is named Jordan Syatt. Jordan was a special guest at the annual Business for Unicorns Retreat that I was lucky enough to attend with our part of the team at SSP. Business for Unicorns (BFU) is a business mentorship group for gym owners and their teams. BFU was founded by two lovely humans named Mark Fischer and Michael Keeler and has created an amazing space for gym owners and industry leaders to come together, share ideas, find community and support, and gain skills that further move their missions out into the world.
Some of you might know Jordan from Instagram or YouTube, he was one of the OG’s in fitness content creation and has paved the way for many others to make their way in the online space. One of the things I admire most about Jordan is how unapologetically himself he is. I believe that has been the key driver to his success - that and just literally never quitting. He shared about posting 3 times a day for months on end with no subscribers or views. He said that even his mom hated his blogs because he cursed too much. When asked how he kept going for years with minimal subscribers, he said that if even one person said that it helped them or resonated with them - that kept him going. Jordan, if by some fucking miracle you’re reading this - THANK YOU! Your talk was the kick in the pants that I needed. I needed the reminder that it isn’t about having thousands of views, but about reaching one person at a time.
I know by now you’re thinking “so what are we even doing here, I thought this blog was about fitness?!”
It is, and it will be, but it’s also about me and the things that I like. I firmly believe that psychology, habits, leadership, and maybe a little social justice here and there are all INEXTRICABLY tied to our health and fitness. While I learned a lot this past weekend about gym ownership, leadership, sales and marketing, I was also reminded that I have a clear and important voice in this industry and ideas that are worth sharing. I believe wholeheartedly in what I do and that it helps people. I love nothing more than connecting, educating, coaching, and helping people reach their goals and create healthy lifestyles.
So here’s the promise I’m sending into the void. I will write once per week for the next 3 months and post on Instagram once per day, and just see where it takes us. No focusing on metrics or views or likes or any of that crap - but focus on the process and what I can learn about myself along the way. Just like I would tell anyone starting a fitness journey, don’t get too focused on the “results” because they come slowly. Focus on the daily habits, find joy in the journey, and the rest will come.
Thanks for being here, I hope you’ll stick around.
