Leading in the fitness industry takes vision, resilience and a willingness to push through discomfort. The discomfort can come from anywhere — your own self-doubt, comparison to competitors, indecision or even the fear of making the wrong call with a teammate or client. Leadership isn’t supposed to be easy. It requires clarity, action and a lot of energy. Once you accept that, you can settle in and actually enjoy the ride.
Business Tip #1: Hire Slow. Fire Fast.
I first heard this advice more than 15 years ago from my friend and mentor Todd Durkin, a legend in our industry. It’s simple, but not easy.
Sometimes we’re short-staffed, or we really want to believe the best in someone even when they’re not showing it. Other times, we keep a poor performer or a toxic teammate because letting them go feels harder in the moment.
But here’s the truth: when we ignore red flags, we eventually pay for it in culture, morale and sometimes even financially. I’ve learned that lesson more than once.
Recently, I hired someone who, on the surface, presented well — polite, professional, passionate about fitness. But I ignored obvious red flags: gaps and inconsistencies in his work history, overstating actual certifications and personal references that were rooting for him, but provided no evidence of past performance. I hired him anyway. And it backfired.
He carried personal grudges into the workplace, acted unprofessionally, denied wrongdoing and blamed others. His immaturity and ego clashed with our culture of trust, integrity and respect. We terminated quickly — though not quickly enough.
Let my mistake be your reminder: if you hear quiet doubts during the interview process, they’ll become blaring sirens once you hire. When you hire slow and fire fast, you protect the culture and show your “A players” that you’re committed to building a team worthy of them.
Business Tip #2: Move Through Struggle Faster
Struggle is part of the job. As fitness professionals, we deal with people, schedules, expectations, emotions — and our own lives. But the longer we sit in struggle, the more it drains us.
Our work requires energy – the positive, steady, motivating kind. When we stew in frustration, overthink mistakes or cling to disappointment, we rob ourselves of the energy our clients and teams rely on. We also tend to be reactive or avoid decisions altogether.
The key is not to avoid struggle — it’s to move through it quicker. Make amends. Make a decision. Make a change. Learn the lesson. Then move on. No one is thinking about the mistake you made two weeks ago. They’re paying attention to how you show up today.
Personal Growth Tip #3: Don’t Glorify Busy
In the fitness world, it’s easy to be busy – clients, classes, programming, marketing and community events. Busy comes with the territory. And yes, being busy can be a sign of productivity and success, when you have a full book of clients and increasing revenue.
But being busy can also be a trap. Busy can mean being distracted, overcommitted or avoiding real work. True productivity is about action that moves the needle — not constant motion. Do great work. Take care of your clients. Lead your team. And then take the time to actually rest, recover and unplug.
For more personal growth insights, check out The Way Forward by Yung Pueblo and my Calm & Confident podcast.
Trina Gray is a 20-year fitness entrepreneur and keynote speaker. She owns the award-winning Bay Athletic Club in Michigan and is a former IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year. She launched a top-rated podcast and leads a women’s mastermind, both called Calm & Confident. Connect with her on IG @trinagray, at trina@bayathleticclub.com, or at www.trinagray.com.
