In this episode Luka and Andy discuss building a personal and business brand, and how they differ, and whether putting time and effort into building your personal brand makes sense. We discuss pros, con's, what NOT to do, and what IS a good idea if you have a brick-and-mortar business.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> What foundations grew both of our businesses and will stand the test of time, what every coach and gym owner should be doing.=> How to build a "3-mile famous" local personal brand that yields the highest ROI.

=> What are the 3 things every coach and gym owner must do to build a local brand and what it can do for them.Luka's content strategy was built based on advice Frank Kern, a famous marketer, gave him at lunch.

=> Does being featured in Men's Health, HBO Sports, or co-writing books, really get you any new clients? But then why should you still do it?

=> Build the business first or the personal brand? We provide examples, insights on what to avoid, and break down what a brand really means.

=> Why your "body of work" is SO important for growing your gym, and how to showcase it everywhere (something most gym owners miss).

=> Making your personal brand bigger than you, and what that does for your business, your team, your purpose, and ultimately - your marketing. 

=> How many leads do we get from social media for our gyms, and how much time should you dedicate to social media for your gym?

=> Should you separate your business and personal brand and create completely unique content for both? Luka answers the question in depth.

=> What game are you really trying to play and what does winning that game look like? This is where most gym owners make a big mistake!

=> Could your gym thrive without any internet (no social media, website, etc)? This marker indicates how well you are performing with your product and service.

=> Our best brick-and-mortar brand building strategies.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

How To Hire, Develop, and Lead A Team To Build A Dream Gym Course: https://webinar.builttolastgym.com/

In this episode Luka and Andy discuss the trends that are here in 2026 and will be in 2027 when it comes to the gym business. We dive into what we think about them, which ones are legit and to pay attention to, which ones we don't think matter much, and the nuances of what to do about them and how to strategize in your gym business. 

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> The "passion trap" is reaching critical mass. The post-pandemic boom masked poor fundamentals in thousands of micro gyms. As the easy growth era ends, owners who built on vibes rather than unit economics are being exposed.

=> Semi-private and high-ARM models are replacing group classes as the main models.The race to $100/month memberships is over. Savvy operators are shifting to semi-private PT at $250–$400+/mo ARM. 

=> The shift to a semi-private model requires entirely different sales systems, staff management, and pricing psychology; none of these areas are taught well or widely. 

=> Ozempic/GLP-1 drugs are restructuring the fitness value proposition.GLP-1 usage is surging, and gyms risk disintermediation unless they reposition as muscle-preservation, metabolic health, performance, longevity, and behavior change (which most gym should have been doing already). 

=> The gym owners who adapt their messaging, programming, and referral relationships to the medical ecosystem will win. Coaches who can navigate this pivot are suddenly essential.

=> AI tools create execution complexity without strategic clarity. AI marketing tools, chatbots, and automation are "taking over" but most gym owners lack frameworks to apply them in a way that makes sense. There is a demand for coaches who can translate AI capability into gym-specific systems.

=> Staff development is becoming the primary growth constraint. The bottleneck has shifted from marketing to team. Owners who scaled marketing now have leads but can't consistently deliver quality work. 

=> Staff retention, coaching career pathing, and "replace yourself as head coach" are the next frontier for successful gym owners (and what long term successes have always done).

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

How To Hire, Develop, and Lead A Team To Build A Dream Gym Course: https://webinar.builttolastgym.com/

In this episode Luka and Andy break down what gym owners should not do, and what they should avoid at all costs. Many times it's not just what you do right that matters, but it's also what you avoid that could be the key in growing your business. 

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> Why expecting linear growth is a big mistake for gym owners?

=> Luka shares an example of growing 400% in a year and then feeling stalled when the following year the growth was "only" 20%.

=> Why 1% better every day is NOT a great way to look at growth (but here's what will help you set goals).

=> The bottlenecks of a $250-$400k gym, a $450-$700k gym, and a $750k - $1 million + gym.

=> Why the training model is extremely important when determining your growth and potential profits (the wrong model can break a business). 

=> Over-reliance on paid ads without a strong follow-up system and other marketing strategies will not lead to success.  

=> How important are SEO and AEO for your gym business and 3 strategies every gym owner should implement to generate more organic leads (and improve their website).

=> Luka shares a "secret" website that can help you improve the SEO for your gym.

=> Luka and Andy share their referral system that works every time you use it. 

=> Here is how we added 60 reviews in a short period of time, exactly what we did at Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance.
=> Gym owners should consistently reactivate their past clients and leads; this is an underfocused area representing low-hanging fruit for growing memberships and revenue. 

=> You MUST do community events as it's key in generating boots-on-the-ground leads. 

=> An exercise I did with one of my new coaches taught them how to have more conversations; an elite skill for any coach or gym owner.

=> How to be a good boss: Let people make mistakes by giving them responsibility.

=> Consistently developing your team to be better coaches is an absolute must. Never ever stop developing in that area; it's the master skill. 

=> It's hard to have a coaching culture if the leader is not fascinated by improving coaching in their gym (it trickles down from the top). 

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

How To Hire, Develop, and Lead A Team To Build A Dream Gym Course: https://webinar.builttolastgym.com/

In this episode, Luka Hocevar and Andy McCloy discuss the importance of business cadence, quarterly planning, financial metrics, and operational excellence for gym owners. They share practical strategies to build profitable, scalable gyms and emphasize continuous improvement and self-awareness.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> Most gym owners are reactive regarding their business planning and strategy, which leads to long-term failure and burnout.

=> Cadence of business is a system and framework for setting goals, quarterly planning, and using data and metrics to guide decisions.

=> If you're not planning everything out for your next quarter you're hurting your business!

=> Does your team know what the goals of the business are and what their role is in achieving that goal (as well as what that will do for them).

=> Why "hustle" is only a good strategy for a period of time, but building a real business requires a solid operational structure.

=> Luka breaks down his first quarter in KPI's to demonstrate how to set goals for the quarter and how we are addressing it as a team. 

=> One of the biggest opportunities for gym owners is improving their operations, and this is how you start with "Step 1."

=> Are you collecting data in your business but not tracking it and do you know what to do with the data you're collecting?

=> We break down the percentages of revenue that should be allocated to operations, payroll, owner pay, marketing, rent, and much more. This will give you significant insights if you're on the right track. 

=> Most gym owners pay themselves too little, or too much (and not enough to their team); we dive into details and help you get your gym business on the right track. 

=> What times is it strategically acceptable to have higher payroll numbers?

=> How I looked through my P & L and saved myself $10,000 by paying attention. 

=> Different rules apply at different growth - $20k/month is very different than $60k/month (we break down examples).

=> "Revenue is for vanity, profit is for sanity." How do you ensure you are profiting, not just growing while keeping less of the money? 

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

How To Hire, Develop, and Lead A Team To Build A Dream Gym Course: https://webinar.builttolastgym.com/

In this episode of the Built To Last Gym Podcast, Andy McCloy and Luka Hocevar talk about the real struggles that gym owners face when it comes to entrepreneurship. 

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> The 3 questions every gym owner MUST ask themselves periodically to create clarity, establish a path, and drop self-deception. 

=> How to escape the scarcity mindset and "turn the ship around" with your gym business. => Why many gym owners won't ask the hard questions and look into the metrics because they'll be afraid of what they find; here's how we help owners overcome that.

=> What is identity architecture and how to use it to change your reality.

=>  Collecting role models and finding an example to "architect" a different reality for yourself. 

=> The #1 reason it's critical you find a community, peers, and mentors to help guide you on the unknown path (the stats on this will blow your mind).

=> How to regulate your emotions and state to show up powerfully for yourself, your team, and most importantly, your family. 

=> The "hidden" compensations many gym owners make that mask their weaknesses, and hurt the business long-term (and how to fix them). 

=> The inflection points when Andy and Luka changed course in their gym business and what changed when they had the "aha" moment. 

=> There's no free online PDF is going to "change it all" for you - here is what you have to do to change your realty. 

=> Why is John Maxwell's "The Law Of The Lid" so important to understand if you want to have long-term gym ownership success.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

How To Hire, Develop, and Lead A Team To Build A Dream Gym Course: https://webinar.builttolastgym.com/

In this episode, Luka Hocevar and Andy McCloy delve into the common pitfalls gym owners face, especially the founder's trap, and share actionable strategies to transition from coach to CEO, optimize business margins, and build lasting, community-driven gyms.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 

=> The founder's trap and how to avoid it (every gym owner deals with this!).

=> Transitioning from coach to CEO, while still doing the things you love; we break down how to do it right.

=> Financial management and profit margins, things gym owners avoid that are critical to the success of the business. 

=> 5 Staff development and retention strategies we use at Vigor Ground and BCI.

=> Building community and client loyalty is not a “nice to have” but a foundational part of any gym that is built to last.

=> Assess if you are coaching or CEO in your gym; the quiz that will determine what gap you need to fill to run a powerful gym business. 

=> How to create a financial plan to transition to a CEO role and have healthy and profitable business. 

=> Spend more intentional time mentoring your staff; you’ll be surprised what the average gym owner spends on staff development. 

=> Revisit your pricing and pay structures regularly as they are the cornerstone of health margins.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

How To Hire, Develop, and Lead A Team To Build A Dream Gym Course: https://webinar.builttolastgym.com/

In this episode, Luka Hocevar and Andy McCloy share insights from the Built to Last Mastermind in Phoenix, emphasizing the importance of community, culture, and strategic business models for long-term success in the fitness industry.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> Community's role in gym success: Why there is no great and successful gym without great community (and here’s how to build it).

=> Strategies for building a strong gym culture: One thing you MUST do, and one thing you must NEVER do to make sure you build a great foundation of culture.

=> The importance of intentionality in business models. Most gym owners hustle and build as they go, but the key is being intentional about models, vision, and specific outcomes - this is what builds the path and the HOW.

=> Retention and attrition management. The principles, frameworks, strategies and tactics to get to and stay at 3% attrition, and build a gym with great retention (the ever so elusive issue with most gyms).

=> The role of standards and rituals in retention and how Vigor, BCI, and B2L's best gyms do it (copy success!). 

=> The pricing psychology in micro-gyms and why over 80%+ of micro gyms are underpricing and setting themselves up for failure. 

=> How to truly elicit behavior change, not only in your clients but also your team to create the actions that build a long term robust gym business. 

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

How To Hire, Develop, and Lead A Team To Build A Dream Gym Course: https://webinar.builttolastgym.com/

In this episode, Luka Hocevar and Andy McCloy discuss the essential balance between visionary leadership (poetry) and operational efficiency (plumbing) in running a successful gym business. They explore the importance of self-awareness, training, and hiring the right people to fill gaps in leadership. The conversation emphasizes that both vision and execution are necessary for growth and success in the fitness industry, and that gym owners can develop their skills in both areas to create a lasting impact.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> The balance between poetry (vision) and plumbing (operations) is crucial for gym success. How do you know which one you are and what you need to develop?

=> Gym owners often excel in one area but struggle in the other. Luka explains that you need at least 5 out of 10 on both.

=> Effective leadership requires both vision and operational efficiency. One without the other is a bottleneck that will pull the business down.

=> Training and systems are essential for maintaining a successful gym. How much time do you spend training and onboarding your team? (This statistic will blow your mind.)

=> Self-awareness in strengths and weaknesses can help gym owners grow. Awareness precedes change, take this mini-test we share to discover who you are.

=> Hiring the right people is key to filling leadership gaps. 

=> Competence is defined by skills, knowledge, and ability. How do we truly know if someone is competent in the required skills before we hire them?

=> Visionary thinking can be practiced and developed over time. Luka shares 6 ways you can develop visionary thinking.

=> Surrounding yourself with motivated individuals can elevate your business.

=> Conviction in your vision is necessary to inspire others. If you don't exude belief, how will you make others believe? There's a power in poetry! 

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

In this episode of the Built to Last Gym podcast, Luka Hocevar and Andy McCloy delve into effective marketing strategies for gym owners, emphasizing the importance of building and maintaining an email list. They discuss various methods for capturing email addresses, including organic content, joint ventures, and internal referrals. The conversation highlights the significance of consistent email communication and crafting engaging content that resonates with the audience. Additionally, they explore the challenges of writer's block and the value of storytelling in emails. The episode concludes with insights on team development and the necessity of deconstructing business models for long-term growth.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> Email marketing is crucial for gym owners, yet most still don't do it. Here's a simple structure to get you started.

=> Building an email list requires consistent effort: 3 things to do to build your gyms email list.

=> Joint ventures can significantly enhance email list growth but you must do them correctly.

=> Internal referrals are a valuable source of new clients - Andy and my 4-point referral system that WORKS when you work it.

=> Consistent email communication leads to better engagement and connection with your clients (you don't just write emails to prospects).

=> Crafting engaging content is essential for effective emails; here's how we create ideas that resonate with our audience.

=> Overcoming writer's block is a common challenge for marketers. Follow our framework to write consistently without feeling imposter syndrome.

=> Real-life events can provide rich content for emails - start stacking real world events for headlines and content for your email list.

=> Storytelling can transform client conversations into valuable content; When you don't know what to write, look to clients who will give you the marketing you need.

=> A staff-first approach is a MUST and leads to better business outcomes.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/Andy McCloy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andymccloy_bci/

In this episode of the Built to Last Gym podcast, Luka Hocevar and Andy McCloy delve into effective marketing strategies for gym owners, emphasizing the importance of building and maintaining an email list. They discuss various methods for capturing email addresses, including organic content, joint ventures, and internal referrals. The conversation highlights the significance of consistent email communication and crafting engaging content that resonates with the audience. Additionally, they explore the challenges of writer's block and the value of storytelling in emails. The episode concludes with insights on team development and the necessity of deconstructing business models for long-term growth.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

=> Email marketing is crucial for gym owners, yet most still don't do it. Here's a simple structure to get you started.

=> Building an email list requires consistent effort: 3 things to do to build your gyms email list.

=> Joint ventures can significantly enhance email list growth but you must do them correctly.

=> Internal referrals are a valuable source of new clients - Andy and my 4-point referral system that WORKS when you work it.

=> Consistent email communication leads to better engagement and connection with your clients (you don't just write emails to prospects).

=> Crafting engaging content is essential for effective emails; here's how we create ideas that resonate with our audience.

=> Overcoming writer's block is a common challenge for marketers. Follow our framework to write consistently without feeling imposter syndrome.

=> Real-life events can provide rich content for emails - start stacking real world events for headlines and content for your email list.

=> Storytelling can transform client conversations into valuable content; When you don't know what to write, look to clients who will give you the marketing you need.

=> A staff-first approach is a MUST and leads to better business outcomes.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Built To Last Gym Mentorship: https://builttolastgym.com/

Built To Last Gym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builttolastgym/

Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/

Andy McCloy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andymccloy_bci/