In this episode of the Optimal Aging Podcast, Jay Croft sits down with Rick Mayo, founder and CEO of Alloy Personal Training, for an insightful deep dive into franchising, fitness, and the over-50 market. Jay and Rick explore entrepreneurship, messaging, and personal growth—including a fascinating discussion about the book "The Gap and the Gain."

Rick shares how he built Alloy into a franchise with over 300 awarded licenses and more than 100 locations open, all while staying mission-driven and sharply focused. This episode is packed with takeaways for gym owners, personal trainers, and wellness professionals who serve clients in midlife and beyond.

Learn how Rick keeps distractions at bay, how Alloy’s messaging evolved, and why staying focused on franchisee success drives everything he does. If you're building a business to serve people over 50, this one’s for you.

Guest: Rick Mayo

Bio: Rick Mayo is the founder and CEO of Alloy Personal Training, a fast-growing fitness franchise built to serve people over 50. With more than 30 years in the fitness industry, Rick has been a pioneer in small-group personal training and an advocate for purpose-driven business growth.

Links:

• Website: https://alloypersonaltraining.com
                   https://alloyfranchise.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachrickmayo/

Episode Topics

The Gap and the Gain Mindset
Rick discusses the value of celebrating your wins without losing your edge—and how this mindset shift has changed the way he leads his business.

Franchising Lessons
From 2% success rates to surpassing 100 open locations, hear what Rick learned over five years of building a franchise.

Marketing That Resonates
How Alloy learned to lean into purpose and strength messaging to reach their ideal clients over 50.

Avoiding Distractions
Rick shares how he stays focused on what matters most—and why he says no to almost everything else.

Trends to Watch
Strength, experiential fitness, and AI—all seen through the lens of growing a franchise for people in midlife.

Resources Mentioned

• Selling Longevity by Jay Croft – https://a.co/d/hbtl3p6

🎤 Host: Jay Croft
Jay helps gym owners and health professionals grow with more people over 50 through content, communications, and expert strategy.

🌐 Podcast Website: https://primefitcontent.com

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📱 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primefitcontent
💼 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/croftjay

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Timestamps

00:00 - Intro: Rick Mayo & Jay Croft
01:15 - The "Gap and the Gain" mindset
04:10 - Lessons from 5 years of franchising Alloy
08:00 - What motivates the over-50 client
11:00 - Messaging & brand clarity
14:00 - Who your avatar really is
18:00 - Focus, distractions & shiny objects
21:00 - Why Rick says no to most speaking gigs now
24:00 - How to avoid being your own bottleneck
27:00 - Great marketing moments that stuck
32:00 - Trends: strength, experience, & AI
37:00 - What to ignore vs what to lean into
39:00 - Wrap-up