The Iron Life Podcast with Chris Tutela

If you're a gym owner doing $20K/month or less, there's a good chance you're spending WAY too much time on the wrong things.

You're coaching sessions, writing programs, handling customer service, dealing with billing issues, and putting out fires all day.

You're working your ass off, but your business isn't growing the way you want it to.

Here's the problem: You're spending too much time working IN your business instead of working ON the things that actually grow it.

In this episode of the Iron Business Show, I break down how to apply the 80/20 rule to your gym so you can generate more leads, sign up more clients, increase revenue, and ultimately create more freedom.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why client acquisition should be your #1 priority if your gym is generating less than $20K/month.

• How to apply the 80/20 rule to your daily schedule.

• What tasks you should delegate, automate, or eliminate immediately.

• How to spend less time coaching without sacrificing the quality of your service.

• The three pillars of client acquisition: Lead Generation, Lead Nurture, and Sales.

• Why most gym owners lose potential clients through poor follow-up.

• How to build predictable marketing systems that consistently bring new clients through your doors.

• How to free up your time to build a team, improve your service, and scale your business.

The goal isn't to work MORE hours.

It's to spend more of your time doing the things that actually move your business forward.

If you're a great coach who's tired of working 50–60 hours a week without making the money you deserve, this episode is for you.

READY TO GROW YOUR GYM?

Inside Iron Business Blueprint, Joe DeFranco and I help gym owners build the marketing, sales, systems, and teams they need to grow to $30K–$50K/month and beyond.

We work closely with a small group of gym owners to help them build more profitable businesses that don't depend on them doing everything themselves.

Apply for Iron Business Blueprint to learn more.

#GymOwner #GymBusiness #GymMarketing #GymBusinessGrowth #IronBusinessBlueprint #FitnessBusiness

The conversation focused on a two-decade journey through the fitness industry, highlighting the ups and downs of building a career, overcoming personal hardships, and growing multiple business ventures rooted in strength and performance. Listeners get a transparent look at the challenges faced, crucial turning points, and the evolution from a young enthusiast to a sought-after coach and consultant.

• The start of a fitness journey, inspired by childhood rivalry, early gym experiences, and movie icons like Rocky and Arnold Schwarzenegger 00:01:15

• Learning strength training basics from a cousin who competed nationally and was mentored by Charles Poliquin 00:11:13

• Early struggles balancing family turmoil, depression, low income, and fleeting confidence in making fitness a sustainable career 00:18:16

• Pivotal transformation in both physique and mindset, resulting in increased discipline and structure 00:23:10

• Growth from training at local gyms to opening Tutela Training Systems, facing business setbacks, adapting new marketing skills, and finally building a profitable group training model 00:25:49, 00:37:24

• Volunteering and working in the fire department while still grinding to grow a fitness business and writing for EliteFTS 00:28:32, 00:40:03

• Formative mentorships with industry leaders like Joe DeFranco, Jay Ferrugia, and Bedros Koulian, leading to new business strategies and expansion into events and online coaching 00:41:45, 00:42:14

• The impact of personal loss and fatherhood fueling a shift in focus toward remote business and helping other gym owners succeed 00:46:35, 00:48:02

My guest on today's show is my friend, mentor, and business partner Joe DeFranco.

Joe is a world-renowned strength and conditioning coach, entrepreneur, and founder of DeFranco's Gym. For more than 30 years, Joe has trained athletes at the highest levels, including NFL players, WWE Superstars, UFC fighters, Olympic athletes, and other high performers.

Since opening DeFranco's Gym in 2003, Joe has built one of the most respected brands in the fitness industry. His gym has been named one of America's 10 Best Gyms by Men's Health, and his training methods have influenced thousands of coaches and gym owners around the world.

Joe is also the co-creator of the CPPS certification, host of the Industrial Strength Show podcast, and co-founder of the Iron Business Blueprint, where he helps gym owners build more profitable, sustainable businesses.

Today's topics include:

00:00 Introduction to the Iron Business Show

05:10 Reflecting on past tanning habits

09:35 Struggling with overwhelming demand

13:24 Hesitations about first hire

14:47 Creating systems and operations manuals

19:05 Getting clients through athlete referrals

21:31 Posting early YouTube fitness videos

26:13 Starting out in a storage closet

30:04 Building a gritty gym atmosphere

33:40 Early coaching content stigma

34:18 Balancing content creation and real training

38:45 Managing staff and business growth

42:57 Self-awareness and hiring advice

46:24 Value of in-person networking events

47:21 Importance of in-person networking

Enjoy the show.

On this episode I share how my training (and life) has evolved over the last decade.

I give you the exact blueprint I use to keep myself strong and lean as I've gotten closer to 40.

Enjoy the show.

If you don't fix this, your business will always struggle.

And the good news is that is that anyone can develop this skill.

When you combine it with great coaching, great marketing, and great sales…

You won't have a problem building a great business.

If you're a listener of this show you probably have a tough time turning it off.

You're no stranger to hard work and it's easier to smash a brutal leg day than it is to take a day off.

And your work is the same way.

You're already driven and don't need much motivation to continue dominating your path.

And this, my friend, is a double-edged sword. Because that same drive can come back and bite you if you don't take your recovery seriously.

Proper recovery won't just lead to better gains in the gym. It's necessary for better overall health and performance.

On this episode I share my top 7 recovery tips to help you optimize performance in the gym and in life.

If your best employee quit tomorrow, what would happen?

Would your business continue running without missing a beat?

Or would you be forced to cancel your plans, clear your schedule, and jump back into the gym to put out fires?

As you build your team, you have to protect yourself from becoming overly reliant on any one person.

No matter how talented, loyal, or dependable they are.

Because people quit.

On this episode I share the exact strategies you can use to build a strong pipeline of people for your team.

Whether you're looking to make your first hire or to scale your gym to the next stage of growth, this episode will help.

Enjoy the show.

There's a lot of noise on social media about entrepreneurship.

Rented lambos and private jets, working for five minute a day from an island, total freedom and no stress whatsoever.

But that's social media's version.

After nearly two decades of running businesses I share the truth about entrepreneurship on today's show.

Enjoy.

On today's episode I break down three things you can do today to make more money in your gym without adding new clients.

The last thing you want is to be constantly sore and fatigued.

You want to be jacked, lean, strong, and perform at a high level in every aspect of your life.

Your training needs to reflect that.

On today's show I walk you through what I call The High Performance Protocol.

A training system I use for myself and my clients that will help you build muscle, get strong and feel better than ever.

Enjoy the show.