In this episode, Rick Mayo talks to former NFL player Matt LaCosse, who played for the Giants, Broncos, and Patriots before diving into real estate and franchising. Matt has successfully transitioned from football to fitness franchising with Alloy Personal Training. Matt shares how his time in the NFL—playing under coaches like Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick—taught him invaluable lessons about leadership, adaptability, and the importance of doing your job well. Learn how Matt applies NFL-level ...
Dec 25, 2024•32 min•Ep. 274
Accounting can feel intimidating, especially if numbers aren’t your thing. But while running a business, numbers don’t lie. They tell you exactly how fit your business is. In this episode, Rick Mayo welcomes Rachel Blair, Alloy HQ’s Manager of Finance, to discuss how understanding your finances is critical to running a successful fitness franchise. Rachel, with over 23 years of experience across industries and a background in aviation and music, brings a refreshing perspective to accounting. Ric...
Dec 18, 2024•26 min•Ep. 273
In 2002, the British Cycling Team was a disaster. For 76 years, they had won a single Olympic gold medal. The culture was poor, the infrastructure was lacking, and the team was stuck in a cycle of underperformance. But then something changed. The team hired Dave Brailsford, who took a radical approach—he focused on making small, incremental improvements across every area. They didn’t just improve the riders’ physical performance; they looked at the bikes, the nutrition, the way they traveled, an...
Dec 11, 2024•31 min•Ep. 272
Running a fitness business can feel like an endless game. You are riding high on some days, while on others, you're fumbling at every turn. After 34 years in the fitness industry, Rick has seen it all—from triumphs to missteps and everything in between. If there's one thing he has learned, it's this: business success isn't about perfection. It's about adapting, staying consistent, and keeping focus where it matters most. Today, he is joined by Matt to share some of the biggest myths and truths h...
Nov 27, 2024•45 min•Ep. 271
Are you ready to be in business for yourself but not by yourself? Franchising might be the perfect fit for you. In this episode, Rick sits down with Cary Tober, VP of franchise development for the REP'M group. Cary explains why he believes that franchising is the ideal vehicle for private business ownership. Cary and Rick discuss how franchising is a unique model that lets individuals experience the benefits of business ownership without the risks of starting from scratch. Cary explains the sign...
Nov 20, 2024•26 min•Ep. 270
Imagine if you had a secret weapon that could take on the routine tasks of your fitness business, freeing you up to do what you love most. That's exactly what Rick Mayo and Ted Vickey dive into in this episode. Ted, a professor and AI expert with a fascinating career from the White House to consulting for tech giants, reveals how AI can be your best business partner. Things such as generating tailored workouts and handling marketing content are some of the routine tasks AI will take off your pla...
Nov 13, 2024•36 min•Ep. 269
What does it really mean to be a great leader? In this episode, Rick Mayo and Suzanne Robb take a fresh look at The Five Temptations of a CEO by Patrick Lencioni, and you might be surprised by what’s holding most leaders back. Leadership is less about maintaining appearances and more about building real trust. Rick and Suzanne tackle the traps that leaders at all levels fall into—like prioritizing status over results and avoiding accountability for popularity's sake. But they don’t just outline ...
Nov 06, 2024•29 min•Ep. 268
In this episode, Rick Mayo interviews Michael O'Koomian, founder of MOK Advisors, to talk about the intersection of fitness and finance. Michael has a rare combination of experience, having operated fitness businesses and worked on Wall Street. He shares his journey from fitness entrepreneurship to advising multimillion-dollar mergers and acquisitions. The conversation explores how to value and scale businesses, especially in the fitness franchising space. Michael explains how fitness franchisee...
Oct 23, 2024•58 min•Ep. 267
In this episode, Rick chats with Alloy franchisee Mike Jewett about his success with organic marketing for his Alloy location. Mike shares how he built a solid base of leads before launching his Alloy Personal Training franchise just by wearing branded gear and talking to people. With over 300 leads generated and 24 booked sessions before training day, Mike reveals the secrets to his pre-sale success. Mike also touches on his strategy for engaging with his local chamber of commerce, attending ev...
Oct 16, 2024•33 min•Ep. 266
The over-50 demographic controls 70% of the nation’s disposable income, yet most fitness marketing targets younger audiences. Why? Because we’re used to thinking younger is better. But here’s the truth: Older adults are willing to spend more and stick around longer if you can meet their specific fitness needs. In this episode, Rick speaks with Jay Croft, a new Alloy vendor, on why sending consistent newsletter content to your email list is so important. Rick and Jay break down how fitness busine...
Oct 09, 2024•31 min•Ep. 265
In this episode, Rick Mayo sits with his son, Jake Mayo, a Naval Academy graduate and submarine officer. Jake shares invaluable leadership tips learned from his experience in one of the most high-pressure environments—the military's submarine division. As a submarine officer responsible for critical, life-altering decisions, Jake shares how decisiveness, honesty, and fostering team resilience are key to successful leadership. He also explains how to build strong team dynamics, even in confined a...
Sep 25, 2024•42 min•Ep. 264
In this episode, Rick Mayo shares his 30-year journey in the fitness industry. From running a small gym in Atlanta to building a successful fitness franchise with over 300 locations, Rick reveals how he created a model that brings the benefits of personal training to group settings. He pinpoints the importance of community and accountability in fitness, particularly for adults aged 45-65, who comprise Alloy's core clientele. Rick explains the benefits of small group training, which provides affo...
Sep 18, 2024•32 min•Ep. 263
In this episode, Rick sits down with Alloy's COO and partner, Suzanne Robb, to discuss the details of her history and role with Alloy. Suzanne shares her personal journey from client to COO and explains the importance of genuine partnerships between the franchise and its franchisees. She also discusses the importance of complementary leadership styles and the value of continuous learning and adaptation in business. Suzanne also reveals how Alloy navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance...
Sep 11, 2024•30 min•Ep. 262
Opening a new franchise location is always exciting, but the complexities of commercial leases can be overwhelming. In this episode, Rick speaks with Alloy VP of Real Estate and Studio Development, Jared Breen, about the main negotiating points of your commercial lease. Rick and Jared discuss the key financial terms, such as rent abatement and tenant improvement allowances, that can significantly impact the overall cost of opening a franchise. They also highlight the importance of timing and coo...
Sep 04, 2024•28 min•Ep. 261
Are you considering investing in a fitness franchise but worried about potential pitfalls? In this episode, Rick sits down with Alloy zealot Rami Odeh about the importance of following the process as it pertains to business success. Rami owns six Alloy locations and also works as a franchise consultant. He candidly shares his personal experiences and mistakes he has made from his first Alloy location to now. He shared his firsthand experiences of what happens when you deviate from the establishe...
Aug 28, 2024•49 min•Ep. 260
In this episode, Rick Mayo speaks with Alejandra Madrid, Alloy's facility and event coordinator, about the hows and whys of hosting a conference. As the Alloy Franchise continues to grow, conference and event planning will become a huge undertaking that requires meticulous planning and attention to detail. Already, this year’s conference planning is underway, and Alejandra’s eyes are also set on 2025 and beyond. She reveals the secrets behind effective planning, from negotiating contracts to man...
Aug 21, 2024•18 min•Ep. 259
In franchising, leadership is very important to ensure success. But what makes a good leader? There are many different styles of leadership, and some are more effective than others. In this episode, Rick and Matt discuss the four types of leadership styles: abdicator, dominator, protector, and liberator. They analyze how each style affects franchise operations and team dynamics. It’s important to strike the right balance between challenging employees and providing them with the necessary support...
Aug 14, 2024•16 min•Ep. 258
As the demand for fitness solutions continues to rise, investing in a fitness franchise presents an attractive opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. Today, Rick interviews Jake Rosenthal, a successful investor and entrepreneur who recently became an Alloy franchisee in San Diego. Jake shares his journey from tech sales to diverse investments in real estate and Bitcoin and explains why he chose alloy as his next big venture. Jake has a unique investment strategy, combining cash flow from his al...
Aug 07, 2024•29 min•Ep. 257
Are you losing potential clients before they even step foot in your gym? In this episode, Rick and Jared discuss the often-overlooked aspects of client acquisition: phone scripts and gym tours. From the moment you answer the phone to the final handshake of a tour, every interaction is an opportunity to showcase your gym's value and ultimately nudge the prospect into a client. Learn why enthusiasm is your secret weapon, discover the power of assumptive language, and find out how to "sell the smil...
Jul 31, 2024•27 min•Ep. 256
The ancient philosophy of Stoicism has long been recognized for its timeless wisdom and practical insights that remain highly relevant today, even in the modern business world. In this episode, Rick and Matt go through the diaries of Marcus Aurelius, a Roman empire widely regarded as one of the greatest stoics for some of his teachings that will improve you and your business. His writings, which he did for himself at the time, have been applied today to teach important life and business lessons....
Jul 24, 2024•34 min•Ep. 255
We recently celebrated the huge milestone of opening 50 Alloy Personal Training clubs. Having these up and running is a big achievement for us as we shoot for 100 open at the end of the year. We have already awarded 274 franchises. In this episode, Rick and Suzanne reflect on the lessons picked along the way up to this point. One of the lessons from the open franchises is the importance of leadership. We've seen that the top 30% of performers in our franchise are those who excel in leadership. T...
Jul 17, 2024•38 min•Ep. 254
In this episode, Rick asks Matt 7 questions about why he does what he does and what he says are the keys to success for franchisees. Matt is Alloy’s VP of Studio Operations and the main franchise business coach. These questions reveal the core of what drives Matt in his role, the challenges he faces, and his strategic insights into fostering successful franchisees. Matt's biggest challenge working with franchisees is getting them to focus on the core processes and operations of the business rath...
Jul 10, 2024•20 min•Ep. 253
One of the common questions people looking into buying a fitness franchise have is whether they can run it remotely. In this episode, Rick is joined by Casey Kelley, who is a consistent top performer in Alloy's franchise system. He has mastered the art of managing a top-performing gym three hours from home and is here to share some of the lessons he has picked along the way. To effectively manage a franchise remotely, you'll require a pretty good understanding of key metrics and the ability to m...
Jul 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 252
Mark Fisher isn’t your ordinary fitness guy; he is an accomplished leader and owner of the successful Mark Fisher Fitness in Midtown Manhattan. He also runs Business for Unicorns, a successful gym owner support system. With his experience and industry knowledge, he has chosen to add an Alloy Personal Training Franchise to his businesses. In this episode, he talks with Rick to share his reasons why he bought an Alloy franchise. One of the biggest advantages he points out is the scalability of the...
Jun 26, 2024•43 min•Ep. 251
Cail Morrison understands a thing or two about the franchising industry. He has been involved in the industry practically all his career in various roles. His time at Anytime Fitness and later at doggy daycare franchising at Camp Bow Wow provided him with a broad perspective on the franchising industry. He was responsible for consulting with franchise owners and helping them grow their businesses. During this time, he developed a strong understanding of the industry and the challenges that franc...
Jun 19, 2024•51 min•Ep. 250
We’ve heard Suzanne Robb, the COO here at Alloy Personal Training, talk about operations and other concepts in the business, but in this episode, she shares her journey to get here. Starting out as a microbiologist, she soon realized that her passion lay elsewhere. Even though the job was intellectually stimulating, she found it socially isolating. She helped her husband set up a medical practice before joining Alloy, first as a client and eventually as a business partner. In this episode, she i...
Jun 12, 2024•59 min•Ep. 249
In this episode, we get to hear from Alloy’s COO, Suzanne Robb. She was interviewed by Cameron Herold on the Second in Command podcast. The COOs position is important for the success of any business, and Alloy is no exception. Suzanne works closely with Rick to help Alloy stay true to its core values and main goal. Their complementary skills facilitate strong leadership and a clear division of responsibilities. So far, Alloy has awarded close to 250 franchise locations. 45 of these are already o...
Jun 05, 2024•28 min•Ep. 248
The franchise fitness space has so many options, which makes standing out from the pack a challenge. But Rick built the successful Alloy Personal Training fitness franchise by taking a unique approach, focusing on a niche market with a scalable model and a selective franchisee selection process. Alloy’s story began with a proven fitness concept that thrived corporately for years. He saw a gap in the market for personalized, small-group training specifically targeting active adults aged 45-65. Th...
May 29, 2024•43 min•Ep. 247
In this episode, Joe Steele interviews Rick Mayo on his journey from a personal trainer to a successful entrepreneur. He takes us through the evolution of the personal training industry, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the strategic decisions behind expanding Alloy into a franchise. In the early 1990s, personal training was not common at all. In fact, most people had not heard about it. Rick had to educate clients about its benefits. Rick’s business continued to grow and eventually trans...
May 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 246
Entrepreneurship isn't always the dream job it's often portrayed to be. Elon Musk famously described it as "staring into the abyss while eating glass." In this episode, Matt and Rick break down this quote to discuss the real challenges of running a business. You'll learn what the "abyss" and the "glass" represent – the constant awareness of potential failure and the unpleasant tasks that come with leadership. We discuss why some entrepreneurs struggle: it's not always about having bad ideas, but...
May 15, 2024•30 min•Ep. 245
