Clubindustry

If you didn’t attend the Club Industry 2009 conference (or even if you did and want to relive those wonderful memories!), then you can get a feel for the show by going to our photo gallery. We’ve posted photos of Jack LaLanne and Mark Mastrov, plus the Best of the Best winners and some of the exhibitors who were on hand for the show. Click on each image to make it larger and to read the caption.

Before the Jack LaLanne keynote at the Club Industry show two weeks ago, the editors went in the back room (a so unglamorous little kitchen area with dirty red tile floors, a sink, several large trash cans and some plastic chairs on which Jack LaLanne sat, waiting to be called on stage) to meet and say hi to Mr. LaLanne. We’d had dinner with him and his wife the evening before, but we hadn’t taken any pictures. (No one remembered to bring a camera!) So, the show photographer kindly took a few images. I debated whether to ever let this photo see the light of day, but I thought is was fun, so why not? Here, the editors (me on the left, Stephanie in the middle and Stuart on the right) flex our muscles with Jack LaLanne!

With all that was taking place at the Club Industry show this year, I didn’t get a chance to attend as many sessions as I have in the past. The three I attended last week were quite good, and they all stressed the importance of planning ahead. more

It’s always rewarding to see the winners of our Best of the Best awards in person at Club Industry. My colleagues Pam Kufahl and Stephanie Bloyd presented the plaques Friday to our six winners before Mark Mastrov’s keynote address. more

Mark Mastrov’s keynote address, titled “How to Deliver Record-Breaking Performance in Today’s Economy,” probably should have been “How to Deliver a Keynote Address at Record-Breaking Speed.” Mastrov delivered a lot of key advice to a packed audience at a fast-break pace. more

Yesterday, attendees at the town hall meeting “How Will You React in a Crisis?” received some valuable tips about preparing for a crisis. The most important tip, offered by both panelists, was to meet with and be familiar with your local emergency professionals before any crisis occurs. more

I always get a good workout while I’m at a trade show. Not only do I end up walking more (from hotel to convention center and then around the convention center and the trade show floor), but I also get to participate in the early morning workouts. This year, I decided to participate in my first boot camp–something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time. And my first one was a great one. Even though I took it yesterday morning, I’m feeling the effects today. This boot camp, led by Lori Patterson, who has her own boot camp business, was good for first-timers and experienced boot campers (like our show director, Zari Stahl, who gets up early most mornings to participate in a boot camp). Lori was great about showing beginners like me how to tailor each exercise to our workout. I could feel that I’d gotten a good workout yesterday, but today, I can really tell it.

We did some squats that have put the squash on my thighs–big time–and we did some bear crawls that have my back feeling it–but in a good way.

I’ll definitely try a boot camp again in the future. What a great way for clubs to introduce fitness to their members and make some additional revenue.

I just learned the secret weapon of success from David Patchell-Evans, president and CEO of GoodLife Fitness Centers, at the Club Industry Wellness Luncheon, and I’m sure he’d want me to share it with you. It’s called caring.

By being engaged in life and caring about other people, he maintains that success will follow. David believes that a passion-inspired business not only will increase profits but will lead to a life where your purpose is fulfilled. In fact, his business in Canada grew 50 percent last year in this economy when he combined the passions in his life with his inner sense of purpose.

He said he believes in letting people who work for him do what they’re capable of doing without micromanaging them, and he says that his staff members can become what he is–consistently happy. David asserted that your company’s biggest opportunity for growth is you being a passionate leader and hiring passionate people.

David himself showed a passion for life and a passion for his business that is rare in this world, which is sad, because the world needs more leaders like him.

You can tell that Jack LaLanne loves the spotlight. Despite being born a bit of an introvert, according to his wife, he comes alive when he gets on stage and starts talking fitness. He was completely “on” this morning as he offered the keynote address (see Stephanie’s blog below).

After the keynote and the presentation of the Best of the Best award to Mr. LaLanne (at the conclusion of which, I received a peck on the cheek from him), Jack sat outside the room for more than an hour signing autographs and taking pictures with more than a hundred people. more

I had the pleasure of meeting Jack and Elaine LaLanne last night and going to dinner with both of them and five others in the Club Industry franchise. What an experience! The two of them entertained us by sharing stories about how they met, what feat Jack plans to perform next (carry Elaine from one end of the tub to the other) and their friendship with Arnold Schwarzenegger, among other things. more