RE: The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris has a Giant Gaping Flaw
I wasn't able to get down to a 4 hour work week, but I did manage to get to 12. That's because I did all of the layout for the two newspapers I owned.
At one point, I had a partner and full staffs for four newspapers. Then, the split came and I held on to the staff for two of them. But over a rather short period of time, those folks left or were let go until there was three of us forming the core group—one running the office and doing all the paper and book work, a managing editor, and me—with a frequently changing group of freelance reporters working around us.
By the time it was all said and done, we were running as about as efficiently as we could get. I didn't have to look over anyone's shoulders and the work got done in the ways and at the times it worked best for everyone.
Incentives can be tough, and when money or recognition isn't working, even tougher. What kind of fun do they like to have? Are they competitive? Do they want to party?
What about the growing the business or marketing process? Is it rather simple? What are you hoping your employees will do specifically? Make cold calls? Get referrals from clients you already have? Hop on social media? Leave leaflets on cars?
You're right, you will be very lucky if you ever find someone who has as much passion about your business as you do. Maybe a financial partner. Would offering some part of the business be helpful?
My guess is, though, that if they're not already naturally inclined to help with the incentives you've tried, it could be they're just not salespeople. I know I'm not wired that way, and it would have been great if I were. Personal trainers might be great at training, but lousy at selling. Or find it less fulfilling.
Just throwing things out at this point, which I'm sure you've already looked at and considered. Without being deep inside the numbers, and the business model, those are the thoughts I would have.
I think you’re right. They just aren’t sales people. And I can’t expect them to sell. All they really need to do is get referrals from existing members and manage social media. So it’s not a big ask.
My new team member is excellent at social media so I let him handle that and it’s done well. The people who need to sell just aren’t all that good at it so that’s something that needs to change.
Thanks for the response. You have great insights. Get your article written!
Are you offering incentives to the gym members to give you referrals? If you're not, then maybe you could bypass your staff enirely, within reason and with whatever resources you have, obviously, but the members would give you a larger networking force.
If you are already offering members incentives for referrals, but things just aren't happening, then what can be changed? What kinds of things have you tried and what else is there that you could try?
I've only leant on my staff to run referral programs so far. But have found in the past that when I step in with an offer, we generally get some uptake.
It's worth looking at. And I am essentially living in the gym again. So running things liken that are easier since I'm here to speak with members a lot more.
I was actually just at a business networking event. That gave me a few ideas as well so I have some things tow work with.