I want to share a story that I heard once and can’t seem to forget. It’s about a father and his daughter at the playground. The little girl is on the swings, smiling as her dad gently pushes her higher and higher. Then, as the sun starts to set, the dad says, “We need to go home now, sweetheart.” The girl, with the innocence and charm only a child can muster, looks up and says, “Please, Daddy, one more time.”

The dad pauses for a moment and replies, “Okay, one more time.”

Nearby, another parent, visibly stressed and rushing to get home, overhears this exchange. Frustrated, they walk up to the patient father and say, “How do you have so much patience? I just get so frustrated. We’re late for dinner, and I can’t deal with all the delays.”

The father looks at them with quiet understanding and says, “Well, I would do anything to swing my oldest son one more time. But after the accident, he’s no longer with us. So, every time one of my kids asks for ‘one more time,’ I do everything I can to make it possible. I guess you grow a different kind of patience.”

This story always stops me in my tracks. Sometimes we move so fast we don’t realise how grateful we should be. Often the most precious things in life are often unmeasurable and we don’t even notice them until it is too late.

The Unmeasurable Moments

Life is full of things we can measure: time, money, deadlines, productivity. But the moments that truly matter, the ones that make life worth living, are the ones that can’t be quantified. Quality time with loved ones. The graduation of your child. The fresh air on the beach. A warm hug.

I heard Jimmy Carr say something that resonated deeply with me:
“Trade the measurable with the unmeasurable.”

It’s a simple idea but incredibly profound. Nobody lies on their deathbed wishing they’d spent more time at the office or earned a little more money. What we wish for are more moments with the people we love, more experiences that fill our hearts rather than our bank accounts.

The Balance Myth

Everyone talks about balance. But what the heck is that? I think you should not completely ignore measurable things like business goals, financial success, or daily tasks. The balance is about being in a position where you can make the choices you truly want to.

If you’re building a business, it should be something that serves you and aligns with what you love. If you hate your business, it’s important to remember that the architect of that business is you. The good news? Architects can redesign.

And don’t panic. If you realize your focus or your needs have changed, that’s okay. It’s perfectly fine to:

• Redesign the business to better fit your current goals.
• Be ready to sell it and work on making that happen
• Even close it entirely, if that’s what serves you best.

My Three Quick Questions for You

1. What measurable things in your life could you trade for the unmeasurable?
2. Are you building a life and business you truly love or are you stuck in something you’ve outgrown?
3. What’s your “one more time,” and are you making space for it?

– Rickard

In 2023 I had the feeling that my business was on a good path but I also knew I had to figure out what the future vision for the business should be.

As business owners, we often get caught up in the day-to-day operations, making it challenging to step back and see the bigger picture. And I was a bit stuck in my current state and needed to widen my view. So I used this question:

“What would someone change on the first day or within the first year if they took over my business?”

This question forces you to view your business through fresh eyes, identifying areas that may have been overlooked or deemed “good enough” under your leadership. A new owner would likely scrutinize every aspect, from operations and finances to marketing and team dynamics, seeking immediate improvements to maximise success. It is of course similar to the principles that many use when a business wants to scale or sell, as written in the book “Build to Sell”.

Why This Question Matters

• Identifying Blind Spots: We all have biases and blind spots. A new perspective can highlight inefficiencies or outdated practices that you’ve grown accustomed to.
• Challenging the Status Quo: Complacency is the enemy of growth. Questioning existing processes can lead to innovative solutions and improvements.
• Focusing on High-Impact Areas: A new owner would prioritize changes that offer the greatest return on investment. This can help you realign your efforts toward what truly drives your business forward. For me I quickly made the decision to cut out some of the events we were doing that were not replicable and did not show any benefit to the majority of our customers.

Implementing the Insight

1. Conduct an Internal Audit: Objectively assess each area of your business. Where are the bottlenecks? What feedback have you been ignoring?
2. Seek External Opinions: Sometimes, an outsider’s perspective can provide invaluable insights. Consider hiring a consultant or discussing with a mentor which I do on a weekly basis on small or big matters.
3. Develop an Action Plan: Identify the top changes that could have the most significant impact and create a strategic plan to implement them over the next year.

The Most Important Strategy for Next Year

By adopting the mindset of a new owner, you’re positioning yourself to do the things you might be procrastinating that would lead to impactful changes. This approach could very well be the most important strategy you implement next year. It encourages continuous improvement, adaptability, and a focus on what is most important which leads to growth. Stephen Covey wrote in his book “7 Habits of highly successful people” about the principle of putting first things first and I like this quote:
“Never let something that is of less importance come in front of the most important things”

Quick 3 Questions

1. What immediate changes would a new owner prioritize in your business, and why haven’t you addressed them yet?
2. How can you objectively evaluate your business operations to uncover hidden inefficiencies or opportunities for growth?
3. Who can provide you with an unbiased perspective on your business, and how soon can you engage with them to start this transformative process?

—Rickard

The purpose of this blog is simple: to provide a library of knowledge and tools for business owners, particularly gym owners, who want to grow their businesses.

Through different categories, I will share my own experiences, experiments, and insights gathered over years of running and mentoring gyms. I’ll also share what has worked for thousands of other gyms around the world.

Gyms are unique in that they don’t just provide a service, they change the most valuable asset a person has: their health.

But the principles of growth and success that apply to gyms also work across many industries. That’s why I believe we can all learn from various sectors to keep improving.

So, whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your business, this blog will offer practical advice and insights to help you succeed.

If you want to connect or have any questions, feel free to email me at: contact@rickardlong.com.

Thanks for being here!