Ok, so there you have it, my New Year's resolutions for the whole world — OK, the whole industry — to see. They aren't flashy. They aren't extreme. They aren't easy to keep.

That seems to be the biggest problem with New Year's resolutions: they look good on paper, but are difficult to accomplish when put to the test in the real world.

As a fitness professional you have seen it every year. People come into your facility with their brand new sneakers, sign up for a membership, crowd the gym floor and by February are distant memories, for the most part. Their New Year's resolutions looked good on paper, but in practice they couldn't keep their fitness resolution.

But that doesn't mean that resolutions (or goals as they're called the rest of the year) aren't useful. You can't get anywhere in life until you know where you want to be or how to get there.

That's why I think it is important for everyone in the entire industry to sit down as the calendar turns to 2003 and make some resolutions of his or her own.

Maybe it's to get out to meet the members of the community. Maybe one is to add children's programming or to work with local schools that have seen their P.E. budgets slashed.

Maybe your resolutions will be more clearly bottom-line driven — although many would say that reaching out to the community is bottom-line boosting. Perhaps your resolution is to add another club or increase personal training revenues. What about adding day spa services or keeping attrition — both staff and members — to a minimum? Those would make great New Year's resolutions. How about helping all those members that will be rushing into your clubs during the holidays feel welcome, get results and keep their resolutions…that might be the best one for your overall success in 2003.

In the end it almost doesn't matter where the inspiration for your own New Year's resolutions come from. What is important is that resolutions are set, goals are made and you work hard to keep them.

When it comes to your business goals for 2003, we hope that Club Industry will continue to be your must-read resource for learning the best ways to operate your facilities.

To that end, please feel free to drop me an e-mail or a phone call to let me know what information you and your staff are looking for, or just to let me know what you're facility is doing to help meet your resolutions. Not to mention all those e-mails and phone calls help me keep number 8 on my list too.

Have a happy and safe holidays and New Year!

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.