I recieved a phone call yesterday from a women screaming at me. She was irate the gym was closed. She could not beleive how horrible I was to take a deposit on a birthday party knowing the gym was closing. She threated to blog, twitter and facebook about how awful My Gym was. I listen and apolpgized and listen some more. Then I stoped, cried and thought this really sucks right now. I want to yell and scream and blog, twitter and facbook too. This was the hardest most unexpected decision I have ever had to make. it affect some many people other than myself. My parents lost a wonderful program designed to enhance their children in more than just gymnastics. These kids were learning to follow directions, motor skills, self esteem and social skills. The children lost their out let for creativity and imagination. My staff lost their jobs. I lost 3 years of my own money, blood and sweat. I put everything I could into making this gym a succes and within 10 minutes closed the doors and walked away.
I started my journey with My Gym in 2001 with My son as a member. We went every week to enjoy songs, friends and exploring the gym. He loved it and gained confidence, coordination and motor skills. I loved it so much I took a job. I put my heart and soul into my days in the gym. Smiling and laughing kids were such a joy to be around. I felt filled watching each child learn something new every day. I meet my closest friends while working in the gym. We went through divorces, marriages, babies, moving. I felt like part of a great big family. When I bought the gym in 2007. I have no ideal how hard this was going to be. i thought it would be a breeze. I found myself in uncharted waters. Even with the unknown in front of me I felt a since of calm. Every day at the gym was fun and exciting. We would all learn new skills. I perfected my elephant roll. Found working with friends in a horrible idea and resulted in loosing a good friend. I learned a perganat woman can do a dive roll. I met some of the best kids. They taught me to laugh as hard as I could, imagine beyond closing my eyes and run as fast as I could. . They knew no matter what if you were having a hard day and they always made me smile. Kids give the best hugs, tell the best stories and remember eveything you dont think they hear. The job was a true reward and I would not trade on second. However the business was another story.
In a falling economy, people start cutting out the gymnastics, art and music classes. Parents who were once stay at home moms went back to work. Dads lost their jobs and we lost our memebers. i tried to offer discounts and help as many parents as I could. I did not want the kids to suffer because the economy was falling down the toilet. While helping everyone else I forgot to watch what was happening to the business side of the gym. I was so focused on keeping the parents happy and the kids in the gym, my economy was crashing. The second you go from discount discount discount to nothing you get a lot of grife and lots of threats to blog twitter and post about your business. I had a mom demand a discount once by slamming her fist on the counter and quit literally saying i demand. I thought i should try that at Mcdonalds to see if I could get a happy meal at a discount. I keep you psoted on that. I learned if something is not clearly in writting, people will disput it if it is not in their favor. And if it is not written, it does not exsist.
mid way through my blog I recieve a few more calls and emails of unhappy parents. And i thought this is never going to end. One woman scream how could i do this to a 3 year old. While clearly I was or am not doing this intetionally to any child, I listen to her rant. And thought. does she realize i let my own children down, my 150 members kids. They do not understand the back bone of business and this economy and why I had to close the doors so suddenly. All they know is My Gym is gone. She is telling one child who she can make it up to in some way. I am telling 150 children I can never make it up too. The other call was to let me know she would be calling our corprate office to demand a refund of the membership fee. (not the cost of classes the fee to join the gym). Well I would like to call and demand my money back from buying the gym. I think I am entiled to it all refunded back. Just throw it on my debit card where you so kindly take royalities every month. Even though the money was not there, but you knew that.
What that said and the phone down for a few minutes. The family I once felt part of, the support group who I thought had my back, they are gone. Within two days of closing my doors all communication was gone, I was locked off the website and forced to deal with all the consquences on my own. But by God when I bought the gym they were up my ass to help. Can we come out, lets talk weekly, emails regually. My email from the ceo said "sometimes thats the way business goes". Any other communication came in the form of this email came in from a parent, deal with them.
I started my journey with My Gym in 2001 with My son as a member. We went every week to enjoy songs, friends and exploring the gym. He loved it and gained confidence, coordination and motor skills. I loved it so much I took a job. I put my heart and soul into my days in the gym. Smiling and laughing kids were such a joy to be around. I felt filled watching each child learn something new every day. I meet my closest friends while working in the gym. We went through divorces, marriages, babies, moving. I felt like part of a great big family. When I bought the gym in 2007. I have no ideal how hard this was going to be. i thought it would be a breeze. I found myself in uncharted waters. Even with the unknown in front of me I felt a since of calm. Every day at the gym was fun and exciting. We would all learn new skills. I perfected my elephant roll. Found working with friends in a horrible idea and resulted in loosing a good friend. I learned a perganat woman can do a dive roll. I met some of the best kids. They taught me to laugh as hard as I could, imagine beyond closing my eyes and run as fast as I could. . They knew no matter what if you were having a hard day and they always made me smile. Kids give the best hugs, tell the best stories and remember eveything you dont think they hear. The job was a true reward and I would not trade on second. However the business was another story.
In a falling economy, people start cutting out the gymnastics, art and music classes. Parents who were once stay at home moms went back to work. Dads lost their jobs and we lost our memebers. i tried to offer discounts and help as many parents as I could. I did not want the kids to suffer because the economy was falling down the toilet. While helping everyone else I forgot to watch what was happening to the business side of the gym. I was so focused on keeping the parents happy and the kids in the gym, my economy was crashing. The second you go from discount discount discount to nothing you get a lot of grife and lots of threats to blog twitter and post about your business. I had a mom demand a discount once by slamming her fist on the counter and quit literally saying i demand. I thought i should try that at Mcdonalds to see if I could get a happy meal at a discount. I keep you psoted on that. I learned if something is not clearly in writting, people will disput it if it is not in their favor. And if it is not written, it does not exsist.
mid way through my blog I recieve a few more calls and emails of unhappy parents. And i thought this is never going to end. One woman scream how could i do this to a 3 year old. While clearly I was or am not doing this intetionally to any child, I listen to her rant. And thought. does she realize i let my own children down, my 150 members kids. They do not understand the back bone of business and this economy and why I had to close the doors so suddenly. All they know is My Gym is gone. She is telling one child who she can make it up to in some way. I am telling 150 children I can never make it up too. The other call was to let me know she would be calling our corprate office to demand a refund of the membership fee. (not the cost of classes the fee to join the gym). Well I would like to call and demand my money back from buying the gym. I think I am entiled to it all refunded back. Just throw it on my debit card where you so kindly take royalities every month. Even though the money was not there, but you knew that.
What that said and the phone down for a few minutes. The family I once felt part of, the support group who I thought had my back, they are gone. Within two days of closing my doors all communication was gone, I was locked off the website and forced to deal with all the consquences on my own. But by God when I bought the gym they were up my ass to help. Can we come out, lets talk weekly, emails regually. My email from the ceo said "sometimes thats the way business goes". Any other communication came in the form of this email came in from a parent, deal with them.
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