Notes from the Road – Yoga Lessons for SMART Business GrowthSM
This week’s Notes is inspired by my sanctuary, my favorite place in Portland: Bikram Yoga SE and its founders, Leah and Julie. Celebrating the first anniversary of their new business, Leah Shirley and Julie Yates are amazing leaders, yoga instructors and business owners. About 12 months ago, they seized the opportunity to build their dream, and with a lot of work and help from friends they opened their studio within a month. More than a yoga studio, Bikram Yoga SE is an inspiring community where mind and body reset and grow. Stay tuned for a special edition of Nicole’s Notes next month when I interview Leah and Julie, but now, fresh from a yoga class, here are some of my favorite lessons that translate to business.
When in Doubt, Go to Yoga
If I start hesitating about whether or not I should make it to a class, I can find all the excuses in the world to postpone. When that mood hits, I head out to the studio, no questions asked. Whatever my mood going in, I always get back more than I give in class and find myself better off. Similarly, in business, we often put away tasks or decisions that may seem unpleasant, whether it is looking at your numbers, having an important talk with an employee, or calling the bank. Whatever the reason, set your discomfort aside and do it. Second, and importantly, take some time to appreciate the result and the fact that you tackled a difficult task and how better off you are for it.
Get Good, then Get Fast
Focused on their clientele and dedicated to offering a quality experience, Leah and Julie are growing a SMART community of returning clients, slowly expanding their offerings to meet their needs by providing new products or services. In this process they learned business, such as how to reconcile the day’s reports with the bank accounts and user sign-ins—all while teaching classes and managing the laundry and cleaning schedule. For the first few months they literally lived in the studio—living and breathing their business as many founders do early on. Their business now includes three to five classes a day, seven days a week, as well as kids yoga, foam roller classes, posture clinics, and towel and mat service.
Numbers that Sing, Dance and Rock!
In the 11 months since the studio opened, 1,148 classes were held. Leah and Julie welcomed 12,500-plus visitors, while signing up over 1,300 clients. Building repeat business by offering consistent quality service to their community, welcoming everyone with a smile, hiring a great team of instructors who believe in the studio and in yoga, and connecting everyone through social media, Leah and Julie built a strong foundation and their growth is picking up steam. As the community grows so do the energy and dynamics of the community. Coming in to a full class on a Saturday morning is one of the most energetic ways to start my weekend.
What inspires your employees, your talent, to truly show up for work? According to Greg Togni of 180one, over 60% of employees feel their skills are underutilized and 88% of voluntary turnover is rooted in reasons other than compensation. In my experience, most people want a return on their effort—they want to see the results for the company, and for them. Show them the numbers, give them feedback, and work on creating inspiring goals with them. You’ll be surprised!
SMART Growth Starts with Showing Up
The heat often discourages many a prospect in the yoga room, which is why the first rule is always just show up and stay in the room. This is more about a positive mindset than anything else. If you trust that you will be fine and follow the instructions, you will not only be fine but you will get stronger. Then you must be resilient: keep coming back and “fake it ‘til you make it,” as Leah says. The body adapts to the heat as it cleanses and learns to regulate, but in the first month, you may not always feel great in the moment. You have to trust that it will get easier and better. Once you learn that it is not about brute force but about “flow” and “breath,” you can be resilient, coming back time after time.
Similarly, business can be very daunting. Day in and day out, you have to show up and do the work—both the fun and not so fun things—while keeping a positive mindset, adapting as the business grows, paying attention to the signs, being resilient, and believing in success even through the tough times. And through all of that, you have to keep breathing, and flow! There is strength in numbers.
Call to Action:
As we head into the holiday season and begin making plans for a New Year, be thankful, breathe, and consider these questions. Get energized and flow into 2015:
- What is one thing you can improve to get better or faster next year?
- What is your yoga? What is the one thing that you are not going to delay, whatever the mindset, for your business, for yourself, and for your talent?
- Are your numbers happy? Do they dance, sing, and rock? What story do they tell?
