If you own an Affiliate, you understand how much work it is to run your business.
A lot of times owners say to me, “I don’t have the time I need to put in the effort into well-thought-out programming.”
As the number of CrossFit Affiliates grow, more owners are realizing that in order to run their businesses efficiently, they need to take tasks off of their plates. Taking programming off of your plate is no different than, say, outsourcing the cleaning of your facility, and it will allow you to focus on other areas of your business that will lead to your success.
So how do you choose a programmer that will line up with what you’re looking for? I think it is much like your athletes deciding on the right box to join: there should be a list that you go through before deciding who the right fit is. Check it out:
- Research: Take the time to read the bio of the people you are talking to. It’s important to know and understand their background, how and where, how long they have been writing programming, and what their credentials are. In this day in age, it doesn’t take much for someone to call themselves a “fitness professional” as the entry-level qualifications are not very demanding. Take the time to get to know the people you are considering handing your programming over to.
- Time in the Trenches: Does this person practice what they preach? I’m a strong believer in the idea that practical application can outweigh just about any certification. The amount of knowledge gained from years of experimentation with their own training is invaluable, and should definitely be a prerequisite.
- Talk with them: Talk over the phone or via Skype. Come up with a list of questions beforehand and see how they are answered. Usually, it’s pretty clear to see if your values line up and if it makes sense to move forward. Feel free to view our FAQs here to get an idea of the types of questions people ask!
- Who are their clients: It’s very easy to see online reviews or simply search posts on one of the many Facebook groups. However, talking to their clients via email privately might be a better route to obtain the most honest assessment. Browse some of their clients’ websites and check out their programming. Most gyms post their programming and it’s quite easy to scroll through the past week of programming and get a feel for how their system works.
- Content: Read some of their content on their website. This is another easy way to see if their programming methodology will line up with the needs of your gym.
- Personality: After going through all of the above suggestions, it should be clear whether or not this person’s personality mixes with yours. This may not seem like something that will be relevant, but personality traits come through strongly in programming. Type A personalities tend to be more detail oriented and rigid whereas Type B personalities tend to be more relaxed and easy going. I think Type B gym owners can mix with Type A programmers, but I don’t think Type A gym owners will mix with Type B programmers for obvious reasons.
- Results: As Charles Poliquin says, “certifications mean nothing if you can’t get your clients results”. What are their clients’ results? Another great question to add to the list for owners that already use this programmer. How do their athletes feel? How many of their athletes are setting personal records when retesting occurs?
Consider all of the above information. At Box Programming, we know that our system is not for everyone and we are okay with that! We want you to make the best decision for your gym and continue helping people become better versions of themselves.
