Norm's Notes for October 2024
- For this article, Log In to:
-
Download PDF
Norm Cates
■Hello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 370th monthly edition of this 31+ year running club business publication I refer to as: A Labor of Love! I'm very thankful that you've tuned in again for this iteration of Norm's Notes, as I proceed on my keyboard with my longtime habit of "Telling-It-Like-It-Is!" I'm really happy that you're reading this edition, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for sticking with us every month! As usual, we have a bunch of health and fitness club business news, so please read on!
■Is AMERICA a GREAT COUNTRY, or WHAT!? Hmm... hmm... hmm! And, as usual, let me start these Norm's Notes with my normal monthly salutation to you all: GOD BLESS AMERICA and GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY and YOUR BUSINESS!!!
■I'm writing this on Tuesday, October 1st, which just happens to be former PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER'S 100th Birthday! Regardless of whether you're a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent with respect to your political leanings, Jimmy Carter is someone ALL OF US CAN BE PROUD OF! Imagine living to be 100 years old with the life history he has accrued!!! Without a doubt, he is one of the most extraordinary human beings who has ever lived! EVER! TO PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, I SAY: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY!!!
■Related to the previous note, where I said, "Regardless of whether you're a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent with respect to your political leanings," let me add: VOTE!!! On November 5, not only do you have the RIGHT to VOTE, but it is your DUTY to VOTE. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA in this election year.
■Here's a Tip of my Black Hat to the great folks at Crunch Fitness, who have opened their doors to members and non-members impacted by Hurricane Milton! Much appreciation to the folks at Athletech News for sharing that story. THANKS to ALL involved!
■Speaking of Hurricane Milton. I am happy to report that my Son, and C.I. Publisher, JUSTIN CATES, reported no damage at his Clermont, Florida home. Though on the far west-side of Orlando, and combined with his property being a new build home in 2019, he was inland enough to avoid any damage. The power even stayed on thanks to the neighborhood's buried powerlines and infrastructure improvements on the main highway leading to his neighborhood! For any of you affected by Helene or Milton, we hope you are doing okay. We welcome any stories you want to share. Email Norm Cates at Norm@clubinsideronline.com.
■UFC GYM and UFC FIT joined the fight against bullying with seminars and self-defense classes for National Bullying Awareness Month. All UFC GYM and UFC FIT locations across the country are hosting empowering events designed to educate and equip communities with the tools to fight against bullying in all its forms on Saturday, October 26. The seminars will provide a comprehensive overview of various forms of bullying, including verbal, physical and cyber, while offering actionable guidance on how to recognize these behaviors and intervene effectively. Additionally, participants will receive hands-on self-defense training from UFC GYM trainers, featuring practical demonstrations that not only enhance personal safety but also build confidence and resilience. "Bullying affects individuals, families and communities in profound ways, often in ways that go unseen," said ADAM SEDLACK, CEO of UFC GYM. "Our goal for these seminars is to empower individuals to recognize and confront bullying head-on, fostering safer and more inclusive communities where everyone can thrive." Good On Ya, UFC!!!
■CHRIS STEVENSON, one of our excellent C.I. Contributing Authors, has recommended a book entitled: The POWER of REGRET... How Looking Backward Brings Us Forward, by DANIEL H. PINK. This book is a New York Times Best Seller, and here's what Chris had to say about the author: "Daniel Pink is one of my favorite authors, known for his ability to dig into the science of human behavior and make it accessible. Pink has consistently provided profound insights into motivation, work and the human experience from his widely acclaimed books like Drive, To Sell is Human, and When. His latest, The Power of Regret, explores a topic we all experience but often try to avoid: Regret. Far from being a negative emotion to suppress, Pink argues that regret, when appropriately used, can be a powerful force for growth and change. Thank you Chris!
■Folks, here's something that may... No... something that SHOULD BE of interest to you! This Norm's Note is about LEE SALZ, the Best-selling Author of "Advance Masterclass to Engage Executives and Win Deals." The intro reads:
Most salespeople feel that selling has never been more challenging than it is today. Competition is brutal, it's difficult to differentiate, and reaching executives feels nearly impossible. But, you've got a revenue target to hit, so you need to elevate your sales game! Lee Salz is going to help you do just that in this Masterclass. You are invited to join the bestselling author of Sales Differentiation and Sell Different! for a masterclass on selling to the C-suite. You'll learn strategies and tactics you can immediately implement to win more deals at the prices you want. During this program, Lee will share:
- The sales tool every salesperson must have, and it doesn't cost a single penny;
- How to use AI to develop your deal game plan;
- How to leverage Empathetic Expertise to engage emotion in every step of the sales process and keep your deal energized;
- Why salespeople get stuck with gatekeepers and how to avoid a deal-killing mistake;
- A creative prospecting strategy designed to engage key decision makers so they want to hear what you have to say;
- How to put together a winning first-meeting strategy that sparks interest in working with you;
- An effective strategy to navigate this brutal deal obstacle: "We're happy with our current provider;"
- What 99.999% of salespeople don't do for C-Suite, but they should;
- And much, much more!
Be prepared to laugh while you learn with Lee. This is a great program to invite your sales team to participate with you. To register now, call Lee and his Team at (866) 904 - 9666.
■Speaking of regret, here's a disgusting report out of Lubbock, Texas: Thirteen cheerleaders suffered first- and second-degree burns after their coach forced them to do bear crawls and crab walks around an outdoor track, reportedly measuring over 125 degrees! The air temperature in Lubbock that day was 95 degrees! The coach and teacher is now on leave while the school district looks into the situation. The middle schoolers claimed that the coach ordered them around the hot track as a punishment after they did a cheer that the coach did not want them to do at a football game. The coach claimed that, by deviating from the planned cheer, the team was being disrespectful.
Parents were not notified of their students' injuries despite many of the girls going to see the school nurse after practice. It is reported that one girl was even taken to the University Medical Center burn unit by her parents following the incident.
According to KAMC TV, one parent said, "It was malicious. It was intentional," as she described her daughter's account of the practice and alleged threats the coach made about the girl's future cheering careers. Many parents are hoping for criminal charges against the coach. One cheerleader, whose name has not been included in reporting said, "We told her our hands are burning, and she said she didn't care, and she made us go back down on the track."
According to newspaper Everything Lubbock News, the school district released a statement saying, "We are heartbroken over these events, as the safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority. This type of incident does not reflect the standards or values of Lubbock ISD and Evans Middle School. We are addressing this matter with the utmost urgency and are fully committed to investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The teacher involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation."
Lubbock ISD has kept the name of the coach anonymous at this time until they are able to determine exactly what happened during last week's practice.
■FAU Offers Free Football Tickets to Hurricane Victims! The Florida Atlantic University Owls (FAU) offered free football tickets to any Florida resident affected by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton. When the Owls took the field against the University of North Texas, they celebrated the Tri-County Appreciation Day by filling the stadium with impacted families from Palm Beach, Dade and Broward counties. Families were given four tickets to take in the game, and FAU brought smiles and sunshine to communities that have been experiencing nothing but cloudy days the past few weeks. While a football game couldn't fix their water-logged homes or communities, it could be a first step back toward normalcy for many. This game also marked a return to normal for FAU, as it shut down all campus operations during Hurricane Helene just a few weeks prior. According to FAU News, BRIAN WHITE, Vice President and Director of Athletics at FAU, said, "We extend our deepest condolences to those impacted this week by the devastating weather in our state. Our priority has always been to give back to the communities that mean so much to us and we hope that Saturday's game provides a few hours of normalcy for those impacted." Fans in attendance were encouraged to donate to the Florida Disaster Fund to continue to help fund the emergency response following these two hurricanes. The fund goes toward helping local communities recover, no matter what they've lost after a storm. Credit, Thanks and Great Appreciation goes to my friend, PETE BROWN, and his great Athletic Business Magazine for this news item.
■JUSTIN and I want to THANK YOU for reading Club Insider! We appreciate you being with us. And, in particular, WE VERY SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANY and ALL SUPPORT OF OUR ESTEEMED Club Insider ADVERTISERS! PLEASE DO BUSINESS WITH THEM and WHEN YOU DO, PLEASE TELL 'EM Club Insider SENT YOU! THANK YOU ALL!
■God bless our troops, airmen and sailors worldwide and keep them safe. Thank you, Congratulations and Welcome Home to all of our troops who have served around the world. God bless America's Policemen and women and Firemen and women; keep them safe. Finally, God bless you, your family, your club(s) and your members. God Bless America! Laus Deo!
