Filex 2019 Insights from Jono Petrohilos
What was your Filex 2019 hi-light – from an education perspective?
The business summit pre convention. It was top notch speaker after top notch speaker… Justin Tamsett, Bobby Cappuccio, Chris Stephenson, Mark Fisher…
I couldn’t split who I took more out of Justin or Chris!
What are 3 Golden Nuggets you are leaving with?
1. Oh… and I had a workout too! “JT”
A visit to the gym should be an “experience”. JT told a story about a spin class he went too. The instructor was crazy, dropping f bombs, playing loud rock and roll music, squirting people with a water pistol. JT walked out of the gym thinking “wow… that was an experience… oh and I had a work out too”!
2. “Difference between ‘polite’ and ‘service’. Chris Stephenson
Most gyms / health clubs / trainers are ‘polite’ when a member walked in. Smiling and saying ‘hello’ – that’s a given. Service is taking it to the next level – mentioning the persons name and then asking them a question about something you know about them is service. If a member asks where the bathroom is – smiling and pointing them in the right direction is polite. Service is walking them to the bathrooms’
3. Policy enforcement. Chris Stevenson
Every gym/health club has a ‘policy’ but it always gets awkward when someone has to enforce it. Chris gave a step by step procedure to deal with it
Step 1: Introduce yourself and your role
e.g. “Hi Justin! My names Jono and I’m the head of customer service here, how are you?”
Step 2: “I’m sure you have no idea”
e.g. “Hey I’m sure you had no idea about this, but we actually require that every member use a towel here then they work out”
Step 3: “Explain why”
e.g. “because, obviously when we train we sweat and it’s just not hygienic or pleasant for the other members. So for that reason we require everyone use a towel so that that way there’s never any sweat directly on the equipment”
Step 4: “Give alternatives”
e.g. “so you’ve got a couple options… If you’ve got one in the car – you can run out and grab that… or we sell them at the front”
Why should someone attend Filex 2020?
- The education. All you need is one gold nugget and the investment is worth it. I have no doubt in my mind you’re going to get a lot more than ONE! I just listed 3 and I’ve been in the industry for over 10 years.
- Networking with other fitness professionals. This is more important than the education. I’ve learnt more from networking with fit pro’s in the breaks than I have at the actual sessions. You’re not going to get another opportunity to get 2000 fitness professionals in the one place who are all dedicated to improving!
- Networking with the heavy hitters/speakers! I’m now friends with most of the speakers at FILEX, simply from attending for so many years!
Jono is the co founder and director at Fitness Education Online, an organization which specialises in providing professional development for Personal Trainers in the Bootcamp, Functional Training and Social Media space. Jono is a qualified Exercise Physiologist, published author (The Bootcamp Blueprint) and the host of the successful podcast “The Bootcamp Blueprint” and most importantly one of the biggest Game of Thrones fans in the world!