corp. busness wins again...

[lucian]

today i was fired from golds gym international.
here is why:
mistake one
an email sent to us stated a few select trainers who make the most money for the co, were the "real life changers"
i replied to the top guys that "all my trainers changed peoples lives and even save some by getting them healthy, not just the ones who sell a lot of training."
and how i thought it was plain disrespectful to send an email like that.


mistake two.
golds wants to out the bbing communtiy and be more mainsteream.
they think this will make more money, well hello...you are using a name built by bodybuilding and your logo is a bber, and you havent changed that, cuz people recognize that symbol from.....BODYBUILDING!!!
plus those of us who bbuild keep memberships for a lifetime and are very loyal to our gym brand wearing all your mechandise.
so hmmm why would you not want us there???
most mainstream folks dont see the benifit or value, or are just plain to lazy to keep goinh to the gym year after year.

mistake three.
wantchig out for my trainers. anytime they had a problem i would fight for days for them to get what they deserve.
dont rock the boat....cuz you get what i got....unemployment.

i was told i am not a good fit for the club, and i hava a bad track record.(because of reasons 1,2,and 3!) then was to ld the only thing that my boss could get from me was that if i resigned i could use golds on a resume.
(i was the fintess manager of the 2nd largest golds on the east coast and paid the 2nd highes on the east coast.)
so yeah i want that for a resume!!!!!!


so do i hate golds? no.
do i hate the higher ups. no
but i do know what comes around goes around and ill be there for that.

thanks for listening guys, its been a long day and im competing in 4 days so im trying not to stress too much but not having a job or any money comming in makes it hard.

any suggestions on how to fight back against this???
legal stuff?
any advice would be appreciated.
im gonna try and relax now.
lucian

 

[oldfella]

Lucian, I am sorry tom hear this bro. You have been given the short end of the stick bro. I say "FUCK GOLDS" and get your little training partner and open your own business. I am an independant gym owner and I have people coming from all over the country and internationally to my gym while here on holiday. All they ever say is that my gym, not the biggest, is the best damn gym thety have ever been to. I feel very proud when I hear this. Most of my regulars have all come from the big cities and have been to the big franchise gyms and say the same thing. It is so nice to come to a professional gym and be treated with kindness and compassion.

I have all the right equipment and more iron than anyone can lift. It is a real gym in every sense. I say go and smash your comp bro and then formulate a plan to do this for your self. Take some of the top trainers with you if they want to come and you will build clientele fast. It sounds like Golds has lost sight of the "why" gyms are and "where" they came from. Fitness industry has lost the plot. I too am dirty on the fitness industry, all they want are numbers on treadmills, they waste people away on cardio and do not know the first thing about weights. That's why so many new "Mainstream" gyms don't have weights. You can do this, you have the knowledge and you have the look.

 

[Golgo13]

That sucks man, but I don't blame Gold's for exiting the BBing market. To 99% of the people its just a drug-freakshow.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'm sorry, that all sucks. I have no advice though. But if it were me, and if I felt I was unfailry forced to resign, I would probably contact an attorney.
Can't hurt to talk to lawyer, to see what he has to say. If indeed you were let go for the above reasons.. seems pretty week.

 

[maldorf]

I think all that big franchises like Golds are concerned about is how many memberships they can sell. The gal that comes in around new years day and signs a year contract and lifts for a month or so and then you never see her again, thats their target. For every serious bodybuilder you have about 20 or more of these kind of people to sign up. Its a numbers game. I lift at a Gold's and see this all of the time. The place is terrible too at fixing anything that is broken. It took them almost 6 months once to fix a broken machine. It seems like they dont care about you once you sign the dotted line.

 

[vadim_b1]

I cant relate to you business wise, but i have my little story as well, about 5 months ago i was kicked out of the gym i regularly trained at for an year. Their reason for kicking me out - being a competitive BB'er and having a physique to show for it. Somehow i "didnt blend in with the crowd", and "intimidated other trainees". I think its a trend we'll be seeing a lot more of shortly.
Funny thing was also that the manager kicked out this years Amateur world champ in the under 100 kg class (of course at the time he wasnt). The guy's a legend in our country now .

 

[oldfella]

I cant relate to you business wise, but i have my little story as well, about 5 months ago i was kicked out of the gym i regularly trained at for an year. Their reason for kicking me out - being a competitive BB'er and having a physique to show for it. Somehow i "didnt blend in with the crowd", and "intimidated other trainees". I think its a trend we'll be seeing a lot more of shortly.
Funny thing was also that the manager kicked out this years Amateur world champ in the under 100 kg class (of course at the time he wasnt). The guy's a legend in our country now .

Damn bro, are you fucking serious.. that has to be the most screwed up shit I've ever heard. This is the stuff that full on discrimination suits are made of. So WTF do they want in the gym???? Fat ugly people that do dumbell curls on exercise balls with 3kg d/bells?? i want my gym full of buff beautiful people, males and females. I do not encourage everyone to be a BBer but I do encourage them to chase the physique of their dreams. What is the gym biz coming to?? OMG! This is as bad as the no grunting or heavy breathing rules and the "LUNK" alarms at planet fagass gyms!!

 

[vadim_b1]

Damn bro, are you fucking serious.. that has to be the most screwed up shit I've ever heard. This is the stuff that full on discrimination suits are made of. So WTF do they want in the gym???? Fat ugly people that do dumbell curls on exercise balls with 3kg d/bells?? i want my gym full of buff beautiful people, males and females. I do not encourage everyone to be a BBer but I do encourage them to chase the physique of their dreams. What is the gym biz coming to?? OMG! This is as bad as the no grunting or heavy breathing rules and the "LUNK" alarms at planet fagass gyms!!

Too bad that gym owners like you are so few and far between. Best of luck in your business, this just goes to show that you can cater for EVERYONE and still be successful.

 

[SouthernMuscle]

I'm not a lawyer by any means, but I think if they actually told you they were letting you go because you look too big or too bodybuilder-ish then that would be grounds for a discrimination case

or, maybe I'm talking out of my ass? once again, not a lawyer, though it couldn't hurt to talk to a real one

 

[vadim_b1]

Heh, its not America here bro, people would just laugh in your face . Basically in his own private establishment, the owner is god, he can do whatever he wishes as long as he doesnt break the law, and in this case he did not.

 

[Sesshomaru]

Lucian, we already talked, but again, hang in there and you know a lot of people have your back.

I will agree, Gold's is looking for that fickle crowd that has more disposable income. I mean really, none of us would train with a personal trainer but the fatties and out of shape people would. So catering to this crowd has more income potential. The problem with that is that this crowd is not loyal to a gym and more likely to drop a membership based on services and customer care, which Golds sucks at.

 

[maldorf]

I cant relate to you business wise, but i have my little story as well, about 5 months ago i was kicked out of the gym i regularly trained at for an year. Their reason for kicking me out - being a competitive BB'er and having a physique to show for it. Somehow i "didnt blend in with the crowd", and "intimidated other trainees". I think its a trend we'll be seeing a lot more of shortly.
Funny thing was also that the manager kicked out this years Amateur world champ in the under 100 kg class (of course at the time he wasnt). The guy's a legend in our country now .

Here in the US you could get an attorney and beat them in any court if they threw you out because of how you look. Not sure how your laws work over there, but I would bet its much the same.

 

[annie78]

do not give up

Lucian,chin up and do not give up.
You know what you want and do it.you are smart and you know how to change your life.Just do not do any mistake with your work out plane.Do not do overtraining because you are upset.When you sent me the SMS that you are doing extra cardio...-wouuuuuuuuu..No...be smart.Think before you think.
Tomorrow is a new day-we will visit some of the Gyms and we will call the guy for the new Gym place.We wil do it. I talked this night with your friends(members)and they are ready to help you.You have to decide what you want of this life and do it.But think for your girl too.You are two Lucian.I know it is hard but this is the reason the life to be good.play hard game and enjoy your first place.Just be smart.Lets hit the first place on Saturday and then it will be easy.everything is happening for reason.It was time to leave the Gym and to go up...
Good luck..
new day-new luck

 

[Uluwatu]

Lucian, I am sorry tom hear this bro. You have been given the short end of the stick bro. I say "FUCK GOLDS" and get your little training partner and open your own business. I am an independant gym owner and I have people coming from all over the country and internationally to my gym while here on holiday. All they ever say is that my gym, not the biggest, is the best damn gym thety have ever been to. I feel very proud when I hear this. Most of my regulars have all come from the big cities and have been to the big franchise gyms and say the same thing. It is so nice to come to a professional gym and be treated with kindness and compassion.

I have all the right equipment and more iron than anyone can lift. It is a real gym in every sense. I say go and smash your comp bro and then formulate a plan to do this for your self. Take some of the top trainers with you if they want to come and you will build clientele fast. It sounds like Golds has lost sight of the "why" gyms are and "where" they came from. Fitness industry has lost the plot. I too am dirty on the fitness industry, all they want are numbers on treadmills, they waste people away on cardio and do not know the first thing about weights. That's why so many new "Mainstream" gyms don't have weights. You can do this, you have the knowledge and you have the look.

I agree 100% with oldfella. You don't need to work for anyone. The hardest part of opening up your own business is getting over the fear of failure. Once you get over that, you will be fine. You don't need a big corporation behind you, all you need is a good personality, some basic marketing skills, and the will to work for yourself. Sure it is difficult to get started, but the hard work pays off in the end. Why work hard long hours to make some asshole rich who sits in the corporate office, and has never even touched a weight himself. Fuck big corporate gyms. Open up your own small gym, with good equipment, good personal trainers, and charge a fair price. And trust me in a couple of years you will be glad you did. Use this experience as a reason to start your own thing. Lucian, I don't know what kind of business backround you have, but you can PM me for some good books to get you started.

 

[lucian]

...

thanks champ.
ive been thinkin a lot and im not sure i want to be in the gym buisness for a bit.
we talked about that and you are right. i just need to clear my head.
thank you so much to you and sess,
annie and sess, at one time together helped me gather my stuff fro my office and walked me out to my truck. both had true pain in their faces knowing it was wrong....and both assured my its for the best and things will be ok.
both offered help if i need it.(money wise)
both are two of my very best friends in the world!!!!!!
i thank you both..im very lucky to have such good friends and i dont know how to repay you guys. a big reason i kept my cool today so you guys wouldnt be more upset.
ill be ok, and im not doing anymore cardio...being smart.
im just gonna concentrate on the show, and move forward.
guys these two people stepped up in a big way to make getting fired as easy as possible.
see you tomorow for another workout champ, another day, and one step closer....to at the very least...my best showing ever.

thanks you both and thank you pm members for listening to me vent.

lucian

 

[annie78]

do not give up..

Cool daddio
these are words of the champ..yes...you know better what you want.
there is a big different to train people,to open your own Gym and to work out for funyes..You LOVE to work out,to comp.but your heart is not in this bussines...I like to work out,not to comp(still but I LOVE to train people...
why do not you find a job which you LOVE and keep workout for fun...do part time training but have your 100% 40 hours a week....Just be happy...you was happy to be with us in the Gym..but you was not happy to be our boss..
You have to find a job and to be 100% happy and to make the people round you happy(your family and your girlfriend).
I am ready to help you 100%..but not to give you advice what you have to do with your life...Just tell me what you want(a few ideas)and I will try to help.
Always your workout partner and friend

 

[lucian]

Cool daddio
these are words of the champ..yes...you know better what you want.
there is a big different to train people,to open your own Gym and to work out for funyes..You LOVE to work out,to comp.but your heart is not in this bussines...I like to work out,not to comp(still but I LOVE to train people...
why do not you find a job which you LOVE and keep workout for fun...do part time training but have your 100% 40 hours a week....Just be happy...you was happy to be with us in the Gym..but you was not happy to be our boss..
You have to find a job and to be 100% happy and to make the people round you happy(your family and your girlfriend).
I am ready to help you 100%..but not to give you advice what you have to do with your life...Just tell me what you want(a few ideas)and I will try to help.
Always your workout partner and friend

thanks ts been a long day. i do love to help people but not in the enviornment we were in.
i will always like to train my people, as long as i can help.
but i think its time to get something else.
we will talk tomorow and thanks again for makin it as easy as it can be.
good nite guys. ........

 

[NPCS FINEST]

Damn bro...I am sorry to hear this..and I was just going to come up and check you and your place out..you will have to let us know where you plan on going.

 

[leapfrog]

it's a corporate world

i feel ya on the whole gym buiz,high pressure sales and motivate by using the employees against each other.it doesn't matter how good you did yesterday what are you going to do today.your always fighting for your money and chasing the ficticiuos carrot.

success is the sweetest revenge. as for fighting with them,it's not worth the hassle.as for them changing the gym seen it's all about money there's a whole lot of weekend warrior's and just a few blood and gutz ers.it's like close store changing the sizes to make women feel better when they shop.i girl feels good when an 8 fits insteaqd of a 12.a plastic surgeon i know told me about victoria's secret over sizing their bra's (guess what he does for a living?).

good luck bro

leap

 

[lucian]

...

well today i have a few jobs to look into, and hit up my next to last training day.
anyone else work for golds around here?
i think bigboyj does right?
lucian