Two-Brain Radio: James Hobart—Programming, Coaching and Competing

12/04/19 • 46 min

What are the most important things gyms should do when it comes to programming? What was it like to compete on champion teams CrossFit Mayhem and CrossFit New England? What's it like to have your mother beat you at Isabel? CrossFit Games veteran and longtime CrossFit Seminar Staff member James Hobart is here with the answers to all that and more on this episode of Two-Brain Radio.
James has competed at the Games five times as part of a team and thrice as an individual, winning the Affiliate Cup three times with two different teams. He's also co-owner of CrossFit ONE Nation Boston, and after nearly a decade on the Seminar Staff, he now runs gym programming service The HAM Program with Games vets Spencer Hendel and Austin Malleolo.
In this episode, he shares some of his favorite memories from his competition and Seminar Staff days, what makes for good gym programming and how to get your loved ones into fitness.
Links:
CrossFit ONE NationThe HAM PlanFree ToolsContact:
Instagram: @jameshobart
Timeline:
1:56 – From the kettlebell scene to CrossFit.

4:22 – James’ first CrossFit Level 1 experience.

6:39 – The evolution of the CrossFit seminars over time.

9:28 – Safe-for-work seminar stories.

11:30 – Falling into competition.

14:54 – What makes a great team in CrossFit competition.

18:44 – Training with Rich Froning and CrossFit Mayhem: “We’re gonna work out till one of us dies or we win the CrossFit Games.”

20:57 – Highlights from CrossFit Games competition.

23:26 – Stepping back from competition.

26:20 – The HAM Plan.

28:07 – What does good gym programming look like?

31:30 – How to become a good programmer.

32:45 – The mysterious appearance of an AbMat, a 45-lb. plate and a barbell: James’ mother becomes a CrossFitter.

35:46 – How to get your loved ones into fitness.

37:33 – Coaching—and being coached by—James’ mother.

39:25 – Looking to the future: Running an affiliate, programming for Sanctionals and competing with his wife.

41:51 – Top lessons learned after more than a decade in the CrossFit community.

4:22 – James’ first CrossFit Level 1 experience.

6:39 – The evolution of the CrossFit seminars over time.

9:28 – Safe-for-work seminar stories.

11:30 – Falling into competition.

14:54 – What makes a great team in CrossFit competition.

18:44 – Training with Rich Froning and CrossFit Mayhem: “We’re gonna work out till one of us dies or we win the CrossFit Games.”

20:57 – Highlights from CrossFit Games competition.

23:26 – Stepping back from competition.

26:20 – The HAM Plan.

28:07 – What does good gym programming look like?

31:30 – How to become a good programmer.

32:45 – The mysterious appearance of an AbMat, a 45-lb. plate and a barbell: James’ mother becomes a CrossFitter.

35:46 – How to get your loved ones into fitness.

37:33 – Coaching—and being coached by—James’ mother.

39:25 – Looking to the future: Running an affiliate, programming for Sanctionals and competing with his wife.

41:51 – Top lessons learned after more than a decade in the CrossFit community.

Previous Episode

Two-Brain Radio: How to Turn Prospective Clients Into Paying Clients

Two-Brain Radio: How to Turn Prospective Clients Into Paying Clients
Too many gym owners spend precious time and money acquiring leads only to leave money on the table.
Maybe they don't feel like responding to a request for info at 9 p.m. Maybe they give up after the first call goes to voicemail. Maybe they just don't like selling.
But just a little extra time and effort spent pursuing those leads—people who have opted in and asked for more info—could lead to great reward.
In the second installment of our special series, Two-Brain Media's Mike Warkentin interviews digital marketing expert Mateo Lopez—our regular host. This week, the two are all about those digits. Specifically, what to do with 'em once you've got 'em.
Links:
Free Help KitUpLaunch
Contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Timeline:
2:40 – Mike tries to swipe Mateo’s digits.

4:33 – The point of digital marketing: to get contact info.

6:27 – What should you do after someone opts in to an ad?

7:26 – The need for speed.

9:19 – Uncomfortable selling? Remember, they’re asking for it.

11:29 – Being a real person in the age of marketing bots.

15:00 – Not everyone will want to talk to you—but you don’t need everyone.

17:16 – It’s like baseball: Fail seven out of 10 times and you’re an all-star.

19:12 – What’s a good conversion rate?

20:41 – Putting it into perspective: LEG.

22:38 – Netflix and the loss leader perspective.

24:07 – Speed and persistence.

25:15 – When should you give up on a lead?

27:24 – How often should you reach out to a lead?

28:57 – Whether it’s you or someone else, dedicate a role to immediate response.

Next Episode

Two-Brain Radio: "Profit First for Microgyms" With John Briggs

Too many gym owners are eating table scraps.
That is, they wait to pay themselves until all other expenses are covered, and they're left with a pittance—if anything—as profit.
In his book "Profit First," Mike Michalowicz posited a revolutionary cash-flow management system: Business owners pay themselves first, ensuring they make the profit they need to serve another day.
John Briggs, founder of Incite Tax in Sandy, Utah, has adapted Michalowicz's philosophy and program especially for microgym owners. His book, "Profit First for Microgyms," will be available in January 2020, and in this episode of Two-Brain Radio, he and Chris Cooper talk about why microgym owners should take profit first, how to do that and make sure everything else still gets paid and how much to save for taxes.
Links:
Pre-order "Profit First for Microgyms" by John BriggsIncite TaxTimeline:
2:08 – Why the profit first concept isn’t greedy.

5:56 – Lessons from toothpaste.

9:38 – Adapting “Profit First” for the microgym industry.

12:17 – The seven essential accounts.

14:24 – How much gym owners should allocate to staff pay.

18:24 – Customizing profit first for each stage of the entrepreneur’s journey.

22:47 – On the writing process.

24:32 – Removing the temptation account.

28:03 – On taxation and entitlement programs: limiting how the government spends your money.