A few years ago I started a new tradition at my gyms. Being near the University of New Hampshire I have a number of college students who work at each location. As the seniors finish their last final and prepared for their college graduation we all go out to dinner together. I want to make sure they they know how much I appreciate their work, their integrity and their dedication to the gym and the students. I can only hope that I have been a good boss. That I have helped guide them and that Atlantic has been more than just a job and a pay check.
Last night was a wonderful evening. We had a great dinner and toasted their future. We shared funny stories of incidents in classes along the way and I refrained from my habit of offering fatherly advice!
As we were preparing to leave I wanted to thank them once again. I said to them, ” I may be the HEAD of this organization but you are the HEART. “
My job is to market the gyms. Set up an organization that runs well and smoothly. I can get the students to the door. They have to keep them (and their parents) happy.
To our Graduating Seniors, Kadi, Erika, and Emily- Thank you. I am proud of you, we would not be who we are with out people like you.
Meagan (Dover Manager), Kadi, Erika, Emily, Me (Tony)
Dina (General Manager) , Meagan (Dover Manager) , Kadi, Erika, Emily
Being the “Dad” of the gym I cannot let you go without giving you some advice:
This is an exciting time, with all that is in front of you; endless possibilities, and just as many opportunities, waiting for you to grab hold. It can be scary— uncertainty, confusion, and choruses of, “What do I do now?” will surely ring in your ears from time to time.
Here are my words of wisdom of the things they probably didn’t teach you in college.
- Learn the art of listening.
- Nothing worthwhile is easy and nothing easy worthwhile. Only when we get out of our comfort zone do we set ourselves up for greatness. You will not learn by taking the easy way out— of anything.
- Be tolerant.
- Be kind to yourself and kill the naysayers with kindness.
- Never stop learning.
- Your words have meaning, choose them wisely.
- Unplug, unwind and quiet the chatter.
- Think outside of the box. On second thought, don’t put yourself in a box in the first place.
- Forgive because you won’t ever forget.
- Remember the old folks; respect them, for you too will be old one day.
- Be compassionate.
- No tanning beds.
- Ask for help. People will show up, as will the universe. Pretending doesn’t make you smarter.
- Don’t accept explanations as whole truths from people just because they have a business card. Question everything and do your own vetting.
- Take chances and risks. Have certainty that there will be someone to have your back. Don’t let fear paralyze you. Bravery is acting in the face of fear, making friends with it and moving past it.
- Share yourself, and your talents, with others. Give back and give often.
- It’s okay to change your mind. Walk a road that you hadn’t envisioned, and then, when you are ready, make a sharp left, and take that road.
- Keep your heart and mind open. You will find it, although it may not look like what you had pictured in your mind. You may find that there’s more than one it.
- Doc Massimo would always tell me Control the controllables. The quicker you can distinguish between what you can control, and what you cannot, the happier and lighter you will feel.
- Surround yourself with positive people and let the others gently fall away. Don’t count people out. Sometimes they will surprise you. Gather those around you that will assist you on your path; those that support and encourage need only apply.
- Don’t save things for a rainy day, or the perfect time. They don’t exist. Wear the new dress, tell someone that you love them.
- You have to look at yourself in the mirror every day. Be sure that you can smile at the person looking back at you.
- People are doing the best that they can (most of them anyway), be patient with those that aren’t as capable as you are.
Good luck! You will always have a HOME here at ATLANTIC. If you ever get lost- enter these into your GPS-Latitude: 43.095321 | Longitude: -70.790951. It will help you find your way back here.
