Podcast Summary
Enhancing business travel with work-life balance and rewards: Find balance between work and leisure during business travel with subscription services, rewarding credit cards, and personalized insurance. Determination and innovation can lead to business success stories like Jazzercise.
Finding balance between work and leisure can enhance business travel experiences. For instance, Wondery Plus subscribers can enjoy ad-free early access to podcasts like "How I Built This" while on the go. Meanwhile, the Delta Sky Miles Platinum Business American Express Card can make business travel more rewarding. In the realm of insurance, Amica emphasizes the importance of personal connection and customization, making insurance feel more human. The National Security Agency, on the other hand, offers exceptional career opportunities in technology innovation and a supportive work environment. Going back to the story of Judy Shepard-Missette, her determination to bring group fitness to the masses led to the creation of Jazzercise, a $100 million business with over 8,000 franchise locations worldwide. This success story is a testament to the power of focusing on the program rather than the founder and the importance of group fitness in American culture. By embracing change and innovation, Jazzercise not only survived but thrived, setting the stage for the rise of group fitness in the United States.
Judy's mother nurtured her passion for dance from a young age: Mother's support and dance instructor's encouragement fueled Judy's love for dance, leading her to turn it into a successful business
Judy's passion for dance started at a young age and was nurtured by her supportive mother. She began dancing at the age of two and a half, and her natural talent was recognized by a dance instructor who encouraged her mother to enroll her in classes. Judy's mother went above and beyond to ensure that her daughter received the best dance instruction possible, even recruiting assistants from out of town to teach in Red Oak, Iowa. By the time Judy was 13, she was teaching dance herself and had a studio in her basement with over a hundred students. Her love for dance helped her get through difficult times, and she continued to pursue it throughout her life, eventually turning it into a multi-million dollar business just as home video technology was taking off. Dance brought joy and fulfillment to Judy's life, and she continues to teach, choreograph, and perform to this day.
Judy's passion for dancing led her to a professional career, but her time at Northwestern University allowed her to explore her values and ideals.: Judy's passion for dancing led her to a professional career, but her experiences at Northwestern University broadened her perspective and allowed her to balance her career with motherhood.
Judy's passion for dancing led her to a professional career at a young age, touring and performing in major shows across the country. However, when she attended Northwestern University in the early 1960s, she felt liberated and open-minded, allowing her to explore her values and ideals beyond her conservative upbringing. Later in her career, she continued to dance and teach while juggling motherhood, even going so far as to hide her pregnancy to keep her job. Through it all, Judy's determination and love for dancing propelled her forward, leaving a lasting impact on those around her.
Jazz dance classes for stay-at-home moms: Judy catered to stay-at-home moms' needs, simplified movements, used popular music, and created a fun, effective workout experience, leading to rapid growth
Judy discovered a new market for her jazz dance classes by catering to the needs and interests of stay-at-home moms. She realized they wanted to look and feel like professional dancers without the commitment to becoming one. In response, she introduced a jazz dance for fun and fitness class, which quickly gained popularity. By turning students away from the mirror, simplifying movements, and using popular music, she created an enjoyable and effective workout experience. The success of the class led to rapid growth, with each student bringing a friend and the room soon becoming too small to accommodate the increasing numbers. However, it's important to note that this innovation took place during a time when fitness was not yet mainstream, making Judy's approach even more groundbreaking.
Judy's dance-based fitness program in the 1960s for women's empowerment: Judy's dance-based fitness program in the 1960s empowered women, paving the way for the female-dominated fitness industry, encouraging women to work hard, feel sexy, and connect with their bodies.
Judy created a dance-based fitness program in the 1960s to help women feel better about themselves and appreciate dance, despite criticism from her dancer friends who saw it as bastardizing the art form. Her classes encouraged women to move, sweat, and feel powerful, paving the way for the female-dominated fitness industry we know today. This came at a time when research on aerobic exercise was emerging, and Judy's program gave permission for women to work hard, feel sexy, and get in touch with their bodies. Her innovative approach not only helped women improve their figures but also instilled a sense of power and confidence.
Determined to challenge gender norms and become an entrepreneur: Judy's passion for dance and fitness led her to overcome gender bias and limitations, transforming her career through persistence and adaptability.
Despite facing gender bias and limitations in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Judy's determination and passion for dance and fitness led her to challenge the norms and become an entrepreneur. During her teaching career in Chicago, she encountered resistance when trying to participate in fitness tests designed for men. However, her exceptional performance surprised the testers and motivated her to continue teaching. Later, when her husband lost his job, they moved to California, and Judy found opportunities to teach dance and fitness classes at various recreational departments. She didn't have a clear business plan but was able to succeed due to the health-conscious culture of Southern California. Through her persistence and adaptability, Judy transformed her passion into a career, paving the way for women in fitness and entrepreneurship.
From dance classes to software companies, the power of passion and collaboration: Passion for your work and collaboration with others can lead to unexpected success, whether it's through word-of-mouth marketing or innovative technology
The success of a business often relies on passion and word-of-mouth marketing. Judy Shepard-Missette, the founder of a dance class in the 1970s, didn't initially care about making a profit. She just wanted to share her love for dance and see if people would enjoy it. When they did, they spread the word, leading to an influx of students. Similarly, Atlassian, a software company, uses AI to help teams collaborate and make informed decisions, transforming the way companies work. Success doesn't come easily or quickly, but with determination, grit, and the right tools, it's possible to achieve the impossible. In the early days of Judy's business, she taught dance classes in Oceanside, California, where the military population provided a large audience. Her classes gained popularity through word of mouth, leading to overwhelming demand. Atlassian, on the other hand, uses AI to help teams work more efficiently and effectively, enabling them to accomplish what would be impossible alone. From dance classes to software companies, the power of passion and collaboration is key to building a successful business.
Fear of public backlash hinders payment for a dance instructor: Recognize the worth of your work and stand up for yourself, even in the face of fear or perceived criticism.
Fear of public perception can hinder progress and prevent people from being fairly compensated for their work. In the case discussed, a woman named Judy was teaching a dance fitness class in Carlsbad and was not being paid on time. The director of Parks and Recreation was hesitant to pay her due to fear of public backlash over what they perceived as excessive earnings for a fitness instructor. Judy, recognizing her value and the demand for her classes, stood up for herself and ultimately received her payment. However, this experience led her to take control of the financial aspect of her business by collecting payments herself and paying the director his percentage. The name Jazzercise, a combination of "jazz" and "exercise," came about during this time as a customer suggested it, and Judy liked the name's simplicity and accuracy. This incident serves as a reminder that standing up for oneself and recognizing the worth of one's work is essential, even in the face of fear or perceived criticism.
Overcoming teaching challenges with perseverance and innovation: Despite losing her voice, Judy refused to give up on teaching. She trained replacements and found a microphone solution to continue reaching her students.
Perseverance and innovation are key to overcoming challenges. In the case of Judy, she faced the challenge of losing her voice due to teaching too many classes each week. Despite being devastated by the diagnosis, she refused to let it stop her. Instead, she trained five women to teach in her place, allowing her to continue reaching her students without damaging her vocal cords further. However, she still needed a solution for her own voice. Through persistent research, she eventually found a small, effective lavalier microphone that amplified her voice and allowed her to continue teaching without causing further damage to her vocal cords. By innovating and refusing to give up, Judy was able to overcome the challenge and continue making a positive impact on her students' lives.
Delegating tasks leads to growth: Trusting others to carry out your vision can lead to significant growth and expansion, even if initial concerns arise. Utilize technology and innovative solutions to expand your reach and implement a commission-based system for instructors.
Delegating tasks and trusting others to carry out your vision can lead to significant growth and expansion, even if initial concerns about maintaining quality and fear of overshadowing your own role arise. With the help of technology and innovative solutions, such as home recorders and video cameras, Jazzercise classes became accessible to people across the country, leading to a national expansion and the creation of a commission-based system for instructors. This model, which includes both community-based and brick-and-mortar studios, remains in place today. As the business continued to grow, it became necessary to bring on additional help to manage the organization, leading to the hiring of a COO who brought new skills and perspectives to the table.
Jazzercise's Unorthodox Franchise Model in the Late 1970s and Early 1980s: Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Missett chose to franchise instead of employing instructors, allowing them independence and providing support. This unconventional approach led to rapid expansion and success.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Jazzercise was growing rapidly, its founder, Judi Sheppard Missett, faced a decision about how to structure her business relationships with her instructors. She didn't want to make them employees, as they saw their businesses as their own. Instead, she chose to franchise the model, which allowed them to maintain independence while also providing support and consistency. This was an unorthodox approach at the time, but it proved successful. The initial investment to start a Jazzercise franchise was relatively low, with a $500 franchise fee that covered training costs and a 30% commission rate that went back to Jazzercise. This allowed instructors to recover their startup costs quickly and then keep most of the revenue they generated. The model was successful enough that Jazzercise and Domino's Pizza were two of the biggest franchises in the 1980s. The franchise model allowed Jazzercise to expand rapidly while also giving instructors the autonomy they desired.
Judy's determination and creativity fueled Jazzercise's success: Stay committed to your vision, be resourceful, and find creative ways to build brand recognition.
In the early days of Jazzercise, Judy's persistence and creativity paid off. Despite being doubted by a potential investor, Judy continued to grow her business and make a name for herself. She leveraged her book deal and appearances on national talk shows to promote her brand and sell merchandise. A simple idea, like adding a Jazzercise logo to her leotard, helped establish her brand's identity and resonated with customers. This experience demonstrates the importance of staying committed to your vision, being resourceful, and finding creative ways to build brand recognition. Additionally, the conversation highlighted the significance of health and wellness, as Cygnos' innovative technology helps individuals manage their blood sugar levels and make informed food choices. With the CDC reporting that over 96 million American adults have prediabetes, solutions like Cygnos can make a meaningful impact on people's lives by providing real-time insights and personalized recommendations.
Jazzercise: Empowerment Through Fitness and Business: Jazzercise evolved from a fitness class to a business venture, empowering women through entrepreneurship and promoting fitness. Demand for apparel led to significant business growth, and Jazzercise's advocacy for women's rights continued to inspire.
Judy's experience with Jazzercise went beyond just fitness classes; it became a business venture and a catalyst for women's empowerment. When she wore her leotard on TV, the demand for Jazzercise Apparel skyrocketed, marking the beginning of a significant part of their business. Judy's advocacy for women's rights was woven into Jazzercise in a subtle way, as she helped women build businesses and thrive. Her earliest memories of jazz are connected to her mom's VHS tape, and the 80s saw Jazzercise's rapid growth, with celebrities like Jane Fonda and Olivia Newton-John joining the trend. However, the 90s brought challenges as instructors retired and weren't replaced, leading to a decline in customers. To address this, Jazzercise introduced the Jazzercise Associate role, an instructor who didn't run a business, to help stabilize their customer base. Throughout its history, Jazzercise has been more than just a fitness program; it's been a part of women's lives and a symbol of empowerment.
Jazzercise's Continuous Adaptation: Jazzercise thrives by adapting, offering diverse, affordable classes, and pivoting to online formats during COVID-19, keeping customers engaged and accessible to a wide range.
Jazzercise, despite some perceived outdatedness, is thriving in the fitness industry by continuously adapting and offering affordable, diverse classes to a wide range of customers. The company's franchise model allows for smooth transitions when owners retire, and the recent shift to online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic has kept many customers engaged. With an average monthly cost of around $79, Jazzercise offers more accessibility than many other fitness options, leading to a diverse customer base. The company's ability to evolve and pivot has kept it relevant and successful in the industry for decades.
The Importance of Building a Strong Team: Surround yourself with passionate and intelligent people for business success. Hard work, timing, and seizing opportunities also play crucial roles.
Success in business often relies on having a strong team around you, even if you didn't initially plan to be a business leader. Judy Shepard Missette, founder of Jazzercise, shared her journey from a little dance class to a $100 million business, and emphasized the importance of surrounding herself with passionate and intelligent people. She also acknowledged the importance of hard work, timing, and taking advantage of opportunities. Despite becoming a historical figure in American fitness, Judy remains humble and focused on making a difference in people's lives. Her story serves as a reminder that success is a combination of various factors, and that even the most unexpected paths can lead to great achievements.
Exploring 'What If' Questions in Sports with 'Alternate Routes' and Finding Meaning in Life with 'Life is Short': Two new podcasts offer unique perspectives: 'Alternate Routes' for sports fans pondering 'what if' questions, and 'Life is Short' for those seeking deeper meaning in life through conversations with interesting guests
Kevin Frazier and his team are launching a new weekly sports podcast called "Alternate Routes" for sports fans who love to ponder the "what if" questions that make following sports so exciting. If you're not into sports but are looking for something thought-provoking, I'd recommend checking out "Life is Short with Justin Long." In each episode, Justin interviews actors, musicians, authors, and thinkers to explore what makes them tick and how they find meaning in life. The podcast delves into the heavier, existential questions, such as favorite emojis and potato varieties. So, whether you're a sports fan or not, remember that life is short, and you can listen ad-free by subscribing to Wondery Plus or through Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.
