Podcast Summary
Age is just a number in the world of successful entrepreneurship: Don't let age hold you back from starting a successful business. Trust your intuition and take risks, as they can lead to unexpected success.
Age is just a number when it comes to starting a successful company. A study by Harvard Business Review showed that the average age of a successful startup founder in the US is 45, and many of the entrepreneurs featured on 'How I Built This' started their ventures later in life. Ellen Latham, the founder of Orange Theory, was in her fifties when she started her fitness brand, which now has over 1500 studios worldwide. Latham's experience and intuition helped her take a risk by investing all her money in equipment for a program that had not been piloted. Trusting your gut and not being afraid to take risks can lead to unexpected success.
Ellen Latham's Journey to Creating Orange Theory: A Story of Passion, Perseverance, and Family Support: Ellen Latham's story showcases that with hard work, determination, and familial guidance, success can be achieved even in challenging circumstances. Passion can fuel success, and failures can be turned into opportunities.
Ellen Latham's success story is rooted in her passion for fitness, instilled in her by her father who was a high school coach. Despite being fired from a job in fitness management, she persevered and started her own business, developing the now well-known Orange Theory workout. Growing up in a tight-knit Italian family with a love of sports and discipline, Latham attributes her success to her father's influence and her own strong work ethic. Her story is a testament to the power of passion, determination, and familial support, showing that even in difficult circumstances, success is possible with hard work and a clear vision.
Ellen Latham's Journey in Shaping the Fitness Industry: Ellen Latham's passion for fitness led her to pursue a master's degree in exercise physiology and helped empower women through exercise, despite the early years of gimmicks like fat jiggly machines lacking scientific basis.
Ellen Latham's journey in the fitness industry began with her first job at the YWCA, where she assisted women in using fat jiggly machines that didn't work. She then started teaching slim nastic classes that involved repetitive arm circles to tone the arms and later moved on to teaching aerobics. This period also saw the rise of Jane Fonda's aerobics videos. Ellen's passion for fitness led her to pursue a master's degree in exercise physiology. The passage shows how the lack of science in fitness during the early years led to gimmicks like fat jiggly machines, but also how women like Ellen played a significant role in shaping the fitness industry and empowering women through exercise.
Ellen Latham's Journey in the Fitness Industry.: Ellen Latham was a trailblazer for women in fitness, starting as a dance aerobics teacher and becoming the first female director of a YMCA. Her move to Florida allowed her to start a new chapter in her career.
Ellen Latham's journey in the fitness industry started with teaching dance aerobics in the early days. She witnessed the evolution of fitness from improvisation to a more structured format that was still not based on science. Despite being a female in the late seventies, Latham was into weightlifting and triathlons, which made her unique. She became the first female director of the YMCA in Niagara Falls. However, her move to Florida without a plan signified her desire to be a small fish in a big pond. She started working at a spa, which was a huge trend in Florida at that time, with celebrities like Linda Evans visiting. This move allowed her to start an exciting new chapter in her fitness career.
How Ellen Latham Built Orange Theory Fitness: Ellen Latham's personalized workout programs and supportive approach attracted women to Orange Theory Fitness, making it a success in the fitness industry.
Ellen Latham, founder of Orange Theory Fitness, started as an exercise physiologist in a high-end gym in 1988. At the time, the fitness world was all about aerobics and fat burning for women. Latham oversaw the gym's exercise programs and would do sub-max cardio testing on clients to create personalized workout programs. She would even handwrite the programs with stick figures before the computer revolution. Latham's coaching style was tough and over-inspiring, like her father. However, when she co-founded Orange Theory, she wanted a more supportive approach and opted not to include bootcamp in their name. Latham's ripped physique inspired many women to follow her and be comfortable working out with men.
Breaking Stereotypes in Fitness and Overcoming Adversity: Ellen Latham defied expectations by promoting strength for women in fitness and successfully navigating a difficult divorce, while pursuing her passion for changing people's perspectives on exercise through multiple media platforms.
Ellen Latham talks about the slow integration of women into fitness due to the fear of becoming too muscular. She loved the strength that came with exercising, but many women weren't quite ready for it. Latham also discusses the challenges and major hurdles she faced during her divorce while her son was young. Despite this, she maintains a healthy relationship with her ex-husband, who is still involved in her family life. Latham's dream job was working with clients in a luxury spa, where she loved to change people's thinking about exercise and give them hope. She also wrote a fitness column, gave fitness tips on the news, and conducted celebrity boot camps.
From Spinning Classes to Orangetheory Fitness: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Ellen Latham: Don't be afraid to think outside the box and take risks. Perseverance and resilience are necessary traits when pursuing unconventional ideas.
Ellen Latham's entrepreneurial spirit and desire to innovate led to the introduction of spinning classes to Florida and brought in a flood of new customers. Her willingness to take risks and pursue opportunities outside of her job at the Williams Island Spa eventually led to her being fired, but also paved the way for her to partner with her friend and create her own successful fitness business, Orangetheory Fitness. This story highlights the importance of thinking outside the box and being open to new ideas, even if they may seem unconventional or risky. It also emphasizes the value of perseverance and resilience in the face of setbacks and challenges.
From Spare Room to Success: Ellen Latham's Fitness Empire: Taking risks and persevering with determination and hard work often leads to success, even when faced with challenges.
Ellen Latham's journey to building her own fitness empire started with taking a risk and following her passion. Despite facing challenges, Ellen focused on positive momentum shifting to keep moving forward. She started small by offering private Pilates sessions in a spare room next to her son's bedroom and gradually built up her business. However, it wasn't always easy, as she had to overcome the fear of losing a steady income and being a single parent. Nevertheless, with determination and hard work, Ellen's business grew, and she even received a windfall from a department store. Ellen's story is a reminder that success often comes from taking risks and persevering, no matter how daunting the journey may seem.
Ellen Latham's Pilates Empire: Starting small, being adaptable, and believing in oneself can lead to incredible success.
Ellen Latham's Pilates studio started from a spare room in her house, and with the help of a loan from her partner and a storage space from a spa owner, she purchased 10 Pilates machines and started group fitness classes. Despite resistance from certification programs and the belief that Pilates could only be done in one-on-one sessions, Ellen figured out how to make it work in a group setting. Her studio quickly grew and she was able to pay back her loan in just four months. With creativity, determination, and a willingness to adapt, Ellen built a successful business that revolutionized the fitness industry.
Ellen's Studio Fit and the Birth of Orange Theory Fitness: Pilates alone may not be enough for weight loss and cardio needs. Incorporating a mix of resistance training and cardio, like Orange Theory Fitness, can have a greater impact on weight loss goals.
Ellen's Studio Fit started as a Pilates gym, catering mostly to women. Pilates is about stabilizer muscles that are inside the body and help prevent injuries, improve posture and flexibility. But clients wanted something more, a workout that could burn fat and improve cardio. Ellen had to move locations due to Cole's department store wanting to build right on top, but she used the opportunity to create a new workout. With the help of a friend's husband, she built the first phase of what is now Orange Theory fitness. While cardio is important for weight loss, resistance training has a bigger impact on it.
The Benefits of Heart Rate Interval Training: By pushing your heart rate over 80% for at least 12-20 minutes, you can improve your metabolism and energy expenditure for up to 24 hours. Combining cardio with strength training can lead to even better results.
Interval training, specifically heart rate interval training, is an effective way to change your metabolism and hormonal responses to exercise. By getting your heart rate over 80% for at least 12 to 20 minutes, you create an oxygen debt that your body has to repay, leading to increased cellular activity and energy expenditure for the next 12 to 24 hours. Lifting weights is a great complement to cardio, but cardio should not be overlooked. Ellen Latham, founder of Orangetheory Fitness, developed her exercise regimen based on her understanding of how the human body responds to exercise. She used treadmills for interval training, rowers for non-impact power training, and dumbbells and body weights for functional strength training. While interval training is not a new theory and was created in the 1940s, Latham's specific approach has proven successful for her clients.
Ellen Latham's Innovative Exercise Program: The program involves three intensity levels and doesn't require equipment, but Latham invested in creating a great workout experience. Trust your intuition and take risks to achieve real results.
Ellen Latham created an innovative and effective exercise program that involved three different intensity levels- base, push, and all out- to become metabolically charged without causing damage. This fitness program is cost-effective as it does not require buying any equipment, but Latham invested all her savings in treadmills and rowing machines to create the best workout experience. Even though Latham was experimenting with her workout techniques in parking lots with whatever resources she had, she followed her gut feeling and opened up a studio with only ten treadmills and ten rowers. Despite the risk, Latham's intuition paid off, and this exercise program continues to help people achieve real results.
How Ellen Latham Built a Successful Fitness Business Through Customer Satisfaction: By focusing on the needs and satisfaction of her target customers, Ellen Latham slowly built a sustainable fitness business through gradual adjustments to her workout program.
Ellen Latham created a challenging workout that was met with mixed reactions in the early days. Some participants were over-exerted to the point of vomiting and had to be brought back with language and design adjustments. Latham invested in equipment and charged per class, which forced her to focus on performance and train other coaches to lead the workout. Though it was a slow start, the workout had sustainability. Latham's target customers were women aged 25-50 with varying fitness levels, and she ensured they felt noticed and successful upon leaving. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and adjusting the workout to their needs, Latham built a successful fitness business.
Building Orange Theory from a Spare Room to a Successful Franchise: Success requires taking calculated risks and seizing opportunities outside your comfort zone. Start small, be patient, and remain open to new possibilities.
Ellen Latham, the founder of Orange Theory, started with a spare room in her house and built it over time into a successful gym with a waitlist. It took her a year to figure out how to design templates that weren't too hard for people. When a client suggested that she meet her husband, an expert in franchising, Ellen was initially scared of the unknown. However, she eventually took the opportunity and worked with her client's husband to turn Orange Theory into a successful franchise. This shows the importance of taking calculated risks and seizing opportunities that come your way, even if they are outside your comfort zone. Success can come from starting small, being patient, and being open to new possibilities.
How Two Franchising Experts Helped Orange Theory Fitness Grow: Ellen Latham partnered with two franchising experts, Jerome Kern and Dave Long, to grow Orange Theory Fitness. They created a model and branding that helped the business expand to over a thousand gyms in just nine years.
Ellen Latham, the founder of Orange Theory Fitness, decided to trust two franchising experts with her business and expand it. She partnered with Jerome Kern and Dave Long and opened a pilot studio in Fort Lauderdale with a different branding. Together, they came up with the name 'Orange Theory' which represented getting the heart rate in the anaerobic zone. They started with a small footprint of about 2,900 or 3,000 square feet and 10 treadmills, 10 rowers, and 10 weight stations. They wrote manuals of how to duplicate the model without it being about Ellen. This partnership helped Orange Theory Fitness grow from one gym to over a thousand in just nine years.
The Journey of Creating and Franchising Orange Theory with Ellen Latham: Ellen Latham successfully franchised Orange Theory by finding the right partners and sticking to her core values of focusing on important things and doing the best with what she had. Age is not a barrier to starting a successful business if done with determination and supportive partners.
Ellen Latham, the founder of Orange Theory, faced the challenge of depersonalizing her business to scale it up for franchising while maintaining control of the concept. With the help of supportive and respectful partners, she was able to protect her idea and franchise it successfully. Age is not a barrier to starting a business, as demonstrated by Latham's success at 55. Although the Orange Theory concept could have been replicated, the signs and gut feeling convinced Latham that her partners were the right fit. The core value of focusing on important things and doing the best with what you have remained the cornerstone of the business.
How Heart-Rate Monitoring Turned Orangetheory Fitness into a Successful Brand: By prioritizing customer commitment and investing in heart-rate monitoring, Orangetheory Fitness differentiated itself in a crowded market and became a thriving brand on a month-to-month basis.
Ellen Latham founded a new fitness concept, where heart-rate monitoring played a crucial role in measuring the intensity of the workout. The idea was to allow members to compete with themselves rather than against others. The company started as a risky venture as the fitness industry already had many franchises. However, despite the warnings and naysayers out there, the founders agreed to invest all the money that came in and reinvest it back into the company with heart-rate monitoring. This decision proved to be right as Orangetheory Fitness has now become a successful and innovative brand, where clients can sign up on a month-to-month basis, emphasizing their commitment to their customers rather than long-term contracts.
Success in Franchising: Insights from the Founder of Orange Theory Fitness: To succeed in franchising, prioritize having strong people, processes, and programs in place. Dividing responsibilities and creating an environment for professionals to grow can lead to explosive growth with a focus on quality and a strong team.
Ellen Latham, the founder of Orange Theory Fitness, shares insights into the company's early days and franchising struggles, emphasizing the importance of having the right people, processes, and programs to create success in franchising. Latham also discusses how she and her partners divided responsibilities as the company grew rapidly and offers her perspective on creating a fitness environment that allows professionals to make a decent living and establish a career. Despite initial challenges, Orange Theory Fitness experienced explosive growth, going from one location in 2010 to nearly 80 studios by 2014, thanks to a focus on quality and a strong corporate team.
Ellen Latham's Journey with Orange Theory Fitness: Despite facing challenges such as explosive growth and pandemic-related closures, Ellen Latham stuck with her values and pivoted quickly to virtual classes, resulting in a 51% increase in members. Her dedication to her business is a testament to her success.
Ellen Latham, the founder of Orange Theory Fitness, had a drastic shift in her life when she decided to expand her business leading to explosive growth. Coping with that change wasn't easy for her, but she managed to stick with her values and life routine. Covid-19 pandemic was devastating as it resulted in the closure of almost 1500 Orange Theory Studios. However, they pivoted quickly towards virtual classes. Although it didn't cover the loss, they managed to increase their member base by 51%. Ellen's unexpected success is a testament to her hard work and dedication towards her business. She's still teaching classes and envisions herself to continue doing so even in her 90s.
Ellen Latham's Relentless Pursuit of Success through Intentional Learning: Ellen Latham teaches us the importance of staying focused on our goals, continuously learning, and executing them to perfection in achieving great success.
Ellen Latham's success story is a perfect example of how one can achieve great things through relentless hard work and intentional learning. Ellen's fitness concept has transformed the lives of millions, providing them with an opportunity to live a healthier life. The idea, which grew from 30 women in her class to over a million individuals, signifies the untapped market of fitness enthusiasts who are looking for customized classes geared towards their specific needs. While luck may have played a role, it was Ellen's determination to grab hold of a concept and execute it to perfection that saw her rise to success. Ellen's journey teaches us a valuable lesson of how staying focused on our goals and continuously learning can help us achieve great success.
Passionate Work Leads to Success: Lesson from Orange Theory Fitness Creator: Choosing a job you’re passionate about brings success, emotional fulfillment, and happiness. Your income doesn’t always determine a happy life. Pursue work that fills you with joy and purpose.
Passionate work leads to success: Ellen Latham, creator of Orange Theory Fitness, learnt from her father that choosing work that you are passionate about will always lead to success. Her father's advice was simple - he didn't care what she chose, he just wanted her to be passionate about it. And he was right. He believed that passionate work would always lead to employment and a good income. Ellen's father was a coach who made no more than $50,000 a year, but he was the happiest man. Ellen honoured her father by naming a football stadium after him and giving two scholarships to football players every year. Choosing work you are passionate about leads to fulfilment and happiness.
