My Story

When I was 19 years old, my college football career was going no where. I was a walk on, which required me to work nights, go to school and practice during the day, and sleep almost never because conditioning started at 5:15am. My grades were suffering and I did not want to be on the 5 year plan for graduation so I stepped down from football and became a personal trainer. Personal training immediately led me to Strength and conditioning. I worked with two of these coaches and they seemed so much smarter than everyone else. I read the text in a week and was hooked. I passed my CSCS test and didn’t even have a degree yet!

I then became a student strength and conditioning coach at the University at Buffalo and quickly realized this was my passion. It didn’t feel like work! The teams I was put in charge of excelled and the coaches were impressed. I then got hired at The University of Hawaii as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach, and as my knowledge and experience improved, so did my results and the performance of my players. It was very rewarding to me.

Fast forward to 2013, I was a personal Strength coach to Davone Bess, wide receiver of the Miami Dolphins. He ended up getting traded to the Cleveland Browns and business partners of ours asked me if I was going with him. I asked why and they said they want to start a CrossFit gym and wanted me as head coach. I said sure, and as I started coaching CrossFit, I never had so much fun in my life training people. Sadly, they sold the gym 8 months later and gave me less than 10 hours notice to clear my things out and hand in the keys. After working for other people for 14 years, I finally decided to open my own gym with the support of my wife. She practically made me do it because of the lack of respect I was receiving from the people I was working for. Jackie and I worked very hard to build a Sanctuary, not a gym. We want people of all walks of life to come and make themselves better. We want people to feel safe, yet dangerous, be serious, yet have fun, and learn, then forget how hard they worked. Please keep this in the back of your mind if tension ever arises!

We welcome you. Your service is valued!

CK

We Have Four Big Questions

As CrossFit coaches we have four big questions we need to become experts at every single day. We run a gym that runs more like a sport, and it can be pretty confusing to outsiders. Here are the questions, memorize these answers and then put your own personal twist on them when called upon to do so:

What is CrossFit?

CrossFit is a blend of nearly every facet of exercise the fitness industry has to offer. We lift heavy weights, light weights, do box jumps, jump rope, do gymnastics, we run, we row, and use kettlebells. We constantly vary the exercises, sets, and repetitions to achieve the highest amount of fitness our body will allow with any and all functional movements.

Why CrossFit?

Do CrossFit for one simple reason, Efficiency! Studies show conditioning with weights allows you to burn calories for up to 18 hours post workout! Whereas calorie burning stops 6-8 minutes after a long run, or cardio machine session. If you want to optimize your time in the gym, CrossFit is a one stop shop!

Who Does CrossFit?

We have people of all walks of life in our gym. Ages 13-58, we have Moms, we have athletes, we have non-athletes, we have grandmothers, and grandfathers training with us all working toward their individual goals. You do not need to be in shape before you come in, we had a lady who is 49 years old start just the other day with no formal weight training in her life. We started her off at her capabilities and she did just fine. If you got a job with Apple, you wouldn’t train yourself for the position, Apple would train you! And that’s what we do, we start you off where you can, build a solid foundation, and the rest it up to you!

Where do CrossFit?

You should do CrossFit at CrossFit Kismet because:

  1. We have over 20 years of coaching experience.
  2. We have knowledge in physical therapy.
  3. We have knowledge in pain reduction and management.
  4. We have plenty of parking.
  5. We have safe running courses.
  6. We have a free nutrition seminar every month.
  7. We have air conditioning during the hot summer months.
  8. We offer a family friendly environment.
  9. We help you master technique specific to your body type.
  10. We have a towel service.
  11. We have elite level software to track every bit of your progress.
  12. There is a culture of positivity embedded in every day!

KAIZEN PHILOSOPHY

The Japanese believe in the Kaizen philosophy, which means that small changes over time yield big results. You’ve heard about it before, a friend may have gained 30 pounds to their squat in a month taking all sorts of supplements, using a new squat program, only to plateau for the next 4 months and be nothing but frustrated along the way.

We believe in hard work. Our own hard work will be recognized by our clients and friends, and will encourage them to work harder in the face of challenge. We believe in multi-joint exercise using body weight or free weights. We believe exercise can happen anywhere, at any time.

We believe in the long haul. Continual progress is necessary for self-actualization; if you’re not moving ahead, you’re falling behind. We set milestones and celebrate when they’re reached. And then we reach further. Our goal is to sell a one-year membership, but turn it into a 10-20 year lifestyle. Our programming will always be responsible because we are geared primarily towards working men and women. Adding 5 pound to our classic lifts a month (squat, deadlift, clean, snatch, press) yields a 60 pound increase in a year! Small changes, yield big results.

We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We’re comfortable in our skills, and can joke about our weaknesses. It’s always easier when you’re the best!

We believe that it’s just as important to train for a canoe trip as a triathlon. Proper, smart preparedness increases the satisfaction derived from any activity, including mental preparation.

We believe in science. We believe in ongoing education. We’re committed to the peer review process, the application of cutting-edge science, the debunking of myths, and the benefits of active debate and discussion.

Above all, we believe in ourselves and our clients!

279 West Camino Real

Boca Raton, Fl. 33432

Welcome to Team CROSSFIT KISMET! If you’ve made it this far, be proud; you’ve clearly established yourself as an outstanding member of the Fitness community.

At CROSSFIT KISMET, there are only a few simple rules of conduct, most of which are common sense; others will help you improve your relationship with clientele, other staff, and the outside world at large. Some, whose purpose may not be obvious at first, will reveal their own benefits as you become more accustomed to the atmosphere of a highly-charged, fast-paced exercise environment.

On page two, you’ll see how we operate. You’ll be given in-depth detail about each rule as you go along. These are simple (but essential) things that separate CROSSFIT KISMET from the rest of the herd; they’re not day-to-day maintenance, but rather insurance of a positive attitude and environment for clients, guests, and staff. This stuff is not hard, though it will require some practice.

On page three, you’ll see the more mundane (but absolutely necessary) everyday rules of operation for CROSSFIT KISMET facility and staff. They’re simple, and easy to remember if you practice them daily. Miss one, though, or become routinely sloppy with them, and it hurts the entire atmosphere for everyone.

You’ll be given an employee review after your first month, your third month, and then semi-annually from that point onward. There’s a blank review attached, as well as some personal goal-setting sheets that you’ll go through as part of your orientation process.

As you’ll see in our philosophy, CROSSFIT KISMET isn’t a facility; it’s a team approach to fitness, exercise, mobility, and health. We’re very lucky to have the best members in South Florida, let’s treat them as such because let’s face it, no one works all day to go and CrossFit so they can be yelled or degraded. We are constantly building a network outside the physical facility of qualified health practitioners who exhibit integrity and above all RESULTS! If you know of anyone special, refer them and we will check them out.

A Brief History of Everything

We have dozens of little quirks here at CROSSFIT KISMET; some of them, you may find challenging; some of them, you may wonder at their logic. However, rest assured that every single policy and idea in this book has been formed through extensive research, trial and error, and (often) painful experience.

FITNESS TRAINING / COACHING is a flat market. That means that, despite all our research, study, long hours and hard work, the client really only differentiates personal trainers according to one solitary factor: their relationship with the trainer. That’s right: regardless of client progress, regardless of results gained from the training, or experience of the trainer, client retention is 90% dependent on the relationship of the trainer with the client.

It may be tough to wake up in the morning. You may struggle to remember to pick up your client’s empty water cup after several hours of training in a row. You may not want to sweep the gym, straighten the weights, or unrack a members bar. These lessons have been hard-won. But without them, to the client at least, we’re just like everyone else.

No matter what else happens, we will never be outworked. Never will a client leave CROSSFIT KISMET for a competitor because we didn’t show them that we care about them as a member or especially as a person.

Staff Bill of Rights

You will be paid as reflected in your contract.

You will be provided a safe and supportive place to work.

Management will always support you in front of a client.

We will never embarrass you (or your decisions) in public.

We will make corrections in private.

We will provide clear guidance on policies, prices and production.

We will not show favoritism - everyone will live by the same rules as you.

We will be consistent with our clients to remove awkward situations for you.

We will make decisions on first aid and injuries in advance.

Clients will be informed of schedule, rate and policy changes in advance.

You will be provided with mandatory clothing to wear while coaching.

We will not share your personal phone or email address with anyone.

We will not use unflattering pictures of you in our media.

We will provide Continuing Education coursework for you upon request.

You will be evaluated in an objective way every third month.

Client Bill of Rights

You are at the center of what we do. Your experience at CROSSFIT KISMET is very important.
To keep things simple for you, we ask that you agree to these simple terms and conditions of service:

At CROSSFIT KISMET, we promise to:

Always be on time for our appointment with you.
Be prepared with a training plan for the session.
Alter workouts as required.
Make you the center of our attention during your session.
Write exercise and nutrition plans to fit your long-term progression. Behave in a professional manner.

Explain WHY any given exercise is relevant to you.
Correctly invoice and give receipts, or make corrections immediately.
Return your phone call or email at the first available opportunity.
Provide you with a safe, clean space to train.
Treat every client the same with regard to pricing, scheduling, and answering questions. Stay on top of relevant research that will help you achieve your goals.
Provide 'homework' on the same day as your session.
Be as flexible as possible in accommodating your schedule.
Maintain the strictest confidentiality.
Hold your lost items for two weeks before donating them to an appropriate charity.

In return, we ask that you:

Arrive on time for your appointments (it's YOUR time we're talking about, after all.)
Cancel or change appointment times, if you must, before 8am on the day of the appointment.
Pay for packages in advance, if you'd like to save money.
Pay for single-session bookings immediately following the session (we no longer invoice.) Tell your Trainer immediately if you're feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. We can help. Put your things away – neatly and in clean condition – immediately after use.
Be nice to everyone else in the gym (you can still be mean to us. That's fine.)
Make your Trainer aware of aches, pains or other issues at the start of your session.

New Team members – benefits and responsibilities

  1. You will be provided with appropriate CROSSFIT KISMET clothing – for COACHES, this means:

a)1 CROSSFIT KISMET T-shirt

Trainers and other Team members are free to purchase more CROSSFIT KISMET clothing at wholesale cost plus taxes at any time, and without restriction. As a Team member, you are absolutely required, without exception, to meet CROSSFIT KISMET's dress code requirements whenever leading a group, training a client, at the front desk, or otherwise performing CROSSFIT X duties, including public speaking. If you arrive for work without your uniform, you are REQUIRED to purchase clothing suitable for your duties that day.

  1. You will be provided with a comprehensive guide for your performance (this guide.) You will be asked to initial the form at the end of this guide to acknowledge that you’ve read and you understand everything within. As soon as you initial that form, you’re responsible for upholding the contents of this book 100%.
  1. You will have access to all CROSSFIT KISMET Team members at the lowest cost possible – the Team member’s invoice rate. When a Team member takes their time to provide you with a professional service, they deserve the same compensation they would receive from a client. However, CROSSFIT KISMET doesn’t have to make its share; we believe the long-term benefit of your health and exposure to other Team members is enough. One note: please book appointments with other Team members at a time when they’re not normally busy to avoid inconveniencing CROSSFIT KISMET clients.
  1. You have a responsibility to CROSSFIT KISMET and its clients to act in their best interests at all times. CROSSFIT KISMET has a responsibility to all Team members to act in the best interests of the group, to ensure that all continue to thrive.

Opening the Facility – First One In

  1. Unlock entranceways.
  2. Open all doors in the facility.
  3. Turn on all lights, leave bathroom light off.
  4. Turn on both power strips.
  5. Boot computer. Start Spotify OR
  6. Choose an appropriate radio station from iTunes.
  7. Load Wodify and set both screens.
  8. Check for cups, towels, or other messes.
  9. Turn on AC if needed.

Closing the Facility – Last One Out

  1. Pick up all cups and towels, even if they weren’t yours.
  2. Ensure all plates are stacked and KB’s are arranged neatly.
  3. Turn off radio.
  4. Turn off all lights, including bathroom.
  5. Turn off AC if used.
  6. Shutdown computer.
  7. Shut off power strips.
  8. Lock all doors.

How to Train a Client (PERSONAL TRAINING)

Training a client successfully is much more than just showing up on time, smiling, and beating them into a sweaty pile. Workouts have to be planned in advance and follow a logical progression.

There are 5 steps to client training at CROSSFIT KISMET:

  1. Book the client’s appointment
  2. Write the program
  3. Implement the program (with the client)
  4. Receive payment (CASH OR WODIFY)
  5. Make sure the client’s next visit is booked.

There are 5 steps to running a CrossFit Group at CROSSFIT KISMET:

  1. MOBILITY warmup
  2. Skill-specific work / strength work
  3. SPP practice / build up to load
  4. METCON
  5. Sometimes a cool down or final mobilization

Taking Cancellations

  1. If before 8am, ask the client if they’d like to reschedule right then.
  2. If after 8am, politely remind the client of the cancellation policy.
  3. Ask the client if they’d like to rebook at that time.
  4. Process the cancellation in the calendar of the staff member.
  5. Note the time of cancellation in the timebook of the staff member.
  6. Note the cancellation on the whiteboard under the staff member’s name.
  7. If the cancellation is the first client of the day for a staff member, or the first after a long break, notify the staff member via phone if possible.

Responding to phone messages