Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lindsay Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Lindsay, thanks for joining us today. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed

I would say that I am not necessarily talented. I was the only 8th grader on the cheer team to not go to our cheer team’s competition. I wasn’t very athletic in high school, and was afraid to be in any game. My grades were not very good, and I struggled a bit as a youth in many ways. Over the years, I began to build tenacity, and likely my faith brought me to a place where I didn’t feel overwhelmed in my own skin. As a college student, my girl friend asked me to try Jazzercise. I fell in LOVE with it the minute I took class. Kenny, who is still teaching in Oceanside, was my instructor. He was so much fun! I was hooked my first class! In 2005, the year that I got married and graduated college, I decided to become an instructor. I have never not wanted to teach class in the past 17 years of teaching. I love it! Even through my teaching credentialing program, teaching middle school, and through 5 pregnancies, I have always been so excited to get to class. Three years ago, right before the pandemic, my friend asked if I would like to sublease her building and teach Jazzercise at her center. I opened the center, and while we have faced much adversity, I have never looked back! I love the center that I own, and have been so blessed with the best customers, the best community, and the best workout around!

Lindsay, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have been a Jazzercise instructor for 17 years. Being an instructor has helped me have the energy to get through my college/waitressing years, early years of marriage, 5 pregnancies, and 15 years of teaching middle school as well as the duties that come along with parenting 5 young children. I owe so much to the company that lifts up women, and gives folks of all ages and backgrounds a rewarding place to exercise, dance, socialize, and build a business. .
Three months before the pandemic, I opened up a franchise in the small town that I live in; Fallbrook, CA. When the pandemic hit, we had to pivot to an online presence. Like many businesses, we faced much adversity; including two robberies, technological issues with the online classes, working out in the heat of summer, and juggling my kids’ schooling at home on top of a full-time teaching career. 2020 was a time when our business could have completely shut down, but I did my best to promote the business, build community, and remain frugal with expenses.

We started in 2019 with 6 classes and one instructor (me) a week. Today, in spite of the struggles we faced, we offer 11 weekly classes and we have 4 instructors and a very consistent group of customers. We have raised our prices, and continue to grow.

I am a total teacher-, and would prefer to stay in front of people, and away from paperwork, but Jazzercise Inc makes paperwork easy, and I do my best to communicate to customers through text, email, and social media to engage them with their workout experience. I’ve learned that building a community is essential to the human experience, and I am so lucky that so many amazing men and women have stuck with our center through the ups and downs of our first few years.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Deep in the thick of 2020, I would have to bring my first grader to the Jazzercise class I would teach outside and post live on Facebook. We would set her up on her computer and get her classwork set up in our Jazzercise class. I would get her on her zoom class and have her worksheets set up, then walk to my speaker and bring it outside to teach and set up the phone and technology each day to teach outside in the heat of August. One particular morning, I had my two year old in tow with my 6 year old. The other kids were at home with my husband, who also was teaching zoom classes. After I set up my 1st grader, I walked over to roll my speaker and microphone outside to begin class. As I walked toward the speaker, I realized that my speaker had been stolen along with my mic. For the second time in two months. The first speaker was stolen, and the customers in my class replaced it for me.

At this point, I did not have an overhead and was reluctant to purchase a new one. I taught class that day using a customer’s blue tooth small speaker. We remained as professional as we could, we were teaching live on Facebook, when my 2 year old started screaming. I had to walk over and change his diaper in the middle of the chaos. My customers were forgiving. As I changed the diaper, cued the class, my 6 year old needed support with her math. I answered her questions, and ran back to the stage to complete the class.

We had many chaotic days at the time. And while I was embarrassed, and felt unprofessional, I think my customers and I grew closer because of all of the mishaps and craziness that ensued.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

As I reflect upon the effective strategies that have enabled me to grow my clientele, I would say that the most effective strategy has been creating a community. I work to love each of my customers, get to know them, and ask about them. I truly am so excited to get to see them every day. Additionally, I try to pay my instructors at a high rate, and my hope is that if they feel valued, then they would in turn value the customer.. My goal is to let every person who walks through the door feel valued, seen, and appreciated. They really are! I want to hear about their day. They truly are the best part of mine!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jazzercise.com/location/jazzercise-fallbrook-active-nutrition
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzercise.fallbrook/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fallbrook.jazzercise/

Image Credits
: Jazzercise Inc