We recently connected with Melanie Barnes and have shared our conversation below.

Melanie, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

Our primary focus at Discover Strength is our client. We would not exist without the client and our passion is improving the lives of our clients. At Discover Strength, we provide personalized strength training for 30 mins, two times per week. The way we strength train is all evidence based and our clients work with exercise physiologists with 4 year degrees. All of the things that make us unique is how we also are putting our client’s needs first. I’d love to share the story of one of our clients, Angie Ward.
Angie has been a long term client of Discover Strength. I asked her to share her journey in weight loss and improving her overall health herself, as she tells it best!

“My first workout with them was done virtually and with just my body weight. I had no equipment at home. The 30 minutes ended up going by quickly, and I was so proud of myself after for actually doing it! That was the start of my love affair with strength training. I found that I really enjoyed the slow, deliberate movements! Even though they only recommended two 30-minute sessions each week, I have seen massive results! I ended up achieving my weight loss goals, and have been maintaining now for almost 4 years! I have never felt so amazing in my life! Not just physically, but mentally too. I leave my workouts and feel as though I could conquer the world! I’ll NEVER stop going to Discover Strength!

I moved from Minnesota to Arizona in the spring of 2024. I was thrilled to see that a new location was opening up in Gilbert. It was only 15 minutes from me! Little did I know that I would get the best workouts of my life from this newly opened location. The trainers there are amazing and they help me to push myself beyond what my mind tells me I can do! The manager, Johnny is not only an amazing trainer, but he also makes me feel so welcome! It’s like spending time with a friend! We have a lot of laughs in between machines! I so enjoy my time there!

Bottom line: I HIGHLY recommend Discover Strength! You are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t give them a try!”
-Angie Ward

Melanie, 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?

My name is Melanie Barnes. I’ve always enjoyed weight lifting, never much into running or extreme cardio. I tried to prioritize getting to the gym 4-5 times a week as that is what I’ve been “told” is necessary. I was trying to balance that along with my corporate job at a Fortune 50 company, growing a family and still trying to have a “life”. I was introduced to Discover Strength from a friend, while living in MN. I was skeptical. I had a hard time believing that 30 mins, twice a week, would be enough. I was willing to give it a try. After a few months, I was in love. Discover Strength was especially life changing after I had my first son. I truly saw what strength training could do – help lose weight, improve mood and mental clarity, build strength, gain energy, sleep better, balance hormones, etc. etc. etc. The moment Discover Strength started franchising, I was first in line. I opened Discover Strength Gilbert, AZ in May 2024. I love the concept and the company so much – I am opening 3 more in the next year, with more on the horizon. I love sharing my passion and the benefits of strength training with the community. I love employing exercise physiologists who are truly passionate about their work and masters of their craft. I am proud that we are making people’s lives better and proving to them that they can do hard things! I’d encourage anyone reading this to simply search out the health benefits of strength training and know that Discover Strength is different than a big box gym. We cater to our client. Everything we do is research and evidence based. We push our clients to never stop improving but we also remove any stress, fear or ambiguity from strength training.

Any advice for managing a team?

We heavily believe in the Jim Collin’s concept of “First Who, Then What”. You must first have the right people on the bus, in the right seats, and THEN you can determine where to drive the bus. A great vision without great people is irrelevant. Our vision and purpose is clear. We ensure anyone interested in applying for a position is very aware of who we are and what we do and that their values align. There is no changing who we are. By first ensuring you have the right people, with the right attitude, you can ensure adaptability and shared vision. When you have that on your team, managing a team becomes much easier. The bus is already moving in the right direction. They take ownership and pride in their role on the team and their role in the shared vision. By ensuring that all employees have shared values and shared vision along with the leader and company, there is a mutual understanding, when times get tough, of getting to the ultimate goal and remaining resilient through that. One person with a negative attitude or who doesn’t believe in the vision can and will significantly change the mood and potentially the direction of “the bus”. We believe in quickly coaching up or coaching out anyone who may negatively impact the team. Not addressing a “bad apple” will quickly bring down the morale of a team. It is also important to get to know your team, more than surface level. Ensure that you have credibility with them. This ensures that when conflict or tough conversations arise, your team knows that it is healthy conflict to ensure “the bus” stays on course. Lastly, one of my other favorite concepts is “do not let someone else’s monkey become your monkey”. You cannot take on someone else’s problem or responsibility as your own. This applies for leaders and co-workers. I feel this is critical in managing a team. Empower your team and give them the resources to solve their problems and handle their responsibilities. Ensure that if they walk into your office with their “monkey”, that they walk balk out with their “monkey”.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

There are many books that have influenced both Discover Strength and my personal growth as a franchisee, leader and manager. Books that were critical for me in becoming a franchisee were Traction by Gino Wickman and Good to Great by Jim Collins. Both of these books helped grow me in business and as a leader as well as understand how to best run and own Discover Strength Franchises. From more of a leader/people focused perspective, I love the book “Hidden Potential” by Adam Grant. This greatly helped me step into the role of business owner and leader. I was recently gifted the book “The Go-Giver” by another franchisee. I am excited to read this next as I do believe that you get more by giving.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.discoverstrength.com/gilbert
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discoverstrength/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverstrength/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-barnes-06720528a/