Learning to Thrive

Courtney Parfitt & Michaela Vernon

On the Learning to Thrive podcast, we share stories, lessons learned, and practical tools to help your business go from surviving to thriving.Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com

  1. 21 hr ago

    Ep. 203 - What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

    Episode Links: Receive our Start, Stop, Continue Download with our free Culture Assessment Toolkit! — What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith  Soundtracks by Jon Acuff — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: If you’re leading in the sports industry and you feel tempted to coast at the end of the year, this conversation is your nudge to finish strong with clarity, not chaos.  In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we walk through how to spot the beliefs, systems, and routines that used to serve you but no longer match the level you’re trying to reach. We talk about vision casting and reverse engineering, plus a simple way to evaluate where you are right now by ranking key areas in your life. We also use the “thriving pyramid” lens to ask a tough question: does your calendar actually support your mission and your most basic needs, or are you spending time on things that don’t move anything forward?  Then we go inside the mind. We break down the Soundtracks framework from Jon Acuff. You’ll hear how we use retire, replace, repeat to rewrite limiting beliefs, and how your body can help you tell the difference between a helpful affirmation and something you don’t believe yet. We wrap with a practical reset: a start stop continue list for both your mindset and your systems, plus why “small and steady” beats an intense burst that burns out your team.  If this hits home, subscribe, share this with a leader who’s leveling up, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one belief or habit you know you need to retire before the year ends? — Show Links: Send us Fan Mail Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

  2. 19 Oct

    Ep. 201 - Start Them Early! The Benefits of Building a Strong Parent-Child Program for Both the Business and the Customer

    Episode Links: Free Download! : Sample Pre-K Gymnastics Progression Sheet — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we talk about what a parent-child class actually is, and why this unique class setup creates bonding time, keeps safety high, and lets each family modify activities for their child’s development without disrupting the whole group. We also dig into why toddlers are surprisingly great teachers for us as instructors: they’re honest, they demand real engagement, and earning their trust is the beginning of long-term loyalty. Then we zoom out to the business strategy. Parent-child programs build community fast through open play, weekday drop-ins, and neutral territory playdates that turn your facility into a meeting point. We share how to serve the whole family with scheduling, why balancing tuition-based classes with free events improves your enrollment funnel, and how to communicate the real value parents care about: preschool readiness skills like waiting, taking turns, following directions, and learning in a safe environment where failure is normal. If you want higher customer retention, stronger word-of-mouth referrals, and a clearer path from toddler classes to camps and older programs, press play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow youth sports leader, and send us a message with your best parent-child win or biggest challenge. — Show Links: Send us Fan Mail Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

  3. 12 Oct

    Ep. 200 - Top of the Funnel Engagement : How Events Can Drive Enrollment and Grow Revenue

    Episode Links: Free Download! : Sample Pre-K Gymnastics Progression Sheet — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Most sports businesses don’t fail because their coaching is bad. They stall because families never take that first low-stakes step through the door. Today we unpack top-of-the-funnel engagement and how simple, well-designed events can drive enrollment, strengthen retention, and grow revenue in youth sports programs, gymnastics gyms, and training facilities. We map the funnel from “curious but unsure” to monthly tuition to the long-term members who stick around, enroll siblings, and bring friends. Then we get specific about what actually works at the top. For pre-K families, we focus on fun, movement, and belonging, plus the small coaching moments that help parents feel like their kid is thriving. For grade school athletes, we talk about two major drivers: childcare solutions like no-school-day camps and parent night out, and skill-building clinics that let kids try a sport without a long commitment. We also dig into partnerships, school outreach, and why collecting contact info and sending smart follow-up emails is what turns a one-day event into real membership growth. If you want a clear plan for sports marketing, community outreach, and event-based enrollment strategy, this one is for you. — Show Links: Send us Fan Mail Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

  4. 28 Sept

    Ep. 198 - Systems That Support a Positive Culture : How to Engage Your Customers and Staff to Live Your Company's Values

    Episode Links: FREE Download: Culture Assessment Toolkit — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we’re wrapping our culture-building series with the day-to-day systems that make core values real and keep them from getting lost in the mud. We walk through three pillars that help leaders in the sports industry, gym owners, and program directors build a healthy company culture that lasts: communication, accountability, and continuous evaluation. You’ll hear how weekly shout-outs, quick one-on-ones, and shift huddles can keep values front and center without adding hours to your schedule. We also explain how monthly focus points and annual performance reviews can tie values to recognition, growth, and compensation so your team knows you mean it. Then we get into the hard part: protecting the culture. We talk employee evaluations, teaching observations, documentation, disciplinary action plans, and codes of conduct for staff, parents, and athletes. The takeaway is simple but not easy: don’t write standards you won’t enforce. Finally, we share how surveys, observation, and consistent conversations help you catch small issues early so you can lead with intention instead of crisis management. If you’re ready to go from surviving to thriving, subscribe to Learning to Thrive, share this with a fellow leader, and leave a review. Which one system will you start this week? — Show Links: Send us Fan Mail Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

  5. 21 Sept

    Ep. 197 - Elevating Your Culture : How to Make Changes That Last

    Episode Links: FREE Download: Culture Assessment Toolkit — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we’re laying out two clear tracks for leveling up your culture. If you do not have core values yet, we show how to create them from what is already true and from the future you want. If you already have values, we show how to test whether behavior and values actually match and what to do when they don’t. The big shift is making core values actionable. Instead of vague single words like “Integrity” or “Community,” we argue for short phrases that tell people how to behave, because leaders need language they can coach, praise, and correct in real time. We break down the Stop Start Continue framework value-by-value, how to pull in your team to build buy-in, and how to build momentum with quick wins and consistent recognition so culture becomes a living, breathing system. If you want a healthier staff culture, stronger customer experience, and clearer leadership in your sports organization, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow program owner, and leave a quick review so more leaders can go from surviving to thriving. — Show Links: Send us Fan Mail Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

About

On the Learning to Thrive podcast, we share stories, lessons learned, and practical tools to help your business go from surviving to thriving.Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com