Learning to Thrive

Courtney Parfitt & Michaela Vernon
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Management
  • Updated Biweekly

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. 1d ago

    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

  2. Oct 12

    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

  3. Oct 5

    Ep. 199 - Progressing Students to Create Lasting Enrollment

    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 walk through how skill progressions create retention in sports programs, from recreational classes to competitive teams and field sports. You’ll hear real examples from our gymnastics program, including our system with specific skills tracking, regular check-ins, and a progression showcase that celebrates mastery and fuels word of mouth marketing. We also get practical about implementation: what to measure, how to measure it, how often to report it, and what to do when an athlete masters a new skill. Whether you use paper, Excel, or a CRM, the goal stays the same: a parent-friendly progress report that builds trust and keeps kids motivated. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a program leader, and leave a review. What would you change first to make progress more visible in your program? — 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. Sep 28

    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. Sep 21

    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

  6. Sep 14

    Ep. 196 - Culture Check Up : 3 Ways to Get an Honest Assessment of Your Company Culture

    Episode Links: FREE Download: Culture Assessment Toolkit Customer Survey Sample Template — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Your company culture is giving you clues every single day, whether you’re reading them or not. When leaders rely on assumptions, culture drifts and small problems become season-long headaches. We want to help you run a culture checkup that replaces guessing with evidence, so you can lead your staff with clarity and build a better experience for athletes and families. In this episode, we’ll break the process into three practical tools we use in our sports organization: direct observation, targeted surveys, and a hard look at where our time, energy, and money actually go.  If you’re ready to go from surviving to thriving, hit play, download the free observation template, and try one of these tools this week. Subscribe, share this with a fellow leader, and leave a review so more coaches and owners can build cultures that hold up under pressure. — 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

  7. Sep 7

    Ep. 195 - What is Culture and Why Does it Matter?

    Episode Links: FREE Download: Culture Assessment Toolkit — Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Your culture is already teaching people how to behave, even if you’ve never written a single core value down. When you grow a sports program, open a second location, or simply add more teams and staff, that invisible culture starts to drift and the cracks show up as inconsistent coaching, parent issues, staff burnout, and leaders who feel like they must approve every decision. In this episode, we talk through how we stopped “accidentally” creating a culture and started building a living, breathing company culture on purpose. Along the way, we share what we learned from studying brands known for consistency and loyalty, and why the same generic values on a website can feel totally different in real life. Authenticity matters. If your values don’t match what’s actually happening in the building, families and employees feel it immediately. Then we get practical: strong core values reduce decision fatigue and unlock team autonomy. We break down how values like “Safety First” and “Do I Matter?” guide real-time decisions at the front desk and on the floor, so staff can act with confidence and you don’t have to micromanage. We also cover how values help you hire better, protect your standards when you’re short staffed, and create clear accountability across the whole program. Press play, grab the three culture questions we share, and start defining what you want your organization to look and feel like in five to ten years. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a fellow leader, and leave a review so more coaches and program owners can build cultures that thrive. — 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

  8. Aug 31

    Ep. 194 - 5 Fun & Easy Ways to Keep Your Staff Happy (Replay)

    Episode Links: Developing Leaders Invite Template & Sample Curriculum — Subscribe to our newsletter — Show Notes: If you are a team lead, director, or facility owner - look no further for strategies on how to boost staff morale and maintain a supportive, happy team environment. The techniques you will find in today's episode are generally easy, and definitely enjoyable for all involved. Try these fresh ideas out with your team, and let us know how it goes! --- 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

See All (202)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

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

Information

  • Creator
    Courtney Parfitt & Michaela Vernon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    202
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Learning to Thrive
  • Show Website
    Learning to Thrive