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. 6d ago

    Ep. 190 - Why Would I Want To Work Here? : Setting Up Systems That Increase Retention, Communication and Clarity With Your Staff

    Episode Links: Developing Leaders Invite Template & Sample Curriculum — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Turnover doesn’t just happen to you. In youth sports, it’s usually the result of missing systems and unclear leadership, even when you truly care about your people. In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we’ll walk you through three strategies to improve staff retention and employee engagement without turning your week into nonstop meetings.  Training that builds real confidence, from ongoing clinics to layered skill progressions and clear career paths so coaches can grow from entry-level roles into leadership. Communication that is consistent and kind, including our “10/10” check-ins: ten minutes every other week so every coach has an anchor, a relationship, and a place to bring problems before they snowball. Then we talk about the piece leaders often dismiss as optional, even though it changes everything: fun. From staff open gyms and tiny treats to shout-outs tied to core values and simple peer recognition, we share ways to make work feel energizing again, especially in kid-focused programs where culture shows up on the floor every day. If you’re hiring for the upcoming season, rebuilding a coaching team, or trying to reduce staff turnover, this is your playbook. Subscribe, share this with a fellow owner or director, and leave a review if it helps, then tell us what’s the one staffing system you’re starting this month? — 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. Jul 27

    Ep. 189 - S.H.A.R.E. So They Know You C.A.R.E . : A Simple System to Help Your Staff Uplevel Their Customer Communication

    Episode Links: S.H.A.R.E. & C.A.R.E. Download — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Most coaches care deeply, but the lobby moment after class can still feel awkward. You want to connect with parents, you want to share progress, and then your mind goes blank. This bonus solo episode gives you a simple, repeatable way to talk with families in about 60 seconds, without forcing small talk or sounding scripted. We walk through a tool we built for our team: “SHARE so they know you CARE.” SHARE gives coaches five clear lanes to choose from when they step into parent communication. If you run a gymnastics program, youth sports facility, or any kids’ classes, this framework doubles as customer service training and a practical retention strategy. Then we dig into the deeper reason it works: CARE. Consistent communication helps families feel Connected, Appreciated, Remembered, and confident that our coaches are Engaged. That trust pays off later, especially when you have to navigate harder conversations like behavior issues or injuries, because you’ve already built a positive relationship and a strong emotional bank account. You can download the template from the show notes, share it with your staff, and try the “one parent a day” habit to build momentum. If it helps, subscribe, share this with a fellow coach or gym owner, and leave a review so more programs can build stronger communities. — 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. Jul 20

    Ep. 188 - Grade School Age Sports : 3 Ways to Keep Kids Engaged & Learning During Formative Years

    Episode Links: Attend our Elevate Conference — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we’re talking through what actually keeps grade school age kids engaged in youth sports: easy entry points, clear progressions, and training that still feels like play. Drop-in events, open gyms, and short clinics help families try a sport without pressure, and flexible options like month-to-month tuition or session-based seasons keep schedules from becoming a dealbreaker. We also explain why you need multiple commitment levels, so beginners can explore now and choose a bigger commitment later when they’re ready. Then we get into what most programs miss: a visible path of improvement. We discuss skill progressions, simple evaluation tools, and how communicating expectations reduces parent complaints while helping coaches teach with purpose. When you connect the why to a goal the child cares about, effort rises and confidence follows. Finally, we make the case that fun is not fluff. Fun is a performance tool. We share practical ways to make hard work engaging with timers, friendly competition, buddies, coach participation, and small rewards, plus why this matters for retention all the way through middle school and beyond.  — 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. Jul 13

    Ep. 187 - Don't Let a Three-Year-Old Take You Down : Build A Preschool Program That Runs Makes Teaching a Breeze

    Episode Links: Attend our Elevate Conference — Pre-K Lesson Plan Library : 30 Trial — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Preschoolers can be sweet, hilarious, and completely determined to do the opposite of what you planned. When that independence meets a loose system, the class runs you. When it meets a strong system, kids feel safe, parents feel confident, and your coaches can actually teach. In this installment of our Fall Prep Series, we’re sharing the building blocks of a preschool program that makes class management easier without losing the fun. We start with the stuff that quietly decides whether a class succeeds: age groups and student-teacher ratios. A three-to-four class often needs more support than a four-to-five class, and parent-child programming can handle bigger numbers because caregivers share supervision. From there, we get into preschool lesson plans that keep kids engaged. Think monthly themes, repeatable station setups, and progressions that scale from toddler basics to early cartwheel patterns, plus one “pure fun” element that adds engagement without adding chaos. Then we talk about the biggest factor in any under-fives program: your teachers. Pre-K coaching isn’t for everyone, so we make the case for hiring personality first, then teaching the gymnastics or sports instruction skills second. We wrap with our two essential preschool class management strategies: engagement through play and consistency you actually follow through on, including both positive promises and clear consequences. — 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. Jul 6

    Ep. 186 - School Year Prep That Actually Works : Plan for a Record Breaking Year

    Episode Links: Ep. 68 - Business Vitals : Creating a Habit of Tracking Metrics That Matter — Attend our Elevate Conference — Pre-K Lesson Plan Library : 30 Trial — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: September chaos is optional, but only if you start in July - which is why we’re kicking off our school year prep series in this week’s Learning to Thrive episode. Listen to learn what we use to build a strong fall for our youth sports business, even in a time when families may be cautious with spending. We start where most people skip: last fall’s business vitals. Enrollment trends, revenue, overhead, staffing capacity, and which classes were waitlisted give you a real baseline, so you’re not pulling goals out of thin air. We also talk through practical ways to grab data fast using tools like JackrabbitClass or iClass Pro, plus what to do if you haven’t been tracking consistently. From there, we connect the dots between growth and quality. If you’re adding classes, you need staffing lead time, training time, and the confidence to say no to “maybe” candidates. Then we zoom out to operations: schedules, rotations, equipment use, traffic flow, and the ultimate constraint almost nobody plans for, the parking lot. Finally, we dig into fall enrollment marketing and communication: enrollment dates, priority windows for current families, promotions, and messaging that makes your value feel non-negotiable. If you want a calmer fall and a cleaner launch, hit play, take notes, and build your plan on paper. Subscribe for the rest of our school year prep series! — 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. Jul 2

    Bonus Episode! Ep. 185 - A Practical Q2 Review For Leaders Who Know that Tracking the Numbers Matters

    Episode Links: Free Week In Review Template — Ep. 174 - Q1 Is Done! Three Systems That Will Allow You To Review, Analyze & Plan With Certainty — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Your numbers are talking. The question is whether you’re giving yourself enough space to hear them before the year gets away from you. We’re doing our Q2 wrap-up and walking through the simple quarterly review rhythm we use to reflect, reset, and make smarter calls as leaders. We share how our week-in-reviews work to surface patterns like attendance issues, recurring obstacles, and the wins that are easy to forget once they become “normal.” Then we dig into business vitals and KPIs that actually move the needle: enrollment stats, payroll stats, and P&L review. We talk about comparing year over year, spotting what’s “out of range,” and asking the one question that keeps the whole process honest: what’s the reason behind any changes? You’ll also hear a real-time story from the trenches: we noticed an enrollment drop, assumed it might be the economy, then pulled the data by location and program and found the truth. The dip was concentrated in beginner classes and traced back to stopping consistent Facebook advertising. That’s the payoff of quarterly planning: you can execute targeted action instead of guessing. If you run a gym, a youth sports program, or any service business built on the school-year cycle, this mid-year check-in is critical. Subscribe for more practical leadership systems! — 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. Jun 29

    Ep. 184 - Standards That Stick : What Happens When You Hold the Line

    Episode Links: FREE Competitive Programming Profit & Loss Template — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re being “too strict” by holding athletes to a standard, we’re here to tell you that unclear expectations create more stress than firm ones. We talk about how to set standards in a competitive program without losing the human side, and why enforcing expectations is one of the most important life lessons sports can teach. When coaches dodge hard calls to protect feelings, kids still learn a lesson, just not the one we want. We unpack two sides of the same coin: performance standards and behavior standards. From skill requirements and level of play to work ethic, respect, and team culture, we share practical ways to define what “ready” looks like. This means getting expectations out of your head and onto paper, then communicating them early and often. We explain how progress check-ins throughout the season, plus optional parent meetings, can reduce confusion around readiness, roles, and move-ups. Finally, we cover why a united coaching front matters for athlete development and program culture, and how to get buy-in by giving your staff a real voice in the standards. If you coach youth sports or lead any competitive program, this framework keeps expectations consistent and growth-focused. Subscribe and share this with a coach who needs it. — 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. Jun 22

    Ep. 183 - Coaching Beyond The Scoreboard : How to Make Sure Your Athletes Take Lasting Lessons With Them

    Episode Links: FREE Competitive Programming Profit & Loss Template — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: What do your athletes walk out with when the sport ends: a medal story, or a stronger identity? In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we’re digging into what it really means to coach the whole person so kids don’t confuse performance with worth. We break down how to turn everyday training into real life skills like goal setting, time management, confidence, and resilience. We talk about why sports are a “training ground for disappointment” and how coaches can connect the dots so athletes see the crossover into school, public speaking, friendships, and hard days at home. We also share a simple but powerful habit: call it as you see it. When a kid falls, gets scared, and tries again, naming that courage in the moment helps build an inner voice they can use for the rest of their lives. Then we get practical about one of our favorite topics: teaching athletes to advocate for themselves. We explain how to coach kids through speaking up about fear, stress, pain, and mental blocks, and why the adult’s emotional regulation sets the tone for a safe, growth focused sports program. Finally, we zoom out to the parent-coach-athlete relationship and how getting aligned around “best for the child as a person” creates better outcomes and long term impact for everyone. If you care about positive coaching, youth athlete development, and building life lessons through sport, press play. — 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

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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
    191
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Learning to Thrive
  • Show Website
    Learning to Thrive