Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Olson.
Hi Nick, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I started my CrossFit journey about 6 years ago in Oakland, CA. I somewhat resisted CrossFit because of the price and the stigma around it. When I finally got started, I realized it was everything I had been missing since high school and college sports. Competitive, fun, community, all focused around a really positive lifestyle. I continued to move around the bay area to San Francisco and Redwood City with work eventually taking me to Reno, Chicago, and Austin.
Having moved around so much, I found the one constant in my life was the community and positivity my CrossFit gyms and CrossFit friends brought me.
I’ve always saved money diligently with the idea of creating the lifestyle I want. I spoke with the owner of my gym in Chicago about how I would like to buy into a gym down the road. We kept that dialogue going into my time in Austin. He knew my partner and I wanted to move to Southern California and sent me a link on a business sales website for a CrossFit gym in San Diego. I hadn’t wanted to own an entire gym, but in learning more about CrossFit Humanity, it turned out to be the perfect fit!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In general, it has been a smooth road. I knew the gym would need some facility and equipment upgrades, and I wanted to get those in place quickly. We have some ambitious goals for growing the community and making the gym as desirable as possible.
I thought a lot of gym ownership for the past couple of years. I had a lot of the financials and structure worked out in my head. I spoke with owners about their troubles, and better learned the full costs of running the gym.
The main struggles have been with owning a business for the first time. I am really lucky to have a girlfriend who is equally excited to help, and in general, our abilities really complement each other. It doesn’t hurt that we also have VERY competent staff in place.
As you know, we’re big fans of CrossFit Humanity. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
CrossFit Humanity is based right off Pacific Hwy by the San Diego Airport. The gym has a passionate community of core members, and we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming gym to people with any sort of fitness background. We primarily serve the communities of Little Italy, Mission Hills, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, and Hillcrest.
What sets the CrossFit Humanity brand apart is our focus on top-quality coaching and programming. Too many of the gyms I’ve been a member of program their workouts to exhaust members without helping them to achieve their specific fitness goals. Our programming is heavily focused on helping members improve their weightlifting, gymnastics, and cardiovascular capacities without burning them out.
We offer 9 CrossFit classes daily, a 6-days-a-week weightlifting program, gymnastics, and even 24-hour gym access. Stop by and introduce yourself to Coach Craig, Steph, Seth, or Gina to see what it’s all about!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve never found planned networking events to be very helpful for me. In my opinion, networking needs to be more organic, and both sides should have something to offer. In my full-time job in tech sales, I am constantly trying to get executives to hear what my company has to offer. But in reality, success comes much more from hearing what they have to say.
I had success networking in the CrossFit space by simply hanging around the gym and getting to know people at odd times. I have been amazed at the number of people I met who are deeply connected in the space simply by being friendly during open gym hours. And from there, it was a matter of not being afraid to connect. Typically, that was a well-thought-out Instagram message asking for simple advice. That initial connection often led to a more in-depth phone call or conversation that helped me build my confidence to eventually purchase the gym.
I think this strategy can be helpful when thinking about networking in general. If you’re truly passionate about the area you’re trying to network into, connecting with people organically can help you get involved in the right communities and allow you to accomplish what you set out to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crossfithumanity.com
- Instagram: @crossfithumanity
