Tuesday, December 11, 2012

OUR DAD


Haven’t checked out our website recently?  We have added someone very special to our “Meet Us” page: our Dad, Andrew Katnik.

Our Dad passed away in 2005 of cancer and we continue to miss him.  He was an Anesthesiologist at Mercy General, just down the street from our studio, and he loved Sacramento.  His spirit is so alive in his four girls and it is his welcoming presence and love of community that we hope to bring to our studio!  We hope you feel that spirit of love and family when you ride with us.

He remains our hero and guiding light as we build our dream.  We know he is proud.



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Lesson #6


When the TEAMride idea was first born, way back in November of 2011, we thought we knew exactly what we wanted.  We knew how the studio & our website would look and feel; we thought our policies and registration process were set in stone and our social media presence was a no-brainer.  The thing is, once you let more people in, and the ideas on paper become a reality, your initial vision will be challenged.  In a good way, but it took us some time before we realized that.

Lesson #6:
The “Peer Pressure isn’t Always Bad (in Business)” Lesson

We do not recommend allowing outside forces to completely alter your initial vision but we do advise you to listen and take other’s ideas into consideration…

For example, we decided, through research and experience, that our class credits would not be transferrable.  Soon enough we had our aunt ask, “Can people transfer their credits?”  Without a thought we replied, “No” simply because that is what we had decided.  The word “No” never feels good rolling off the tongue and with that, we began to rethink class credits...

Another area calling for our attention was our classes.  We were going to offer one type of class and all would be welcome.  Our mother came to us and said, “I’m not sure if people my age would totally like the high intensity of your workout.”  While we resisted offering more than one type of class for a while, the more we listened the more we realized we were alienating potential riders.  Suddenly we’re rethinking a “one size fits all” class…

We want to build a business that reflects our love of family and Sacramento.  How does saying “No” serve any of those ends?  It doesn't, so we have decided to start saying “Yes” more often.

TEAMride is going to be a place based around its riders.  We are a community and we look forward to paying attention to what you have to say; shifting to reflect the desires of our riders*!   

*if you desire free classes everyday, we will applaud your commitment BUT we probably can’t make that happen. But don’t hesitate to ask about anything else!


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Lesson #5


The beginning, the start-up, the “behind-the-curtain” work is all consuming.  A normal schedule would be hard to keep for any business partners, let alone 4 with such conflicting schedules and priorities… 

Lesson #5
The “When Two of Your Business Partners are Married with Kids, 9-5 Doesn’t Really Apply” Lesson


The issue is that Teresa and Alicia can only be “on” for the business during naptime, on weekends or once the kids are in bed. That is clearly not a normal working schedule and does not match up with Michelle and Elena’s single-girl schedule.  Here is how the days breakdown Moms vs. singles: naptime=lunchtime, weekends=having a life and once the kids are in bed=happy hour.

While this poses some interesting scheduling issues it also allows for division of labor.  The Moms can check e-mails at night, research and create a beginning agenda to the day, you know, the REALLY fun stuff.  The singles are free to attend meetings, check morning emails, check-in on the space and execute the advertising and marketing plan, you know, the REALLY boring stuff.  Of course, Teresa pops in and out throughout the day (Alicia via telephone) but the singles run the daytime operations and the Moms take the backseat.  Michelle and Elena feel like they are doing it all and, at times, it’s true. 

If Michelle and Elena had it their way we would all be single.  Imagine the productivity and the fun, ah the fun!  And on certain days, Teresa and Alicia wish “those single girls” understood the demands of motherhood.  This is where we are and it does make the business flow into all hours.  For good and for bad!  Time is our BIG sacrifice this first year and as long as we stay focused on the end result that sacrifice is worth it, every day and every night.




Thursday, November 15, 2012

GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

Sarah is a ball of energy! She shows passion and dedication in everything she does and there is no doubt in our minds that her riders will love her as much as we do!

Spotlight on Instructor, Sarah Rock


Sarah is originally from Southern California and loves to run marathons. She says that running is the best kind of therapy, besides TEAMride of course! Sarah enjoys the theatre, summer, traveling, Disneyland, family, coffee and dogs! She believes that fitness is a lifestyle that never goes out of fashion and cannot wait to share it with everyone at TEAMride.

1. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Hmmmm, Hermione Granger....she really was the best wizard, c'mon, how many times did she get Harry out of trouble?
2. If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the 5 things that you would want to survive? Survival stuff or wants? Survival: knife, kindling, water (never ending supply), blanket & sunscreen Want: ipod, cabana, sunscreen (sunburns suck!), coffee, hammock 
3. What is the #1 most played song on your iPod? Holiday Club, by Jim and the Povolos, reminds me of the theatre groups I grew up with!
4. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Silks, or Trapeze, I love the beauty and danger of dancing in the air.
5. If you won the lottery, what is the 1st thing you would do? Invest, and go for frozen yogurt with everyone I know!
6. What is one of your favorite quotes? "At any given moment you have the power to say this is not how the story is going to end"




Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Lesson #4


We each bring something unique and critical to the success of TEAMride.  It has been fun to see how our personality traits have segued into key roles in the business.  We have decided that identifying your strengths and weaknesses early on is a major factor in the eventual success or demise of your business.  There are amazing checks-and-balances that occur when you have the right group of people working together.  The give and take seems effortless; one person’s weakness is taken up by another’s strength. Lucky for us, the four of us work well together; otherwise, things could get scary.

Lesson #4:
The “We are glad we all balance one another out, otherwise we’d be broke, not talking and business-less” Lesson


“It’s 8:01, you’re officially late.  If you were my employee you would be fired.” -Michelle via text message to Elena

Elena arrives at the dining room table aka “the office” a few minutes later, coffee cup in hand and a smile on her face. 

How’s that for checks-and-balances? 

Michelle’s strengths are clear. She is efficient, punctual, manages multiple tasks with ease and knows how to delegate.  Her years of work in the corporate world make her an invaluable resource for our business. With her around, our productivity level is at an all-time high J She and Elena work extremely well together because Elena is a real doer and she never says “No,” no matter the task.  She may appear to lack initiative but she sure can execute, with a smile and uncanny sense of calm.  She frequently stops Michelle from freaking out by reminding her, “We are not a multi-billion dollar corporation, we are a small business, relax, have fun.” Checks-and-balances.

While we are all friendly and social girls, Teresa is THE people person. When none of us wants to put on a “happy face,” we can depend on Tere to talk to anyone, at any time, about anything.  She promotes our business at any opportunity and that is exactly what a small business needs... an advocate.  This “over-sharing” does have one downside; she is inevitably tardy on her work days at TEAMride HQ because she spent 20 minutes chatting in some parking lot “drumming up business!” With an excuse like that it is hard to get mad. If it weren’t for Teresa, we would have a more challenging time spreading the word. Checks-and-balances.

Alicia and Teresa balance one another on the money front. If it was up to Alicia, our floors would be tile flown in from Italy and chandeliers would be hung wherever possible. If it was up to Teresa, our interior would look as sterile and uninteresting as a hospital. Thankfully, they can find a happy medium. Teresa watches the bottom line and questions every monetary decision; annoying sometimes, but incredibly smart in the long run. Alicia finds discounts where she can and has scaled down her tastes for the sake of Teresa’s blood pressure. Checks-and-balances.  

Varying strengths and personalities make for one hell of a TEAM. We hope you all agree!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

Today on Getting to Know the TEAM, we highlight our first male instructor! We could only hope that Josh's enthusiasm and love for outdoor cycling would translate into a love of indoor cycling. Needless to say, it has :)

Spotlight on Instructor, Josh McCann




Josh is a Sacramentan to the core. He was raised here and is now a realtor in the area. He tries to enjoy every moment of everyday and believes that the simple things in life are what matter most. 

1. If you could be a fictional character who would you choose? Batman, hands down
2.  If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the 5 things that you would want to survive? A fiddle, gummy bears, 3d glasses, Chuck Norris, and a about beach survival for dummies picture handbook   
3. What is the #1 most played song on your iPod? Michael Bolton "Greatest Hits"
4. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would love to learn how to fly in a squirrel suit
5. If you won the lottery, what is the 1st thing you would do? I would build the most magical tree fort ever! and live there full time
6. What is one of your favorite quotes? "Just do it" - Nike